Ethiopia's conundrum:
A statue for Nkrumah or Selassie?
08 February, 2012 | The Africa Report
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Kwame Nkrumah's statue, which was recently unveiled at
the African Union (AU) headquarters, has sparked anger
amongst Ethiopian scholars, historians and politicians, who
feel the country's former leader Haile Selassie deserved the
honour.
What has further incensed the Ethiopians is that, with the AU
headquarters being in their country, they expected a statue of their
former leader to be erected.
Nkrumah is credited with being the brains behind the creation of the
Organisation of African Union (OAU), a precursor to the AU. He
led the so-called "progressive states", a six-member organisation
called the Casablanca Group, founded in 1961. The group later
morphed into the OAU in 1963.
Ethiopian scholars and politicians questioned why the government
had not suggested the construction of Haile Selassie's statue at the
recent AU summit. Selassie's supporters claim he is the father of
Africa and he deserved to have his statue at the AU compound,
instead of Nkrumah's.
"It is Haile Selassie who is described by African leaders as the
father of Africa not Nkrumah," Dr Yacob Hailemariam, a popular
politician and an opposition party member, said. Hailemariam has
written articles in local media, calling upon historians to proclaim
who deserved to have a statue erected at the AU.
Hailemariam accused the Ethiopian government of not lobbying for
a statue in Selassie's honour, a view shared by many of the
country's scholars, who blame the government for not giving any
credit to its former leader. "We as Africans should be proud of
Nkrumah for his pan African movement."
"It is a shame not to accept his role. It is only Nkurmah who is
remembered whenever we talk about pan Africanism," Meles
insisted, as he addressed the debate.
Meles's government has often criticised Selassie's track record.
However, there are still many people who appreciated Selassie, a
former Ethiopian emperor, for his role in Africa's independence and
unity.
Selassie was known for lending support to South Africa's fight
against apartheid and invited former president Nelson Mandela to
Ethiopia to get military training. The former South African president
acknowledged in a recent book that he was able to attend an OAU
summit during the apartheid era, at the behest of Selassie who
facilitated that he received an Ethiopian passport and attended the
meeting as a journalist.
Ethiopian historians said they also remembered Selassie for his
leading role in the creation of the OAU. "Our government, because
of its hatred for Selassie, failed to campaign for him, while Ghana
proposed to the AU to have Nkrumah's statue. This is a historical
mistake by our government," Hailemariam charged.
Under Nkrumah's leadership, Ghana, in 1957, became the first
African country to attain independence.
Selassie, who is believed to have been killed by a military junta
about 40 years ago, is buried inside the country's national palace.
His remains were reburied after his family and supporters asked for
an official burial ceremony. But, the current government didn't give
recognition for his official burial ceremony and denied him a state
funeral.
The perceived animosity has given rise to speculation that Meles's
government had been the stumbling block to a statue being erected
for the former emperor. "It was because of Selassie that the AU is
in Addis Ababa. It is not because of the current regime," another
Historian, Mesfin Tariku said. "We have no idea on the criteria
used to choose Nkrumah."
. Courtesy
A statue for Nkrumah or Selassie?
08 February, 2012 | The Africa Report
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Kwame Nkrumah's statue, which was recently unveiled at
the African Union (AU) headquarters, has sparked anger
amongst Ethiopian scholars, historians and politicians, who
feel the country's former leader Haile Selassie deserved the
honour.
- Members of Parliament
have also been drawn into
the debate and on
Wednesday raised the
issue with Prime Minister,
Meles Zenawi as he
delivered a half yearly
report to the House.
- However, Meles defended
the decision to honour
Nkrumah, the former
Ghanaian leader, whom he
described as a pan African.
What has further incensed the Ethiopians is that, with the AU
headquarters being in their country, they expected a statue of their
former leader to be erected.
Nkrumah is credited with being the brains behind the creation of the
Organisation of African Union (OAU), a precursor to the AU. He
led the so-called "progressive states", a six-member organisation
called the Casablanca Group, founded in 1961. The group later
morphed into the OAU in 1963.
Ethiopian scholars and politicians questioned why the government
had not suggested the construction of Haile Selassie's statue at the
recent AU summit. Selassie's supporters claim he is the father of
Africa and he deserved to have his statue at the AU compound,
instead of Nkrumah's.
"It is Haile Selassie who is described by African leaders as the
father of Africa not Nkrumah," Dr Yacob Hailemariam, a popular
politician and an opposition party member, said. Hailemariam has
written articles in local media, calling upon historians to proclaim
who deserved to have a statue erected at the AU.
Hailemariam accused the Ethiopian government of not lobbying for
a statue in Selassie's honour, a view shared by many of the
country's scholars, who blame the government for not giving any
credit to its former leader. "We as Africans should be proud of
Nkrumah for his pan African movement."
"It is a shame not to accept his role. It is only Nkurmah who is
remembered whenever we talk about pan Africanism," Meles
insisted, as he addressed the debate.
Meles's government has often criticised Selassie's track record.
However, there are still many people who appreciated Selassie, a
former Ethiopian emperor, for his role in Africa's independence and
unity.
Selassie was known for lending support to South Africa's fight
against apartheid and invited former president Nelson Mandela to
Ethiopia to get military training. The former South African president
acknowledged in a recent book that he was able to attend an OAU
summit during the apartheid era, at the behest of Selassie who
facilitated that he received an Ethiopian passport and attended the
meeting as a journalist.
Ethiopian historians said they also remembered Selassie for his
leading role in the creation of the OAU. "Our government, because
of its hatred for Selassie, failed to campaign for him, while Ghana
proposed to the AU to have Nkrumah's statue. This is a historical
mistake by our government," Hailemariam charged.
Under Nkrumah's leadership, Ghana, in 1957, became the first
African country to attain independence.
Selassie, who is believed to have been killed by a military junta
about 40 years ago, is buried inside the country's national palace.
His remains were reburied after his family and supporters asked for
an official burial ceremony. But, the current government didn't give
recognition for his official burial ceremony and denied him a state
funeral.
The perceived animosity has given rise to speculation that Meles's
government had been the stumbling block to a statue being erected
for the former emperor. "It was because of Selassie that the AU is
in Addis Ababa. It is not because of the current regime," another
Historian, Mesfin Tariku said. "We have no idea on the criteria
used to choose Nkrumah."
. Courtesy
President Kwame Nkrumah and Emperor Haile Selassie, 1963 |
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