Page 51 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 16

Leadership
LEADERSHIP LEADERSHIP

The necessity of an Ethiopian Monarchy

in restoring Ethiopianness

By Solomon Kibriye, USA

eptember 12 , 2021(Sep- of benefit, he would go, he ended
tember 2, 2014 in Ethiopian his rule that had begun as Prince
calendar) marks 47 years Regent in 1917. He was taken from
Ssince the fall of the Ethiopi- his home in the back of a baby blue
an Monarchy. Volkswagen escorted by heavily
armed military vehicles. Thus ended
September 12, 1974 (Sept 2, 1967 a dynasty that reached back to leg-
Ethiopian Calendar), marks the day endary biblical origins that had sur-
a very deep shift occurred in the vived countless invasions, rebellions,
very essence of Ethiopia and Ethio- natural calamities and fought off
pianism. On this day, a small group European colonialism. A year later
of low ranking military men (all the Emperor would be dead, smoth-
below the rank of Major) entered ered in his bed and buried in an
the Jubilee Palace in Addis Ababa unmarked grave. His high officials
and read a statement to the aged massacred or locked away in horrif- Solomon Kibriye is an Ethiopian
Emperor Haile Selassie I that he ic prisons such as Kerchele (Alem American who currently lives in New York
had been deposed and that “for his Bekagn) or the old wine cellars of City. He writes on historic topics and runs
safety” he was being taken to place the Menelik Palace. His family were the Tarik Amba Podcast and Videocast
they had prepared for him. After a split between those locked away in on Ethiopian History and Culture.
brief statement that as Emperor he prison without charge and those in He can be reached on https://www.face-
had always endeavored to benefit exile in remote lands living in fear book.com/skibriye
his people, and that if his removal and insecurity for themselves and and also on this Facebook page
from power was regarded as being their relatives at home.
https://www.facebook.com/ethiopians-
forconstitutionalmonarchy/
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