(Bantalem T.) Architectural Symbolism in Some Memorial Monuments of Modern Ethiopia (original) (raw)
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Political representations of Statues in Ethiopia.docx
Statues are symbols which represent dynamic societal values. They serve as a rallying point for shared common memory and identity and, hence, are used as a collective remembrance. They also have a power to immortalize an intended ideology. Statue is an object that represents the religion, history, culture, art, socio- economic and political practices of one nation. The main purpose of this paper is to describe the political representation of iconic statues erected in three, Imperial monarchy, Derg Military Junta and Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) regimes in Ethiopia. To achieve this purpose, several documents from Culture and Tourism Bureaus and library archives are analyzed qualitatively. The study lastly summarizes the erected statues in the three Ethiopia regimes are highly tied with the political manifesto each regime. In the process of political shift, when the former regime replaced by the new one, simultaneously, the former statues are dismantled and dislocated and the new statues that represents the current political ideology are constructed and replaced. Accordingly, it concluded that, statues represent the political context of these three consecutive regimes in Ethiopian polity. Key Words: Ethiopia, Political, Statues, Representation, Identity
Social Sciences
Statues are symbols which represent dynamic societal values. They serve as a rallying point for shared common memory and identity and, hence, are used as a collective remembrance. They also have a power to immortalize an intended ideology. Statue is an object that represents the religion, history, culture, art, socio-economic and political practices of one nation. The main purpose of this paper is to describe the political representation of iconic statues erected in three, Imperial monarchy, Derg Military Junta and Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) regimes in Ethiopia. To achieve this purpose, several documents from Culture and Tourism Bureaus and library archives are analyzed qualitatively. The study lastly summarizes the erected statues in the three Ethiopia regimes are highly tied with the political manifesto each regime. In the process of political shift, when the former regime replaced by the new one, simultaneously, the former statues are dismantled and dislocated and the new statues that represents the current political ideology are constructed and replaced. Accordingly, it concluded that, statues represent the political context of these three consecutive regimes in Ethiopian polity.
Journal of Heritage Management 4(1) 85–102, 2019, 2019
Ethiopia is endowed with incredible rock-cut churches embodying great architectural, aesthetic and artistic significance built over its past. However, these priceless cultural antiquities are frequently confronted with different threats. This study aims to explore potential threats and associated impacts evidencing with the least known, and threatened rock-cut churches. Several rock-cut churches are subjected to different problems such as stripping, cracking, degradation, breaking and demolition that badly affected their significant values.
Perceptions, Legislation, and Management of Cultural Heritage in Ethiopia
International Journal of Cultural Property, 2016
The present article discusses perceptions of cultural heritage and the development of heritage management in Ethiopia against the background of various pieces of legislation. Compared to many colonized countries of sub-Saharan Africa, the enactment of laws for the protection and preservation of cultural heritage is a recent phenomenon in Ethiopia. Even though archaeological research in Ethiopia dates back to the mid-nineteenth century, there have been no formal heritage laws or scientific restoration programs until 1966. However, living heritage, which is economically and spiritually beneficial to the local communities, has been protected and preserved with TMSs in communities such as Yeha, Konso, and Lalibela. Unlike Western management systems that emphasize the authenticity and integrity of physical features, the TMSs of Ethiopia have focused on the ideals and thoughts of the agencies that produce the cultural heritage. It had its own implications, to say, while retaining the ideological aspects, most built heritages in Ethiopia have been subjected to considerable physical interventions. Such physical interventions have disregarded structural authenticity and integrity of the monuments. Due to foreign invasions, continuous civil conflicts, and sporadic famines in the past, attention to cultural heritage and the implementation of heritage legislation has been negligent. However, Ethiopia has witnessed growing interest in the conservation and preservation of its heritage-cultural and natural; tangible and intangible-during the last twenty years. With the support of international collaborators, the Ethiopian government has initiated several measures to protect its heritage assets. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: I wish to thank Abera Anjulo of the ARCCH, Hailemeskel G. Habtewold of Moja-Wodera Culture and Tourism Office, and Tekleweini Tesfaye of the Culture and Tourism Agency in Aksum for providing me with valuable information and published materials. I am also grateful to two anonymous reviewers for comments and constructive criticisms on an earlier draft.
The Outstanding Heritages of Adwa, Ethiopia
2019
Identification and documentation of the heritage potential of Ethiopia's tourism resources is in its infant stage among which Adwa's resources are considered. Therefore this study is conducted to disclose the potentials of heritages in Adwa, Ethiopia. The objective is to disclose and describe the outstanding heritages of Adwa, Ethiopia. The methods used were fieldwork, observation and literature review. The major results are: that Adwa is home to several notable archaeological sites, historical events, religious places, as well as beautiful mountain chains and highland scenery. The heritage potential includes Yeha cultural and historical site and the Monastery of Aba (Father) Aftse, the archaeological site of Siba'at; the Monastery of Aba Gerima; the battlefield of Adwa as well as the ruins of Fremona. In general, Adwa is a symbol of African pride for its victory over Italy during colonial era, it is the center of extraordinary mountain chains, a land of archeological and religious treasures. It is recommended that these extraordinary heritages need to be conserved, developed and promoted.
Journal of Cultural and Religious Studies, 2018
This article examines the legal impediments to proper cultural heritage management in Ethiopia in light of three successive Ethiopian governments' proclamations on cultural heritage conservation. It provides a brief overview of the meaning and types of cultural heritages as well as the evolution of the concept and practice of the protection and preservation of cultural heritages. Having critically analyzed the basic essences of the legal provisions of the cultural heritage conservation proclamations of the Imperial, the Military (Derg), and the reigning governments, the article argues that the decrees issued mainly reflect the political philosophy of the three respective regimes. As a result, the second legal provision is not better than the first one, and within the same logic, the third is more expected to mitigate the problems related to cultural heritage management than the second one. Nevertheless, it is an open secret that the destruction and loss of cultural heritages in Ethiopia are increasing from time to time. Finally, the article provides conclusions consisting of recommendations to address the legal impediments to proper cultural heritage management in Ethiopia.
Megalithic heritage sites of Ethiopia: the case of Derbi Belanbel Steles in the Somali region,
Cogent Arts & Humanities, 2021
Ethiopia is gifted with various heritage resources, and it has registered its different types of heritage as a world heritage site. The megalithic culture in Ethiopia comprises dolmens, tumuli, and steles which are widely dispersed across the country. Though, the Somali Regional State is rich in natural, cultural, and historical heritage sites scholars have not yet given the attention it deserves. In this regard, the Derbi Belanbel Stele site is among them. Accordingly, this study proposed to explore the steles of the Derbi Belanbel site of Duhun woreda Somali region, Ethiopia. The study employed an exploratory research design and a qualitative research approach to investigating the historical value of the steles of Derbi Belanbel, to assess the shape, style, and height of Derbi Belanbel steles and challenge and prospects of sustaining the steles in the study area. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to choose key informants who have beneficial knowledge, experience, and link with the heritage site. Data were gathered via personal observation, focus group discussion, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis. Concerning data analysis, a thematic data analysis technique was employed. The results of this study revealed that the steles of the Derbi Belanbel site have a historical value having different shapes and heights that could inspire further archaeological and historical research. However, due to poor preservation and conservation practice, some of the steles are on the verge of deterioration or change of their original nature. Subjects: Tourism; Heritage Management & Conservation; Visual Arts; History; Archaeology
Little attention is given to indigenous peoples' heritage properties in Ethiopia. Most of them are not researched and known. That tangible and intangible knowledge of the people handed down from generation to generation are mostly seen indifferent, given deaf ear and even intimidated for centuries. But, little attempts had been made to study indigenous heritage. Even when studied, they follow shallow approaches or face distortions. Among these societies, the Gede'o, located in Southern Ethiopia is the one. This study tried to identify Gede'o's tangible and intangible heritage properties. The objective of the study is to identify heritage of the people, analyzing threats to heritage both within and due to government development programs. The study, therefore, employed qualitative method in its research design. Using different approaches, relevant data across the zone had been gathered. Thus, in-depth interview with key informants, the Gede'o elders and officials were taken. Field observation on different parts of study area had been made. In rituals and ceremonies, the researcher has taken participatory observation by performing with the people. Furthermore, in some cases, after individual interview, the researcher had arranged focus group discussion so that it could be possible to elicit some obscured information made clear and precise. This research showed that there existed many tangible and intangible heritage properties in Gede'o, but only little research has been made yet. There had been also a lot of challenges to heritage conservation in Gede'o. Though the people is endowed with many tangible and intangible heritage, many of them are in threat. And many damage had been put on intangible heritage such as Qeexala,Baallee,etc. The study also concluded that development programs had been among the challenges to the conservation of heritage .In addition, population growth is becoming among the threats of heritage as more farm land and resources are needed to meet increased needs. In this study very important points are discussed as a way out to safeguard heritage by making use of public participation. The major points that the study recommended is awareness creation, and the next one is a need to legal framework to grass root level and in every tiers of the government.