To Understand African Christianity, Remember The Battle of Adwa in Ethiopia

✞ The Battle of Adwa: An African Victory in The Age of Empire

💭 An Interview with Raymond Jonas | ፕሮፌሰር ራይሞንድ ጆናስ ስለ አድዋ ጦርነት እንዲህ ያስረዳሉ

✞ In 1896, a Christian army from Ethiopia defeated the Edomite Romans/ Italians.

Italian Imperial Ambitions: Italy sought to expand its colonial empire in Africa, particularly in the Horn of Africa. After acquiring Eritrea from Menelik ll, Italy aimed to extend its influence into Ethiopia, which was one of the few independent African nations at the time.

The historic relationship between Christianity and imperialism naturally causes grave dilemmas for modern believers. But on at least one celebrated occasion, it was actually a great Christian army that decisively triumphed over empire—and resisted conquest for a generation. Anyone interested in the story of modern African Christianity needs to know about the Battle of Adwa.

After Italy was united as a modern nation in 1861, the country’s leaders were determined to announce its arrival on the global stage by joining the race for empire. Their options were somewhat limited, as other great powers had already grabbed so much, so Italian hopes turned to the Red Sea coast of East Africa, to Eritrea—and to the ancient Christian kingdom of Abyssinia, or Ethiopia. From the earliest encounters, however, it was obvious that the Ethiopians did not fit the racist stereotype of howling tribesmen armed only with spears who would cower before the weight of European technology. A major defeat at Dogali in 1887 gave the Italians a powerful thirst for revenge, and open war broke out in 1894.

The Battle of Adwa, fought on March 1, 1896, was a significant conflict between Christian Ethiopian forces and Edomite Roman/ Italian colonial troops.

The Battle of Adwa ultimately resulted in a decisive Ethiopian victory, preserving Ethiopia's sovereignty and marking a significant moment in the struggle against colonialism in Africa.

This secured Ethiopian independence for another generation until the Italians returned for revenge in the second Italo-Ethiopian war (1935–36). It also generally destroyed the Italian push for empire, and great power status, and some suggest the dishonor of the Italian defeat helped later bring the fascists to power in Italy as they promised to avenge this loss as a part of their plans to restore Italian greatness.

Did Holy Men (Saints) and Angels fight for Ethiopia in the Battle of Adwa? Yes! There is The Bible to confirm God sending Angels to help fight battles. COULD God do that today? Yes! DID God do that then? Yes!

📖 The account in the Bible is found in three locations:

❖[2 Chronicles 32:21]❖
“and the LORD sent an angel who annihilated every valiant warrior, leader, and commander in the camp of the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria returned in disgrace to his land. He went to the temple of his god, and there some of his own children struck him down with the sword.”

❖[2 Kings 19:35; and Isaiah 37:36-38]❖