This week in Ethiopian history March 24-31

On 24 March 1559 Muslim forces led by Nur Ibn Mujahid, the nephew of Gragn Mohammed killed Atse Gelawdeos and avenged the death of his uncle who was killed by Gelawdeos's forces 16 years ago.

On 27 March 1954 Colonel John C. Robinson also known as 'The Brown Condor' , the African American Aviator & Aviation instructor who was among Black professionals who offered their services to Ethiopia during the Italo-Ethiopian conflict died of injuries he suffered from a plane crash accident that happened two weeks earlier at the Addis Ababa Airport. He was buried the next day at Gulele cemetery in a large & massive ceremony attended by huge crowd among others Emperor Haile Selassie himself, The Duke of Harrar, Prince Mekonnen Haile Selassie, Military Commanders, Cabinet Ministers and other government officials.


Brigadier General Mengistu Neway who was commander of the Imperial Body Guard and who together with his brother Germame Neway, led an unsuccessful coup against Emperor Haile Selassie was hanged on March 30, 1960 in public market after two days Haile Selassie appointed Court ordered for him to be hanged. The following documentary film provide sound recording of the court proceedings with General Mengistu's voice defending himself & arguing his case. The documentary is well done in terms of bringing personal recollections of those who knew General Mengistu & particularly his brother Germame Neway as well as providing analysis by scholars such as Professor Bahru Zewde why the coup attempt failed.

ALFRED ILG (1854–1916) The Swiss born engineer and counselor to Menelik II was born on 30 March 1854 in Frauenfeld, Switzerland. Ilg was educated at the famous Zurich Polytechnic where Albert Einstein the world's famous scientist also studied in later years. In April 1879, Ilg went to Ethiopia to work as a craftsman and to train Ethiopians and became a trusted and very close advisor of Emperor Menelik. Alfred Ilg was instrumental in bringing numerous technological products to Ethiopia such as telephone service and the Djibouti-Addis Ababa railway. Editor's note: More on Bitweded Alfred Ilg's life & work coming soon. Stay tuned.