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History of Addis Ababa

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The history of Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, formally begins with the founding of the city
in the 19th century by Ethiopian Emperor Menelik II and his wife Empress Taytu Betul. In its
first years the city was more like a military encampment than a town. The central focus was the
emperor’s palace, which was surrounded by the dwellings of his troops and of his innumerable
retainers. In the 1920s, Addis Ababa experienced a significant economic upturn, marked by a
surge in the number of middle-class-owned buildings, including stone houses furnished with
imported European furniture. The middle class also introduced newly manufactured automobiles
and expanded banking institutions. Urbanization and modernization persisted during the Italian
occupation, guided by a masterplan aimed at transforming Addis Ababa into a more "colonial"
city, a trajectory that continued beyond the occupation. Subsequent master plans, formulated
from the 1940s onward with the input of European consultants, focused on the development of
monuments, civic structures, satellite cities, and the inner city.
 Emperor Haile Salassie enters Addis Ababa in
1946

Prehistory
edit
A DNA studies shows from 1,000 people that humans began migrating from Addis Ababa
vicinity around the globe for 100,000 years.[1][better source needed] Other studies confirmed that Africans
have more diverse gene than other continents, but new research indicated genetic diversity
declination steadily happens while ancestors travelled to Addis Ababa, which roughly a site of
exiting "out of Africa" migration.[2][better source needed] Science journal offered a deductive evidence that
ancient explorers emerged from the region to colonized the rest of continents. Similarity,
the Nature published that the greater geographic distance between a population and its African
ancestors, the more accumulated gene changes occurs.[1]
Middle Ages
edit
Barara, a medieval prosperous fortified city, dated to the mid-16th century, served a basis of
commerce centre. It also served a residence of Ethiopian royal lords and emperors until Dawit II,
diplomats and even for church leaders. The notability of this city led an inclusion of world map.
Corroborating evidence found in debris found in Addis Ababa vicinity, with footnotes and
correspondence with scholastic works. Notable scholars in this subject include Bretenits, Richard
Pankhurst, Falchetta, and Fra Mario in his world map. Subsequently, contemporary scholars such
Professor Getatchew Haile's published and unpublished account those medieval findings. Barara
almost fully sacked by Adalite general Ahmed ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi (Ahmed Gran) during
the Ethiopian–Adal War in 1529; within 14 years, he burnt several churches, historical books,
antiques item of Barara, killing thousands people, and stole gold, silver, and silicon furnishing.[3]
19th-century
edit
Main article: Urban evolution of Addis Ababa
Prelude
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Regarding the foundation, Mount Entoto has been a watershed for establishment of Addis
Ababa. Addis Ababa is surrounded by Entoto to the north, Yerrer to the east, and the most
prominent Menagesha to the west. The area generally served as a garrison town of which
generals allocated an encampment (safar) to settle troops.[4] According to Wolde-Mariam
(1976), urbanization faced formidable problems due to large-scale conflict with warlords,
which converted into garrison town.[5]
Before the advent of Addis Ababa, there were many sites in the surrounding areas that had
been used as temporary capitals for the Kingdom of Shewa. Ankober, a site about 160 km
north of Addis Ababa, served as the capital of the kingdom of Shewa during the second half
of the 18th century. As evidence, the ruins of the palace are still found on the lip of the great
escarpment, which is popular in its breath-taking view. The village of Aliyu Amba, which
was the most important market center of the Shewa Kingdom, is also located below
Ankober palace at one of the broken hills. Other areas,
like Wechecha, Yerrer and Entoto were also temporarily used as capitals of the Shewan
Kingdom.[6][7]
Menelik, as Negus[nb 1] of Shewa, had found Mount Entoto a useful base for military
operations in the south of his realm. In 1879, Menelik visited the reputed ruins of a
medieval town and an unfinished rock church that showed proof of an Ethiopian presence in
the area prior to the campaigns of Ahmad Gragn. His interest in the area grew when his wife
Taytu began work on a church on Entoto. In addition, Menelik endowed a second church in
the area.
In 1881, Menelik moved the capital of Shewa from Ankober to Entoto.[8] A relocation of
imperial nobilities and armies shaped political atmosphere. In addition, there was also a
categorization of the imperial army at the time; fitawrari, loyal to Menelik's expansionism,
thrusts to the west and south; on the right wing of the army, to the north, lay the safar of his
powerful generals and his cousin, Mekonnen; on the left wing, to the south, lay lesser
generals and to the east protect the rear of army lay the palace of dejazemach or commander
of rearguard. Between them were scattered subordinates and lesser nobility.
Major safar was expanse that delimited rival army and prevents from potential clashes.
Other factors that give boundary was the presence of streams and deep gorges, including the
Kebenna, Kechene, Qurtume, and a small Akaki River. There were also a marketplace in
the mid area led by Negadrass and was home of foreign elite community; mostly French,
Armenians and Indians citizens. The original land charter identified safar besides parishes
(atbiya) into division into sections. However, with the presence of military, safar always
important than atbiya for locating the city.[citation needed]

Founding
edit
 Menelik Palace pictured in 2008. It was
constructed in 1890

Soon after Menelik II established his capital on Mount Entoto, he and his wife Taytu
Betul were soon attracted southwards to the nearby hot springs of Finfinne. At the end of
the rainy season in 1886, Menelik and Tatyu, went down to Finfinne along with their
retainers and erected a large number of tents. Tatyu, admiring the scene from the door of her
royal tent, is said to have ask Menelik to give her the land to build her a house there. He
replied, "Begin by building a house; after that I will give you a country." "Where should I
build my house?", she inquired. "On this spot", Menelik replied pointing to a large tree,
"which my father King Sahle Selassie surrounded with a fence: go there and build your
house. Once," he continued, "in this very place Sahle Selassie made the following prophecy,
'O land, today you are full of Gallas, but one day my grandson will build here a house and
make you a city.'" That very week, Tatyu decided to construct a house; her steward was
given orders to start at once, the work was completed not long after.[9][10]

Emperor Menelik II (far right seated) with

retinues watching dynamite testing near Addis Ababa early 1890s.
Published in the French magazine Le Tour du Monde (1896 issue)

In the following year of 1887, Tatyu left her camp at Entoto and established herself in her
new house above the hot springs. The building of the town soon commenced, all the chiefs
were allocated sections of land around the royal area and began building their own
dwellings. The new settlement was then given the name of Addis Ababa or "new flower". In
1889 Negus Menelik expanded his wife's house to become the Imperial Palace, which
remains the seat of government in Addis Ababa today. Between 1889 and 1891, Addis
Ababa became capital of Ethiopian Empire when Menelik II became Emperor of Ethiopia,
after becoming the capital of Ethiopian Empire, Addis Ababa grew by leaps and bounds and
took on the character of a boomtown. The definite building of Addis Ababa began in the
year of 1891, when Menelik ordered French engineers to build the very first stone houses.
The main distribution of this land was given to various foreigners who were assured that
Addis Ababa would never be abandoned in favor of Entoto or any other place. These
foreigners, which included Europeans, Armenians and Indians, had begun to establish
themselves in the town, where their presence and commercial activity led to a steady rise in
land values and ground rents, while the legations of the British, French, Italians and
Russians later established themselves in the settlement.[7][6] After 1896, the city slowly
transformed from military encampment to civilian town. When this happens, travellers and
sportsmen often commented look like a "vast camp" or "collection of village" rather than
what they perceived town.[4][11]

Early urban dwelling and buildings typically

consisted of cluster of huts. Here is an example British legation in Addis
Ababa (1910)

Because of the sizeable population of Addis Ababa, a degree of labor specialization not
seen elsewhere in the empire was possible and Addis Ababa became the site of many of
Ethiopian innovations.[12] The rapid growth of Addis Ababa, especially soon after the Battle
of Adwa, was accompanied by the construction of some of Ethiopia's first modern roads,
large estates were also granted to various notables who served at the Battle of Adwa such
as Tekle Haymanot of Gojjam, Ras Makonnen, Habte Giyorgis Dinagde and Mikael of
Wollo.[13] Early its founding, foreigners had an interest to complement as metropolitan, by
expanding buildings. Much of its settlement consisted of hut complex, constructed with
mud and straw plastered on wooden frame, and thatched roofs. The city further transformed
rapidly without planned intention. By 1910, the city had approximately 70,000 permanent
inhabitants and also had between 30,000 and 50,000 temporary inhabitants.[5][14]
20th-century
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Pre-Italian occupation (1916–1935)
edit
Ras Tafari, later became Emperor Haile Selassie had a considerable influence in the city
after his appointment in 1917. He raised awareness for modernization by distributing wealth
to emerging class. Gebrehiwot Baykedagn started occupying the major administrative
division post, as he ruled as inspector of Addis Ababa—Djibouti railway in 1916,[15] which
also connects Addis Ababa with French Somaliland port of Djibouti.[16]
By 1926 and 1927, Addis Ababa saw economic revolution, a surplus of coffee production
was growing as a result of capital accumulation. In addition, the bourgeoisie benefited the
city with large income of goods. They constructed new, stone-fitted house with imported
European furniture and an importation of latest automobile, and expansion of banks across
the locales.[17] Total register automobiles were 76 in 1926, and summed up to 578 in 1930.[18]
 Aerial view of Addis Ababa in 1934

Road transportation were very unpopular to the city and the country until the opening of
Addis Ababa—Djihour Ridge, about 97 miles northward in the direction of Dessie. This
road was considered the longest continuous motor route, which initially connecting Italian
occupied Assab in Eritrea and Addis Ababa via Dessie as accorded to Italo-Ethiopian
Treaty of 1928. The highway were very important to French owned railway of Djibouti
because of freight rate were very high caused by lack of competition, and believed that
considerable amount of cargo would be increase between Ethiopia and Massawa.
Significant merchants of Addis Ababa were received by Tafari Mekonnen on 18 November
1929, to deal with road extension. A traffic police was introduced, they were dressed up in
European colonial style khakis, but were barefoot. The Emperor's private printing press, the
Berhanena Salam Printing Press was formally opened in December 1929. Modernization in
the fields of public health and education led to the erection of a number of schools and
hospitals, including a school dedicated for freed slaves founded by Tafari Makonnen in
1927.[19]

Addis Ababa
marketplace scene circa February 1934

After crowned as Emperor, Haile Selassie issued with propelling further development of
infrastructures such as importing power lines and telephone, and erecting several
monuments, including one dedicated to Menelik II. A couple of cinemas came into
existence, while Ras Haylu established a nightclub on Addis Alam road. Prior to the Italian
invasion in 1935, the population of Addis Ababa was estimated to be between 100,000 to
200,000 inhabitants, including 6,000 foreigners, mainly Arabs, Greeks, Armenians and
some British, French, Italians, Egyptians and Americans.[17][20]
Italian occupation (1936–1941)
edit

The Italian cavalry advancing to Addis Ababa

following Second Italo-Ethiopian War in 1936

British troops marching through Addis Ababa in East African
Campaign of Second World War

On 5 May 1936, Italian troops occupied Addis Ababa during the Second Italo-Abyssinian
War, making it the capital of Italian East Africa. Addis Ababa was governed by the Italian
Governors of Addis Ababa from 1936 to 1941. In those five years the Italian government
made many improvements to the city, from the construction of hospitals and roads to the
creation of stadiums like the Addis Ababa Stadium.[21] The war of aggression resulted heavy
aerial bombardment of the city, and along with future chartered Dire Dawa; the use
of chemical weapons such as mustard gas constituted the Italian atrocities. The most lethal
chemical weapons include sulphur mustards and spray tanks; the former could be the worst
to sabotage the Ethiopian armies. According to the Soviet estimates, 15,000 Ethiopians
casualties were victim of chemical weapons.[22] Throughout their occupation, trade routes
increasingly became spatial growth; in the last quarter of the century, Addis Ababa
experienced profound road and trade route; opening the pavement to Adama and the Ethio-
Djibouti trade corridor to the north of Ethiopian cities, Moyale with Kenyan territories to
the southwest, and trade route with Sudan to the west. The Italian ambition was to make
Addis Ababa the new beautified capital city and launched competitive master plan gathered
by architects Marcello Piacentini, Alessandro Bianchi, Enrico Del Debbio, Giuseppe
Vaccaro, Le Corbusier, Ignazio Guidi and Cesare Valle. Despite contradictory and different
ideas from each individual, the plan expected to focus more general architectural plan of the
city. In the preparation, two plans were approved; the Le Corbusier and Guidi and Valle.
During meeting Mussolini, the French Swiss architect prepared guideline sketch that
demonstrates monumental structure traversed by grand boulevard across the city from north
to south, extracted from his Radiant City concept from 1930 to 1933. His theory likely
approaching urbanization and placement of colonial military headquarter in front of traffic
square.[23]
The Guildi and Valle's master plan prepared in the summer 1936 more emphasized the
fascist ideology and their monumental icons, with no native Ethiopian involvement of the
designing sector. With two parallel axis, European charactered designed to
connect Arada area/Giyorgis to the railway station in the south end, five kilometers long
with varying width between 40 and 90 meters.[23]
After the Italian army in Ethiopia was defeated by the British army (with the help
of Arbegnoch[nb 2]), during the liberation of Ethiopia in the Second World War,
Emperor Haile Selassie returned to Addis Ababa on 5 May 1941—five years to the very day
after he had departed—and immediately began the work of re-establishing his capital. [7][6] It
was abandoned in favor of Amba Alagi and other redoubts during the war.

Post-Italian occupation (1941–1974)

edit
In aftermath, Addis Ababa suffered from transient economic recession and rapid population
growth that was initiated by the Italian occupation; the inner-city borne urban morphology
whereas the peripheral area sprawling urbanization. In 1946, Haile Selassie invited famous
British master plan designer Sir Patrick Abercrombie, who want to beautify the city and role
model for Africa. Abercrombie started organizing module with neighborhood units
surrounded by green parkways. He draw beltway as a special feature for the plan
characterized by radial shapes intended to channel the traffic away from central area, kept to
green belts. Abercrombie achieved a careful plan of major traffic route, by separating
neighborhood units, and taken from his solution for London traffic problem in 1943.[23]
The outer ring road lying to streams of Kebena, one passing through Awash Winery, thus
making organic nature of the neighborhood unit He also proposed satellite settlements
around in Addis Ababa, which were designated for service center (for school, health
centers, etc). Abercrombie developed monumental feature and grid system that was
prevailed during the Italian occupation, which seemingly contradicted the Italian master
plan in particular areas such as Addis Ketema and Mercato.[23]
In 1959, British consultant team Bolton Hennessy and Partners commissioned an
improvement of Abercrombie's 1954–56 master plan regarding satellite towns. Places like
Mekenissa and West of the old Air Port areas were not incorporated to the proposal, and
Rapi, Gefersa, Kaliti and Kotebe proposed as outlet of Jimma, Ambo, Mojo,
and Dessie respectively (the four regional highways). The plan of Hennessy and Partners
illustrated metropolitan development surrounded by satellite towns that was larger than the
current size of Addis Ababa physically.[23]
In 1965, the French Mission for Urban Studies and Habitat led by Luis De Marien's
prepared master plan for the city responsible for creation of monumental axis passing
through Addis Ababa City Hall through railway station extending to Gofa Mazoria in the
 southern part of the city.[24] The difference between Lius De Marien's plan with the Italians
was the Italians used double monumental axis, while Marien used the single monumental
axis. Through visual links by connecting the Addis Ababa City Hall and the railway station
in the south, it gave impression to Champs-Élysées in Paris that extended from Louvre area
to La Defense district of the city.[23]
Haile Selassie helped form the Organization of African Unity in 1963, and invited the new
organization to keep its headquarters in the city. The OAU was dissolved in 2002 and replaced
by the African Union (AU), also headquartered in Addis Ababa. The United Nations Economic
Commission for Africa also has its headquarters in Addis Ababa. Addis Ababa was also the site
of the Council of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in 1965.[7] [6][25] According to Pankhurst (1962)
survey, 212 square kilometers, 58% of total land were owned by 1,768 persons, owing to 10,000
square meters. 12% of area were given for churches. Some areas still posthumously entitled by
members of various nobilities of that time: such as Dejazemach Wube Haile
Mariam, Fitawrari Aba Koran, and a bridge named "Fitawrari Habtegiorgis" after Habte
Giyorgis Dinagde.[5] According to the 1965 master plan, the city covered an area of 21,000
hectares and would increase to 51,000 hectares by 1984 master plan. The city had only 10
woredas.[23]
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