How Ethiopia Beat Colonialism | The Life & Times of Menelik II

But even before Italy got served at the Battle of Adwa, Menelik was a busy guy. Did anyone else know Ethiopia had its own Warring States period (Era of Princes / Zemene Mesafint)? Because I certainly didn't. And the fact that Tewodros did the initial unifying, was briefly succeeded by Yohanes IV, and only then Menelik took charge, I feel like Menelik's basically the Ethiopian version of Tokugawa Ieyasu. And what's up with this whole Solomonic dynasty?

Anyway, if you're looking for more, here's the Project Africa playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playli....st?list=PLivC9TMdGnL

And here's another cool video on Ethiopia by Epimetheus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbk54q0Jks8

Footnotes:
0:26 - Considering I've seen it written as "Shoa" in older sources, I'm 95% sure I mispronounced Shewa throughout this entire video

0:59 - In case you're wondering, the video on Menelik's TV is made by Bernadette Banner and can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thlzJj1EHiY

1:10 - Using the Ethiopian terms, Menelik's Uncle Haile Mikael was made Shum of Shewa by Tewodros, whereas Menelik's father was Negus. Most other "governors" had the title of Ras.

1:21 - Tewodros' ginormous mortar was named Sebastopol and was even larger than shown here. The original is half-buried at Amba Mariam new his fortress capital of Magdala (the place where Tewodros killed himself following a defeat against the British) the replica used in the video is at the center of Tewodros Square in Addis Ababa

1:32 - More than Menelik's family, the nobles of Shewa who were upset at a non-royal being promoted abovethem were largely responsible for Menelik's return. The woman here is representing Queen Worqitu of Wollo

1:43 - If that's not the most magnificent crown you've ever laid eyes on, I don't know what is

1:50 - The audio coming from Menelik's off-screen TV is a celebration of Ethiopian New Year's

1:58 - Tewodros imprisoned a few British missionaries and representatives, which led to the British attacking Ethiopia and Tewodros' death. At some point after the battle someone must have thought it was a good idea to save some of his hair for posterity, because it ended up the National Army Museum in London until earlier this year when it was returned to Ethiopia

2:04 - "The next guy" here is Yohannes IV. There was actually a third guy in between Yohannes and Tewodros, but he isn't particularly noteworthy, only reigning for 3 years and without much control over the empire due to having several rivals

2:20 - The story also goes that Solomon's son with the Ethiopian Queen of Sheba, named Menelik I, ran off with the Ark of the Covenant. So it allegedly resides now in a church in the small city of Axum.

2:51 - Admittedly, many of those 5 million people who died over the course of 30 years did so as a result of the ensuing famine, but mass killings by the military were not uncommon

4:27 - Untitled Goose Game is going to date this episode, I can tell

4:31 - That currency being the Ethiopian Birr, which is now Ethiopia's official currency

4:36 - "One of his wives" as in he married and divorced several times, not as in a harem


Music:
0:00 Gétatchèw Mèkurya - Akalé Wubé
0:07 No clue, ask Cogito
0:20 "Ethiopian Classical Music - Instrumental" unknown title/composer
2:10 Michael Levy - Holy of Holies
2:25 "Ethiopian Classical Music - Instrumental" unknown title/composer
2:30 Noisestorm - Crab Rave
2:32 "Ethiopian Classical Music - Instrumental" unknown title/composer
3:12 Rachmaninoff - Prelude in G Minor (Op. 23 No. 5)
3:50 Blind Guardian - Battlefield (8 bit cover by YT channel Epic-NES-MEtal)
4:06 Gétatchèw Mèkurya - Akalé Wubé
4:44 Ethiopian National Anthem
4:53 "Ethiopian Classical Music - Instrumental" unknown title/composer