{UAH} Emperor Haile Selassie statue unveiled

Emperor Haile Selassie statue unveiled

February 10, 2019 | by Ethiopia Observer | 0 

A statue of Ethiopia's last emperor Haile Selassie, an iconic figure who garnered an image of an elder statesman and leader of Africa, was unveiled outside the African Union's headquarters in Addis Ababa on Sunday. The unveiling ceremony of the statute was attended by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mussa moussa Faki Mahamat, Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo and Rwandan president Paul Kagame.

The bronze statue shows the Emperor making his signature hand sign with the thumb and index finger in a triangular shape. The statue is in recognition of the Emperor's contribution to Africa's liberation and unity leading up to the founding of the Organization of African Unity in 1963, the African Union said in a press release.The Emperor (1892-1975) also brought Ethiopia into the League of Nations and the United Nations and made Addis Ababa the major centre for the African Union.

Three Ethiopian artists, Bekele Mekonnen, Mesfin Tesfaye and Henock Azene under the banner of Alle Felege Selam School took part in designing and sculpting the statue.

Emperor Haile Selassie and Ghanaian president Kwame Nkruhuma promoted Pan-Africanism and African unity and spearheaded the creation of the Organisation of African Unity on 25 May 1963. Though a statue was unveiled for Nkruhuma on February 2012, Emperor Haile Selassie was conspicuously ignored, provoking the ire of many Ethiopians. A petition demanding that a statue of Nkruhuma be joined by Emperor Haile Selassie has been launched since then.

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