Documents on the Ethiopian students' movement

"If you are gathering just with the intention of exchanging smiles ...", Mengestu Lemma

Part I

Many many years ago, when I was a student in England , my Ethiopian friends, likewise students, graciously invited me to their gatherings.

Then, in August 1950, my friend, the late Ato Mengestu Lemma, who studied with me at the London School of Economics - LSE- invited me to walk with him to a nearby Post Office, to post a letter to North America. This I happily did. Now, over fifty years later, my friend Dr Taffara Deguefe has most kindly revealed to me the contents of Mengestu's letter, which I had helped to post - and which was written to him on 17 August 1950.

Mengestu was then the Secretary of the Ethiopian Students Society in Great Britain , and Taffara was his "opposite number" in North America .

The letter over the years has acquired some historical interest - and indeed deserves a chapter in the history of the Ethiopian student movement. It is for that reason that I publish it today. It is so characteristic of Mengestu's thinking at that time, (as exemplified for example in his article on the Best System of Ideas, which appeared in the magazine the Lion Cub , and of his style of expression, that I almost hear his voice writing it!

I quote the letter in its entirety (adding only cross-headings):

"A MESSAGE OF GREETING TO THE ETHIOPIAN STUDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FROM THE ETHIOPIAN STUDENTS IN GREAT BRITAIN

"17 TH August 1950

"Fraternal Greetings:

Memorable

"This occasion is memorable. It was with delight and full of expectancy that we received the news in London that Ethiopian students in North America were to gather somewhere in Virginia . We do not, as yet, know the nature of the gathering, neither have we received any authentic information about the whole affair. The news that has reached us so far is that some thoughtful and farsighted members of the Ethiopian student body in America have considered it worthwhile and opportune to meet together perhaps, we do not know, with a view of establishing an Ethiopian Students Society with certain objectives and aspirations. If that is indeed the intention of the great number of the Ethiopian students in the U.S.A we welcome the initiative taken, congratulate all those who have put some efforts into its formation, and wish your venture considerable success.

But…

"But if you are gathering just with the intention of exchanging glances and smiles, helping yourself to teas and sandwiches and then dispersing to your temporary abodes, then we exclaim: Alas! And urge upon you the need for co-operation, unity and constant intercourse. We recognise the vastness of America compared to our little Island . We know that you may be separated from each other by miles of [land] and tracts and by distances somewhat difficult to traverse. We recognise all these difficulties but the very fact makes the problem of co-operation even more urgent and as necessity is said aptly to be the mother of invention you must contrive methods and tools such as magazines and newsletters which would at least bring you closer in spirit if not in body.

Emotion

"As we write to you from England on behalf of all the Ethiopian Students in this country we feel a profound emotion. An emotion which overwhelms our spirit, that is pleasant and uplifting, we feel as if we are being united in spirit with our brothers across the Atlantic . While we in the old world sit here and reflect, our spirit humes [sic] across the seas to where you are gathered: to New York, down by land to Washington and beyond to Virginia - there to tender our fraternal greetings, to give expression to the principle of brotherhood, to manifest that bond of love of our country which unites every Ethiopian Student wherever he may be. We send this message to you in remembrance of our old friendships when we used to be at school together in Ethiopia, remembering that we are bound to have a similar outlook for our objective is the same, to discover the path that will lead Ethiopia to progress and its people to secure development of their potentialities so that they may in a short span of time achieve mighty works by their abilities and powers developed to the fullest extent. It is only the completion of this task that will endow the peasant the dignity he deserves and to all citizens nobility achieved by solid work and effort-requiting tasks. This is the burden on our shoulders, the responsibilities of higher education. We can never escape it without injuring our beloved country. Unless every Ethiopian student becomes a 'Progressive Force' in society, Ethiopia will not attain, in not a too far distant future, the greatness it craves for. The building of Ethiopia in the future will require self-sacrifice, the courage to improve and innovate in a country full of old customs and ignorance and above all never to remain complacent and put ourselves and personal interests before that of the country. It will not be personal interests and blood relationship that should unite us in the future but the will to build a better Africa . To this call we have confidence that every Ethiopian's mother's son will respond.

England

"You may like to know something about the Ethiopian Students in England . There are about 100 of us, above the age of sixteen and pursuing their studies at Universities or in Technical Colleges, while the remainder are still in their youthful vigour pursuing their studies in their schools. We have established an Ethiopian Students Society whose membership includes all the Ethiopian students in this country with foreigners and Ethiopians abroad as Associate Members. The Society is now two and a half years old and its activities have multiplied during its lifetime and its objectives also widened in scope. It started as a modest association of Ethiopian students ,s and today it has grown to an active and indispensable organization ratified by the majority of its members. Besides organizing weekly gatherings of Ethiopian students, at frequent intervals, for the purpose of debates, discussions and visits to manufacturing plants and historical places, we also have daily meetings. For instance our Chichester gathering was attended by 32 students and lasted 7-6 days, our Christmas gathering at Birmingham was attended by 37 students and lasted 6 days while last July, only a month ago, we held a most successful gathering of 45 students at Leicester in the University building there. The Leicester gathering lasted 8 days. Besides we publish a magazine named 'THE LION CUB' and we remember sending a number of copies to America last year. We will be willing to send some this year as soon as the Editor, Lij Habte Ab Beiru and Sub-Editor Lij Belaye Abaye, complete their job. We would also welcome contributions from students in America . The magazine is our important means of communication, especially with students abroad.

And in the U.S.A.

"We have tried to tell you something about the nature of our Society and its activities. We hope you will establish a similar society of your own in the USA . Some of the initial difficulties you may encounter in organizing the Society will appear difficult but are easily surmountable if patiently and tactfully tackled. We hope it will not be long before regular relations are established between our Society and yours beyond the seas. If you need any practical assistance or help please do not hesitate to ask us.

"Now before we conclude this rather lengthy message we will like to remind you of various thoughts that come to our minds. Without doubt all of you take interest in World Affairs, the problems that arise between the relations of men, conditions of national strength and so on. These problems are of great importance and one must attempt to study them before one claims to understand then and find their solutions. For this reason we will like to warn you, with all modesty, not to fall a prey to local propaganda as expressed in the press, the radio and so on. After all, one must remember that the American press is controlled by a handful of millionaire capitalists who try to lead the people like sheep to follow them wherever they wish to lead them. But as students you must go deeper and study the American intellectual climate and their way of thought. Mere living in one place, for let us say 3 years or so, is bound to influence you. It is in your hands to control that influence. It is the mark of a human being that we can be selective and chose what to ignore and value. You must also study the nature of other ideals and social values antagonistic to the United States so that you would be able to understand more fully the nature of man in society and so on. So it is necessary to be objective and impartial when considering pr oblems; one may be allowed to be impartial when the interests of the Ethiopian people are at stake if not surely otherwise. So disinterested frankness in consideration of problems is essential. One must learn to look beyond American or Ethi opian prejudices and emancipate ourselves from the tyranny of ignorance and the bondage of personal interests. In the same spirit you must consider how Ethiopia could be rapidly developed and what are the nature of the forces that hinder our progress - that progress which is the forward march of the spirit of the Ethiopian people for great conquest in the emotional, spiritual and material fields. We must always remind ourselves of our essential identity with the peoples of Africa and of African descent wherever they may be and recognize their problems as ours. We must welcome the rise of powerful Oriental nations - China , India , Burma and so on.

Youth

"This and all that is that what moves us when we consider and contemplate the spirit that has urged yo u to gather on Virginian soil. It is the spirit of 'FUTURE ETHIOPIA". It is in your and our hand whether Ethiopia is to have a grand and noble future worthy of her industrious sons or else a slack, lethargic and sluggish future. The spirit of co-operation and solidarity that has descended upon you is a ray of hope. So as we greet you from England we also salute the spirit of the Ethiopian Youth that you have now expressed.