Saving Addis Ababa’s Historic Buildings - and Westminster Abbey's Holding of Ethiopian Loot

By Professor Richard Pankhurst

In my last article in Capital, dear reader, I drew attention to the sad case of Qanyazmach Belihu Degefu's old house, situated in the northern section of Addis Ababa. Part of Qanyazmach's historic building, we saw, has been allowed to collapse.

This issue deserves further comment - before I share with you the no less remarkable information just received from Westminster Abbey, England,

Who was "Shaka" ?

Shaka was the nick-name of Qanyazmach Belehu Degefu, whose historic house is under discussion.

Shaka was a notable Ethiopian Patriot. At the time of the Italian Fascist invasion of 1935-6 he was one of the leading Ethiopian commanders at the battle of May Chaw. He later joined Ras Imru at Gore, in an attempt to organize resiatance in the west of the country. When that failed Shaka continued the struggle in Shawa - and was listed by the Italian Viceroy Rodolfo Graziani in 1937 as a leading opponent of the Fascist occupation,. Shaka was allegedly involved in the Yakatit 12 plot against the Viceroy, as a result of which he was executed by the invaders. His story is told in Emperor Haile Sellassie’s Autobiography (pp. 251, 277).

What is Shaka’s building?

Shaka’s house, which is situated near the German Cultural Institute, is one of Addis Ababa' s few surviving buildings of the Menilek-Iyasu-Zawditu period. It is listed on that account in the Addis Ababa City’s Study of Historical Sites and Structures, published in June 2001, as an “architecturally interesting” building”.

Despite this "listing" part of this structure has been allowed to collapse.

What to do?

It is not enough to ask who was responsible for allowing the collapse of an historic building listed as such in the City Government’s publication – serious as that matter is!

We have rather to ask: What should now be done?

For my part I feel that Shaka’s historic house should be preserved - even at this late hour, The building can be carefully dismantled, the various parts numbered and dismantled – and then re-assembled: perhaps on another site where the house’s historic significance will be recognized. and appreciated for what it is: part of Ethiopia's historic cultural heritage,.

That is what is done in many parts of the world.

Listing of Historic Buildings

Clearly Addis Ababa's historic buildings must be "listed" - and when we say "listed" we mean in a public, published document available for all to see: so that the citizens of the capital can know their heritage. It is no use "listing" a building, as in the above-mentioned Municipal documnent, and then allowing it to fall down,

Legislative action should at the same time be taken to ensure that owners of historic buildings be made responsible for the upkeep of such structures– and be liable to prosecution if they fail in their duty. .Unless such action is taken, dear reader, talk of Preserving Cultural Heritage, would seem little more than Lip Service.

I now turn, dear reader, to my second topic for today

Westminster Abbey - and the Loot from Maqdala.

The capture of Emperor Tewodros's mountain capital at Maqdala by British troops in 1868 was accompanied, as we all know, by extensive looting of Ethiopian cultural property. Such action was in no way justified in international law.

Items of loot from Maqdala keep on turning up, often at auctions, and some, thanks to the pressure of AFROMET - the Association for the Return of Ethiopian Maqdala Treasures - are from time to time returned to Ethiopia.

A case in point was the return of the Tabot, or Holy Altar Slab, discovered in St John.s Presbytarian Church, Edinburgh, which was returned to Ethiopia, largely thrugh the benevolent action of the Rev John McLuckie. On this Tabot's return Addis Ababa, you may remember, went wild with joy.

Other Tabots are held by the British Museum which has long been wondering what to do with them.

We now learn that yet another Tabot was somehow acquired as loot - by Captain W. Arbuthnot, who was one of Robert Napier's five Aides de Camp at Maqdala. Arbuthnot subsequently presented it to Westminster Abbey, which still retains it.

Will Westminster Abbey follow the noble example of St John's, Edinburgh, or will it adopt the more discreditable policy of the sometime British Foreign Secretary.