1903 - Abyssinian Victory at the Battle of Adwa Celebrated with National Unity Day in Ethiopia

On May 10, 1903, Ethiopia commemorated the decisive victory at the Battle of Adwa (1896) with the first National Unity Day celebration under Emperor Menelik II. While the battle itself is more widely known for halting Italian colonial ambitions, the 1903 Unity Day commemoration is far less discussed. This symbolic observance marked a pivotal effort to solidify Ethiopia’s diverse ethnic and cultural groups under a single national identity. Menelik used the event not only to honor the military triumph but also to strengthen ties between the Amhara, Oromo, Tigray, and other groups who had fought together. The ceremony included prayers, feasts, and the honoring of war heroes—many of whom were from underrepresented ethnic groups. Though this annual observance faded over time, it represented one of Africa’s earliest post-victory attempts at intentional nation-building and unity following successful resistance to European imperialism. Today, it\’s an overlooked but powerful testament to pan-Ethiopian solidarity.