The toll of Ethiopia's war on its storied cultural heritage

Record ID: 1644444

  • Title: The toll of Ethiopia's war on its storied cultural heritage
  • Date: 2nd November 2021
  • Summary: ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (OCTOBER 29, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ALEMU AND HIS FAMILY LOOKING AT PICTURES ON PHONE ALEMU'S WIFE
  • Embargoed: 16th November 2021 07:55
  • Keywords: Axumite Empire Ethiopian Orthodox Church Lalibela Tigray region cultural heritage war in northern Ethiopia
  • Location: ADDIS ABABA, AXUM, LALIBELA AND NEGASH, ETHIOPIA
  • City: ADDIS ABABA, AXUM, LALIBELA AND NEGASH, ETHIOPIA
  • Country: Ethiopia
  • Topics: Africa,Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
  • Reuters ID: LVA003F1WMTSN
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Fentaw Alemu, a tour guide who fled fighting in Lalibela to Addis Ababa, sits with his family looking through photographs of his time working in the UNESCO world heritage site.
    Ethiopia's year long conflict between the central government and the ruling party of the northern region of Tigray has taken its toll on Ethiopia’s ancient cultural heritage sites: some were reportedly damaged by shelling, others were reportedly looted, and countless others are inaccessible for worshippers seeking to pray or make pilgrimages. Religious leaders say scores of priests have been killed.
    Construction at Lalibela, was begun by a 12th-century king of the same name. Its 11 grand churches are carved from solid rock and tens of thousands of pilgrims, dressed in airy white cotton, visit each year. Many Ethiopians walk weeks to reach Lalibela to commemorate Orthodox Christmas on Jan. 7.The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and its allies captured Lalibela, located in northern Amhara region, in August.
    Fentaw says there is no evidence of damage or looting of Lalibela, and a buffer zone has been established around the perimeter.
    "Thousands and thousands visit Lalibela," he added. "Some people make a vow, for example saying, 'I will bring something for the church next year if my mother is cured of her illness.' Now these people cannot fulfill their vow.”
    Some of Prophet Mohammad's first disciples came to what is now Ethiopia to escape persecution in Mecca. They were welcomed and given refuge by the Axumite Kingdom, whose capital was Axum in Tigray.
    Historians say some of these disciples built al Nejashi mosque. Although many disciples eventually returned to current-day Saudi Arabia, 15 are said to be buried at the mosque. Turkey funded renovations completed in 2018. In late November 2020, al Nejashi - in the town of Negash - saw heavy fighting between the Tigrayan forces and Ethiopian troops and their Eritrean allies. The mosque sustained serious damage, pictures show.
    Axum, in northern Tigray, was the capital of the Axumite Empire, which spanned almost the entirety of the first millennia AD.
    Today, the city is still dotted with several ancient engraved stone columns known as stelae; it is considered a rich archaeological site. Tens of thousands of Ethiopian Christians normally visit for the Festival of Tsion Mariam, celebrated at the end of November.
    In mid-November last year, there was heavy fighting around the city. On Nov 28, Eritrean soldiers killed many residents - Amnesty International identified at least 240 victims and said it was a potential crime against humanity.
    The Debre Damo monastery, famous for its collection of ancient manuscripts, is believed to have been founded in the sixth century. Only men are permitted to visit; they must climb a rope up a 15 meter cliff to get to the top of the flat-topped mountain it is built upon. Abune Mathias, the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, said in May that several churches had been damaged or destroyed, including Debre Damo, where he said at least one monk was killed. He did not say who was responsible.
    “Our treasures are in danger at this moment because of this conflict," said Birhan Yeshiwas, the Historical Treasures Curator at the National Museum. “The treasures in our country are very ancient - we cannot find them elsewhere or replace them.”
    (Nazanine Moshiri)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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