The Treaty of Wuchale: African Victory over European Expansionism

In March 1896, a well-disciplined and massive Ethiopian army did the unthinkable—it routed an invading Italian force and brought Italy’s war of conquest in Africa to an end. In an age of relentless European expansion, Ethiopia had successfully defended its independence and cast doubt upon an unshakable certainty of the age—that sooner or later all Africans would fall under the rule of Europeans. The battle of Adwa marked Ethiopia’s victory against Italian colonization. It all started with the treaty of Wuchale. The short documentary below gives you an idea about it. This indeed was the biggest, the only, African defeat of European expansionism and ugly scramble for Africa. Enjoy!

2 thoughts on “The Treaty of Wuchale: African Victory over European Expansionism

  1. Sheku Kabba

    It’s so strange how Europeans talk about treaties with Africans when Africans did not understand their languages nor did the Europeans understand African languages. How could any two parties enter to a complex treating without each party understanding the language o the other. This was another form Western criminality unleashed on the African peoples! No doubt most African leaders are so corrupt today. Corruption was handed down to Africans by Europeans period.

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    1. Sheku… you are so right! To think that some of these treaties were in English, German, Spanish, Portuguese… and they were said to have used interpreters, but how true were their renditions?

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