The Epitomizations of Anoole and Menelik II Monuments in the Age of Reconciliation in the Ethiopian Polity: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

The narratives of civil war histories have been reproduced by the victims and perpetrators side at different focal points. Accordingly, Anoole and Menelik monuments are the face of one coin in representing the war history took place during the monarchical regime in Ethiopia. The overriding purpose of this study was to examine the epitomizations of Anoole and Menelik II memorial monuments, and their challenges and opportunities in the process of today’s reconciliationprocess in the Ethiopian polity. The study employed textual analysis, document analysis and in-depth interview as tools to generate data. In-depth interview was employed with seven participants from academic and political spheres to triangulate the textual analysis.Besides, four currently closed down non-government magazines which gave high coverage on the issue of both monuments, and documents from Oromia Culture and Tourism Bureau and Addis Ababa City Governance were selected and analyzed qualitatively. The result of the study reveals that the design, history and the political manifestations of both monuments were the main challenges in the process of reconciliation between perpetrators and victims. On the other hand, monuments are symbols that represent social, cultural, and political terms of one country. They have power to define and transfer of an identity of society. Accordingly, Anoole and Menelik II monuments create an opportunity to represent and transfer the historical narratives took place between major ethnic groups (Oromoo and Amhara) in Ethiopia to the next generation.Lastly, the study makes suggestion as to how the challenge could be changed to prospectand the symbolization of both monuments might be preached for the generation to come.