20th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies ኛ ፳ የኢትዮጵያ ጥናት ጉባኤ Regional and Global Ethiopia – Interconnections and Identities 30 Sep. – 5 Oct. 2018 Mekelle University, Ethiopia Message by Prof. Dr. Fetien Abay, VPRCS, Mekelle University Mekelle University is proud to host the International Conference of Ethiopian Studies (ICES20), the most prestigious conference in social sciences and humanities related to the region. It is the first time that one of the younger universities of Ethiopia has got the opportunity to organize the conference by itself – following the great example set by the French team of the French Centre of Ethiopian Studies in Addis Abeba organizing the ICES in cooperation with Dire Dawa University in 2012, already then with great participation by Mekelle University academics and other younger universities of Ethiopia. We are grateful that we could accept the challenge, based on the set standards, in the new framework of very dynamic academic developments in Ethiopia. The international scene is also diversifying, not only the Ethiopian one, and this conference is a sign for it: As its theme says, Ethiopia is seen in its plural regional and global interconnections. In this sense it becomes even more international than before, as we see now the first time a strong participation from almost all neighboring countries, and other non-Western states, which will certainly contribute to new insights, add new perspectives and enrich the dialogue in international academia. The conference is also international in a new sense, as many academics working in one country are increasingly often nationals of other countries, as more and more academic life and progress anywhere lives from interconnections. Historical change is in the making! As the Vice-president responsible for research and community services I am particularly happy that this conference can take place in Mekelle, as it will strengthen the already existing networks of international and regional academic cooperation, help creating new ones and thus greatly strengthen research. Conferences live not only from paper presentations, posters, exhibitions and book launches, but also from the uncountable informal talks going on during breaks, relaxed evenings and in the seminar rooms. What is really new and important about research projects, and what their real potential is, becomes often more clear during these talks, and this will create new chances for individual researchers and academic institutions to develop themselves and get recognition. I am especially happy that this conference is also marked by a great presence of junior researchers, which shows how much Ethiopian studies and all the disciplines in social sciences and humanities interested in Ethiopia are flourishing. We see much future developing here. Therefore we congratulate our teams who organized the conference together with the international organizing committee (IOC), the Institute of Ethiopian Studies of Addis Ababa University and partners in the organisation such as the Frobenius-Institute of Frankfurt University, and we express our deep gratitude to the co-funders of the conference.