Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah Emperor Haile Selassie I, Elect of God, Defender of the Faith, King of Kings of Ethiopia On July 23, 1892, Ras Makonnen Wolde Mikael of Harrar, a grandson of King Sahle Selassie of Shoa, and his wife Woizero Yeshimebet Ali Aba Jifar welcomed the only child born to their marriage who would survive to adulthood. LiJ Tafari Makonnen, as he was known then, would grow up to be a transformative leader of his country, continuing the legacy of modernization and development begun by his cousin Emperor Menelik II. Ethiopia at the turn of the 20th Century When Emperor Haile Selassie was born over a century ago, Ethiopia was a medieval empire. Emperor Menelik II, presided over provinces ruled by powerful feudal kings and nobles who exercised their traditional authority to appoint and remove local officials, tax their subjects, and raise their own armies. The country was landlocked, surrounded by colonial powers who cast a covetous eye on her territories. There were few paved roads, modern schools, hospitals, banks, telephone, and telegraph lines. The railroad to Djibouti was still under construction and would not be completed until LiJ Tafari was an adult. There were no modern schools or universities, government ministries were embryonic, and taxation and tariffs, were mostly in kind. The vast maJority of the subJects of the Empire were farmers or herders with no formal education, except those provided by traditional religious teachings. Building a modern state By the time Emperor Haile Selassie relinquished power in 1974, Ethiopia was well on its way to becoming a modern state. An administrative structure and a modern bureaucracy had been created. New civil and commercial codes, based on European models, were in place. And while the traditional nobility continued to exercise some power and influence, young and well-educated officials, often of humble origins, occupied key positions in the government. Most of central government and provincial administrations offices were also filled by professional civil servants. A modern system of taxation had been set up and government coffers audited and maintained professionally. To maintain law and order and defend its sovereignty, Ethiopia created a fully professional, and well-equipped police force and military. Creating the foundations of a modern economy MaJor progress had also been made in establishing the foundations of a modern economy. The Imperial Highway Authority was created to build trunk roads to connect cities and towns. Ethiopia developed one of the most successful Airlines in Africa as well as a successful Shipping Line. A modern postal service was created. With the active encouragement of the government, modern factories and farms had begun to be established. All this was accomplished with what little resources that Ethiopia could mobilize domestically, aided with modest foreign assistance. A towering African and international leader During his lifetime Emperor Haile Selassie was regarded as one of the foremost international leaders and acclaimed as such by the international community during his many foreign visits. Starting in 1935 when he warned the League of Nations that its failure to denounce Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia was a betrayal of its principles and that it would lead to its own demise, he became a tireless champion of “collective security” and an Icon of the anti-Fascist movement. Following the liberation of Ethiopia from fascist occupation and the creation of a strong defense force, the Emperor authorized the participation of Ethiopian troops in United Nations operations such as those in Korea and the Congo. The Emperor also wholeheartedly supported African liberation movements and their leaders, including Mandela of South Africa, Kenyatta of Kenya, Nyrere of Tanzania and Kaunda of Zambia. While personally involved in many other international and African peace keeping efforts, his crowning achievement was his universally acclaimed leadership and diplomacy in bringing African leaders together in Addis Ababa in 1963 to create the Organization of African Unity, the precursor of today’s African Union. For his untiring efforts, Africa leaders called him the “Father of Africa”. A dedicated focus on education While Emperor Haile Selassie will be remembered for his many internal and external achievements, generations of Ethiopians who got the opportunity to obtain modern education in Ethiopia and abroad will always be indebted to him. Recognizing that building a modern Ethiopia depended above all on furthering the education of his people, the Emperor had an unwavering focus on furthering the education of his people. When appointing ministers to his cabinet in the early part of his reign, he kept for himself the portfolio of the Ministry of Education, showing the importance he attached to it. Having created the first truly modern elementary and secondary school – the Teferi Mekonnen School – in 1924 while he was still Crown Prince and Regent, he gave priority to establishing primary and secondary schools in towns and villages. Often, reluctant families had to be persuaded to send their children to these schools. In the early days, the Emperor frequently would visit these schools, inspect the facilities, and see to it that the students were well fed and properly clothed. As the need for higher education became evident, Ethiopia began establishing different colleges – the University College of Addis Ababa, the Gondar Medical College, the Alemaya Agricultural College, the Holy Trinity Theological College, and the Building College in Addis Ababa. In addition, the Emperor took a keen interest in the arts, visiting regularly the newly established St. Yared Arts School and establishing the country’s first National Theater for music and drama. Some of these institutions became the building blocks for Ethiopia’s first University, the Haile Selassie I University (today Addis Ababa University), which was established in 1962 and housed in the Emperor’s Genete Leul Palace, which he donated to the University. The country’s colleges allowed a rapidly growing number of Ethiopians to obtain high-quality higher education in their own country. And at the Emperor’s direction, a scholarship program was created to allow students from newly independent African nations to also attend these colleges. A transformative legacy When one considers how the Emperor found Ethiopia when he assumed state power in 1916 as Crown Prince and Regent, and how he left it when he was removed from the throne by a group of low-ranking military officers in 1974, one can only conclude that he was by far one of the most transformative leaders his country ever had. The Emperor presided over a long and relatively prosperous and peaceful reign. His impact on modern secular education in Ethiopia remains second to none. He worked exceedingly hard to better the lot of his people, and ultimately accepted his removal from power without causing bloodshed. Ethiopians during his reign could hold their heads up high all over the world. For all of that he is owed a great debt. Our best way to repay this debt is by helping to further his vision of a prosperous and educated Ethiopia. Help us achieve his goal. .