A statue of Kwame Nkrumah unveiled at the new AU headquarters in Addis Ababa

http://www.capitalethiopia.com/images/stories/feb-5-i.jpg

A statue of Kwame Nkrumah unveiled at the new AU headquarters in Addis Ababa

http://www.capitalethiopia.com/images/stories/feb-5-i.jpg

disputed

http://news.yahoo.com/long-live-king-aus-lavish-home-hit-statue-144025271.html;_ylc=X3oDMTEwbTU0aDlrBF9TAzIwMjM4Mjc1MjQEZW1haWxJZAMxMzI4ODg2Nzkx


ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Perched under the shadow of a 100-metre tall marble monolith, a short-sleeved Kwame Nkrumah stands with his right hand raised in triumphant pose, his eyes gazing at the heavens.

The bronze statue, unveiled amid pomp and pageantry last month at the opening of the African Union's new headquarters, immortalized Ghana's beloved late leader in the heart of Ethiopia's capital, in a glowing tribute to a trailblazer for African independence.

Some Ethiopians, however, are not impressed. A row has broken out in the Horn of Africa country over why the country's late emperor Haile Selassie I was not accorded the same tribute, with opposition officials expressing dismay over the snub.

"I am really saddened. It is tragic that such a man has been left out," said former opposition party chairman Gizachew Shiferaw. "No one deserves more recognition than Haile Selasse when it comes to fighting for the African cause. Not Nkrumah, not anybody else," he told Reuters.

Some Ethiopians living abroad have also joined the chorus of calls criticizing "His Imperial Majesty's" absence.

"He (Haile Selassie) has the legal, moral, historical and diplomatic legitimacy to have his statue erected next to Kwame Nkrumah, we believe," said a letter written by a group of Ethiopian expatriates to the AU's deputy chairman Erastus Mwencha.

Haile Selassie I, toppled by a military junta in 1974, was the last emperor of a monarchy that claimed lineage from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, and is revered as a messiah by members of the Rastafarian faith, especially in Jamaica.

He died a year after being overthrown, and his body was found decades later beneath a palace lavatory, bearing what forensic experts said were signs he had been murdered.

Like Nkrumah, the diminutive ruler won plaudits during his lifetime for efforts to strengthen unity among Africa's new states and was influential in the formation of the Organisation of African Unity, predecessor to today's African Union.

But he is also a polarizing figure. While praising his continental credentials, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has never shied away from criticizing him as a "feudal dictator."

Government officials say the emperor was authoritarian and his feudal land system sparked cycles of drought that continue to this day.

Opposition members said they suspect a political motive for snubbing him.

"What is the message being sent? Here is a man with the history alongside other Africans and he's been ignored," said Beyene Petros of the Medrek opposition group.

Meles, while addressing parliament on the country's six-month economic performance on Wednesday, defended the decision to erect a statue to Nkrumah, without directly addressing the question of whether Haile Selassie also merited such an honor.

"There is nothing political about the statue," he told lawmakers. Nkrumah was an "automatic choice" when it came down to picking one statesman as an "African symbol."

"I think it is even crass and disrespectful to question why a statue has been erected in Kwame Nkrumah's honor," he said.

African Union officials have not commented on whether they would consider building another statue in their sprawling Chinese-built complex.

(Editing by Yara Bayoumy and Peter Graff)

They are absolutely right - HS may have sucked as a leader for Ethiopians, but his legacy for the African Union is indisputable. What's happened is really shameful.

They are absolutely right - HS may have sucked as a leader for Ethiopians, but his legacy for the African Union is indisputable. What's happened is really shameful....Even African leaders who voted against Haileselesie couldn't help noticing Meles Zenawi's deep sited ethnic resentment....Hadn't they fallen-out, Meles would rather personally vote for Isais Afewrqe than kewame or haileselasie..

because of haileslasse’s historical, diplomatic and political significance for the continent, addis abeba become the political capital of Africa. THAT IS THE BIG STATUE. but we are complaining about a piece of statue.:ohno:

because of haileslasse’s historical, diplomatic and political significance for the continent, addis abeba become the political capital of Africa. THAT IS THE BIG STATUE. but we are complaining about a piece of statue.:ohno:.....

It was well and good for Meles to defend the presence of AU in Addis for it has economic and political significance, but I bet he could have tried the same thing to recognize Haileselasie's personal contribution to the birth of AU..by the way, we don't want to politicize the thread, but why deny what Meles himself has never denied about his feelings towards ethnic Amhara(listen to people who knew him in early days such as Herman coen...the guy obsessively hates Amhara that he would rather allow a foreign Tigre (Isais Afewrqe) piss on him than reconcile with the people and country he rules...His silence over this statue is a reflection of just THAT deep sited grudge.
!

http://nazret.com/blog/media/blogs/pict/African-Union_1.jpg

WHy did they have to make it a golden one? I think bronze is good look for a statue it adds strength and some seriousness to the object, gold is too shiny to be used for a statue, it drowns the features of the statue,,,, I guess we Africans love the bling bling too much.

There is another image of the shiny,, kwame Nekrumah statue

http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/article6917359.ece/ALTERNATES/w380/Kwame-Nkrumah.jpg

There is another image of the shiny,, kwame Nekrumah statue

http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/article6917359.ece/ALTERNATES/w380/Kwame-Nkrumah.jpg

They should also erect a statue of the late emperor Haile Selassie as he played a big role in the formation of O.A.U. and in the liberation of many african countries from colonialism.:cheers: lol! meles calling HS a feudal dictator? ...and him?

Guys I think the Haile Selassie can only be recognized by the AU after Ethiopia and Ethiopians start truly celebrating him. It would be very strange and odd otherwise.

They should also erect a statue of the late emperor Haile Selassie as he played a big role in the formation of O.A.U. and in the liberation of many african countries from colonialism.:cheers: lol! meles calling HS a feudal dictator? ...and him?
+1 million

They should also erect a statue of the late emperor Haile Selassie as he played a big role in the formation of O.A.U. and in the liberation of many african countries from colonialism.:cheers: lol! meles calling HS a feudal dictator? ...and him? Amen brother... meles the midget has a huge inferiority complex against Haile Selassie... if he would choose he would construct a statue of Isaias Afewerki before Haile Selassie:ohno:

Guys I think the Haile Selassie can only be recognized by the AU after Ethiopia and Ethiopians start truly celebrating him. It would be very strange and odd otherwise.

Believe me, most Ethiopians including those who resent him for not reforming his backward way of ruling celebrate his achievements as a great state's man...the only person who seems to have an issue with HIM is the little inferior ethnocentric midget from Tigray..believe me, that little guy's heart is in that rotten colonial town Asmara, not with Ethiopian's. the only thing that is getting on his way is the power challenge from the other arrogant Tigrian that now calls himself Eritrean(a Greek word brought by Italians).

They are absolutely right - HS may have sucked as a leader for Ethiopians, but his legacy for the African Union is indisputable. What's happened is really shameful.


What is really shameful is the reaction of Ethiopians who are getting worked up about the fact that HE Kwame Nkhuruma was chosen over their beloved Hailesilassie. No one would deny the important role the Emperor played in the formation of the OAU. He brought a compromise between the true Pan-Africanists such as Kwame Nkhuruma who wanted to form a single nation and those who were opposed to political union. AU is without a doubt in line with Nkhuruma's vision and not Hailesilassie's. If we want to honor the founding fathers of the OAU(predecessor of the AU), then we would have a farm of over 30 statues for great leaders such as Senghor, Nyerere, Kenyatta, Nasser etc. Actually we should leave out the Sesesekos and the Sekotures who were no good to their countries.

Believe me, most Ethiopians including those who resent him for not reforming his backward way of ruling celebrate his achievements as a great state's man...

Do not include me...


the only person who seems to have an issue with HIM is the little inferior ethnocentric midget from Tigray..believe me, that little guy's heart is in that rotten colonial town Asmara, not with Ethiopian's. the only thing that is getting on his way is the power challenge from the other arrogant Tigrian that now calls himself Eritrean(a Greek word brought by Italians).

Didn't know that you are a mentaly challenged person.....Tigray, Asmara, Midget...bla bla..what's all this trash talk anyway? You should be thankful for having such an attractive building to exist in your city in the first place. Worrying about statue... Ye Diha Neger Alga Silut Amed...

The Statue is all about Pan-Africanism - nothing to do with AU. Kwame Nekrumah is a symbol of Pan Africanism - PERIOD! Your beloved HaileSelasie was another Ye Amhara leader.

Amen brother... meles the midget has a huge inferiority complex against Haile Selassie... if he would choose he would construct a statue of Isaias Afewerki before Haile Selassie:ohno:

:puke:

Do not include me...

The Statue is all about Pan-Africanism - nothing to do with AU. Kwame Nekrumah is a symbol of Pan Africanism - PERIOD! Your beloved HaileSelasie was another Ye Amhara leader.


That's what we call inferiority complex. Ye tigrai neger.

The Statue is all about Pan-Africanism - nothing to do with AU. Kwame Nekrumah is a symbol of Pan Africanism - PERIOD!
A statue infront of the AU HQ has everything to do with the AU. Ethiopians (non-Amhara haters that is) isn't saying that Kwame should be replaced, but that HIM deserves to be recognized as well.

PS. I agree that the insults are unnecessary.

And when are they moving the HQ?

I'm personally more upset the statue is in a garish gold color. Let's get one right before we start planting others, m'kay?

Kwame is an excellent choice!

Why not have 3 statues. HIM, Kwame and Mandela. Its so dictatorial to have one. Mandela would have been an uncontroverial choice.

Meles is "intrisically the enemy of ethipia" and always will be. He is also a Marxist-Albanian maoist and ethnic racist. He did not want him because he hates Ethiopia/Amhara and resents the monarchy.

Meles is just a tin pot dictator that knows Most ethiopians like Haile sellasie and cant stand him.

Ethiopia used to have a statue of Joseph Stalin during the Dergue era so I would not be surprised if they made a statue in honor of Tafari Mekonnen. They were both murderers. But it won't any time soon under TPLF leadership so don't hold your breath.

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/3328/28489067602dbf5645cvx1.jpg

Do you see Stalin now? Mengistu did as he wanted, Haile is still present around Addis.

Isayais is a murderer and a dictator. Go worry about him and the young Eritreans that's flowing into Ethiopia every month instead of trolling our forum.

Do you see Stalin now? Mengistu did as he wanted, Haile is still present around Addis.

Isayais is a murderer and a dictator. Go worry about him and the young Eritreans that's flowing into Ethiopia every month instead of trolling our forum.

If that's what you want to call it, "trolling". Tafari Mekonnen is only seen as a saint by a few. To most people that had to live under him, he was a genocidal dictator.

When you are bashing 'A' for being a dictator and murderer while supporting 'B' that could fit in the same category, it kind of demolishes your opinion and that's why I call it trolling.