ADWA, Ethiopia, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Celebrating the 123rd anniversary of the victory of Adwa, Ethiopians on Saturday were urged to sustain the positive gains of independence struggle.
The battle of Adwa, which is also referred to as the first Ethiopian-Italian war, marks the first black victory against a colonizer force in the African continent.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, President Sahle-Work Zewde as well as various other high-profile Ethiopians stressed the need to sustain the positive achievements of victory - a moment believed to initiate freedom fighters in Africa's struggle for independence.
Ahmed in his message to the Ethiopian public regarding the victory of Adwa, said that the victory was a "momentous triumph" for Africa in particular and black people of the world in general.
"The heroic deeds of our foremothers and fathers against the colonizing Italian force did not only realized Ethiopia's political independence, but also freed the current generation from the brunt of colonialism," Ahmed said.
The premier also stressed that the victory of Adwa was a "hopeful and emblematic moment" in Africa's quest for independence and the abolition of slavery across the globe.
President Zewde, speaking in a national event that was held to mark the anniversary in Adwa town in northern Ethiopia where the Italy force was defeated by the Ethiopian empire under the leadership of Emperor Menelik II, also dubbed the victory as a positive "inspiration for Ethiopia's current generation."
"The victory of Adwa signifies the togetherness and unity of Ethiopians in protecting Ethiopia's sovereignty as well as our national interest," Zewde said.
Noting the victory of Adwa, which was fought some 123 years ago, as a symbol of Ethiopians' strong and defining character against an enemy force, Zewde further called Ethiopia's current generation to sustain the positive gins of the forefathers.
The day was also celebrated in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, where thousands of Ethiopians gathered to remember the fallen patriots.
Mayor of Addis Ababa city Takele Uma said during the commemorative event that "our ancestors sacrificed their lives so as to maintain the freedom and pride of Ethiopia as well as the current generations."
The mayor also revealed that a memorial statue will be erected "to remember the great sacrifice of the patriots" in Addis Ababa, which is also considered as the capital of Africa as it hosts the headquarters of the African Union (AU).
The victory of Adwa has been also given immense consideration by the pan-African bloc AU as well as fellow African countries.
The AU together with the Ethiopian government have envisaged to establish the Adwa Pan-African University that aspires to pay tribute and study black people's achievements and history.
