Speaking of the bravery of Zer’ai Deres in the streets of Rome and the story of the Lion of Judah statues in Addis and how they survived the Derg regime, the Imperial Ethiopia home page says :

The Lion of Judah Monument stands in the square in front of Addis Ababa’s train station. The golden colored statue of the Lion of Judah in it’s complete glory stands on a black granite pedestal which is decorated with relief portraits of Emperors Menelik II and Haile Selassie I, and Empress Zewditu, as well as Ras Makonnen. It marks the foot of the city’s widest and avenue, Churchill Road which has the impressive Addis Ababa City Hall at it’s other end. The Lion of Judah statue has a very interesting history. Erected in 1930 just before Emperor Haile Selassie’s coronation, it was looted by the Italian occupiers in 1935 and taken to Rome, where it was erected next to the Vittorio Emanuelle Monument. During the 4th anniversary celebrations of the proclomation of the Itlian Empire, Adolf Hitler chose to visit Rome, and attended the celebratory parades along side the Fascist Dictator Musollini and King Victor Emanuelle III. In the parade were numerous subjects of Italy’s African Empire, including a young Eritrean named Zerai Deres. Zerai Deres was marching with other parade members carrying a ceremonial sword with which to salute the King, the Fuhrer, and el Duce, at the grandstand. As the parade marched past the Vittorio Emauelle monument, Zerai looked up and saw to his shock, the golden Lion of Judah, the symbol of the ancient monarchy to which his ancestors had long owed allegiance, erected as war booty in the heart of Rome. It was too much for him to bear, and he promptly drew his sword and with tears of anger running down his face he fell on the first Italian officer he could find. He killed and wounded numerous Italian military officers before he was killed. Zerai Deres is lionized to this day as a brave Ethiopian patriot. The monument remained in Rome for several decades, and was finally returned to Addis Ababa after long negotiations in the 1960′s. When it was re-erected in it’s square the day it arrived, the Emperor was present in military uniform to salute, and to pay tribute to Zerai Deres. Following the revolution in 1974, the Dergue regime decided to remove the statue once more as it was a monarchist symbol. However, the elderly war veterans association members appealed to the Dergue to consider the memory of Zerai Deres and his sacrifice that was inspired by this very symbol. This act saved the statue and it stood it all it’s Imperial glory right through the Dergue era, and continues to stand today.

Hilarious! There are two** Lion of Judah statues in Addis Ababa. According to the above source, they both survived because of the legacy of Zer’ai Deres. More stories about the Imperial Monuments of Ethiopia from here and nice pictures of Haileselassie from here.

** There are actually three. Yekatit 12 Martyrs Square  at Sidist Kilo square has another smaller lion of Judah statue on top of it and it survived too!

It has got long legs and long muzzle which enables it to hunt its prey. It has got distinct, bright tawny rufous coat with black and white marks and has mean mass of 16kg.

Habitat and Ecology

The Ethiopian Wolf is a very localized endemic species living in confined and isolated pockets of afro-alpine grasslands and heath lands. It normally habits at an elevation on and above 3000 m. They are known to habit in seven isolated populations in Ethiopia – as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Geographical distribution of the Ethiopian Wolf (Sillero-Zubiri, C. & D.W. Macdonald, 1997) (left) and National parks in Ethiopia with Semein and Bale National parks circled in red (Atlas Ethiopic)(right)

But of these seven pockets of afro-alpine, the wolves are protected only in two of these areas where the majority of the populations exist – the Semein National Park and the Bale National Park.

The afro-alpine habitat is a unique, rare and the only refuge for three of Ethiopia’s endemic species – the Walia Ibex, the Gelada Baboon and the Ethiopian Wolf.

Diet and Social Organization

Ethiopian Wolves are solitary, diurnal foragers of small mammals of the high altitude afro-alpine grassland community. Afro-alpine rodents dominate these cold and barren plateaux and survive the bad weather by living underground. Rodents are in abundance both in biomass and diversity, thus providing the wolves with sufficient food. In addition, wolves are facultative cooperative hunters and hunt preys such as hares, hyrax and small ungulates.

In terms of their social organization, they have discrete and cohesive social packs with strong hierarchies, communal breeding and territorial defense. They congregate for social greetings, border patrols at dawn, noon and evenings and rest together at night. They break up to forage individually in the morning and early afternoon.

History

The German Naturalist and Explorer Eduard Rüpell first described the Ethiopian Wolf in the Semein Mountains in 1835. In the 1960’s, Leslie brown, British Naturalist visited Semein, Bale and Arsi Mountains in the north and southern Ethiopia and proposed the creation of the Bale Mountains National Park. In 1980’s, Chris Hillman from the New York Zoological society set up the Bale Mountains Research project.

Cultural and Economic significance

Ethiopian wolf does not play any mentionable role in mankind’s culture and economy apart from the income it generates, to a limited extent, through tourism. Few tourists visit the Semein and Bale National Parks to see the wolves and other endemic species.

The Ethiopian government has featured Semein Fox and other endemic species in stamps as national symbols – Figure 2.

Figure 2 – Ethiopian Stamps featuring Semein Fox

There is no indication of exploitation of the wolves for furs or other purposes. There is no poaching or trading in live wolves although there are some reports that in the Semein Mountains, some people used the wolves’ livers for traditional medication (Staheli, 1975). There are also no indications of wolves being tamed for use as pets.

Threats

Habitat loss and fragmentation

Global warming / Continental warming

Afro-alpine habitats were geographically widespread during the Pleistocene, however during the last 15,000 years; these habitats were reportedly becoming increasingly rare and fragmented because of the gradual warming of the African continent that pushed upward the lower boundaries of the afro-alpine grasslands. Scientists report that this process has reduced the habitat available to the Ethiopian wolf by at least one order of magnitude.

High-altitude subsistence agriculture

Habitat loss and fragmentation is also worsened by increasing high altitude subsistence agriculture and grazing. And the problem of habitat destruction, soil degradation and high population pressure are persistent. Much of the Ethiopian Wolf’s decline during the last few decades is the result of habitat destruction particularly in northern Ethiopia. Heather and grasslands have been cleared to grow cereal crops and provide grazing. The immediate consequences are diminished rodent prey populations and increased conflicts with human populations.

In general, habitat loss and fragmentation result in population isolation increasing the rate at which genetic variability is lost, Smaller populations, and Conflicts with human interest with increasing contact with humans, livestock and domestic dogs.

Human Factors

Another threat for wolves is the increasing exposure of livestock to wild carnivores conceivably resulting in stock losses and escalation of human-wild life conflict, increased contact with domestic dogs and wolves resulting in potential for hybridization and disease transmission, and increased road kills.

Overgrazing

The extensive overgrazing by cattle may have a significantly unfavorable impact on rodent populations. Habitat loss and fragmentation are further worsened by increasing demand by people in the area for agriculture and grazing. The highlands of Ethiopia are amongst the most densely populated agricultural areas with in Africa today: rural densities of 47 people / km² (Woldemariam, 1972). Extensive overgrazing may have a negative impact on the rodent population.

Diseases

One of the threats the Ethiopian Wolf is facing is spread of diseases. The main diseases are the rabies and canine distemper. Repeated threat from rabies in the Bale National Park prompted the launching of the Bale Rabies Research project. For instance, the large outbreak of Rabies transmitted by domestic dogs in the Bale National Park in 1993 and 2003 reduced the wolf population by 75 % and 76 % respectively. And that means in the Bale Park, wolf population was close to extinction with their numbers declining from 440 to 150.

Hybridization with domestic dogs ( funny!)

Hybridization with domestic dogs has been seen in some places of the Bale Mountains. This is seen as a serious problem in terms of the diseases the dogs transmit to the wolves and also in terms of the genetic integrity of the wolves.

Conservation Status

At the moment there are only 450-500 Ethiopian Wolves left in seven isolated populations in the Ethiopian Highlands. The IUCN has put it in its Red List as Endangered Species. In Ethiopia, they are officially protected in two national parks – the Semein National park in the north western part of the country and the Bale National Park in the South.

Conservation Measures

A number of conservation measures were made on the Ethiopian Wolf. In 1997-2000, the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Program (EWCP) in cooperation with the Ethiopian Wildlife Association undertook ambitious series of surveys of the Semein Fox population that reached every afro-alpine pocket in the country.

In the Bale Mountains, the EWCP has been working for the last two decades and launched several programs as part of a counter conservation measure against what they categorized as necessary to keep the wolf population from extinction. Some of those measures included education of adults and children, preparing annual Wolf-Day sports festivals, tourism development, strengthening protected areas network ( fund patrolling of the park as there is lack of funds from the government), and carrying out vaccination and sterilization campaigns amongst the local dog populations. Following the measures taken by the EWCP, the Wolf population in the Bale National Park has stabilized and continued research and funds has kept these species safer in this area.

But the studies made on the Wolf population in the Semein Mountains show the whole wolf population in the area is not under protection. As can be seen in the Land sat image in Figure 3, the park does not cover the entire Afro-Alpine habitat in which the wolves habit. The encircled are areas where the wolves are spotted in the area. The yellow line shows the extent of the park’s coverage. There are two issues here – one thing is the area with in the park itself needs more policing. Second thing is that even major wolf ranges are not at all in the park. It is recommended that these areas are also included in the park or at least get some status for protection. Further study that could be useful is a bigger GAP analysis study of the Afro-alpine habitat so that any plan to re-design the park may not again miss out a significant part of the area where the wolves habit.

Figure 3. Land Sat image with overlays of the Semein National Park. The spotted areas are areas of settlements (small rural towns) while the yellow line indicates the park’s boundary and the ellipse indicates ranges where the Ethiopian Wolves were spotted.

References and sources of more information;

Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme (EWCP)

Lone Wolf Project

Good old times! Every thing seems to be classic in these old time Ethiopian TV music videos – the music, the dance, the clothes, the shoes, the hair style, the curtains . . .

Even more, every body seems to be very happy – or may be dancers had to visibly smile by then! Not bad!

I also discovered later that he had a show in Addis Ababa where he performed at the African Union Hall. What made the news tastier was his encounter with Gaddaffi while performing for African Head of States. It is written on his site:

The Gala was attended by the African heads of state who are all said to have greatly enjoyed Baaba’s performance, except Colonel Gaddafi who kindly requested that the volume be turned down.

hilarious and continues . . .

It’s a good thing Colonel Gaddafi was not in attendance three days later when Baaba Maal performed at the Taste of Addis-Africa show. The high energy show went down a storm as Baaba took the stage and performed at the Glocal Hotel venue on the 2nd February.

Apart from singing, Baba says he is working and committed to contribute more to improving the living conditions of disadvantaged people in Africa.

But speaking of Gaddaffi, I keep on getting hilarious stories about this guy such as this, this and this.

In just ten pages, the Professor hilariously documents how beautiful, intelligent and revered the Queen of Sheba was. And how she happened to be impressed with the wits and wisdom of King Solomon, traveled all the way to Israel to test his wisdom and some of the hilarious questions she asked during her one month stay in Israel. King Solomon in return asked her about how the Shebans (the people she ruled and came from) managed to avoid war for centuries and about her foreign policy to which the Queen replied:

“Our secret is simple enough – what we call the Three D’s. Distance between our land and others. Desert as a barrier to invasion. And – when necessary – skilled Diplomacy. Thanks to these, we have avoided conflict and maintained our independence.”

The book also mentions about the debate over the exact location of Sheba -whether it’s Africa or Arabia? Ethiopia or Yemen? But it cites evidences like Kibre Nagast and Josephus’ Antiquities for her being African and Archeologists placing Sheba in Yemen. ( But I have a question here, haven’t I seen the ruins of the Palace of the Queen of Sheba in Axum ? – obviously dug up by Archaeologists?). This is not the first time that I heard blurred stories about the Queen of Sheba. I have once heard some researchers on the BBC that the Queen of Sheba is just a Legend. That she never existed at all!

Speaking of Kibre Negest (the Glory of Kings) and How influential a medieval African literature it was and what it means in the context of Ethiopian history and religion and perhaps its influence in the future is excellently and concisely put in here.

The Book is fantastic and you can download the free pdf from the Professor’s site in here or buy in here.

I know of no better illustration of the way reciprocal obligations can reach long and powerfully into the future than the perplexing story of $5,000 of relief aid that was exchanged between Mexico and Ethiopia. In 1985, Ethiopia could justly lay claim to the greatest suffering and privation in the world. Its economy was in ruin. Its food supply had been ravaged by years of drought and internal war. Its inhabitants were dying by the thousands from disease and starvation.Under these circumstances, I would not have been surprised to learn of a $5,000 relief donation from Mexico to that wrenchingly needy country. I remember my feeling of amazement , though,when a brief newspaper item I was reading insisted that the aid had gone in the opposite direction.Native officials of the Ethiopian Red Cross had decided to send the money to help the victims of that year’s earthquakes in Mexico City.

It is both a personal bane and a professional blessing that whenever I am confused by some aspect of human behavior, I feel driven to investigate further. In this instance, I was able to track down a fuller account of the story. Fortunately,a journalist who had been as bewildered as I by the Ethiopians’ actions had asked for an explanation. The answer he received offered eloquent validation of of the reciprocity rule : Despite the enormous needs prevailing in Ethiopia, the money was being sent to Mexico because, in 1935, Mexico had sent aid to Ethiopia when it was invaded by Italy(“Ethiopian Red Cross,” 1985). So informed, I remained awed,but I was no longer puzzled. The need to reciprocate had transcended great cultural differences, long distances,acute famine, many years and immediate self-interest. Quite simply,a half-century later, against all countervailing forces, obligation triumphed.

Interesting!

I was listening to the radio this past Sunday when they interviewed him on the VOA Amharic Service. Some guy in Ethiopia sung his full CD – and the CD is being sold as “oldies”! I share the anger of Muluken here! The new singer says he did it all “out of love and admiration” for the singer! Is this a joke? I mean this guy along with his friends spent their time, skills, money to make this great work of art and contibuted to our society and somebody just wakes up and copies everything (mind you, it is not just one song, it is the whole CD) – and some folks expect us to admire this ‘new breed of muluken‘? Well, out of love and admiration, you keep and respect what somebody has done and get inspired – and if you have the skills,then you do something new and perhaps even better! But you just do not copy and paste and try make money and fame out of it!

If we are to allow people like this new guy to make money by copying and perhaps spoiling what other have splendidly crafted and get famous for that, we are not going to see our music and art grow! Such kind of deeds should really be discouraged and the law should also be working in here! I also did not like the way the VOA journalists interviewed Muluken -(I fully understand If Muluken is fully angry here) they appeared to have a tone as if they supported the new young singer! I disagree with the idea that they aired the copied music too! If we are going to encourage the development of art and music in our society, we need to be encouraging creativity, not otherwise!

Great respect for Muluken – you have contributed a lot to our society!

You may listen to the interview in here. (the interview is some where in between)

And here is Muluken’s Mewdeden wededikut on Bernos.

You can listen to Muluken’s song, album by album, on Tizita .

(correction :  Muluken’s Music is on Tizita.org,  Not ambassel)