Ethiopian history

The History Hour

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week’s Witness History episodes.

We’re looking at key moments in Ethiopian history, as it’s 50 years since Emperor Haile Selassie was overthrown in a military coup.

We start our programme looking at the moment a military junta called the Derg who ousted the monarchy in September 1974.

Then, we hear how, before this, the Emperor lived in exile in Bath, in the west of England.

Our expert guest is Hewan Semon Marye, who is junior professor at the University of Hamburg in Germany.

Then, Abebech Gobena who founded an orphanage and was known as Africa’s Mother Teresa.

Following that, the oldest skeleton of a human ancestor, discovered in 1994.

Finally, the Axum Obelisk, returned to Ethiopia in 2005, after being looted by Italy’s fascist dictator.

Contributors: Lij Mulugeta Asseratte Kassa – relative of Haile Selassie.

Professor Shawn-Naphtali Sobers – University of the West of England, Bristol.

Professor Hewan Semon Marye – Ethiopian Studies and Contemporary North-East African Studies at the University of Hamburg, Germany.

Hannah Merkana – raised in Abebech Gobena’s orphanage.

Professor Yohannes Haile Selassie – Paleoanthropologist.

Michele Daniele – Architect.

(Photo: Haile Selassie in his study. Credit: Universal History Archive/Getty Images)