September 23, 2024.
Yared Asfaw
(Freelance Writer)
Email: yasfaw012@gmail.com
In the early 1970’s, for student’s movement, Fano reckoned as liberators from Hailesselassie’s regime for whom demanded reform. The students marches on the streets of Addis Ababa, chanting the word ‘’Fano’’ blending it with Ho chi Minh and Che Guvera, displaying the slogan ‘’ LAND TO THE TILLER’’. Their commitment stemmed from their sympathy for the impoverished serfs.
Based on Ethiopia’s historical context, the word ‘’Fano’’ cannot be attributed to a single ethnic group or tribe, but rather perceived as any rebellion, regardless of ethnicity or religion, who fought against foreign invaders. This is evident in the 1896, when Italians attempt to conquer Ethiopia in accordance to the so called The Scrambled for Africa, King Menelik II rhetoric plea effectively foregather the entire nation to fight back the Italians forces at the Battle of Adwa and preserve Ethiopia’s sovereignty.
In October 1936, the Italians retaliate by invading Ethiopia hoping to avenge their prior humiliation. The war begun almost six years after the coronation of Haileselassie I. This time Italians, who equipped with modern artillery defeated Ethiopian forces easily. After Haileselassie I exile to England, the patriots, whom loyal to the emperor fight Italians for five consecutive years. Among Ethiopians, this patriots referred to as Fanos esteemed to be defenders of the nation. With British military support the Ethiopians forces were able to defeat the Italians and helps hailesselassie to reign again. The emperor return to Addis Ababa on May 5th 1941, Henceforth, every year on that day, Ethiopians celebrate ‘’Patriots day’’ to commemorate the rebels who sacrifice their lives during the Italians tyranny.
The Addis Ababa University student’s movement were supposedly sympathetic to rural peasants and their expectations were to the establishment of a republic which encompasses every member of society. But their famed struggle were exploited by the Derg, low ranking officers of the government, depose Haileselasise and form a socialist regime.
Despite Derg’s being antithetical to many values of Haileselassie’s administration, they managed to espouse Ethiopian unity and achieved triumph at Ogaden war hence and keeps Ethiopians solidarity like its precedent governments.
Although the incumbent Government, Prosperity Party members, attempts to incriminate Fano as illegitimate armed group, the reality is far from it. Many Ethiopians besides the Amharas, Somalis, Afars, Gurage, Hadias, Kafa’s Welaita’s and so forth, still uphold the notion, Fano as liberator from their current oppressor.
Fano: A living saviour of the Amhara people And the Ethiopian spirit