The Ethiopian Community Mutual Assistance Association (ECMAA), in collaboration with Columbia University’s Ethiopian and Eritrean Student Association, will host its 12th annual commemoration of the Battle of Adwa and Yekatit 12 on February 28 in New York City. The event at Alfred Lerner Hall honors two pivotal moments in Ethiopian history. It features discussions and a virtual reality experience exploring these events.
The Ethiopian Community Mutual Assistance Association (ECMAA) will host its 12th annual commemoration of the Battle of Adwa and Yekatit 12 on Saturday, February 28, from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at Alfred Lerner Hall in New York City, in collaboration with Columbia University’s Ethiopian and Eritrean Student Association. This event honors two defining moments in Ethiopian history: the Battle of Adwa, a landmark victory that influenced global views during the Scramble for Africa, and Yekatit 12, a remembrance of the 1937 massacre in Addis Ababa under Italian occupation.
This year's program includes a panel discussion led by historian Dr. Shimelis Gulema and New York-based mixed-media artist Ezra Wube. A key feature is Gibbi, a new virtual reality experience created by Wube that immerses participants in a lesser-known aspect of the Yekatit 12 tragedy. The VR work recreates the 1937 violence in Addis Ababa, ordered by Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, following a failed assassination attempt on Viceroy Rodolfo Graziani. It highlights how hundreds of civilians found refuge at the American Gibbi, the historic U.S. Legation compound, amid the city's destruction.
Through immersive storytelling, Gibbi reflects on themes of memory, survival, and the preservation of overlooked historical narratives. By blending scholarly insights with contemporary art, the event provides historical context and fresh perspectives on the past. Organizers describe the annual gathering as a venue for intergenerational learning, remembrance, and dialogue.
The event is open to the public, but RSVPs with full names are required per university policy, and photo ID is needed for entry.
