Meyazia 27 Square

The monument.

Meyazia 27 Square, commonly known as Arat Kilo, is a square in Addis Ababa. In its center is the eponymous monument, commemorating Ethiopia's liberation from Fascist Italy. In the Ethiopian Calendar Meyazia 27 (May 5th), is both the day when Addis Ababa fell to Italy in the March of the Iron Will and the day when Emperor Haile Selassie triumphantly returned to the city after its liberation.[1]

The original monument included a relief of the Emperor Haile Selassie holding the flag of Ethiopia, which was altered during the rule of Mengistu Haile Mariam into a representation of a guerrilla fighter holding flag. [1]

Due to its proxmity to the Menelik Palace, residence of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, and the Ethiopian Parliament Building, Arat Kilo is often used as a metonym for the Ethiopian government [2][3][4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Imperial Monuments of Ethiopia". Imperial Ethiopia Homepage. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  2. ↑ Assefa, Emnet. "Thousands Protests in a Rare Protest". Addis Standard. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  3. ↑ Kassa, Girma (14 April 2013). "Arat Kilo Must Change". Awramba Times. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  4. ↑ Bekele, Yilma. "Hot air from Arat Kilo". Ethiopian Media Forum. Retrieved 22 August 2013.