HOWARD UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF AFRICAN STUDIES
RALPH J. BUNCHE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS CENTER
in partnership with Ethiopian-American Constituency &
Haile Selassie I International Development Foundation

PRESENTS
 A TALE OF TWO NATIONS


                                                                                                                                         COMMEMORATING THE CENTENNIAL OF ETHIOPIAN-UNITED STATES RELATIONS

March 25-27, 2004
US-Ethiopia Relations Centennial Celebration Held at Howard University
The Haile Selassie Foundation participated in a three-day celebration of the one hundred years of diplomatic and cultural relationships between the United States and Ethiopia. The events took place at Howard University in Washington DC from March 23-27, 2004. At the request of the organizing committee, the Foundation held two sessions on March 27, 2004. The Ethiopian American Constituency Foundation, The Ethiopian Holocaust Remembrance Committee, and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Churches collaborated to sponsor the Foundation's presentations.

It has been approximately 46 years since Emperor Haile Selassie graced the campus of Howard University where he received an Honorary Degree of Law in 1958.  Inscribed in the history book of Howard University, the Emperor is acknowledged as having contributed large scholarship funds surmounting to millions in Ethiopian currency at that time.  It was an honor for the Haile Selassie I Foundation to join in the celebration along with other members of the Ethiopian community in collaboration with Americans to commemorate the historical milestone in the history of both great nations.
 
 H.I.M. HAILE SELASSIE I RECEIVING HONORY DEGREE OF LAW, HOWARD UNIVERSITY 1958

Prior to the event, the Foundation arranged an interview of its Advisory Board Member and Author of  "Haile Selassie's War," Mr. Anthony Mockler, on NPR’s The Kojo Nambdi Show, WUST Radio.  Mr. Mockler gave a compelling interview with listeners tuning in from around the nation. Dr. Alem Hailu joined in the interview offering an insightful discussion of the Ethio-Italian war.  Dr. Hailu, Professor of African Studies and member of the organizing committee, was instrumental in making the Centennial Celebration a success.


Anthony Mockler, Kojo Namdi, Dr. A. Hailu following live radio interview on “Haile Selassie’s War”

Mr. Mockler's presentation of "Haile Selassie's War," captivated the audience and left them with the desire to look back at that particular era in Ethiopian history.  The audience was also impressed by Mr. Mockler's detailed knowledge of the Italian invasion of Ethiopia and his accurate recollection of the names of the Ethiopian patriots who fought in the war and freed Ethiopia from colonial occupation.  "Haile Selassie's War" is deemed by the Haile Selassie I Foundation as an important addition to its library as it illustrates how the various ethnic groups joined forces to protect the territorial integrity of their nation.

A.Mockler Presents “Haile Selassie’s War”, Haile Selassie I Foundation’s Centennial Program, Howard U.
Left to right- Dr. Bekele Molla, Mr. Raymond Hall, Imani K. Kali-nyah, Ms. Sosinna Tesfa, Anthony Mockler

Mr. Robert Bailey from the Senate's Office of Maryland and a member of the board of advisors of the Haile Selassie I Foundation, in his address mentioned to the audience his great admiration for Ethiopia and Ethiopians in the United States.  He spoke of his personal connection to Ethiopia and his interest to support the Foundation’s efforts to further its programs to educate, address health issues in Ethiopia and positively impact the socio-economic problems in Ethiopia.

Among the audience were distinguished guests from the Royal Family of Ethiopia and Professor Getachew Haile who engaged the panelists and audience in an intellectual discussion of the historical incidents of the war Mr. Mockler depicted in his book.  Following Mr. Mockler's presentation, Imani Kali-Nayah astounded the audience with a mock court trial presentation of war crimes detailed in her book, "Italy's War Crimes."  Ms. Kali-Nayah serves as a committee member of the Ethiopian Halecaust Rememberence Committee along with Richard Pankrust, President of Roots International.

The program opened with an address by Ms. Sosinna Tesfa, the Executive Director of the Haile Selassie I Foundation, who conveyed his Majesty’s charitable contributions in Ethiopia, the United States and the Caribbean. 
[click here for presentation] 

The Foundation's President concluded the presentation with his personal account of Emperor Haile Selassie's advancement in the field of education.

Special thanks to Howard University's Dr. Alem Hailu and Mr. Tamirat Medhin of the Ethiopian American Constituency Foundation for inviting the Haile Selassie I Foundation to participate in this historical celebration of the relationship between our two great nations.  The Foundation would like to extend its sincere gratitude to the members of the community that supported this event and contributed to the Foundation's fundraising efforts.


Arch Diligent Fikre Gelaye, Dr.Hailu, Ms. Sosinna Tesfa, Members:Ethiopian Orthodox Clergy Association.

The Foundation would like to thank the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Clerg Association with special thanks to its Chair, Arch Diligent Fikre Gelaye of St. Michael Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church, for accepting the Haile Selassie I Foundation's invitation to participate in the Centennial Celebration by opening the event with a prayer and, at their own volition, accenting the Celebration with a wonderful Shibsheba, a religious Ethiopian choir program, which received wonderful reviews by the spectators who filled the auditorium.

Schedule of Presentations