“If only Ethiopia had been colonised, perhaps we would have developed faster.”
By: Habte H.
The Victory of Adwa was not merely a battlefield success. It was a historic rupture in the logic of imperial domination. At a time when European colonial expansion seemed unstoppable, Ethiopia demonstrated that African sovereignty could be defended. Adwa was not only a military victory; it was a moral and psychological victory over imperialism and fascism. It revived the voice of colonised peoples and gave hope to millions across Africa and the Black world.
For many Africans and members of the global Black diaspora, Adwa became a guiding light. Leaders of anti-colonial movements in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and beyond drew inspiration from Ethiopia’s resistance. Ethiopia’s independence was a symbol that colonialism was not destiny.
Much has been written about this triumph. However, far less attention is given to a quieter narrative that occasionally resurfaces: the suggestion that Ethiopia might have been “better off” had it been colonised. Some argue that colonisation would have brought infrastructure, stronger institutions, or faster modernisation. Others imply that Ethiopia “missed” the so-called civilising process experienced by some former colonies.
Is this sentiment rooted in reason? Or does it emerge from frustration, misunderstanding, or deeper political motivations? This piece tries to discuss this briefly, as follows:
Who Tends to Advocate This View?
1. Western-Educated Elites of Earlier Generations
During the imperial period, many Ethiopians were sent abroad for higher education. Exposure to industrialised societies left lasting impressions. Some returned home impressed by the physical infrastructure, governance systems, and technological advancement they observed. For a small minority, this experience created an internal comparison that led to resentment: “If only Ethiopia had been colonised, perhaps we would have developed faster.” In some cases, colonial modernity was romanticised without acknowledging the exploitative foundations upon which it was built. These individuals often became influential in universities and policymaking spaces. Whether consciously or subconsciously, some unintentionally framed independence as a missed opportunity rather than a strategic advantage.
2. Those Who Feel Excluded from the Adwa Narrative
Another group includes individuals or communities who believe that the story of Adwa disproportionately glorifies certain leaders or institutions, particularly the monarchy or the church. While historical debates about representation are valid, some react not by demanding inclusive recognition but by attempting to diminish the victory itself. Rather than expanding ownership of Adwa to all Ethiopians, they detach from it. In doing so, they unintentionally weaken a shared national milestone that belongs to everyone.
3. Disillusioned Youth
A significant part of today’s youth faces genuine and painful realities: unemployment, rising living costs, limited economic opportunity, and the difficult choice of migration. Many are frustrated by governance failures, corruption, political instability, and slow institutional reform. Their disappointment is understandable. When daily life feels uncertain and comparisons with other countries seem discouraging, it is easy to search for simple historical explanations.
In this context, some may conclude that colonisation might have accelerated Ethiopia’s development. But governance failure is not proof that independence was a mistake. Poor leadership, weak institutions, and policy missteps are internal challenges that require reform, not historical regret. Independence guaranteed the right to shape our own future; it did not guarantee automatic prosperity. The solution to present difficulties lies in better governance, accountability, and institutional strength, not in romanticising foreign domination.
4. Those with Political or Ideological Agendas
History is not only remembered; it is contested. Since the defeat at Adwa, colonial powers did not abandon their ambitions. Italy returned four decades later. When military conquest failed, soft power, narrative influence, ideological reshaping, continued. Minimising Adwa or questioning the value of independence can serve broader political goals: weakening national identity, fragmenting collective memory, and eroding unity. In this context, questioning the value of independence is not accidental; it is strategic.
But what Is Often Overlooked?
- Colonisation Was About Extraction, Not Prosperity
Across Africa, colonial rule was designed to extract resources, gold, rubber, cotton, minerals, and ship them to Europe. Railways and ports were built primarily to facilitate export. Infrastructure existed, but it served imperial interests. A very few colonised nations emerged from colonialism with inclusive industrial economies. Many inherited fragile systems dependent on exporting raw materials. History offers sobering examples. In the Congo, colonial rule under King Leopold II was marked by brutal extraction of rubber and minerals, resulting in millions of deaths and long-term institutional collapse. In Algeria, French colonisation culminated in one of the bloodiest wars of independence in the twentieth century, leaving deep political scars that persist today. In India, British rule coincided with devastating famines, including the Bengal Famine of 1943, where millions perished while grain exports continued. These cases illustrate that colonialism was not a development project; it was an extractive system designed to serve imperial interests.
- Education Was Restricted
In many colonies, formal education was deliberately limited. Some colonial administrations restricted education to primary levels sufficient to produce clerks and low-level administrators. Higher education, a key to prosperity, was discouraged to prevent political awareness and resistance. The idea that colonisers arrived with a mission to educate and civilise ignores documented policies of containment.
- Colonial Borders and Policies Created Long-Term Instability
Artificial borders divided ethnic groups and merged rival communities. Governance systems privileged some groups over others. These structural distortions contributed to many of Africa’s contemporary conflicts. The scars of colonial administration did not disappear at independence; they persist.
- Development Comes from Internal Reform
Countries such as Japan modernised rapidly without being colonised. Their transformation was driven by internal reform, discipline, and unity. Development is not a gift granted by domination; it is built through governance, institutional reform, and social cohesion. Ethiopia’s path to prosperity lies not in regretting its independence but in improving its governance, strengthening institutions, and fostering unity.
- Remember the Price of Freedom
Ethiopia’s independence was not a historical accident; it was secured through immense and irreplaceable sacrifice. Hundreds of thousands gave their lives so this generation could live with dignity and sovereignty. That struggle was not for their benefit alone, but for ours. To regret or trivialize that inheritance is to forget its cost. Our duty is not resentment, but responsible stewardship of the freedom they secured.
- Dignity and Sovereignty Are Priceless
Poverty can be addressed. Institutions can be reformed. Infrastructure can be built. But once sovereignty is lost, regaining it often requires generations of struggle. The sacrifice of those who fought at Adwa was not for temporary comfort. It was for dignity, the right to determine Ethiopia’s own destiny. They did not fight for themselves alone; they fought for future generations.
The Real Question
The debate is not whether Ethiopia missed colonisation. The real question is whether Ethiopia has fully utilised the independence secured through sacrifice. Adwa did not guarantee prosperity. It guaranteed the opportunity for self-determination. What Ethiopia has done with that opportunity is a separate matter, and one that demands honest reflection, not historical regret.
Criticising governance failures is legitimate. Demanding reform is necessary. But romanticising colonisation overlooks historical reality and risks undermining collective dignity. The Victory of Adwa remains a foundational moment, not because Ethiopia was perfect, but because it proved that domination was not inevitable. That legacy continues to inspire beyond Ethiopia’s borders.
The task today is not to question whether independence was a mistake. It is to build a nation worthy of the independence secured at such great cost. Freedom is not the end of the journey. It is the beginning of responsibility.
Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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Did you say “Hundreds of thousands gave their lives”,?
So 15,000 Italian soldiers killed 200,000+ Ethiopians? Or is that the typical exaggeration spewed by ignorant stooges of Arat Kilo? These are the same Ethiopians who try to make Italians seem like Gods Of Colonization. Ethiopians talk about Europeans as if they are Superhuman.
I’m sick of it!