Emperor Menelik II (1844 – 1913) united several small kingdoms into the Ethiopian Empire in 1889 and became its first emperor. He was a major contributor to the creation and modernisation of present day Ethiopia; it was during his reign that the first formal schools providing western-style education were established, starting in 1908. He granted the concession for the building of the Ethio-Djibouti railway line in 1895, which opened up the hinterland of the country to communication with the sea. Menelik also introduced national and international telegraph services in the country a mere ten years after the invention of the technology in Europe, in 1895.

Emperor Menelik II successfully defended his country against the colonial invaders who were scrambling for African land in the nineteenth century. Indeed he created unprecedented history for black people by defeating the Italian invading forces at Adwa in 1896. This was the first time that colonialist invaders were stopped by an African power from grabbing African, and became a great source of pride for Africans and black people around the world. Subsequent to his defeat of the Italians, Menelik expanded the Ethiopian empire by nearly twice its previous size. He is still revered by many as a wise emperor who successfully defended the territorial integrity of his nation and launched Ethiopia towards modernisation.

Emperor Menelik II (1844 – 1913) united several small kingdoms into the Ethiopian Empire in 1889 and became its first emperor. He was a major contributor to the creation and modernisation of present day Ethiopia; it was during his reign that the first formal schools providing western-style education were established, starting in 1908. He granted the concession for the building of the Ethio-Djibouti railway line in 1895, which opened up the hinterland of the country to communication with the sea. Menelik also introduced national and international telegraph services in the country a mere ten years after the invention of the technology in Europe, in 1895.

Emperor Menelik II successfully defended his country against the colonial invaders who were scrambling for African land in the nineteenth century. Indeed he created unprecedented history for black people by defeating the Italian invading forces at Adwa in 1896. This was the first time that colonialist invaders were stopped by an African power from grabbing African, and became a great source of pride for Africans and black people around the world. Subsequent to his defeat of the Italians, Menelik expanded the Ethiopian empire by nearly twice its previous size. He is still revered by many as a wise emperor who successfully defended the territorial integrity of his nation and launched Ethiopia towards modernisation.