Echoes of the past: historical narratives and the making of Amhara nationalism in Ethiopia

The process that formed the current Ethiopian state is subject to contradictory interpretations. This article examines how these divergent historical narratives of the state formation process have contributed to the emergence of Amhara nationalism. Data were collected through interviews, media opinion analysis and document review. The findings indicate that the discursive roots of Amhara nationalism lie in narratives portraying the Amhara as oppressors, which stem from the racialized interpretation of Ethiopian history by Italian Fascists during their attempts to colonize the country. To undermine collective resistance, the Fascists depicted the state-building project launched by Emperor Menelik in the late nineteenth century as an Amhara-led colonial expansion. This narrative resonated with Ethiopian student activists of the 1960s, who subsequently established ethnic liberation fronts aimed at ‘liberating’ groups perceived as oppressed by the Amhara. Once these fronts seized power in 1991, they institutionalized anti-Amhara rhetoric, resulting in structural violence against the Amhara. In response, Amhara nationalism began to emerge in 1992. Nevertheless, structural violence has continued unabated, culminating in the ongoing conflict between the Amhara Fano and government forces. Given the significant humanitarian consequences, this study underscores the urgent need for concerted efforts toward a peaceful resolution.