On March 5, 2025, Professor Dagmawi Woubshet joined Morning Majlis on Pulse 95 Radio to discuss Ethiopia: Modern Nation – Ancient Roots, a book he co-edited with Professors Elizabeth W. Giorgis and Surafel Wondimu Abebe. Released on March 6, 2025, the publication examines Ethiopia’s unique position as the only African nation never colonized and offers new perspectives on its role in African modernity.
Published by Iwalewa Books, based in Johannesburg, the book is a product of The Africa Institute’s Country-Focused Season on Ethiopia (2019–2020), an initiative designed to explore Ethiopia’s historical and cultural legacies through a series of scholarly and public programs.
When asked by co-host Rania Saadi about the time it took to gather the data and resources for the book, Prof. Woubshet explained how the resources from the institute played a key role in bringing the project to life. “The Africa Institute has become a leading center for the study of Africa in such a short amount of time,” he said.
He added that they were able to leverage the institute’s resources and their extensive network to bring together more than 24 leading historians, art historians, and artists—both Ethiopian and from the global diaspora, with contributors from Ethiopia and around the world.
Prof. Woubshet also highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of the project, noting the diverse expertise of the co-editors. “Given each of the co-editors’ disciplines—Professor Elizabeth W. Giorgis as an art historian and curator, Professor Surafel Wondimu Abebe as a historian and theorist, and myself as a literary critic—we were able to cast an interdisciplinary group of contributors.”
In response to a question from co-host Hanny Balkis about the key takeaway for readers, Prof. Woubshet emphasized, “Intellectual growth and delight.” He explained that the book challenges traditional views of African history and offers a deeper understanding of Ethiopia’s cultural identity and legacy.
For those interested in owning a copy, it can purchased at our Meroë Bookshop and online through Iwalewa Books.
Listeners can hear more from Prof. Woubshet in the full interview, available here.
On March 5, 2025, Professor Dagmawi Woubshet joined Morning Majlis on Pulse 95 Radio to discuss Ethiopia: Modern Nation – Ancient Roots, a book he co-edited with Professors Elizabeth W. Giorgis and Surafel Wondimu Abebe. Released on March 6, 2025, the publication examines Ethiopia’s unique position as the only African nation never colonized and offers new perspectives on its role in African modernity.
On March 5, 2025, Professor Dagmawi Woubshet joined Morning Majlis on Pulse 95 Radio to discuss Ethiopia: Modern Nation – Ancient Roots, a book he co-edited with Professors Elizabeth W. Giorgis and Surafel Wondimu Abebe. Released on March 6, 2025, the publication examines Ethiopia’s unique position as the only African nation never colonized and offers new perspectives on its role in African modernity.
Published by Iwalewa Books, based in Johannesburg, the book is a product of The Africa Institute’s Country-Focused Season on Ethiopia (2019–2020), an initiative designed to explore Ethiopia’s historical and cultural legacies through a series of scholarly and public programs.
When asked by co-host Rania Saadi about the time it took to gather the data and resources for the book, Prof. Woubshet explained how the resources from the institute played a key role in bringing the project to life. “The Africa Institute has become a leading center for the study of Africa in such a short amount of time,” he said.
He added that they were able to leverage the institute’s resources and their extensive network to bring together more than 24 leading historians, art historians, and artists—both Ethiopian and from the global diaspora, with contributors from Ethiopia and around the world.
Prof. Woubshet also highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of the project, noting the diverse expertise of the co-editors. “Given each of the co-editors’ disciplines—Professor Elizabeth W. Giorgis as an art historian and curator, Professor Surafel Wondimu Abebe as a historian and theorist, and myself as a literary critic—we were able to cast an interdisciplinary group of contributors.”
In response to a question from co-host Hanny Balkis about the key takeaway for readers, Prof. Woubshet emphasized, “Intellectual growth and delight.” He explained that the book challenges traditional views of African history and offers a deeper understanding of Ethiopia’s cultural identity and legacy.
For those interested in owning a copy, it can purchased at our Meroë Bookshop and online through Iwalewa Books.
Listeners can hear more from Prof. Woubshet in the full interview, available here.
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