Black Land: Imperial Ethiopianism and African America by Nadia Nurhussein
Volume 7, Cycle 1
Nadia Nurhussein’s 2019 book, Black Land: Imperial Ethiopianism and African America, analyzes the literature and texts being produced in response to broader Western interest in Ethiopia and its leadership during an 80-year stretch of Black history from the 1860s to the 1940s. Drawing on a wide range of materials such as poetry, novels, newspaper articles, and theatrical or cinematic performances, Nurhussein demonstrates not only how entrenched these conversations were in African Americans’ lives but also the ways that this interest created a paradox: How does one advocate for Black freedom when the focal point of the Ethiopians’ fight is a monarchy that is bent on expanding its territory, little different from the Europeans that threaten it? As Nurhussein describes it, “this is the paradox of this particular brand of black transnationalism and diasporic nostalgia: it built itself around the example of Ethiopia while also holding democratic ideals” (14).
Some writers used exotic and highly Africanized depictions of Ethiopia and its conflicts to bolster African-American relationships with the country, such as news reporting from the 1867 Anglo-Abyssinian war and the poetry supporting Ethiopian war efforts against Mussolini’s Italy. Others used impressions or inaccurate representations to create an image of mystique or grandeur surrounding the country, whether for political purposes or simply performing a long con. Toward the end of the period Nurhussein covers, as the conflict against Italy became increasingly dire, writers such as Claude McKay and George Schuyler demonstrated an ambivalence toward the idea of an imperial Ethiopia, especially in regard to how different their concerns and ideologies were from those in African America. Overall, Nurhussein examines a forgotten part of African America’s international history. Through this story, she demonstrates how the ambiguity over the notions of Ethiopia as a Black empire and Black solidarity based on democracy perpetuated in cultural texts and performances.
"Kutoka kwa Nadia Nurhussein, ""Black Land: Imperial Ethiopianism and African America"" ni kitabu cha kwanza cha Nadia Nurhussein, ambacho kinaelezea historia ya Ethiopia na uongozi wake katika kipindi cha miaka 80 ya historia ya watu weusi kuanzia miaka ya 1860 hadi 1940."" Akitumia vifaa mbalimbali kama vile mashairi, riwaya, makala za magazeti, na maonyesho ya michezo ya kuigiza au sinema, Nurhussein anaonyesha sio tu jinsi mazungumzo haya yalivyoingia katika maisha ya Waafrika wa Amerika, lakini pia njia ambazo maslahi haya yaliunda paradoksi: Mtu anawezaje kutetea uhuru wa weusi wakati kitovu cha mapambano ya Waethiopia ni ufalme ambao umejitahidi kupanua eneo lake, tofauti kidogo na Wazungu wanaotishia? Kama Nurhussein anavyoelezea, <unk>hiyo ni utata wa aina hii maalum ya transnationalism nyeusi na nostalgia ya diaspora: ilijenga yenyewe kuzunguka mfano wa Ethiopia wakati pia kushikilia maadili ya kidemokrasia <unk> (14). Waandishi wengine walitumia picha za kigeni na za Kiafrika za Ethiopia na migogoro yake ili kuimarisha mahusiano ya Kiafrika na Marekani na nchi hiyo, kama vile ripoti za habari kutoka vita vya Anglo-Abyssinian vya 1867 na mashairi yanayounga mkono juhudi za vita za Ethiopia dhidi ya Italia ya Mussolini. Wengine walitumia picha au maonyesho yasiyo sahihi kuunda picha ya fumbo au ukuu unaozunguka nchi, iwe kwa madhumuni ya kisiasa au tu kufanya udanganyifu mrefu. Kuelekea mwisho wa kipindi Nurhussein inashughulikia, kama mgogoro dhidi ya Italia akawa zaidi na zaidi mbaya, waandishi kama vile Claude McKay na George Schuyler walionyesha ambivalence kuelekea wazo la Ethiopia ya kifalme, hasa kuhusiana na jinsi tofauti wasiwasi wao na itikadi walikuwa kutoka wale katika Afrika Amerika. Kwa ujumla, Nurhussein anachunguza sehemu iliyosahaulika ya historia ya kimataifa ya Afrika Amerika. Kupitia hadithi hii, anaonyesha jinsi utata juu ya dhana ya Ethiopia kama milki ya Weusi na mshikamano wa Weusi unaotegemea demokrasia uliodumu katika maandishi na maonyesho ya kitamaduni.