Kebur Zabagna
Kebur Zabagna | |
---|---|
Active | 1917–1936 1941–1974 |
Country | Ethiopian Empire |
Branch | Army |
Type | Imperial guard Infantry |
Size | 9 Battalions |
Garrison/HQ | Addis Ababa |
Patron | Emperor of Ethiopia |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Ceremonial chief | Emperor of Ethiopia |
The Kebur Zebenya (
History
Establishment
Italian occupation
As a unit, the Imperial Bodyguard only participated in the Battle of Maychew (31 March 1936), where they inflicted heavy losses on the 2nd Eritrean Division until the Ethiopian troops were forced to withdraw; the Imperial Guard thereafter served in the rearguard. Afterward, many of its members joined the various groups of the Ethiopian resistance. One of these was Kosrof Gorgorios Boghossian, a colonel in the Kebur Zabagna and of Armenian descent, who was the father of noted artist Skunder Boghossian[3][4]
Post-occupation
Following the return of Emperor Haile Selassie to Ethiopia, the Kebur Zabagna was reconstituted, and a Swedish military mission aided in its training. Men for the Kagnew Battalion, which fought in the Korean War, were drawn from the Imperial Bodyguard.[5] During the Korean War they were armed with American weapons which included the M1 Garand .30-06, M1 carbine .30 and some had M1911 .45 ACP pistols.
"It remained the elite force of the empire," notes historian Bahru Zewde, "until discredited in the wake of the
During the state visits of Elizabeth II and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to Ethiopia, Emperor Hail Selassie's Silver Jubilee Golden State Carriage was drawn by team from the Imperial Guard on horseback in red and green uniforms.[7]
The Kebur Zabagna was disbanded after the Derg consolidated their hold on Ethiopia.
Imperial Bodyguard Band
The first permanent military band in the country to be established the Imperial Bodyguard Band in 1929 under the direction of Swiss conductor Andre Nicod. It was notable for its implementation of western style military music conventions in a first for any African nation.[8]
Notable members of the Kebur Zabagna
Commanders
- General Mulugeta Buli (1941-1955)
- Brigadier-General Mengistu Neway (April 1956-13 December 1960)
- Major-General Tafessa Lemma(1974)
Soldiers
- Abebe Bikila, professional athlete and member of the 5th Infantry Regiment.
- Fisseha Desta, first Vice President of Ethiopia from 1987 to 1991.
Bandsmen
- Tilahun Gessesse[9]
- Mahmoud Ahmed.[10][11]
- Alexander Kontorowicz
Notes
- ^ Pankhurst, Richard (1968). Economic History of Ethiopia, 1800–1935. Addis Ababa: Haile Sellassie I University Press. p. 562.
- ^ Bahru Zewde, A History of Modern Ethiopia, second edition (Oxford: James Currey, 2001), p. 148
- ISBN 978-0313322730.
- ^ Legesse, Selamawit (2005). "Skunderism (The Third Annual Blen Art Show)". Blen. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
- ^ Bahru Zewde, A History, p. 186, and Fantahun Ayele, "The Ethiopian Army: from Victory to Collapse 1977–91, Evanston, Northwestern University Press, 2014, 12. [ISBN missing]
- ^ Paul B. Henze, Layers of Time (New York: Palgrave, 2000), pp. 254f. [ISBN missing]
- ^ Observer, Ethiopia (9 September 2022). "Prince Asfa-Wossen Asserate recalls Queen Elizabeth II's Ethiopia visit". Ethiopia Observer. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ Kidane, Birhane (1993). The Origin and Development of the Imperial Guard Band (1924–1974). B.A. Thesis, Department of History, Addis Ababa University.
- ^ "Tilahun Gessesse laid to rest". Ethiopian News Agency. 23 April 2009. Archived from the original on 25 April 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
- ^ Falceto, Francis (1999). Almaz 1973 (Media notes). Éthiopiques. Mahmoud Ahmed. Buda Musique. 829792.
- ^ Mekonnen, Timkehet Teffera. "Timkehet Teffera (2018). Ethiopian Popular Music History Chapter I: Part II".