Addis Ababa University (AAU) launched a book entitled “The New Age of Empire: How Colonialism and Racism Still Rule the World”, written by Kehinde Andrews who is a Professor of Black Studies at Birmingham City University, on a ceremony held at Ras Mekonnen Hall on December 16, 2022.

The point of the book is to show that the world is still shaken by racism; the impact of colonialism in intellectual, political and economic situations is still governing the world with continuous results of racism, white supremacy and global economic inequalities in “The New Age of Empire”.

Professor Tassew Woldehanna, President of AAU, honored Prof. Kehinde Andrews for coming to AAU and launching the timely book which has a great contribution to fight against colonialism and racism in Africa.

“The book focuses on intellectual, political and economic structures of colonialism and how this structure gave rights to the new age of empire that extend racism, economic inequality for black people and underdevelopment in Africa,” the President said.

According to Prof. Tassew, AAU has been dedicated to the production and dissemination of knowledge about Africa through the promotion of research, teaching and outreach activities with the widest possible freedom inquiry.

As AAU is a member of the African universities’ alliance, works on African’s pertinent issues and problems with highly qualified senior scholars whose research outputs contribute for the advancement of nations’ socio-economic, technological and human resource development, he said. “To this end, AAU has opened a permanent Pan African Exhibition in its museum of IES this year which indicates the enduring commitment to the Pan African thoughts,” he added.

Given the book’s outstanding arguments, they will serve as intellectual tools to confront neocolonial rate and influence, and help in the struggle to decolonize the academy, Prof. Tassew stated. “It is an appropriate and opportune time to launch the book at AAU as Ethiopia is facing challenges from forced of modern day imperialism which makes it all the more important to understand the sound and give an intellectual response to the challenge,” he underscored.

Professor Kehinde Andrews, the author, briefly elaborated about the book and said that racism is just as in point and the world still shacked with global inequality because of colonialism effects, economic dependence and in cause of having black faces and in middle class.

Prof. Andres mentioned that Ethiopia is the only country that wasn’t colonized in history and the battle of Adwa in 1896 makes her very different from other African countries. “But actually, IMF, World Bank and UN are here which are very good example of the new idea of empire,” he added.

Renowned scholars Professor Bahru Zewde, emeritus Professor at AAU and Yacob Arsano (PhD), Associate Professor of Political Science at AAU, gave reflections and thoughts about the book followed by answering the questions raised from the attendees.

Reporter: Tsion Aysheshim

Photo: Fikremariam Beyene

Editor: Abraham Girmay