Introduction
Axum living proof of a civilization that lasted around 1000 years is one of the world’s pioneering civilizations. It started around the 1st century CE and served as the capital for many centuries until it was relocated in the 9th century due to declining trade connections and recurring external invasions. It is Located in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
The Living Proof of the Axum Civilization
The ancient civilization of Axum is still there and you can see history through them. the achievements of the civilization include the obelisks, the Queen of Sheba’s palace, and the palaces of Emperors Kaleb, the palace of Emperor Bazen, geez language is nowadays used mainly in churches. Geez is the source of the Tigrigna and Amharic languages. It’s known that Axum was popular for its trade. the main trading port was Adulis Located on the Red Sea where it was a center for Traders from Egypt, the Middle East, and India. they had their coins made of gold, silver, and copper. Axum was the first sub-Saharan African state to adopt Christianity in the mid-4th century. Additionally, the Kingdom of Aksum was notably the first foreign state to accept Islam, long before it gained recognition in many other parts of the world.
Current Lifestyle of the Axum People
The first thing that comes to one’s mind could be “How is this possible”. For the Axum people protecting culture and identity comes first. A significant religious holiday is Hidartsion, celebrated by Orthodox Christians. This takes place at the Church of St. Mary, which is believed to house the Ark of the Covenant. Hydration Day is on November 30th or December 1st in a leap year according to the Ge’ez calendar, corresponding to Hidar(November) 21. The celebration begins with prayers and the “kiddase” followed by welcoming guests from homes throughout the community.
Axum as a Center of Tourism
Traditional foods and drinks in Axum are hlbet a cream made from hlbet powder served with slsi sauce as a side dish and injera, hmbasha uniquely prepared traditional bread and swa, an alcoholic drink made from dagusha (local corn).hmbasha and swa are also popular across Tigray though their way of preparation can differ. Visitors to Axum often buy handmade traditional clothes known as tlfi. They also visit the obelisks and the church, which are a few meters apart, after they enjoy the local foods and drinks together with the lifestyle of the Axum people.
Conclusion
UNESCO has included Axum’s archaeological sites as World Heritage Sites. Although Axum was once a main tourist destination, tourism stopped for about 2 years due to the Tigray conflict and ongoing instability from 2020 until a peace agreement was reached in 2022. There is some hope in the last months of 2024 for recovery following the peace agreement. In an era where everyone is looking and trying to create history, we must look after what is given to us by the last generations.
