⸻ Adwa and the Oromo: Power, Participation, and Historical Recognition Introduction On 1 March 1896, the Battle of Adwa became one of the most decisive anti-colonial victories in modern history. The defeat of the Italian army preserved Ethiopia’s sovereignty and sent a powerful message across Africa and the wider world: European expansion was not unstoppable. Adwa is often remembered through a simplified national narrative, frequently centered on Emperor Menelik II. Yet the victory was achieved