Quote by Emperor Menelik II: “If powers at a distance come forward to partition Africa, let us stand together.”

Menelik II urged fellow African leaders to unite against European colonization. He understood that a combined defense was essential to protect their lands and freedom from powerful foreign forces attempting to divide the continent.

As European powers intensified their colonization efforts, Menelik II actively sought to form alliances with other African leaders. This appeal was a strategic call for pan-African resistance against imperial division.

Emperor of Ethiopia from 1889 to 1913, who decisively defeated the Italian army at the Battle of Adwa in 1896 — the first major victory of an African nation against a European colonial power. His modernisation programme and military success preserved Ethiopian independence during the Scramble for Africa.