“Ethiopianism” in Ethiopian Philosophy

Ethiopia is one of the oldest independent nations in the world. The country, which had an inspirational dream of black independence throughout the world especially that of Africa. In Africa Christians took Ethiopia as a symbol of identity and readily embrace Ethiopianism both as an intellectual and religious movement. The Muslim took Ethiopia as a symbol of freedom from oppression and liberation from repulsion. The Jamaicans professed Ethiopia as the land of justice (Teshome 2017:1828–1832). Ethiopianism, the movement that acknowledge and took Ethiopiaas an emblematic is both religious and political movement which played great role in the liberation struggle of black peoples. However, this is not reflected in Ethiopia's education system for the youth to learn the history that the African forefathers accomplished in the struggle for political and religious freedom. In history, Ethiopia remains an independent country, unlike other African countries. However, the country's education system is not free from the domination of Western knowledge. The Ethiopian ancient education system is gradually replaced by the Western-centric education system. “The Ethiopian ‘self' those elements which the Ethiopians experienced in their culture, history, politics and communal life is gradually deteriorating” (Teshome 2017:60–63). The school curriculum is at present wholly dominated with Eurocentric scientific discipline. To decolonize the Western-centric education indigenization is important in teaching knowledge relevant to the country's history. The role that Ethiopians citizens played in building the country as a nation and their contribution to others in the struggle against colonialism has to be given space in the curriculum as an independent course. Ethiopianism is the legacy that handed down from the past to a new generation (Ibid). One of the main and Authentic Ethiopianism education should be philosophical studies. In particular, the philosophy of Africa and Ethiopia.Therefore, this thesis discusses the need for incorporating ‘Ethiopianism' in the philosophical study of Ethiopia in addition to its historical importance.