ETHIOPIA

THE SHADOW KING

by maaza mengiste

THE SHADOW KING introduced me to an entirely new world of geography, language, history, and storytelling, and broadened my understanding of a part of Africa I’d only ever heard one story about—famine.

Set during the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in 1935, the book is told from the perspective of the Ethiopians who fought to defend their country, and who called the fascist leader Mussoloni, a mispronunciation that became an act of passive resistance. In THE SHADOW KING, the Italians are the ferenj (foreigners) who sent photographers along with their tanks, well-armed infantry, and planes bearing mustard gas, to document their victory. The Abyssinian army, under Emperor Haile Selassie, were ill-equipped to face the invading forces, but still met the aggressors in running battles, sometimes with only a single bullet for each gun.

Maaza Mengiste wrote that as she was gathering photographs from this period in her country’s history, she was inspired by an Italian soldier’s photograph of a young girl, her hair in braids, who Mengiste began to think of as Hirut. Hirut became the central character of Mengiste’s THE SHADOW KING. A young orphan, working as a servant in the home of an aristocratic man, who holds a high rank in Selassie’s army, and his wife, still grieving the loss of their only son. When news of the Italian invasion reaches the household, they prepare for the war with the meager supplies at their disposal and the courage of a few local men. During their preparation, Hirut’s only possession—a rifle, Wujigra, left to her by her dead father—is co-opted by her master for the war effort. Having sworn an oath that the rifle will never leave her side, Hirut’s personal battle to hold on to what is hers, is fought against the broader backdrop of war.

Mengiste’s research for THE SHADOW KING took her down a fascinating personal path through her own family history, when she learned the story of her grandmother, Getey. As the first born child in a family where there were no sons, Getey’s future husband was chosen over her to represent the family in battle. Enraged to be overlooked in this way, Getey rebelled and enlisted in the army. When her father objected, she sued him for the right to go to battle, and won.

Women did fight in the Ethiopian Army. Most followed the troops with water and supplies, encouraging the soldiers with songs and cheers, nursing the ones that came back injured, and mourning those that did not return. Many carried their own weapons, rifles slung across their shoulders, and stood up in defense of their country against the colonial aggressors.

This collection of inspiration—a young girl photographed by an Italian soldier, a grandmother’s story of courage, women armed with rifles going to war against the ferenj invaders—was taken by Mengiste and shaped into THE SHADOW KING. A beautifully written and thoroughly researched story told by a woman, about women. It takes the wide-angle view of a historical time period in Ethiopia, and sweeps down, through the minds of the Emperor, his generals, and their wives, into the close awareness a young serving girl. Hirut is asked to support the men who fight for her country’s freedom, but must also fight her own battle against these same men, for her own freedom and the sovereignty of her body.

Italy won the war by dropping mustard gas on Ethiopian children, women, and men, many of whom went into battle dressed in sandals and white tunics.