By Ethiopis.com Reporter WT in Addis Ababa, © Copyright www.ethiopis.com and CHEWATA

Reports from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia say that an old diary of what is believed to be King Menelik’s diary has been found in Menelik Palace and researchers at AAIH, the Addis Ababa Institute of History are reportedly looking at every piece of detail in this diary “almost 18 hours a day”, said a source. According to the report, the diary found in the palace is dated September 2, 1897 and was written in Amharic. One researcher who has taken a look at this diary said, “it seems to me that this diary was written by an Italian soldier who was a prisoner of the King and was forced to learn how to read and write in Amharic in the King’s Palace.

King Menelik of Ethiopia
“Arba Jiraf for Albertini!” says one line in the newly discovered diary of King Menelik.

It is evident that King Menelik used this Merkogna Ferenj as a personal secretary until his death a few years later.”A great grandson of the King who was reached by Ethiopis.com said that he wouldn’t be surprised if the King indeed had forced a captured Italian soldier to become his personal secretary at the time because, he said, “BeDula tedebdibo keMimot Amaraigna meTsaf yeshalewal!!”

Among the few lines that were taken from the diary which outlined the King’s daily activities and was made public were the following: “September 9, 1897: Accepting the Portugese Ambassador for lunch, and Arba Jiraf for Mata Doni, my favorite Italian prisoner!”

“September 13, 1897: Getting my feet washed by Albertini!”

“October 22, 1897: Eighty Jiraf for TewoldeMeskel, the Askaris I captured in Adwa last year and then lunch!”

“December 12, 1897: relaxing with Tayitu in the morning and another Arba Jiraf for Albertini, yehe Selato!!”

Many historians at the Addis Ababa University said that the diary showed how determined King Menelik was to make the captured Italians “not only read and write Amharic, but also to have one of their own write this diary while sitting at the King’s feet.”

“Arba jiraf for Albertini!!”, says one line in King Menelik’s diary.

Many experts who looked at the diary have concluded that the words in the diary were indeed King Menelik’s who orally conveyed his daily schedules to his Italian secretary.

Dr. Belayneh Shume, a research historian at Unity College in Addis Ababa said, “This diary tells us one key thing about that historic time which is Talianochu fes befes honew new KeEthiopia yeWotut.”