In 1896, Ethiopia did what no other African country had done—it stopped a European power in its tracks. The Battle of Adwa, as detailed in The Battle of Adwa: Reflections on Ethiopia’s Historic Victory Against European Colonialism, was more than just a military clash. It was a bold statement that Africa was not a land to be taken. Led by Emperor Menelik II, Ethiopian forces crushed the Italian army, handing Europe one of its most humiliating defeats. The victory sent a clear message: Africa was not weak, and colonial rule was not inevitable.