The Illustrated Adowa Series
The Adowa Story
The mountains of Adowa in northern Ethiopia trembled on March 1, 1896. Emperor Menelik II's warriors, tens of thousands strong, surged forward as one unstoppable force, their battle cries drowning out the crack of Italian rifles. This wasn't merely a clash of armies—it was the moment Africa decided its own fate.
While European powers carved up the continent like a feast, Ethiopia stood defiant at the crossroads of history. Would this ancient kingdom become just another colony, or would it become something unprecedented: an Independent African nation that broke the chains of colonialism before they could be locked?
The path to Adowa began with three extraordinary emperors whose ambitions and struggles shaped Ethiopia's destiny. First came the visionary Tewodros II, who dared to dream of a modern, unified Ethiopia. Rising from humble beginnings, he challenged the feudal order that had kept the empire fractured for generations. His revolutionary vision would cost him everything—yet plant the seeds for what was to come.
From Tewodros' shadow emerged the warrior-king Yohannes IV, a military genius who turned back invaders from every direction. As European appetites for African conquest grew insatiable, Emperor Yohannes IV fought desperately to preserve Ethiopia's independence, sacrificing his life on the battlefield to protect his realm.
Then came Emperor Menelik II—once a captive prince, now a master diplomat who outmaneuvered everyone who underestimated him. Where others saw only obstacles, Menelik found opportunities. Where his predecessors relied on force, he wielded influence. Yet when Italy's colonial ambitions finally forced his hand, Emperor Menelik assembled the greatest army Africa had seen in centuries—warriors from every corner of his empire, united by a singular purpose.
"The Lions of Africa: The Illustrated Adowa Series" invites you into this epic saga of resistance, resilience, and renaissance. Through stunning visuals and unflinching storytelling, witness how three rulers forged a nation that accomplished what many thought impossible: defeating a European power at the height of colonial expansion.
This isn't just Ethiopia's story. It's a testament to what becomes possible when people refuse to surrender their freedom. The battle of Adowa echoes still—a reminder that history's course is never predetermined and that sometimes, against all odds, the lions roar, and empires tremble.
ADOWA I
The Birth Of a Shifta
In a land in turmoil during the warring era of Zemena Mesafent, where no one is safe from violence, a young boy from the furthest reaches of the Ethiopian empire finds himself cast out and alone. But within him burns an ancestral fire that will not be extinguished as Kassa transforms himself from an abandoned orphan into a rebel Shifta destined for greatness.
The first book of the Illustrated Adowa Series covers the life of young Kassa Hailu, from his childhood to his Shifta years, before he becomes the future Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia.
ADOWA II
The King Of Kings
Kassa Hailu, rising fast through the ranks as a mercenary, feared and renowned as a warrior by regional lords, sets his ambitions to become an emperor. But first, he must defeat all challengers to the crown, from Tigray and Gojjam, to Wollo and finally Shoa.
The second book of the Illustrated Adowa Series covers the unbending will of the exile-turned-shifta as Kassa assumes control of the fractured empire as the King of Kings of Ethiopia, Emperor Tewodros II.
ADOWA III
The Lion of Magdella
To forge a strong nation on equal footing with the rest of the technologically advancing global powers, Emperor Tewodros II had embraced allies abroad for support. The colonial British Empire had sent missionaries deployed across Africa as agents before the invasion of the continent. The stage is set for the clash of civilizations.
The conclusion of the first three parts of the Illustrated Adowa series covers the Emperor and his struggles with the British Empire as rebellion swells and warring factions threaten his attempt to unify the empire. The emperor must face enemies within his gates and a greater colonial force that could ruin his dreams of establishing an independent African nation.
