African Renaissance

Episode 1

Ethiopia

59 mins

In Ethiopia, Afua Hirsch traces a proud 3,000-year history as significant as any civilization in the west. A beacon for the black diaspora, Ethiopia's story is one of defiant independence, of kings and communists, of a country that has survived catastrophe but bounced back, underpinned by a culture inspired by an ancient faith and devotion. At the heart of recent Ethiopian history is the complex reign of Emperor Haile Selassie. One of the most influential world figures of the 20th century, he was the midwife to African liberation and the generator of a global culture in Rastafarianism. Yet ultimately, Haile Selassie was a tragic figure. With renowned artist Eshetu Tiruneh, Afua explores the impact of the 1974 famine that led to the emperor's downfall, and she talks to photographer Aida Muluneh about her return from exile to the dynamic new Ethiopia of the 21st century responding to the dark days of the past.