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Geʽez Revival Movement Gains Momentum as Symbol of African Unity and Heritage
By Horn News Hub Staff | October 29, 2025
ADDIS ABABA – The African National Unity (ANU) movement has called for renewed attention to “Geʽez”, one of Africa’s oldest written languages, proposing it as a cultural and intellectual bridge for Africans across the continent. In a press release issued on Tuesday, ANU described Geʽez as “Africa’s Latin,” capable of uniting people through shared history, scholarship, and heritage.
According to ANU, Geʽez which originated in ancient Aksum and remains the liturgical language of the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Churches holds deep historical and spiritual significance. The statement argues that the language “represents an authentic African intellectual tradition,” comparable to the role Latin played in shaping Europe’s cultural and academic identity.
Ancient Roots, Modern Relevance
The movement’s proposal highlights Geʽez’s 3,500-year-old literary tradition, its influence on several modern Ethiopian and Eritrean languages such as Amharic, Tigrinya, Tigre, and Gurage, and its continued use among over 70 million Orthodox Tewahedo Christians. ANU also notes that more than 40 universities worldwide, particularly in Europe and the United States, currently teach Geʽez as part of their classical studies programs.
“Reviving awareness of Geʽez connects Africans to a shared indigenous heritage,” the statement reads. “It demonstrates that Africa possessed complex systems of writing, theology, and philosophy long before colonial influence.”
A Pan-African Vision
The press release frames the revival of Geʽez as a Pan-African project that could foster a continental sense of identity and pride. By promoting the study of Geʽez across Africa, ANU argues, nations could “finalize the unfinished independence revolution” and strengthen intellectual cooperation rooted in African traditions.
“Just as Latin served as a cultural link for Europe, Geʽez could symbolize Africa’s unity and renaissance,” ANU stated. The organization envisions Geʽez being taught as a classical African language, incorporated into curricula to reinforce cultural identity, inspire research into ancient manuscripts, and reconnect modern generations with their historical roots.
National Context: Ethiopia and Eritrea
The statement also emphasizes the Ethiopian context, describing Geʽez as a “pillar of national unity.” It outlines ten key factors linking Geʽez heritage to Ethiopian cohesion from shared history and religious tolerance to education and media.
According to ANU, Geʽez script serves as a “symbol of national communication and cultural unity” despite Ethiopia’s multilingual landscape. The group also calls for educational reforms that integrate Geʽez-based philosophy and ethics, suggesting that such a shift would promote “civic responsibility and equality among Ethiopia’s diverse communities.”
The organization further highlights the religious and social dimensions of Geʽez, suggesting its use across different faiths as an efficient literary script. It argues that religious tolerance, equality, and inter-regional interaction have historically strengthened Ethiopian unity under a shared Geʽez heritage.
A Call for Collective Action
In conclusion, ANU calls on all “Habesha Agaezi” communities a term it uses to refer to Ethiopians and Eritreans of Geʽez-speaking heritage to “unite and struggle for survival together.” The group positions itself as ready to take a leading role in “shaping this generational mission and vision.”
While the proposal has sparked interest among cultural scholars and Pan-Africanists, it also raises broader questions about linguistic inclusivity, educational priorities, and the practicality of reviving an ancient language for modern unification efforts.
The Geʽez revival initiative reflects a growing trend among African intellectual movements to reclaim indigenous knowledge systems as part of the continent’s broader cultural and political renaissance.
For more information, visit www.anu-party.org
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