From imperial palace to revolutionary engine: the storied evolution of Ethiopia's oldest university

Cultures · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Founded by an Emperor and a Jesuit, Addis Ababa University has survived coups, revolutions, and radical restructuring. More than just a place of study, it has served as the birthplace of political movements and a vital frontline for famine relief.

The university's origins trace back to 20 March 1950, when Jesuit Lucien Matte established a two-year college at the request of Emperor Haile Selassie I. Initially known as the University College of Addis Ababa, it quickly expanded through affiliations with the University of London and the University of Oxford. By 1961, the institution was unified as Haile Selassie University, with the Emperor even donating his Guenete Leul Palace to serve as the main administrative campus.

The institution's history is deeply intertwined with Ethiopia's political volatility. Following the 1974 revolution, the university was briefly renamed the University of Ethiopia before adopting its current name in 1975. During the revolutionary era, the university faced significant upheaval; it was closed for two years, and its members were drafted into the 'zemecha' campaign to educate rural populations. Despite these shifts, leaders like Duri Mohammed, appointed president in 1977, helped preserve the academy during turbulent periods of insurrection.

Beyond academics, the university has functioned as a crucible for national change. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, students participated in national service and were instrumental in exposing the 1973 famine, launching the nation's first relief program. The Ethiopian Student Movement, born within these halls, was a pivotal force in the revolution. This legacy of activism is reflected in its alumni, including figures like Meles Zenately, who left in 1975 to join the Tigray People's Liberation Front.

Today, the university is a massive network of thirteen campuses, twelve of which are in Addis Ababa and one in Bishoftu. It continues to serve as a primary center for higher learning, with admissions determined by the Ethiopian University Entrance Examination (EUEE).

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