Expedition to Ethiopia (1930-1931)
Baron Binnert Van Harinxma thoe Slooten and biologist Gerrit Brouwer were given a unique opportunity on 2 November 1930 to witness the coronation of Haile Selassie, emperor of Ethiopia. Visitors to the ‘Tropenmuseum’ in Amsterdam are able to experience their journey to Abyssinia in a new exhibition entitled ‘In the Land of the Emperor: An Expedition to Ethiopia (1930-1931)’. Photos, journal entries and film clips provide a vivid account of their travels in the museum Gallery.
The two Dutch adventurers left for Ethiopia in October 1930 to study wildlife there, but before starting their trek, they enjoyed a week of celebrations at the capital, Addis Ababa. There they witnessed the coronation of Haile Selassie, born in 1892 as Tafari Makonnen and later the inspiration of the Rastafari movement. Van Harinxma and Brouwer had front-row seats, beside the Dutch ambassador Hendrik Maurits van Haersma de With.
In the Land of the Emperor: An Expedition in Ethiopia (1930-1931) appears at the Tropenmuseum from 12 September 2012 to 13 January 2013
