From Oblivion to Memory: Ethiopian Deportees’ Descendants Return to Asinara – An Historic Reconciliation
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A follow-up report on the successful completion of a groundbreaking cultural project that brought Ethiopian families back to the island where their ancestors were exiled
By Ethiopian Tribune Reporter
The sun cast long shadows across the Mediterranean waters surrounding Asinara Island as 60 descendants of Ethiopian deportees gathered for a ceremony that would transform decades of silence into recognition, pain into healing, and oblivion into memory. What unfolded between 5th and 8th August 2025 was not merely an historical commemoration it was a profound act of reconciliation that bridged continents, cultures, and generations.
A Vision Realised
The event, entitled “From Oblivion to Memory: History of the Ethiopian Deportees to Asinara (1937-1939),” stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication of its chief organiser, Elfy Getachew Nouvellon, whose tireless efforts over many months brought this remarkable gathering to fruition. What began as a mission to uncover forgotten history has culminated in one of the most significant acts of historical reconciliation in recent memory.
Behind this extraordinary achievement stands not only Elfy’s vision and determination, but the unwavering support of her family. Her children and husband deserve special recognition for serving as the backbone of this project, providing crucial moral support throughout the lengthy preparation process. Their contributions extended far beyond encouragement they actively participated in organising presentations and briefings for the participants, ensuring that each descendant was thoroughly prepared for this emotionally significant journey. This family commitment exemplifies how personal dedication can drive historical reconciliation.
The project, supported by the Sealand Asinara Cooperative, Fondazione di Sardegna, the Municipality of Porto Torres, the Asinara National Park Authority, and other institutional partners, succeeded in creating a bridge between the dark chapters of Italian colonial history and a future built upon acknowledgement and understanding.
“We Apologise”: A Mayor’s Historic Words
The emotional centrepiece of the visit came when Mayor Massimo Mulas of Porto Torres welcomed the delegation at the Palazzo del Marchese with words that resonated far beyond the ceremonial hall:
“In a time marked, even in Europe, by terrible conflicts, initiatives like this are a powerful call for peace, brotherhood, and historical memory. Today, I don’t just want to recall a sad page in the history of your families, for which I apologise on behalf of the entire community, but above all I want to share the feeling I felt when I met you.”
The mayor continued with profound insight: “Observing your faces, your gazes, and your smiles, I was convinced that there are two ways to react to suffering. There are those who choose to close themselves off, allowing themselves to be overwhelmed by feelings of mistrust towards others, and those, like you, who decide to open their hearts and express positivity to others.”
These words, delivered to the gathered descendants whose ancestors had been forcibly exiled to Asinara between 1937 and 1939, marked an historic moment of official acknowledgement and apology for the injustices of the past.
Scholarly Collaboration and Research Excellence
The success of this initiative owes much to the scholarly collaboration that supported its foundation. Dr Alula Pankhurst, the renowned Ethiopian historian, played a pivotal role by working closely with Elfy Getachew Nouvellon to establish crucial connections in Addis Ababa. His expertise helped forge links with historians and, most importantly, assisted in the painstaking process of locating descendants of the Asinara deportees, many of whom had lived their entire lives unaware of their family’s tragic history on this remote Italian island.
The collaboration between Ethiopian and Italian researchers created a comprehensive framework for understanding this forgotten chapter of colonial history, ensuring that the descendants’ return was grounded in rigorous historical documentation.
A Journey of Discovery and Remembrance
The delegation’s visit included multiple significant moments. On 6th August, a commemorative plaque was unveiled on Asinara Island in front of the former Cala Reale Hospital, one of the buildings that had housed the Ethiopian deportees nearly nine decades earlier. The ceremony was particularly poignant, featuring a prayer service conducted according to Ethiopian Orthodox traditions.
The group also visited the Campo Faro cemetery, where they paid respects at the grave of Gideon, son of Princess Romane Work (known as “Golden Pomegranate”), the eldest daughter of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie. This visit brought a deeply personal dimension to the historical narrative, as families connected with the final resting place of those who never returned home.
The descendants also explored the Turris Libisonis archaeological site in Porto Torres, guided by Stefano Giuliani, director of the Turritano Antiquarium, creating opportunities for cultural exchange that extended beyond the primary mission of remembrance.
Documenting History for Future Generations
The event drew significant media attention, with Italian and Ethiopian documentary filmmakers capturing the proceedings for posterity. Local Italian newspapers provided extensive coverage, ensuring that this story of reconciliation reached a broad audience. The Ethiopian Tribune editor, though unable to attend due to scheduling constraints, had strongly supported the initiative from its inception.
As reported in the Italian press: “La delegazione composta da circa sessanta discendenti delle persone deportate ha visitato l’isola e si è recata nel cimitero di Campo Faro” (The delegation composed of about sixty descendants of the deported people visited the island and went to the Campo Faro cemetery).
Transforming Pain into Purpose
Councillor for Culture Maria Bastiana Cocco of Porto Torres captured the essence of the cultural exchange: “This was an opportunity for mutual exchange and enrichment, which helped strengthen the bonds between our communities. It was a particularly meaningful moment… which has profound human and cultural value.”
The success of this project demonstrates how historical trauma, when properly acknowledged and addressed, can become a foundation for stronger intercultural understanding. The descendants who made the journey to Asinara carried with them not bitterness, but curiosity; not anger, but a desire for understanding.
A Legacy of Courage and Compassion
Mayor Mulas’s observation about the delegation’s demeanour speaks to something profound about the Ethiopian response to historical injustice: “Your eyes convey the ability to transform the story of pain into joy and curiosity for life, giving me hope for the future of my community, yours, and all communities that believe in the importance of memory.”
Looking Forward
This remarkable gathering on Asinara Island represents more than historical commemoration it embodies the possibility of healing across generations and continents. The project “From Oblivion to Memory” has successfully rescued from historical obscurity the stories of over 300 Ethiopian citizens who were deported to Asinara following the 1937 assassination attempt on Italian Viceroy Rodolfo Graziani.
The initiative serves as a powerful reminder that in our contemporary world, marked by conflicts and divisions, the courage to confront difficult histories can pave the way for reconciliation and mutual understanding.
Acknowledgements
Special recognition must be given to Elfy Getachew Nouvellon, whose vision and determination made this extraordinary gathering possible. Equally deserving of praise are her children and husband, whose steadfast support, moral encouragement, and practical contributions—including organising essential presentations and briefings for participants—proved instrumental in the project’s success. Their family commitment demonstrates how personal dedication can drive historical reconciliation.
Her collaboration with historians like Dr Alula Pankhurst, the support of Italian institutions, and the participation of dozens of Ethiopian families created a unique moment in the annals of Ethiopia-Italy relations.
The success of this project offers hope that other forgotten chapters of history can be similarly addressed, transforming silence into dialogue, ignorance into understanding, and historical wounds into sources of renewed friendship between nations and peoples.
As the descendants departed from Asinara Island, they carried with them not only a deeper understanding of their family histories but also the knowledge that their ancestors’ suffering had finally been acknowledged, remembered, and honoured. In transforming oblivion into memory, they have ensured that future generations will know this story—not as a source of division, but as a testament to the human capacity for reconciliation and healing.
The Ethiopian Tribune extends its appreciation to all participants in this historic gathering and commends the organisers for their dedication to preserving and honouring Ethiopian history in all its complexity.
