Bust of Haile Selassie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bust of Haile Selassie |
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| Artist | Hilda Seligman |
| Completion date | 1957 |
| Location | Wimbledon, London |
A special statue, called a bust, of the Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie used to stand in Cannizaro Park in Wimbledon, London. This artwork was made by the artist Hilda Seligman. It was unfortunately toppled in June 2020.
Who Was Haile Selassie?
Haile Selassie was the last Emperor of Ethiopia, a country in Africa. He ruled for many years and was a very important leader.
A Time of Conflict
In the 1930s, Ethiopia faced a big challenge. The leader of Italy, Benito Mussolini, wanted to invade Ethiopia. He wanted to get revenge for an old war.
In 1935, Italy attacked Ethiopia. This started a war. Because of this invasion, Haile Selassie had to leave his country. He went to live in the United Kingdom for a while.
The Story of the Bust
While Haile Selassie was living in the UK in 1936, he stayed at the home of the artist Hilda Seligman. She was a sculptor, someone who makes statues.
Haile Selassie returned to Ethiopia in 1941. Years later, in 1957, Hilda Seligman's home was taken down. She decided to place the bust of Haile Selassie in Cannizaro Park.
This bust became a popular spot. Many people, especially followers of the Rastafarian movement, would visit it. For them, it was a special place.
Why the Bust Was Toppled
On June 30, 2020, about 100 people gathered at the park. They pulled down the statue. This event happened after an Ethiopian protest singer was killed in Addis Ababa the day before. The toppling of the bust was believed to be a reaction to that sad event.
