A “contemporary” Ethiopian painting in the traditional style, depicting a medieval battle scene.

A “contemporary” Ethiopian painting in the traditional style, depicting a medieval battle scene. 

Its date of creation, nor its creator are known but it was collected in Addis Ababa during a French ethnographic expedition traversing Africa from Dakar to Djibouti, “La mission Dakar-Djibouti”, 1931 - 1933, and has since found its way to the Musée du Quai Branly, in Paris.  

The painting most likely depicts the legendary battle between King Lalibela and his brother, Kedus Harbe, who were fighting for the throne. Horsemen and infantry carrying spears, swords and shields turn the battlefield bloody, as professional singers in the background, known as the “Arho”, encourage the warriors. On the right are troops in reserve. One of them wears a crown and is accompanied by an inscription that reads "the brother of Saint Lalibela”. 

While depicting a 12th century battle, the attires are modeled after those contemporary to the artist. Thus, they are more representative of 19th, or even early 20th century attires of the Ethiopian highlands.