Barbados’ Ambassador to Cuba, Dr. Sharon Marshall, presents a copy of the book, The Pan-African Love Story of Arnold and Mignon Ford, to Second Secretary in the Ethiopian Embassy in Cuba, Yihun Bull Didi, following the sudden passing of Ethiopian Ambassador to Cuba, Ayele Lire Jijamo. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade)
Barbados’ Ambassador to Cuba, Dr. Sharon Marshall, yesterday presented a copy of the book The Pan-African Love Story of Arnold and Mignon Ford to the Ethiopian Embassy, following the sudden passing of its Ambassador to Cuba, Ayele Lire Jijamo.
Ambassador Marshall described Ambassador Jijamo as “a friend of Barbados and of CARICOM, whose absence is keenly felt by his former colleague diplomats”.
The publication, written by Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM, David Comissiong, explores a historic connection between Barbados and Ethiopia. It recounts the story of a Barbadian couple who migrated to Ethiopia in 1930 – Arnold Ford, a master musician who composed the Universal Ethiopian Anthem, and his wife, Mignon Ford, a dedicated teacher who founded a renowned school in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
The late Ambassador Jijamo had expressed keen interest in reading the book but passed away unexpectedly last month before its arrival in Havana.
Second Secretary in the Ethiopian Embassy in Cuba, Yihun Bull Didi, accepted the book on behalf of the Embassy and expressed appreciation for the gesture, noting that it would “occupy a place of honour in the Embassy’s collection”.
Mr. Didi added: “Barbados is a country with a big voice in the international community, and it is important for South-South cooperation and for multilateralism that developing countries speak out on issues affecting them.”
Both officials reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the diplomatic relationship between Barbados and Ethiopia.
Author: Dionne Best
Source: https://gisbarbados.gov.bb/blog/barbados-ambassador-presents-gift-in-honour-of-late-envoy/
