National Archives and Library of Ethiopia (NALA)

Overview

The National Archives and Library of Ethiopia (NALA), known locally as Wemezekir, is Ethiopia's national library and archives, located in Addis Ababa. It currently operates as a unit of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

History

The institution's own account states it was set up in 1943 as the public library "Wemezekir"; other sources, including the Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Tourism and press accounts, describe the library as inaugurated in 1944 by Emperor Haile Selassie I, who donated books from his personal collection to begin its holdings. In 1976, Proclamation No. 50/76 gave the library the legal right to collect three copies of every publication issued in the country. A separate archives function was established in 1979, initially incorporating records from the Ministry of the Grand Palace, the Palace of the Crown Prince, and other institutions. In 1999, Proclamation No. 179/1999 reestablished the institution as a national body, the Ethiopian National Archives and Library Agency, introducing structural changes and a stated goal of becoming one of the five leading national archives and library agencies in Africa by 2020.

Collections, Holdings, and Publications

NALA's archival holdings include manuscripts and historical documents dating as early as the 14th and 15th centuries, along with letters written by Ethiopian emperors including Tewodros, Yohannes IV, and Menelik II, and other government and private correspondence, primarily in Amharic and English. According to one academic study, NALA holds approximately 7,430 archival records, 16,403 books, and 15,000 microfilm copies, and serves more than 130,000 users annually. The institution has partnered with UNESCO on preservation projects, including digitizing and microfilming portions of its manuscript collection.

Access and Usage

NALA provides research and reading services, training, microfilm reading, and audio/audio-visual recording and consultancy services to researchers, scholars, academics, writers, and the public. Library reading room hours run daily from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and archive reading room hours run Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.