The ‘Inda Nebri’id was the home of the former governor of Axum under the old imperial regime. Built in 1910, the ‘Inda Nebri’id was designed based on contemporary Italian architecture and was the first building in Ethiopia to have indoor plumbing. After the military coup that overthrew Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974, the building was alternatively used by the Marxist Derg regime as a prison and the army barracks. When the Derg was overthrown in 1992, the building had fallen into shambles. The interior was crumbling and rotting, and the outside grounds were used as a squatter camp. The Axumite Heritage Foundation agreed with the city of Axum to take stewardship of the ‘Inda Nebri’id and transform it into a place for public development. When the AHF finished renovating the ‘Inda Nebri’id, a building that had symbolized for many the terror of the Derg regime, it was once again restored as a place of community pride.
After the construction of the new library, library services were relocated to the new building. (see below). The Axumite Heritage Foundation plans to turn the ‘Inda Nebri’d into a museum and welcome center. The museum will be focused on the ethnography of Axum and the Tigray region. It will fill a neglected role by preserving local creativity traditions and exhibiting contemporary material culture and artisan works.
The building was dilapidated and in a state of disrepair. The Inda Nebri’Id was built by Dejazmatch Gebre Selassie Baria Gabr (governor of Adwa, Tigray).
The compound will house artisan shops showcasing and selling ancient artisan work to tourists. These craft shops will specialize in offering unique, handmade items that showcase the traditional craftsmanship and cultural heritage of the region or community.
The construction of a public cafeteria that will serve the public and tourists has also been completed.
This once-neglected compound has bloomed into a vibrant sanctuary from neglect to nature’s embrace. Luscious gardens invite the public to find respite in their serene surroundings, offering a relaxing escape to visitors and students. A testament to transformation, it’s now a captivating park celebrating the beauty of care and creativity and deemed a role model for the city.
