In the prologue of the book, Igiaba details a battle that took place on January 18, 1887, known as the Battle of Dogali, where the Italians were out-maneuvered by the Ethiopians. Why were Italians there in the first place, especially so soon after unification? A lot of it goes back to British and French influence where the British allowed Italy to take the territory but the French declared Ethiopia a protectorate. A move that came to be known as