Menelik Hall Association

Menelik Hall was named for the famed and respected King Menelik II of Ethiopia who reigned from 1865-1913.  In 1896, King Menelik led his forces to defeat the Italians in their bid to colonize Ethiopia.  The Hall, which opened in 1936, was used predominately by members of the West Indian community as a meeting place for those involved in social activism.  It was here that Marcus Garvey, who established the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), brought his global message in the 1930's.  Located on the corner of Laurier and Tupper Streets, the Hall also served as a theatre for performance pieces.