Page "Adwa" Paragraph 3

According to Richard Pankhurst, Adwa derives its name from Adi Awa ( or Wa ), " Village of the Awa "; the Awa are an ethnic group mentioned in the anonymous Monumentum Adulitanum that once stood at Adulis.

Francisco Alvares records that the Portuguese diplomatic mission passed Adwa, which he called " Houses of St. Michael ," in August 1520.