During the 1890s, Menelik heard about the modern method of executing criminals using electric chairs, and he ordered 3 for his kingdom. When the chairs arrived, Menelik learnt they would not work, as Ethiopia did not yet have an electrical power industry. Rather than waste his investment, Menelik used one of the chairs as his throne.
Thank you both very much. I had tried Google but must have had finger trouble, as the information which came up wasn't as detailed as the one given to me by gen 2.