UNIT ONE

STATES & PEOPLES OF THE SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA IN THE 19 TH CENTURY.

CONT….. INTRODUCTION The territory to south & southeast of Abay river which consisted of many states & peoples. Among these there were groups of states such as the O motic states, the S hawan kingdom, the H arari Emirates, the Sheikdoms of A sosa B enishangul & Komosha . Several other autonomous states and peoples were in different stages of socio-economic & political development..

Cont... The political organization of some of these states was based on a monarchical system. Most of these states followed the power of the kings(rulers) by propagating the idea of divine kinship . The M uslim communities of the region also possessed well organized states known as Sheikdoms or Emirates. The rest of the states of the south followed traditional political system.

Cont…. In the 19 th century the peoples & states of the region had maintained strong economic relationships with one another. This was created by trade and trade routes which bound the region together as a single economic unit..

1.1 The Omotic States. The peoples and the states which occupied the territory around the Omo river basin. They speak various languages collectively known by linguistics as Omotic languages. The peoples and the states are also known by the genetic linguistic term of Omotic . So around thirty different languages are classified under this family. The most important are: Kaffa,Walayita,Dawuro,Bench,Dorze,Gamo,Gofa,Koyra,Yem,sheka & Maji ..

CONT…. The Kingdom of Kaffa It is found south of the gibe river . Their land is kaffa & their people are called kafficho . The origin of the kingdom traced as far as back as 14 th century. The Matto & Minjo dynasties are very important in the history of the kingdom ..

Cont…. The Matto dynasty ruled the kingdom before 1390. The first king of the M injo dynasty was Minjilo & after whom the ruling dynasty come to be known as M injo . I n the 19 th century particularly between 1821 and 1897 five prominent kings successively ruled Kaffa . They were: Gahe Nhchochi ( r.1821 -1841), Kawe Erochi ( r.1841 -1843), KajiSharochi ( r.1843 -1868), Gali Sarochi ( r.1868 -1890 Galito ), Gaki Sharochi ( r.1890 -1897)..

Cont…. During the reign of these kings the kingdom developed its monarchical system and was extended to the south, southwest & north east of Kaffa . The administration of the kingdom was divided in to twelve & later in to eighteen provinces. The kaffa kings held aroyal title called tato and the tato assisted by a state councilors called Mikerecho . There were eight mikerecho with one non permanent member. The land in the kingdom was considered as the property of the king. Here the concept of the king and the state are overlapped..

Conti…. The kingdom was known to have an efficient system of frontier defense . All along the territory of kaffa , watch towers were secretly erected at high points to watch and detect the approach of the enemy. The approach of the enemy was signaled beating drums that imply call for mobilization. The drums from the border were beaten by assigned clans called Manjo . The economy of kaffa was based on agriculture . The peasants produced different kinds of crops..

Cont…. They also kept civet cat to collect musk . The peasants paid taxes from their products including the collected musk. Taxes were collected by the assigned collectors called Tate- Kisho meaning the hand of the king . Taxes were collected in kind . The economy of kaffa was also supplemented by trade ..

Cont…. The most trade items of kaffa were coffee, ivory, musk, slave and gold . Long distance trade routes linked Bonga the center of the kingdom with the center and the coasts of Ethiopian region. Many merchants from different directions come to kaffa market places in search of lucrative trade items . Kaffa is also known for its coffee production..

Cont…. Beads, salt bars and iron bars were used as medium of exchange. There also existed traditional iron industry . Following the expansion of Menilik , kaffa was finally incorporated in to the Ethiopian empire in 1897..

Another omotic state occupied the western bank of gibe river..

Cont…. The astesor was chaired by an official who had the title called Waso . The kingdom was divided in to provinces & sub provinces. These were ruled by an official known as erasho ( rasho ) and gena respectively. The economy of the kingdom was based on agriculture . The peasants paid tributes directly to the king. Trade and handcrafts such as weaving & iron work were auxiliary economic activities for the people of yem ..

Cont... This kingdom was finally conquered by the force of Menelik in 1894..

The kingdom of walayita. It had a strong connection with the medieval state of Damot . The founder of this kingdom was Motalomi . He founded a dynasty called Walayita Malla . It was established around the beginning of 14 th century. In the 15 th century the dynasty was ousted from power& replaced by a rival dynasty called Tigre . The Tigre dynasty was ruled walayita until the end of 19 th century. While this dynasty was in power walayita expanded its territory towards the south and west..

Cont…. The kings of Walayita used the royal title called Kawo . The “ qoqa ” were the privileged warrior class of the kingdom. The economy of Walayita was based on agriculture . All land in the kingdom was the property of the King. The king also had absolute power over the life and property of his people. The last king to rule independent walayita was Kawo Tona . Walayita was finally conquered by Menelik Iiin 1894 after a stiff resistance..

The kingdom of Sheka. This kingdom was found to the east of Baro and west of Gojeb rivers or to the west of the Kaffa kingdom. Sheka had two ruling dynasties before the end of the 19 th century. These ruling dynasties were Batto and Bushasho . The first Sheka Bushasho king migrated from neighboring Anfillo to Sheka at the end of 16 th century. The Bushasho dynastyruled from the end of 16 th to the 19 th centuries..

Cont…. Christianity is believed to have been introduced to Sheka in the late of 16 th century. For the brief period Sheka was conquered by Mecha Oromo , but it regained its independence at the beginning of the 19 th century. The kings of Sheka like Kaffa used aroyal title” tato ” The kingdom had close economic,political and historical relationship with Enariya , Kaffa and Anfillo . Traditions of Sheka kingdom recognized the names of five kings of the 19 th century..

Cont…. These were:- Bedi Nechochi ( r.1800 -1805), Tachi Nechechi ( r.1805 -1810), Gali Goechi ( r.1820 -1850), Deji Goechi ( r.1850 -1887), Techi Goechi ( r.1887 -1898). Beside the above states there were also other Omotic states. Among these the most important were the kingdoms of Dawuro,konta,Gamo,and Gofa ..

1.2. The Oromo Monarchies.. A group of states emerged in the south western Ethiopia in the 18 th and 19 th centuries among the Oromo peoples. At the beginning of 19 th century monarchical states emerged in Oromo settled areas of the Gibe valley . At the time of the Oromo population movement & expansion the Gibe basin was occupied by the various clans of the Mecha Oromo . The then time they led pastoral life & they were governed by the Gada system ..

Cont…. 22. At about 1800, how ever the Oromo of the Gibe valley had undergone a profound political transformation . Many factors accounted for this transformation. The Oromo of this region had come in to contact with Omotic states which had a long tradition of monarchical government. The expansion of Oromo in to wide area affected the system which worked very well in small groups..

Cont…. 23. The long distance trade and the spread of Islam seems to have undermined the power of the Gada government. Finally frequent wars gave rise to powerful individuals such as the Abba Dulas , who become influential. On the whole the combination of the above factors were responsible for the decline of the Gada system and the rise of monarchical government ..

Cont…. 24. Such government emerged first around the beginning of 19 th century. This event took place among the Oromo around the Gibe River and Wellega . Five states emerged around Gibe river which come to be known as the ” Gibe Monarchies ”. There were Gere , Goma , Guma , Jimma and Limu-Enarya . Limu-Enarya was the earliest & it was built on the ruins of the medieval kingdom of Enarya / Hinnario . Enarya was defeated after long period of resistance by the Mecha Oromo..

Cont…. 25. Limu-Enarya become powerful because it controlled the long distance trade route of the region. It reached the height of its power during the reign of Abba- Bagibo or Ibsa ( r.1825 -1868). From the middle of 19 th century on Limu - Enarya declined and gave way to its rival , Jimma kaka . Jimma under its ruler Abba Jifar become powerful and controlled trade & trade routes. At about the same time three Oromo kingdoms emerged to the west and south west of Jimma ..

Cont…. 26. These were Gera, Goma and Guma . All the Gibe states were located along the trade routes which accounted for their rise and prosperity. At about middle of 19 th century two Oromo states emerged in Wellega region. One of these states was Leqa Neqamte founded by Bakare Godana . This state reached at he height of its power during the reign of Moroda and his son Kumsa . He was later baptized taking the christian name Gebre Igziaber when Menilik’s territorial expansion was under way kumsa peacefully submitted and was able to maintain his local autonomy..

Cont…. 27. He ruled Leqa Neqamte in the 2 nd half of 19 th century. The other Oromo state in wellega region was Leqa Qellem was founded by Tullu and become powerful during the reign of his son Jote Tullu . The main source of Leqa Qellem wealth & power was its cross-frontier gold trade& the trade with neighboring sheikdoms of Aqoldy & Benishangul ..

1.3. The Harari Emirates. 28. The Harari people lived in the city of Harar . In the 19 th century they possessed a highly organized system of government . Its political organization was the result of the political development of the last centuries. The sultan of Adal was the most powerful state in 15 th & 16 th centuries & much of the territory in the east had been under the hegemony of this sultan. For most of this period the sultanate ruled the region from its center in Harar . In 1577 the pressure of Oromo expansion forced the sultanate of Adal to shift its center from Harar to Ausa in the north east of the Awash valley..

Cont…. 29. A little before this time, Harar city was also surrounded by a stone wall to resist the Oromo pressure. It was built by Emir Nur the immediate successor of Ahmed Ibin Ibrahim El Ghazi commonly known as Ahmed Gragn . The shift of its political center had one important consequence. This was the emergence of the Harari Emirates. From 1577 to the middle of the 17 th century on The Emirs of Harar paid annual tribute to the Imam of Ausa . The tributary relation come to an end with the rise of Emir Ali Dawud (r.1647-1662) who declared the independence of the Harari Emirate..

Cont…. 30. The Emir established a dynasty that was to rule Harar up to the last quarter of 19 th century. For more than two centuries Harar become the most important trade center in the east. The city was strategically situated between the trade routes of the northern somali coasts( zaila & Berbera ) meet at Harar & then proceeded to the interior of Ethiopia region. These trade routes were controlled by the state of Harar which made it very prosperous. Its commerce was an important economic asset to the surrounding Oromos & Somalis..

Cont…. 31. During the first wave of the Oromo expansion the city had secluded itself from the communities outside the city. As the initial wave of Oromo expansion subsided the seclusion gave way for economic interaction between the Harari behind the wall & the Oromos & the Somalis out side the wall. When this process started the contact between two groups was very limited. The gates of the wall were opened only for trading purposes. The merchants and the local traders from outside the wall were forced to surrender their weapons at the city gates. The security measures were gradually abandoned &free movement in side & outside the city started..

Cont…. 32. In fact common economic interests determined close & peaceful interactions among the peoples. The Oromo around the city become good farmers. They exchanged their agricultural products for items brought to the city by foreign merchants. The fertile territory around Harar produced grain, varieties of fruits & vegetables . Above all coffee & chat together with dyes & ostrich feathers formed the major export of Harar . These items were supplied by the communities around the city of Harar . Therefore, economic interdependence created the ground for more and broader interaction among the peoples of the region..

Cont…. 33. The growth of the trade of the region made Harar wealthy & prosperous . The city developed its own currency as early as 17 th century . The wealthy made the Emirate very powerful & it gradually extended its hegemony over the surrounding Oromos & Somalis. The extension of hegemonic power was facilitated by economic links & marriage relations. Above all the spread of Islam among the Oromos & Somalis was important in promoting the power of the Harari Emirate. Harar was one of the earliest center of Islam in Ethiopian region..

Cont…. 34. The city of Harar continued to serve as the center of Islamic religious study & training . In this way the Emirate become a center of Islamic culture . A number of mosques were built in the city. The Grand mosque & the palace of Emir were the most important edifices of the city. There were also several religious shrines in the city. It possessed well developed handcrafts. The Emirate had maintained close economic & political ties with Yemen &the Arabian peninsula through Zaila & Berbera ports..

Cont…. 35. Many foreigners lived in the city of Harar . Among these the most important were the Arabs, Persians, Turks, Armenians and the Greeks. But the Emirates had no direct relations with Europeans. The Emir were suspicious of Europeans whom they did not allow to enter into their territory. Europeans who tried to enter Harar were often imprisoned or killed . But in 1855 the British traveler Sir Richard Burton was able to stay in the city for ten days. His visit had strong impact on the Emirates future. This traveler disclosed the wealthy of the city as well as the strategic importance of the Emirate to the outside world. In the consequence the first threat came from Egyptians..

Cont…. 36. In 1875 the ruler of Egypt, KhediveIsmael ( r.1863 -1879) sent a military expedition led by Mohammed Rauf Pasha and occupied Harar . After ten years of occupation the Egyptian army withdrew in 1885. Soon after the withdrawal of the Egyptian troops Menilik of Shawa defeated the force of the last Emir of Harar Emir Abdullahi at the battle of Chalenqo , on January 6,1887 and conquered Harar . With that the independent existence of Harar come to an end. The Emirates as well as the surrounding Oromos and Somalis were incorporated in to the Ethiopian Empire..

1.4. The Sheikdoms of Asosa , Benishangul & Komosha.

1.5.The Shawan Kingdom. 38. Shawa was founded in 1695 by the local aristocrat called Negasi Kiristos .The core area of Shawa state was a locality called Menz . After Negasi Kiristos Shawa was ruled by his successors; Sibste ( r.1703 -1745), Amha Yesus ( r.1745 -1775), Asfa Wossen (r. 1775-1808) and Wosen Seged ( r.1808 -1813).These successor of Negasi expanded the frontiers of Shawa in to in to the territories of the neighboring Oromo and Gurage lands. The distance Shawa had from the center of Christian kingdom(Gondar) allowed the Shawan rulers to exercise full authority in their kingdom..

Cont…. 39. Shawa reached the heights of its power during the reign of Sahle Selassie ( r.181 3-1847). He was the first Shawan ruler to adopt the title Nigus for himself. The former rulers simply used the titles like Meridazmach and Abeto . Sahle Selassie was able to organize an effective administrative system for the kingdom. The administration was sub divided in to nine provinces, namely: Minjar , Bulga , Yefat , Gidim , Tegulet , Mertze , Gishe , Moret , & Shawa - Meda . These were administered by their respective governors who were appointed by the kings & answerable to him..

Cont…. 40. The economy of Shawa was based on agriculture . Trade also contributed a the great deal to the wealthy & consolidation of the kingdom. The territorial expansions of Sahle Selassie enabled the kingdom to have access to supply of Ivory, Coffee, Gold, Civet cat & Slaves . These trade items were very important to get fire armies. King Sahle Selassie , like other rulers & chiefs of his time was interested in fire armies & military technology as this would enable him to silence his rivals..

Cont…. 41. The economic prosperity and political stability of the kingdom attracted a considerable European interest in Shawa . During the reign of Sahle Selassie many Europeans who visited Shawa tried to influence their governments to establish relations with Shawan rulers. The first Europeans to approach the Shawan king were the missionaries Isenberg & Krapf who arrive at the court of Sahle Selassie in 1837. In 1839 another European the French chemist Rochetd ’ Hericourt , come to Shawa . He tried to influence the French government to establish relations with the kingdom..

Cont…. 42. How ever the British government took the lead in establishing relation with the kingdom. On the basis of Krapf’s recommendation Britain sent an envoy to Shawa in 1841. This envoy was led by W.C.Harris who succeed in securing a formal treaty between the British & Shawa . Latter 1843 the French envoy Rochet d’ Heircourt , on the behave of his government signed a treaty of commerce & friend ship with Sahle Selassie . These foreign contacts helped the king to get fire armies with which he was able to expand his kingdom..

Cont…. 43. King Sahle Selassie died in 1847 and was succeeded by his son Haile Melekot . The reign of Haile Melekot (r. 1847-1856) marked the end of the autonomous existence of Shawa . This was because Emperoe Tewodros II (r. 1855-1868) campaigned to Shawa & in 1856 and made it one of his provinces. King Haile Molekot died little before Tewodros defeated the Shawan force at the battle of Bereket in november 1855. At the end of his Shawan campaign Tewodros capture Menilik , the son of Haile Melekot & brought himto his court where he stayed for the coming ten years..

Cont…. 44. In 1865 Menelik escaped from Meqdella royal prison & established his power in Shawa . His first capital was at Ankober & with the expansion of his domain; he shifted his center to Entoto until the founding of Addis Ababa..

1.6. Trade and trade routes. 45. The Ethiopian region in the 19 th century was divided in to several entities. However the people and the states of the region had close economic ties with one another. In the 19 th century different states and peoples of the Ethiopian region were interconnected by chains of trade routes which connected the trade of Ethiopia region with the Red sea commerce. The trade routes consisted of two main lines . The starting point for both lines was the south western part of Ethiopian region. One of the line from Bonga the capital of the kingdom of kaffa &connected the peoples & States of the southern region with the northern part of the region..

Cont…. 46. Starting from Bonga the route ran north wards through important trade centers such as Jiren (in Jimma ), Seka ( inLimu-Enarya ), Asendabo (in Horro gudru ), Basso (in Gojjam ) and Darita (in Begemider ). From Derita enter to Gondar,the important trading center in northern region . At Gondar the trade route branched in to two, one branch proceeded west ward to the Sudan through Metema ( Galabat ).The other branch ran north ward through Adawa and entered Massawa on the red sea coast. In the 1 st decade of 19 th century these trade routes were crucial significant for commercial activity of the Ethiopian region..

Cont…. 47. The second major line connected the Ethiopian region with Zaila and Berbera , the most important commercial centers of the northern Somali coast. It was very important particularly during the reign of Negus Sahle Selassie & also served the Shawan kingdom when it was detached from Gonderian rule during “ Zemene Mesafint ” The othe major trade route started from Jiren , jimma & moved to Seka , from Seka changed its course to wards the south east & continued to Sodo and Rogge near mount Yerer . This trade route continued & passed through the town of Aliyu Amba the most important trade center in the kingdom of Shawa . Then it ran eastward to Harar where it branched in to two & proceeded to Zaila & Berbera ..

Cont…. 48. A great variety of trade items were exchanged in the trade between the Ethiopian region and the red sea coast. In Ethiopia the main source of trade items was the southwestern part of the region where coffee, ivory, gold, Animal skin, rhinocer’s horn, musk & slaves. Some of these items were consumed by the local markets. Coffee for instance was not exported in large quantity until the beginning of 20 th century. On the other hand slavery was widespread institution through out the Ethiopian region. Slaves were sold on local market places like Abdul Rasul , near Aliyu Amba , Gindeberet in the north western Shwa and Yejube in Gojjam ..

Cont…. 49. Some of the slaves were used to domestic purposes & the rest were sold to north western Africa & to Arab countries. Imported trade items include mirror, cowries shells, cotton, close, glass and iron wares . Part of cowries shells was used as ornaments, while the rest served as medium of exchange. Be fore 19 th century in many parts of the region trade was mostly conducted through bartering . In the 19 th century how ever different items were used as a medium of exchange . Among such items the most important Salt in the form of bars (salt bars), commonly known as Amole . It was the chief medium of exchange in the trade of Ethiopian region..

Cont…. 50. In addition to Amole other items such as iron bars, beads & pieces of cotton closes ( Abujadid ) were also used as medium of exchange. Apart from these traditional currencies , Maria Theresa dollar ( thaler ) served as medium of exchange in the 19 th century. It was introduced in to Ethiopian region at the end of 18 th century. The long distance trade between the coast & the interior was conducted by Muslim merchants , most of whom were foreigners. But some Ethiopian Muslim merchants also had participated. Among such merchants were the Oromo Muslim merchants of south western region. It was known as Afkala . The active Muslim merchants in the northern were also called Jabarti ..