History of ethiopia and horn of African;

Jimma university

1. Introduction
EthiopiaandtheHornRegionisreferredtoasthecradle
ofhumankind.Itisalsoaregionwhereearlycivilizations
includingfoodproduction,makingtoolsandreligious
practiceswereinitiated.
Thesedevelopmentscontributedtothesocialevolutions,
economicformations,andsocio-culturalandpolitical
settings.Thisunittraceshumanevolutionandthe
NeolithicRevolutionandthendescribeslanguagesand
peoplessettlementalongwithculturalsettingsofthe
region.
Thepurposeistoshowthattheregionishometodiverse
peoples,cultures(languages,religion,customs…)and
economicactivities. 1

2. Human Evolution
•Humanevolutionaccountsonlyafractionof
historyoftheglobethathadbeenformedthrough
gradualnaturalprocesssinceabout(circa/c.)4.5
billionyearsbeforepresent
•Theearliestlifecameintobeingbetween3and1
billionyearsB.P.Bluegreenalgae,smallplants,
fishes,birdsandothersmallbeingsemergedatc.
800millionyearsB.P.
2

3. •Primatesbranchedofplacentalmammalstream
asof200-170millionyearsB.P.andthensome
primatesdevelopedintoPongidae(suchasgorilla,
chimpanzee,orangutan,gibbonetc)whileothers
evolvedintoHominidae(humanancestors)
3

4. •ArcheologicalevidencessuggestthatEastAfrican
RiftValleyisthecradleofhumanity.
•Evidencesrelatedtobothbiologicalandcultural
evolutionhavebeendiscoveredintheLower
OmoandMiddleAwashRivervalleysbothby
Ethiopianandforeignscholars.
•AfossilnamedChororapithecusdated10million
B.P.wasunearthedinAnchar(inWestHararghe)
in2007.
4

5. •Ardipithicusramiduskadabba(dated5.8-5.2million
yearsBP)wasdiscoveredinMiddleAwash.
•Ardipithicusramidus(dated4.2millionB.P.)was
discoveredatAramisinAfarin1994.
•OtherAustralopithecineswereuncoveredat
Belohdelie(datedback3.6millionyearsB.P.)in
MiddleAwash.
•Athreeyearsoldchild’sfossilnamed
asAustralopithecusafarensis,Selam,datedto3.3
millionyearsB.PwasalsodiscoveredatDikika,Mille,
Afarin2000.
5

6. •Another Australopithecus afarnesis
(Lucy/Dinkinesh,datedc.3.18millionyearsB.P.)
with40%completebodyparts,weight30kg,
height1.07meterswithapelvislookslikebipedal
femalewasdiscoveredatHadarinAfarin1974
A.D.
6

7. Picture 1: Fossil of Lucy
7

8. •FossilnamedAustralopithecusanamensiswas
discoveredaroundLakeTurkana.
•Aneco-factnamedasAustralopithecusgarhi
(meanssurpriseinAfarlanguage)datedto2.5
millionyearsB.PwasdiscoveredatBouri,
MiddleAwash,between1996and1999.
8

9. •Thedevelopmentofthehumanbrainwasthe
mainfeatureofthenextstageofhuman
evolution,whichproducedthegenusHomo,
believedtohaveemerged2-2.5millionyears
B.P.Differentevidencesofthegenushomohave
beenrecoveredindifferentpartsof
Ethiopia and the Horn.
9

10. •ApartialskullofafossilnamedasHomohabilis,
whichisderivedfromLatinterms"Homo"
(humanbeing)and"Habilis"(skillfuluseof
hands),dated1.9millionyearsB.P.hasbeen
foundintheLowerOmo.
•AfossilnamedHomoerectus(walkingupright,
dated1.6millionyearsB.P.)wasdiscoveredat
MelkaKunture,KonsoGardulaandGadebwith
900-1100ccbrainsize.
10

11. •HomoerectusseemstohaveoriginatedinAfrica
andthenspreadouttotherestoftheworld.
•Skeletonof ArchaicHomosapiens
(knowledgeablehumanbeing,dated400,000
yearsB.P.)namedBodowithbrainsizeof1300-
1400ccwasdiscoveredinMiddleAwash.
11

12. •FossilsofHomosapienssapiens(100,000years
B.P.)werediscoveredatPorcEpicnearDire
Dawa,andKibisharoundLowerOmo(in1967).
•In2004,Kibishfossilswerere-datedto195,000
B.P,theoldestdateintheworldformodernHomo
sapiens.
•Homosapiensidaltu,foundinMiddleAwashin
1997,livedabout160,000yearsB.P.
12

13. •Culturalevolutionisrelatedtotechnological
changesthatbroughtsocio-economic
transformationonhumanlife.
•ItcanbeconventionallygroupedintoStoneAge,
BronzeAgeandIronAge.
•Stonetoolshadbeenthefirsttechnologiestobe
developedbyhumanbeings.
13

14. •Bytakingtheirfeatures,waysandperiodof
production,stonetoolscanbegroupedinto
•ModeI(Olduwan,whichwasnamedbasedonthe
firstreportmadeatOlduvaiGorge,Tanzania)
•ModeII(Acheulean,namedafterthefirstreport
atSt.Acheul,France)and
•ModeIII(Sangoon).
14

15. •TheModeIstonetoolsaremainlycharacterized
bycrudeandmono-facialstyles,andwere
producedbythedirectpercussion.
•ModeIIstonetoolswereproducedbyindirect
percussion,byusinghand-axorhammer,and
mainlycharacterizedbybifacial,pointedand
convexfeatures.
•ModeIIIstonetoolsarecharacterizedbyflexible
andfineformofproductionbytheuseof
obsidian.
15

16. •Examplesoftheabovetypesofstonetoolshave
beenfoundinEthiopiaandtheHorn.
•Fossilizedanimalbones(3.4millionyearsB.P.)
werefoundwithstone-tool-inflictedmarkson
them(theoldestevidenceofstonetoolinthe
world)atDikikain2010.
•ArtifactfindingssuggestthatOlduwantoolsmade
andusedbyHomohabiliswerediscoverednear
Gona(dated2.52millionyearsB.P.in1992)andat
ShungurainAfar.
16

17. •HomoerectusproducedAcheuleantoolsdatedbackto
1.7.millionyearsB.P,inventedfireandstartedburial
practice.
•Acheuliantools(overamillionyearsold)werefound
atKella,MiddleAwashin1963.
•HomosapiensproducedSangoontoolsthattraceback
upto300,000yearsB.P.
•GademottasiteincentralEthiopianRiftValleyhas
beendatedbackto200,000B.P.
•OthersitessuchasGorgora,Ki’oneandYabelloin
EthiopiaandMidhidhishiandGudgudinSomaliahave
•offerednoteworthyinformationaboutStoneAge
communities. 17

18. •Theperiodofusageofstonetoolsisdividedintosub-
periods.
•Thefirst,thePaleolithic(OldStoneAge,from3.4million
to11,000yearsB.P.)wastheperiodwhenhumanbeing
shelteredincaves,developedlanguage,andusedstone,
bone,wood,furs,andskinmaterialstopreparefoodand
clothing.
•Therewassex-agelabordivisionwithable-bodiedmalesas
huntersoffauna,andchildrenandfemalesasgatherersof
flora.
•Mesolithic(MiddleStoneAge/11,000-10,000B.P.)was
transitionbetweenPaleolithicandNeolithic(NewStone
Age/10,000-6,000B.P).
18

19. 2.2. Neolithic Revolution
•DuringtheNeolithicperiodhumanbeings
transformedfrommobiletosedentarywayoflife.
•Thiswasaradicalshiftinvolvingchangesfrom
huntingandgatheringtothedomesticationof
plantsandanimals.
•Climaticchangeandincreasedhunter-gatherers’
populationresultedin
•thedecliningnumberofanimalsandavailability
ofplants.
19

20. •Theprocessofdomesticationtookplace
independentlyinthevariouspartsoftheworld.
•InEthiopiaandtheHornchieflyinthemore
elevatedandwetter-parts,peoplecultivatedplants
includingTeff(Eragrotisteff),dagussa(Eleusine
coracana),nug(Guzotiaabyssinica),enset(Ensete
ventricosum)etc.
•Thedomesticationofensetplant(Enseteedule)
reducedshiftingcultivation(continuousclearing
ofnewplots),slowingdownsoilexhaustion.
20

21. •Thediscoveryofpolishedaxes,ceramics,grinding
stones,beads,stonefiguresandanimalremainsin
siteslikeEmba-FakedaaroundAdigratinTigrayas
wellasAqordatandBarentuinEritreaevincesthe
existenceofNeolithicmaterialculture.
•TheGobodararockshelternearAksumhas
providedusagriculturalstonetools.Remains
associatedwithdomesticatedcattle,chickpeasand
vegetableshavebeenexcavatedfromLalibela
CaveonthesoutheasternshoreofLakeTana.
21

22. •Stonetoolsusedforcuttinggrassandgrasslikeplants
aswellasrockpaintingsofdomesticatedanimals
havebeenfoundatLagaOdarockshelternear
Charchar.
•Evidencefordomesticatedcattlealsocomesfrom
aroundLakeBasaqanearMatahara.
•PlayaNapataandKadointheSudan,Cyrenaicain
LibyaandFutajaloninWestAfricawereamong
knownplacesofdomesticationofanimalslike
NidamawaandZebu(Bosindicus)cattlethatindue
courseexpandedtoEthiopiaandtheHorn.
22

23. 2.3. The Peopling of the Region
•2.3.1. Languages and Linguistic Processes
•EthiopiaandtheHorningeneralismarkedby
ethnicandlinguisticdiversity.
•Thereareabout90languageswith200dialectsin
EthiopiaandtheHorn.
•Beneaththisapparentdiversity,thereissome
degreeofunity.Linguistsclassifylanguagesof
EthiopiaandtheHornintotwomajorlanguage
superfamilies.TheseareAfro-AsiaticandNilo-
Saharan.
23

24. A. Afro-Asiatic:
•thissuperfamilyissub-dividedintothe
followingfamilies:
•Cushitic:linguistsdividedthislanguagefamily
intofourbranches:
•Northern:isrepresentedbyBeja,spokenin
northwesternEritreaborderingtheSudan.
•Central:AgawincludesAwign,Kunfel,
Qimant;HamtangaandBilen.
24

25. •Eastern:thisincludesdiversifiedlinguisticgroups
likeAfar,Ale,Arbore,Baiso,Burji,Darashe,
Dasanech,Gedeo,Hadiya,Halaba,Kambata,
Konso,Libido,Mosiye,Oromo,Saho,Sidama,
Somali,Tambaro,Tsemai,etc.
•Southern:representedbyDhaloinKenyaand
NbuguainTanzania.
25

26. •Semitic: is divided into two:
•North:Ge'ez,Rashaida(spokenaroundEritrea-
Sudaneseborder);Tigre(spokeninEritreanLowland);
Tigrigna(spokeninhighlandEritreaandTigray).
•South:isfurtherdividedintotwo
•Transverse:Amharic,Argoba,Harari,Silte,Wolane
andZay.
•Outer:Gafat(extinct),GurageandMesmes
(endangered)
26

27. •Omotic:Anfillo,Ari,Banna,Basketo,Bench,
Boro-Shinasha,Chara,Dawuro,Dime,Dizi,Gamo,
Gofa,Hamer,Karo,Keficho,Konta,Korete,Male,
Melo,Oyda,Sezo,Shekkacho,Sheko,Wolayta,
Yem,Zayseetc.
•B.Nilo-Saharan:Anywa,Berta,Gumuz,Kacipo-
Balesi,Komo,Kunama,Kwama,Kwegu,
•Majang,Mi'en,Murle,Mursi,Nara,Nu’er,
Nyangatom,Opo,Shabo,SuriandUduk.
27

28. •Languageclassificationdidnotremainstatic.
Factorslikepopulationmovements,warfare,trade,
religiousandterritorialexpansion,urbanizationetc
haveresultedinintenselinguisticprocessesthat
forcedlanguagestobeaffected.
•Inthisprocess,somelanguagesdiedoutorhave
beenindangerofextinctionwhileothersthrived
overtime.
28

29. 2.3.2. Settlement Patterns
•Asettlementpattern,thedistributionofpeoplesacross
thelandscape,istheresultsoflonghistoricalprocesses
innortheastAfrica.
•Insomeareas,settlementwasdenseandinotherareas
sparse.
•Somepeopleinhabitedextensivehighlandsandothers
thelowlands.
•Basedonhistoricallinguisticandhistoryofinter-
peoplesrelations,studiesindicatethatenvironmental,
socio-economic,andpoliticalprocessessignificantly
shapedandreshapedthespatialdistributionofpeoples
intheregion.
29

30. •Sinceearlytimes,theCushiticandSemiticpeopleshad
inhabitedtheareabetweentheRedSeaintheeastandBlue
Nileinthewestfromwheretheydispersedtodifferent
directions.
•Induecourse,theCushiteshaveevolvedtobethelargest
linguisticgroupinEthiopiaandtheHornandhavealso
spreadoverwideareasfromSudantoTanzania.
•Similarly,theSemiticpeoplesspreadoverlargeareaand
eventuallysettledthenorthern,northcentral,northeastern,
southcentralandeasternpartsofEthiopiaandtheHorn.
•TheSemitesarethesecondmajoritypeoplenexttothe
Cushites.
30

31. •ExcepttheShinasha,wholiveinBenishangul-Gumuz
andtheSouthMaoinWallagga,themajorityof
OmoticpeopleshaveinhabitedsouthwesternEthiopia
alongtheOmoRiverbasin.Yet,intheearliertimes,
theyhadextendedmuchfurthertothenorth.
•Inthewest,theNilotesarelargelysettledalongthe
Ethiopia-Sudaneseborderalthoughsomeofthe
Chari-NilefamilyinhabitedasfarassouthernOmo.
•ThelatterareidentifiedastheKaramojoclusterliving
aroundTurkanaLakealongEthio-Kenyanborder.
31

32. 2.3.3. Economic Formations
•Thedomesticationofplantsandanimalsgave
humanitytwointerdependentmodesoflife:
agricultureandpastoralism.Whiletheremaybepure
pastoralists,itisveryraretothinkofafarmerwithout
aheadofcattleortwo.
•Likewise,inEthiopiaandtheHorn,thesetwoforms
oflivelihoodhavecoexistedandquiteoften
intermingled.
•Topographicfeaturesandclimaticconditionslargely
influencedeconomicactivitiesinEthiopiaandthe
Horn
32

33. •Apredominantlypastoraleconomyhas
characterizedtheeasternlowlandregionsince
earlyperiods.
•Pastoraleconomynamelytheproductionof
camel,goat,andcattlehasbeenthemost
commoneconomicpracticeamongtheAfar,Saho
andSomaliaswellasKarayuandBoranaOromo.
•WhiletheAfarandKarrayuhavedependedon
theAwashRiver,theSomalihaveowedagreat
dealtoWabiShebelleandGenale(Jubba)Rivers.
33

34. •Theplateaushavesustainedploughagriculturefor
thousandsofyearssupportingsizablepopulations.Majority
ofthepopulationswereengagedinmixedfarming.
•Itisherethatsedentaryagriculturehadbeenstartedand
advancedatleastsince10,000yearsB.P.bytheCushites,
SemitesandOmoticgroups.
•ThemajoreconomicactivityoftheOmotichasbeenmixed
farmingandtradeinnorthernOmowhilesouthernOmo
havepredominantlypracticedpastoralismandfishing.
•ManyoftheOmoticgroupshavealsobeenfamousin
metallurgy,weavingandothercrafts.
34

35. •Inthesparselypopulatedwesternlowlandregion,the
dominanteconomicformationswerepastoralism,shifting
agriculture,fishing,apicultureandhunting.
•Forinstance,sorghum,millet,cottonandothercropshave
beenlargelycultivatedinthelowlandsalongEthio
Sudanesebordersinceantiquity.
•TheNilotesalongtheBlueNileandBaro-AkoboRivers
havebeenshiftingcultivatorswheresorghumhasbeena
staplefood.
•AmongmajorityNiloticcommunities,cattlehavehigh
economicandsocialvalues.BertaandotherNiloteshad
tradeandothersocialcontactswithnorthernSudan.
35

36. 2.4. Religion and Religious Processes
•2.4.1. Indigenous Religion
•Thisincludesavarietyofreligiousbeliefsand
practices,whicharenativetotheregionandhave
beenfollowedbythelocalpeoplesinceancienttimes.
•Adistinctivemarkofindigenousreligionisbeliefin
SupremeBeing,butspecialpowersareattributedto
naturalphenomena,whichareconsideredsacred.
•Spiritualfunctionariesofficiateoverrituals,
propitiatedivinities,andareheldinalotofrespectas
intermediariesbetweenthesocietyandspirits.
36

37. •Somemajorindigenousreligiousgroupsthatstillclaim
adherentsamongtheregion'spopulationarediscussedhere
under.
•WaqeffannaoftheOromoisbasedontheexistenceofone
SupremeBeingcalledWaqa.
•Waqa'spowerismanifestedthroughthespiritscalled
Ayyana.
•ThemajorspiritsincludeAbdar/Dache(soilfertilityspirit),
Atete(womenorhumanandanimalfertilityspirit),
•Awayi/Tiyyana(sanctityspirit),Balas(victoryspirit),
Chato/Dora(wildanimalsdefender),
•Gijare/Nabi(fatherandmother’ssprit),Jaricha(peace
spirit),Qasa(anti-diseasespirit)etc.
37

38. •Thereisalsoabeliefthatthedeadexistintheform
ofaghostcalledEkerainthesurroundingofhis/her
abodeafterdeath,orhis/hercemetery(Hujuba).
•Intheautumnandspringseasonseveryyearatthe
edgeofever-flowingriverandtopofmountain
respectively,
•thereisthanksgivingfestivalcalledIrrechabesides
NewYear(Birbo)rite.Reveredexpertsknownas
Qallu(male)andQallitti(female)havemaintained
linkbetweentheAyyanaandthebelievers.
•Qallu'sritualhousecalledgalmaislocatedonhilltop
orinthegrovesoflargetrees.
38

39. •OnWednesdayandFridaynights,thereis
Dalaga/ecstasyatwhichQalluorQallittiispossessed
byAyyanasothats/hecaninterpretmysteries.
•TheJila/Makkala(delegatedmessengers)usedto
makepilgrimagetogetconsecrationofseniorQallu
(AbbaMudaoranointmentfather)untilabout1900.
•AbbaMudahadturbansurrirufaoftri-colors:blackat
•top,redatcenterandwhiteatbottomrepresenting
thoseinpre-activelife,active(Luba)andthosein
post-activeliferespectively.
39

40. •AmongtheHadiyatheSupremeBeingisknownas
Waa,whoisbelievedtoexistbeforeeverything
(hundamissancho)orcreateworld(qoccancho)and
whoseeyesarerepresentedbyelincho(sun)and
agana(moon).
•SpiritslikeJara(male’sprotector),Idota
(female’sguard),Hausula,QedaneandWarriqa
attractedprayersandsacrificesatShonkollaand
KallalamomountainschosenbyAnjanchoand
Jaramanjcho.
•OneofHadiya'sclans,Worqimene,isbelievedto
havethepowertosendrainindrought.
40

41. •Fandanano(sing.Fandancho)practiceis
believedtobeintroducedbyeitherspiritual
leaders,IttoandAlbajafromBimadoclan,or
Boyamo,fatheroffiveHadiyaclans,andwas
largelyfollowedbyinhabitantsofBoshana,
Mishaetc.
41

42. •TheKambatahaveNegitaorArichoMagano/SkyGodand
religiousofficialsknownasMagnancho.TheGedeocalledthe
SupremeBeing,Magenoandhadthanksgivingceremonycalled
Deraro.
•TheKonsoreligioniscenteredonworshipofWaaq/Wakh.The
GojjamAgawusedtocalltheSupremeBeingDiban(SkyGod).
•AmongsectionsoftheGurage,therehavebeenWaq/Goita
(SupremeBeing),Bozha(thunderdeity)andDamwamwit(health
goddess).
•YemworshippedHa’o(SkyGod).So’alaclanwasconsideredas
thetopinreligiousdutiesasitwasinchargeofShashokam(the
mostvitaldeity).
•Religiousfunctionswereperformedthroughcouriersineach
villagecalledMagos.TheKonta’sspirit-cultwascalledDocho.
42

43. •TheWolaytacalledGodTosaandspiritAyyanaincluding
Tawa-Awa/Moytiliya(father’sspirit),Sawuna(justice
spirit),Wombo(rainspirit),Micho(goatspirit),Nago
(sheepspirit),Kuchuruwa(emergencyspirit),Gomashera
(warspirit),Talahiya(BetaTalayeortalheya,Omospirit)
etc.
•Dufuwa(grave)wasbelievedtobeabodeofMoytiliya.
Annualworshipofspiritswasperformedatasacredplace
calledMittausuallyattheendofMayandbeginningof
JunetooffersacrificeofthefirstfruitscalledTeramoor
Pageta(Dubusha).
•PeoplegatheredaroundtreecalledDongowa,which
variedfromclantoclan:sycamore(Ficussurexasperate)
fortheBubula,podocarpoforZatuwaetc.
43

44. •TheQesigacalledtheirmeetingplaceKasha(Dabre).To
protectpeoplefromeatingcropbeforeharvesting
Zomboroclanused
•Diqaysapracticebyplantingintheirfieldssouroliveand
nubicatrees.TheWolaytaalsohadthepracticeof
Chaganna(prohibiteddaystowork)toprotectproduce
fromdisaster.
•TheyalsochoseandkeptdarkbrownheifercalledBeka
(Beqabe)orBaqaPotilliya(Literally,ritualcattle)as
birthdayfate.Iftheymadeerrorinrespectingthiscustom,
theywouldanointtheirbodieswithaleafcalled
Aydameta(groundredpepper)asrepentance.
•ReligiouspractitionersknownasSharechuwahadBecha
orKeraEzaKeta(ritualhouse)
44

45. •TheKefichocalledSupremeBeingasYero;spiritasEqo
andapersonwhohostsEqoisknownasAlamooreke-
nayo.Fatherofallspiritsisdochiordehe-tatenoandits
hostiscalleddochi-nayoorIbedechino/Ibede-gudeno
(includingAritoandWudiaRiti),withresidenceatAdio.
•HarvestspiritiscalledKolloandsacrificetoitisdejo.
•EarthandareaspiritsareknownasShowe-kolloand
Dude-barorespectively.
•TherearealsolocalspiritslikedamochechiofChanna,
yaferochiofSharadaandwogidochiofAdioaswellas
gepetatoorkingofhillidentifiedbyYetechoclanas
landowner.MembersoftheDugoclanledspiritual
services.
45

46. •TheBoro-Shinashapeoplebelieveinsupernatural
powercalledIqa,whichcreatedeverythingand
presidesovertheuniverse.
•Theindigenousreligionelementsprescribepraying
forthepreventionofdrought,flooding,erosion,
diseaseandstarvationwithinthecommunityandtheir
surroundingenvironment.
•Amongvariousprayerrituals,thefirstisGureShuka
forpreservationoftheirlocalitythroughslaughtering
animalsbycallingthenameofGodbeingatthetipof
themountains.
46

47. •ThesecondisShodeDe’na,prayingand
slaughteringwhenunexpecteddiseasehappens.
•ThethirdisMarrowaShuka;slaughteringfor
childrentogrowwithoutdiseaseandtoprevent
childrenfromevilspiritsattack;forrehabilitation
ofwealth;topromoteharmoniouswayoflifeand
productivitiesinthefamily.
•Theritualsareledbyrecognizedelders,whose
prayandblessaretrustedtoreachGodamongthe
threeclans:Enoro,EndiwoandDowa.
47

48. •TheNuerbelieveinKuothNhial(GodinHeaven),
butbelieveinthecomingofGodthroughrain,
lightningandthunder,andrainbowisnecklaceof
God.
•Sunandmoonaswellasotherentitiesarealso
manifestationorsignofGod.Therearealsospirits
associatedwithclanspearsnamessuchasWiW(spirit
ofwar)associatedwiththunder.
•TheNuerbelievethatwhenapersondies,fleshis
committedtoearthwhilebreathorlifegoesbackto
Kuothandsoulthatsignifieshumanpersonality
remainsaliveasashadoworareflection,anddeparts
togetherwithoxsacrificedtoplaceofghosts.
48

49. •Aninterestingfeatureofindigenousreligionis
thewayitspracticesandbeliefsarefusedwith
ChristianityandIslam.
•Thisphenomenonofmixingofreligionsis
knownassyncretism.
49

50. 2.4.2. Judaism
•Judaismisconsideredastheexpressionofthecovenantthat
Yahweh/Jehovah(God)establishedwiththeancientHebrew
community.
•SourcesindicatethatJudaismhasbeenfollowedinEthiopia
andtheHornbypeoplesbeforeChristianityreachedthe
region.
•TheBete-IsraelpracticedHaymanot(religiouspractices,
whicharegenerallyrecognizedasIsraelitereligionthat
differsfromRabbinicJudaism).
•ManyoftheBete-Israelaccountstracetheirreligionfrom
theveryancientmigrationofsomeportionoftheTribeof
DantoEthiopia,leditissaidbysonsofMoses,perhaps
evenatthetimeoftheExodus(1400-1200B.C.).
50

51. •Alternativetimelinesincludeperhapsthelatercrisesin
Judea,e.g.,splitofthenorthernKingdomofIsraelfrom
thesouthernKingdomofJudahafterthedeathofKing
SolomonorBabylonianExile.
•OtherBete-Israeltakeastheirbasistheaccountofreturn
to
•EthiopiaofMenilekI,whoisbelievedtobethesonof
KingSolomon(r.974-932B.C.)ofancientIsraeland
Makeda,ancientQueenofSaba(Sheba),andconsidered
tobethefirstSolomonicEmperorofEthiopia.
•AnothergroupofJewsissaidtohavebeenarrivedin
•EthiopialedbyAzonosandPhinhasin6thcenturyA.D.
51

52. •Therearealsootherstoriesthatattributethepresenceof
theBete-IsrealinEthiopiatoanintermarrigebetween
JewshimmigrantswithnativeAgaws.
•Ontheotherhand,scholarssuchasTadeseTamiratand
KayShelmayarguethattheBete-Israelareremenantsof
oldtestamentfollowersoforthodoxChristianityrather
thanJewswhomigratedfromabroad.
•Whateverthecase,theJewsappeartohavebeenisolated
frommainstreamJudiacpracticeforatleastamillennium.
•TheJewsdevelopedandlivedforcenturiesinnorthernand
northwesternEthiopia.
52

53. Name Origin Church/Monastery Location of the Church
AbunaAregawwi(Abba Za
Mika’el)
Constantinopole Debre Damo Eastern Tigray
Abuna Isaq (Abba Gerima) Constantinopole Debre Gerima Medera (East of Adwa )
Abba Pentelwon Constantinopole Debre Pentelwon Asbo (North East of Aksum)
Abba Afse Ladocia Debre Afse Yeha (Northeast of Aksum)
Abba Alef Qa’esare’a Debre Haleluya Biheza (Northeast of Aksum)
Abba Gubba Cilicia Debre Gubba West of Medera
Abba Liqanos Constantinople Debre Qonasel North of Aksum
Abba Sehama Antioch Tsedania Southeast of Adwa
Abba Yima’ata Qosa’iti Debre Yima’ata Ger’alta
53
Table I: The Nine Saints

54. •TheexpansionofChristianitycontinuedinZagweperiod(1150-
1270)andchieflygainedfreshmomentumduringtheearly
MedievalPeriod(1270-1527),whenmanychurchesandmonasteries
wereconstructed.
•TheseincludeRock-hewnchurchesofLalibela,Debra-Bizanof
HamaseninEritrea;Debra-HayiqinWollo,Debre-DimaandDebre-
WerqinGojjam;Debra-LibanosinShewa,BirbirMariaminGamo
andDebre-AsabotonthewaytoHarar.
•Thesechurchesandmonasteriesarenotmerelyreligiouscenters,but
servedthroughtheagesasrepositoriesofancientmanuscriptsand
preciousobjectsofart
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55. •Frommid-sixteenthtotheearlyseventeenth
centuries,theJesuitmissionariestriedto
convertMonophysiteEOCtoDyophysite
Catholic.Yet,thisledtobloodyconflictsthat
inturnledtoexpulsionoftheJesuits.
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56. Islam
•WhenProphetMohammedhadpreachedIslaminMecca
since610AD,hefacedoppositionfromtheQurayshrulers.
•Underthiscircumstance,theProphetsentsomeofhisearly
followerstoAksumincludinghisdaughterRukiyaandher
husbandUthmanaswellastheProphet'sfuturewivesUmm
HabibaandUmmSalmatoAksum.
•ThefirstgroupofrefugeeswasledbyJafarAbuTalib.In
hisadvicetohisfollowers,theProphetsaidofEthiopia,
"…akingunderwhomnonearepersecuted.Itisalandof
righteousness,whereGodwillgiverelieffromwhatyouare
suffering."
56

57. •ThethenAksumiteking,ArmahEllaSeham
(Ashamab.AbjarorAhmedal-NejashinArabic
sources),gavethemasylumfrom615-28.
•LeadersoftheQurayshaskedArmahtorepatriate
therefugees,butthekingdidnotcomply.
•Armahissaidtohavereplied,"Ifyouwereto
offermeamountainofgoldIwouldnotgiveup
thesepeoplewhohavetakenrefugeeswithme.”
57

58. •Subsequently,IslamspreadtotheHornofAfrica
largelythroughpeacefulwaysincludingtrade.
•IslamwaswellestablishedinDahlak(Alalay)Islands
ontheRedSeabythebeginningoftheeighth
century.
•Intheearlytenthcentury,theMuslimcommunityon
theislandsdevelopedasultanate.Induecourse,
MuslimssettledotherplacesontheRedSeacoast.
•ItwasfromthesecoastalareasthatIslamgradually
spread among the predominantly
pastoralcommunitiesoftheinterior,largelythrough
theagencyofpreachersandmerchants.
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59. •Notwithstandingthedebates,theDahlakrouteplayeda
minorroleintheintroductionofIslamintotheinterioras
Christianitywasstronglyentrenchedasastatereligionin
AksumandlaterstatesofnorthernEthiopiaandopen
proselytizationofIslamwasprohibited.
•Thus,theportofZeilaonwesterncoastoftheGulfof
Adenservedasanimportantgatewayfortheintroduction
ofIslammainlyintothepresentdayShewa,Wolloand
Hararghe.
•Islamfirmlyestablisheditselfinthecoastalareasbythe
eighthandninthcenturies.Fromthere,itradiatedto
central,southern,andeasternEthiopiathroughtheroleof
Muslimclericswhofollowedinthefootstepsoftraders.
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60. •Inthisregard,itshouldbenotedthatSheikhHusseinof
•Bale,aMuslimsaint(Waliy)ofmedievalperiod,
playedveryimportantroleintheexpansionofIslam
intoBale,ArsiandothersoutheasternpartsofEthiopia
andtheHorn.
•AnotherIslamiccenterinthisregionisSofUmarcave.
•IslamwasintroducedintoSomaliterritoriesintheeigth
centuryA.D.throughBenadircoastsofMoqadishu,
BravaandMerca.
•AbuBakrIbnFukuraalDinSahilsetupMoqadishu
•Miniratec.1269.
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61. •Themosques,Islamiclearningandpilgrimage
centershavebeenthedepositoriesof
cultures,traditionsandliteratureoflocal
Muslims.
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