Ethiopedia or Encyclopedia for Ethiopia

How to Read the Ethiopic Geez Fidel Alphabet

2011-04-16T15:12:00.007-04:00

Do you want to read Ethiopian alphabet or want to write your name in Geez Fidel. The first important step to is being familiar with the Ethiopian alphabet. The Ethiopian alphabets are properly termed as Geez Fidel and consist of about 28-30 alphabets. The first alphabet or Fidel is H and its name is HOY. Each alphabet in fact has its own name and was so named from the shape of the alphabet and figure it represents. For example the letter M means water and shape is like the ancient Egyptian water ripple. In fact the latin M is derived from it. Without no doudt Ethiopians exported the letter or alphabets a long time ago into Arabia, Egypt and Europe (for more imformation on this please refer to Ayele Bikeri's Ethiopic An African Writing System). The first Fidel is H and the seven different forms are Ha Hu Hi Ha Hay He and Ho. Rare forms of some alphabets have been excluded for simplicity. There is no need to spell words because the vowels are incorporated within the consonant by giving the alphabet ሀ (H) a leg, a ring, ring and leg, a broken side or a side mark. The vowel order does not change: ሀ(Ha) ሁ(Hu) ሂ(Hi) ሃ(Ha) ሄ(Hay) ህ(He) ሆ(Ho) Now how do you write Hahahahaha? ሀሀሀሀሀ Very easy!!! When Santa says HoHoHo how do you write it in Ethiopian? Its ሆሆሆ very easy!!! The donkey brays HeHoHeHoHeHo so how do you write it in Ethiopic or Ethiopian alphabet? very easy its ህሆህሆህሆ Try the following very easy test. If you pass it you can now read Ethiopic Geez Fidel alphabets and words!!! Now write in Ethiopic: He who? Hohoho hay Answer:ሂ ሁ? ሆሆሆ ሄ The same system applies to the rest of the alphabets called Fidel in Ethiopian. Try the second letter L called Lawe in Ethiopic!
Hoy h ሀ ሁ ሂ ሃ ሄ ህ ሆ Läwe l ለ ሉ ሊ ላ ሌ ል ሎ Ḥäwt ḥ ሐ ሑ ሒ ሓ ሔ ሕ ሖ May m መ ሙ ሚ ማ ሜ ም ሞ Śäwt ś ሠ ሡ ሢ ሣ ሤ ሥ ሦ Rəʾs r ረ ሩ ሪ ራ ሬ ር ሮ Sat s ሰ ሱ ሲ ሳ ሴ ስ ሶ Ḳaf ḳ ቀ ቁ ቂ ቃ ቄ ቅ ቆ Bet b በ ቡ ቢ ባ ቤ ብ ቦ Täwe t ተ ቱ ቲ ታ ቴ ት ቶ Ḫarm ḫ ኀ ኁ ኂ ኃ ኄ ኅ ኆ Nähas n ነ ኑ ኒ ና ኔ ን ኖ ʾÄlf ʾ አ ኡ ኢ ኣ ኤ እ ኦ Kaf k ከ ኩ ኪ ካ ኬ ክ ኮ Wäwe w ወ ዉ ዊ ዋ ዌ ው ዎ ʿÄyn ʿ ዐ ዑ ዒ ዓ ዔ ዕ ዖ Zäy z ዘ ዙ ዚ ዛ ዜ ዝ ዞ Yämän y የ ዩ ዪ ያ ዬ ይ ዮ Dänt d ደ ዱ ዲ ዳ ዴ ድ ዶ Gäml g ገ ጉ ጊ ጋ ጌ ግ ጎ Ṭäyt ṭ ጠ ጡ ጢ ጣ ጤ ጥ ጦ P̣äyt p̣ ጰ ጱ ጲ ጳ ጴ ጵ ጶ Ṣädäy ṣ ጸ ጹ ጺ ጻ ጼ ጽ ጾ Ṣ́äppä ṣ́ ፀ ፁ ፂ ፃ ፄ ፅ ፆ Äf f ፈ ፉ ፊ ፋ ፌ ፍ ፎ Psa p ፐ ፑ ፒ ፓ ፔ ፕ ፖ

1967 Graduates of St. Joseph High School Ethiopia

2011-04-16T11:24:00.009-04:00

In the year 1967 Anno Domini, St. Joseph High School graduated the above students. These students have dispersed across the globe and made the world a more peaceful world to live in. Among them are their mentors (left to right) Brother Alfred, Brother Francis and Brother Eugene (?). All continued to higher learning in Engineering, Science, Law, Medicine and Business. The site of the above picture was at the Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Grand Palace (Menelik Adarash Bete Mengest) after the Diploma and Award ceremony by Emperor Haile Selassie I. One of the above students on the left is the author of the Blog Ethiopedia.blogspot.com

The 12th Grade Graduate Students are:

Basliel Wolde Gabriel; Artist for Josephite paper. Began Science Club
Buzuayehu Tedla
Marcello Capogrosso
Emanuel Cohen; He was dropped off at school in different cars
Faisal Shash
Farshad Farhoumand; His father gave the Emperor good teeth
Fikre Menbere; The Philosopher
Mebrahtu Kidane Mariam
Mulugeta Kebede
Nicholas Pangalos; The second strongest
Peter Sabadka; The strongest (not in photo)
Samuel Aberra; The Bodybuilder. Ate raw eggs for lunch
Zoran Susteric; The smartest guy from Yugoslavia (not in Photo)
Tamrat Beyene
Tesfu Haile Yesus
Tewolde Mekonnen
Branislav Vukadinovic
Yosef Yacob
Zaiyesus Abraham; nickname was "Shakespeare"

Negussu Tamrat* American Field Service Scholar
Berhane Gila* American Field Service Scholar
Girma Wolde Mariam* American Field Service Scholar
Mekonnen Assefa* American Field Service Scholar

Stamps of Ethiopia Volume 3

2011-03-26T03:00:00.006-04:00

The top stamps were issued at the Golden Jubilee or the 50th Anniversary of the marriage of Emperor Haile Selassie and Empress Itegue Menen (1911-1961). The second row of stamps were issued in August 1929 and depicts the plane called Nessre Tafari meaning the Teferi Eagle. Eritrea at this time is not part of Ethiopia and the monetary value is the Guerche (derived from the Arabic Gerch). The stamps (last rows) were issued in 1928 during the reign of Empress Zewditu and Ras Teferi and demonstrates the wildlife of the country and notable Ethiopians, including Zewditu and Teferi (Tafari). Click on the image for enhanced and enlarged view of these stamps.

Stamps of "Ethiopia" Volume 2

2011-03-24T00:47:00.006-04:00

These series is really the most ridiculous stamps bearing the name of the Holy Land of Ethiopia. The Italian Fascists were in Ethiopia fighting for survival for 5 years but they still managed to produce these stamps before they melted away back to Italia Irredenta where they came from!The Arabic script reads "Al Balad El Habasha" which means Country of the Habash or Abyssinian while the year reads May 9 1936, the date the Italians declared Ethiopia as a colony. They entered Addis Ababa on May 5 1936 and declared the next day May 6 as Occupation of Ethiopia. Mussolini declared Ethiopia an Italian province. Victor Emanuel III, shown below, was proclaimed as the new Emperor of Ethiopia. This is quite an accomplishment even though the Italian Fascists never colonized the country except for the complicated case of Eritrea (also known as Baher Midri, Baher Meder, Mereb Melash, Ertra).

Life: Do Not Worry Cheer Up and Be Happy!!!!

2011-03-23T19:53:00.006-04:00

As the human population of the earth increases uncontrollably, so does all the old problems and new emerging problems that have to be dealt with. Sometimes however, one is cornered and has no weapons left to fight the encroaching phenomenon. Some take the easy way out by jumping from the highest buildings or the deepest sea. Others use myriads of ways or a thousand ways to die and leave the earth for another wonderful far-away planet that had been etched in their imaginations. But the tough human spirit is to adapt and not to perish. Ethiopedia has therefore posted this copyrighted poem or fighter's chants to conquer the evil Great Ones that may come in your path as you journey through life. It may be earthquakes, Tsunami, Joblessness, Anger, Prejudice, Hatered etc. Please read it and dance your way until victory!

Copyrighted 1988 Basliel Wolde Gabriel

Stamps of Ethiopia Volume 1

2011-03-23T19:30:00.003-04:00

In this section, a series of Ethiopian stamps will be posted for those who are not familiar with the very early stamps issued by Ethiopia. The earliest stamps were issued at the time of Emperor Menelik.

Ethiopian Beauty Pageant Some History Some Problems

2010-11-26T21:36:00.039-05:00

A group of Ethiopians under the name of Ethio American Entertainment Inc. organized in 1988 the first Ethiopian Beauty Pageant in Washington DC. Herein is the events that took place in that year. A summary of the booklet distributed at the pageant identifies all the participants, the early history of pageants in the world and the Miss Addis Ababa Beauty Contest ( Amharic ; Kungena Wededer)of 1964 and 1968.

This Site is being Constantly Upgraded with New Information !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The cover photograph of the Miss Ethiopia Pageant booklet shows Wossene Hailu being crowned in 1968 as Miss Addis Ababa by Vice President Hubert Humphrey.

Emperor Haile Selassie Receiving Wossene Hailu the Miss Addis Ababa of 1968 at the palace. The Haile Selassie University students at this time refered to the vice president as Kubet Humphrey. Kubet in Amharic means dried cow dung. Most of the students were radicalized Marxist oriented protesters against the feudal government.

Congratulatory Letter from Vice President Hubert Humphrey to Wossene Hailu, the 1968 Miss Addis Ababa.

The Ethiopian Beauty Pageant contestants were listed in the booklet with their names, date of birth, education and interests. A brief account of their backgrounds was also listed. There was no uniform pattern in the photographs and it seems that either they provided whatever photos they could get hold of from the contestants or there was a photo shot taken by the organizers. Thus there seems to be two or three classes of appearances, the Western look, the traditional look and the business-like look. One contestant even appears in blue jeans. Regardless, the photos in the booklet was for information only but it could have been an influence in the selection for the winner of Miss Ethiopia by the judges.

Etenesh Wondemu (above) won the Miss Achievement catagory in the 1988 Miss Ethiopia Pageant. Her charisma, energy, confidence and looks certainly paid off!!

Sehin Belew the New Miss Ethiopia 1988 of the Washington DC Pageant at Hilton Hotel

Update Information; http://www.sehinbelew.com/
http://sehinbelew.authorweblog.com/

Sehin Belew in 2010, more than 20 years later and still looking good! Her secret for being fabulous every day is revealed in her recent book titled Fabulous for Less!

History of Medicine in Ethiopia

2010-11-17T00:16:00.004-05:00

CIBA SYMPOSIA describes the medical situation of Ethiopia in 1944 after the end of the Italo-Ethiopian war. It also describes the establishment of the various hospitals and clinics in Addis Ababa and Ethiopia. Click on the images for better viewing. The report continues with descriptions of the diseases commonly found in Ethiopia such as malaria, venereal diseases, tuberculosis, leprosy, typhus diseases, relapsing fever, cholera, yellow fever, smallpox, helminthic diseases, diseases of the the skin, gastrointestinal disturbances, eye diseases, framboesia and some disease terms in Amharic. These diseases are generally catagorized under Tropical Diseases as contrasted with diseases in the United States and most developed countries wherein the diseases are described as sort of Metabolic, Carcinogenic and Modern society sedentary diseases.

Native Medicine in Ethiopia 1944

2010-11-12T22:34:00.014-05:00

Native medicine in Ethiopia is described by U.S. Technical Project in CIBA Symposia after the Italo-Ethiopian War. The findings, which is incomplete and partial, has pitfalls since many traditional herbal medicines is not described. It is interesting that Kosso is mentioned and today European companies have identified one of the active ingredients of Kosso in the lab. Sadly, they have peddled the "Kossin chemical" as their own to the Ethiopians with tragic consequences to some patients. Ethiopians, however, are able to better describe their traditional or folk medicine (a better terminology) as in this article of another expectorant by Amare Getahun.

"Some Common Medicinal And Poisonous Plants Used In Ethiopian Folk Medicine" :

Rosaceae
Rosa abyssinica R.Br.
keqa (A)
wild Ethiopian Rose (English)
The edible fruits are good tapeworm and round worm expectorants

CIBA Pharmaceutical Report on Native Medicine in Ethiopia

Artistic Works of Adis Gebru of Ethiopia

2010-11-02T23:19:00.012-04:00

Ethiopia has produced many artists throughout the long history of the country. The illuminated manuscripts, as an example, are some of the longest surviving works produced by selfless and patient artists in the early history of Ethiopia. Certain books in the West have shamelessly described the arts of Ethiopia as cartoon-like and childish in appearance. This is far from the truth! Shown below are the works of the artist Adis Gebru dated 2008 of traditional Ethiopians as they are without the flair of Westernizations. Their Ethiopic looks are now well known through the world and this characteristics has been carried unchanged through 4000 years of their history and independence. This is just one example of many talented Ethiopian artists.

The titles of the painting (bold) and comments by Ethiopedia

1. Long Trip. Man and child. Men nurture kids and traditionally are referred to as having given birth to a child like a women

2. Netella Wear. This is the traditional wear of the Highlander Ethiopians

3. My Coffee Maker. Coffee from Kaffa Ethiopia still grows wild in the shadows of the forests and the coffee ceremony is a favorite of many Ethiopian restaurants and homes

4. Impressionable Age. Children are very much loved and protected in Ethiopia

5. Spinning. This cotton spin tradition has not changed since the times of the Pharoahs as seen in the Persian relief below

6. Interesting Style. Ethiopian women like to adorn themselves just like their black kins in Egypt including the same cotton dress with same design

7. Reminescence. The older you are the wiser, so the Shimageles (Elders) are sought for wise advices

8. Stylish. An Oromo lady proudly posing her good looks

9. Adorned. Ethiopian women are much sought after but are good fighters too if disrespected.

Do you Have a Calling or Desire to be Somebody ?

2010-10-31T16:31:00.019-04:00

Throughout our Formative years, as we grow and become more knowledgable to our surroundings, there is a tendency to perceive a Calling or desire to be Somebody. There are three classes to this phenomenon; Those who can plan their future successfully, those who do not have a clear idea and wait as things develop and finally those who come to this world without any idea of what to do with their lives.

In the above photograph of about 1972, the Wingate High School graduate (arrow) in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia and others are posing proudly for the photographer of the Haile Sellassie I Prize Trust. Is it possible to guess what career they will follow or What important person they will become or do they look like they have a Calling for Ethiopia? What is the opinion of most people about the person identified by the arrow? Who is he? What are his aspirations? It would also be very interesting to identify the rest of the group and what careers they pursued and deeds they accomplished after almost thirty years.

A number of searches revealed the identity of the person (arrow). Today he is the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi. If you double click on the photo, a larger image of the person is observed with a very stronge resemblance of none other than the Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

The student that could be voted as the most friendly could be the one on the first row second from right. That is right its Meles Zenawi. Best friends in Ethiopia usually hold hands or lean on a friend's shoulder, a practice long gone away in the West where it is frowned upon.

The above student (arrow) is Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia

Origin of the Violin:the Idingiti Fiddle of Uganda, the Njarka of Mali, the Arab Rebab and the Ethiopian Massinqo or Masinko

2010-06-20T00:23:00.021-04:00

Njarka of Mali

Arab Bedouin Rebab

Ethiopian Massinqo

Ugandan Idingiti

The Idingiti, a fiddle from Uganda, is similar in many ways to the Ethiopian fiddle called the Massinqo. In the world of Ethiopian musical instrument, the Massinqo (Messenqo) is an outstanding example of Ethiopian ingenuity. This one stringed fiddle may be the originator of the violin and the Arab one-stringed Rebab, the Chinese two-stringed fiddle called Erhu and the Ugandan one-stringed fiddle called Idingiti. From start to finish, the Masinko is built without the use of nails and glue. Indeed it is completely organic in construction by using just wood, goat skin, horse tail hair and cow gut string.

The existence of the Ugandan Masinko, called Idingiti, should not come as a surprise because Uganda is a stone’s throw away from Ethiopia. The development of the Idingiti could also have been due in part of the sphere of influence of Greater Ethiopia in the past. However, the Idingiti has been shrouded in mystery. This is not surprising! Uganda, as a former colony of Britain, was imposed with the idea that everything African, people or culture, was inferior and should be shelved away in a dingy room or alternatively at the British museum in London. In contrast, the Ethiopian Masinko thrived throughout the ages as there were no foreign colonial Masters to pass various suppressive decrees on the Ethiopians. Thus the Ugandan Idingiti is not very familiar to the many Masinko players and Azmaris of Ethiopia and musicians of the world.

The following description of the Idingiti is taken from a UNESCO vinyl record publication on the preservation of authentic African musical instrument such as the Idingiti and the Inanga; The idingiti of Uganda is a type of fiddle with a resonator made from a cross-section of a bull’s horn surmounted by a skin stretched over the sound box and nailed with wooden pegs; the neck supports a single string, a fiber of an agave plant attached to a glued knob at the lower end and to a peg inserted in the headpiece on top of the neck. Played with a fiber bow, it rests on the chest and is held by the right hand while the left produces a variety of sounds by touching the string. The Idingiti is used effectively as both a solo and accompanying instrument; in group playing, it carries the melody as does the flute. This description also applies to the Masinko of Ethiopia as described in Michael Powne’s book Ethiopian Music as well as the single-stringed Njarka of Mali which has a body made out of a gourd.

Michael Powne, in his book Ethiopian Music, indicates that the Rebab, an Arabian Masinko, was probably the musical devise that originated the Ethiopian Masinko. In the opinion of Ethiopedia, the use of the word “probably” suggests that Powne was not sure as to the origin of the Masinko. He might as well suggested that the Masinko was the inspiration for the invention of the Arabian Rebab. Indeed had the Masinko originated in Arabia, the Ethiopians would have called their beloved Masinko by the Arab name Rebab as did the Europeans who named their one two and three stringed Masinko as Rebec from the Arabic Rebab. Ofcourse the Rebec then gave rise to the European stradivarius violin.

Travelers are sometimes great observers of events and cultures they travel through in years past. One such person is Father Alvares, a Portuguese who traveled in Ethiopia in the sixteenth century. He describes the Masinko, albeit with few errors. Without any doubt, the Masinko did exist in Ethiopia even prior to that period by many thousands of years. The Ugandan Idingiti is probably as old too and is the blood brother of the Masinko.

Directions to Zed's Bistro and Wine Bar / Zed's Ethiopian Restaurant in Virginia's Jungle

2010-04-18T20:56:00.008-04:00

http://www.zeds.net/

Getting to Zed’s without getting lost:
This direction to Zed’s Bistro and Wine Bar, also known as Zed's Ethiopian Restaurant, in Gainesville, Virginia is meant for those who frequently get lost in this part of the Washington DC area. Presently, it is difficult to find the exact address from the internet or Map Quest because the Shopping Center is new. The restaurant address can also send the traveler to a similar address 3 miles away. These two locations have the same street address or Shopping Center name for some unknown reason. Prince William County needs to correct this confusion. Interstate 66, Route 55 and Route 15 and surrounding streets are under construction, criss-cross each other and very congested. Therefore it is wise to use lighted and numbered streets and avoid barricades and rerouts. The best directions are given below.
The restaurant in Gainesville, Virginia is officially registered as Zed’s Bistro and Wine Bar but it is just a second branch that was opened by the owners of Zed's Ethiopian Restaurant (or Cuisine) to cater to those who do not want to go the long 30miles drive to Georgetown in Washington DC.

In Ethiopia, it is common to find addresses by designating unusual landmarks because street addresses are still in a state of developement even in the capital city of Addis Ababa. Here is a typical example:

"Abebe, where is you house"?
"Mamo, It is very easy, just take the Ambo road to the Shola Tree (Fig Tree) and make a right turn at Dejazmatch Kefetew's Compound. Proceed straight, cross the Kebena River Bridge and when you get to the big green gate, make an immediate right and it is the compound with the stone fence. Take the second gate with the barbed wire"
"Thanks Abebe see you tomorrow at five O'Clock sharp"
"Mamo if you ever gate lost just ask anyone in the neighborhood where Achuma's house is and they will point it to you"

Ofcourse Abebe will never get lost in Addis Ababa but in the United States, it would be impractical to use such method. Surprisingly, newly arriving Ethiopians to the United States will attempt to use the Ethiopian method of landmarks for a while.

Below is the American method of how to get to the Ethiopian Restaurant in Gainesville, Virginia in the suburbs of Washington DC.

Location of Gainesville, Virginia:

Gainesville is located about 30 miles from Washington DC and 1/2 mile from Interstate 66 and Route 29. It is also about 30 miles from Front Royal, Virginia and 1 mile from Haymarket, Virginia. The nearest Landmark is the Manassas National Battlefield Park in Manassas, Virginia. Manassas is about 4 miles from Gainesville, Virginia.

Address of Zed’s in Gainesville:

6850 Piedmont Center Plaza, Building C, Gainesville, Virginia 20155 Tel. 571-261-5933 www.zeds.net

Direction to Zed’s in Gainesville:

Various directions exist to get to the Ethiopian Restaurant in Gainesville, Virginia without getting lost. My attempt here is to give the more direct direction using major highways and exit numbers and avoiding dark streets. Sometimes a more direct and longer route is preferable than a short cut through dark area and streets under construction.

From the North and Washington DC:

Take 66 West
Take Exit 40, Route 15 South (James Madison HWY); make a left turn at the light.
Drive 1500 feet to the second traffic light and make a left turn onto Route 55 East (John Marshall HWY also known as Washington Street in Haymarket).
Drive approximately 1 mile to Piedmont Center Plaza and make a left turn into the shopping center.
Proceed to the second building (building C) behind the USA Tigers Building.

From the South Warrenton and Front Royal:

Take 66 East
Take Exit 40, Route 15 South (James Madison HWY); make a right turn at the light
Drive 1000 feet to the first traffic light and make a left turn onto Route55 East (John Marshall HWY also known as Washington Street)
Drive approximately 1 mile to Piedmont Center Plaza and make a left turn
Proceed to the second building (building C) behind the USA Tigers Building

Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and Atse Menelik of Ethiopia

2009-05-07T19:30:00.000-04:00

Around 1890 to 1900 or just before the Russian Bolshevik October revolution, there was a great activity between the Russians and the Ethiopians. The Russians received golden crown, Ethiopian artifacts and jewels while the Ethiopians received a large supply of rifles. Ethiopian dignitaries were received well especially by the Russian Orthodox synods as they considered the Ethiopians as "black brethren" due to the fact of the same religion. Russian soldiers were also known to accompany the Ethiopians in the attempt of the Ethiopians who were trying to secure the borderlands before the advent of the European powers such as the French and the Italians and the British in the Horn of Africa. The series of postcards below are rare photographs of the Russian Royal family before they were executed savagely by irresponsible authorities. For larger images double click and scroll!

POSTCARDS with reverse side details:

Ethiopian Genealogy: The Traditional Method

2009-02-28T15:59:00.001-05:00

Woizero Atsede Awlawchew Yemiru (1956). 17th Descendant of Emperor Gelawdeos of Ethiopia

The records of Ethiopian genealogy was usually kept by oral history and/or written history. Ancestral names are not used in Ethiopia. For example if Haile (first name) had a son named Abate (first name), records indicate that the person's full name is known as Abate Haile. If the first name of Haile's father is Haile Selassie, then the full name of Haile would be Haile Abate Haile Selassie and so on. However recently, ancestral name have began to be used in Ethiopia after the fall of the Feudal and Solomonic House of Ethiopia in 1974 (Haile Selassie I). Thus the ancestral name of Haile will be Haile Selassie and his grandchild Fayisa would be for example Fayisa Haile Selassie.

Written documents exists in Ethiopia and the records shown here was obtained from the daughter of Woizero Tejenesh Negussei of Selale, North of Addis Abeba. The records were passed from generation to generation, and in the process names were added by succeeding descendants. Similar records exists for the Emperors of Ethiopia and Meroe Ethiopia (Check Rulers of Ethiopia Blog). Ethiopians who were not able to acquire scribes , priests and literate persons usually preserved their history usuing oral tradition. In most cases most Ethiopians are related to Emperors, Queens, Emirs, Chiefs regardless of their heirarchial positions in society. Please comment on the pages that will be gradually added. Below is the first page from the genealogy list. It begins as follows:

Atse (Emperor) Fassil begat Melakawit, Melakawit begat Gunday, Gunday begat Memhere Zekuskwam, Memhere (teacher) Zekuskwam begat Atse Tsebuhe etc.

Eventually we will add the full translations into English. The word begat will be used for simplicity and tradition. Comment is highly appreciated especially if you click on the document below and help in deciphering unclear names.

Page One: Records of Emperor Gelawdeos and Fassilidas (Fassil) 17th century:

The Mystery of the Abyssinian Cat Pedigree

2008-12-01T20:05:00.013-05:00

Below is Proof that the Abyssinian Cat originated from Ethiopia as reported by Harpers Weekly issue of 1872; A description of the history is in the last paragraph of the article

1872

2010

This is the brief story of the breed of cats known as the Abyssinian cat of Ethiopia, a creature shrouded in Mystery and intrigue. It may be a new species that cropped out of the ordinary tabby kitten or a creation of a completely new species from a genetic freak event or the introduction of an unknown species that just looked like an ordinary cat, known only by the observing eyes of an expert. This is the story of the Abyssinian cat of Ethiopia that wandered to England from Ethiopia with the gentle care of a British soldier, a certain Captain Barrett Leonard, after the battle of Magdala of 1868 in Ethiopia and the suicide of the great Ethiopian Emperor Atse Tewodros. The records of these events in England or in Abyssinia exists but the story that was passed down orally also continues to this day. The photo above shows the Abyssinian Cat (lower right) in 1872 Harpers Weekly (Original Page is with Ethiopedia and can be purchased for 200 dollars or highest bidder).
The Abyssinian cat is considered as one of the smartest and gentlest of all cats but unfortunately the origin still remains in question or at best murky. It is not surprising when it comes to things out of Africa; questions are either artificially created or outright perceived or interpreted differently. No doubt, this is just another form of cultural or scientific discrimination that is constantly thrown in the faces of the just and peaceful people of Ethiopia.
The Abyssinian cat, as it is officially known, is one of the oldest breed of the cat family. It was found to be closely related to the ancient Egyptian Cats after careful anatomical studies of the ears, body structure and head. The home of the Abyssinian cat is Ethiopia. The Aby, as it is affectionately called by the English, is a Wild African Cat similar to wild cats in North Africa called Felis Lybica. The first of these cats out of Africa was aptly named Zula, a geographic location in Ethiopia near the Red Sea.
The fur is ticked with black or brown making the cat very unusual. In fact, sometimes the hair is ticked with four different colored ticks. The Abyssinian cat was renamed as a British Tick or a Bunny Cat after many discussions by the cat fanciers considered its origin to be from the British tabby cats rather from Ethiopia.Domestic cats are rare in Ethiopia or so it appeared to the British. In 1805, Henry Salt indicated in his travels in Ethiopia that every household had cats. He did not describe them in great detail. The British however perceived that the Ethiopians, as eaters of raw meat, to never have been animal lovers nor keep pets. This perception led to disagreements in 1900 about the origin of these cats and an attempt to rename the Abyssinian Cat as British Ticked Cat or Bunny Cat. This attempt failed after greater interest and examination of the cat by cat lovers and further discoveries of these cats in Ethiopia. The name Abyssinian refused to disappear and ever since these cats remained as Abyssinian cats.
In order to preserve these ancient looking cats from the ravages of war, a stock of Abyssinian cats was also sent to America during World War II where registration of the cats began. Another pair was imported from England to the United States in 1935. Unfortunately, it died as a kitten. The best Abyssinian cat in England, called Ras Seyoum, was imported from England to the United States in1938. This incident caused a great uproar in England because the United States was now becoming a center for the interest in these unusual and rare Ethiopian cats.
Is Abyssinian a breeder’s creation? Most likely it is a mixture of a British tabby and an the wild African cat (more accurately an Ethiopian Wild Cat) and a domestic cat. Felis Lybica, the Wild African Cat (more accurately an Ethiopian Wild Cat not yet known or discovered), lives in the Abyssinian breed and is the ancestor of the cats of Egypt Western Europe Greece and Rome. Proof that Abyssinian cat exists in Ethiopia is the birth in 1957 in Addis Ababa of a cat whose father was a wild cat and mother a domestic cat. The MacGuires, teachers at the Haile Sellassie I Day School adapted this cat as a pet. His name was Smokey P. and an exit visa had to name him as a Pelt (skin) with a live animal inside. Finally after a wild trip through Egypt, Europe and New York the cat ended up in his new home in Massachusetts.
The advances in DNA technology developed species identification of any living organism including the cat. Recent results have concluded that in fact the Abyssinian cat’s origin is in India not Ethiopia. The question however is where the Indian cat did originate from if there is any truth in the study? There seems to be more questions raised than answered! Apparently a ticked cat in the Leiden Zoological Museum in Holland was obtained from India in 1834 and labeled Patrie Domestica India and that the modern Abyssinian cats came from these cats. DNA also shows genetic similarities between the Abyssinian and the Indian cats.
Ethiopian Wild Cats Discovered!! If you want to make heads turn try to locate the unique Abyssinian Cats in the wilds of Ethiopia. Do not confuse the cats with the more common domestic Talian and Engliz cats. Study the characteristics of the image on this website http://www.wnca.com.au (see above image).

References

Journey from the Blue Nile A History of the Abyssinian Cat by Aida Bartleman Zanetti, Elinor Dennis and Mary E. Hantzmon, United Abyssinian Club, Inc. 1960.

http://www.wnca.com.au Image of ruddy Abyssinian Cat http://www.abyssiniancatclub.com/VHS%20essay_abyssinian_cat.htm

Extinction of the Ethiopian Languages Qemant Geez Weyto Quaregna and Gafat

2008-11-20T11:24:00.000-05:00

The progressive extinction of the indigenous Ethiopian languages of Qemant,Geez, Gafat, Quaregna and Weyto is discussed. The focus will be on the language of Geez. The extinction of the other four minor languages will reinforce and prove that the cause of the extinction of Geez many centuries ago is still valid today due to the emergence and dominance of Amharic. The main anthropological concepts of culture, language, ethnicity (ethnic group) and environment (adaptation) of these five major extinct languages is discussed.

The QUAREGNA language may have been similar to Qemant or archaic Amharic. There is little information about this language and the people of that area now identify themselves as Amharas. Some still identify themselves as Quara or Quarey due to oral history that identifies them as such.

GEEZ is one of Ethiopia’s oldest languages is Geez and the Ethiopians believe that this language was given to them by God. The speakers of Geez were known as the Agazians and their origin is obscured in the mist of time. Nevertheless, it is very difficult to pinpoint the causes of the decline and extinction of Geez but the hypothesis can be conjectured by analyzing the development of the culture, language, environment, and adaptation of the Agazian people during the changes that took place around 700 A.D. Cultural, ethnic, and environmental aspects of Amharic (South of Geez area) contributed to why this language slowly headed into extinction. The Ethiopians believe that their multi-ethnic society existed during the era of the Pharaohs about 4000 years ago. During this time period, the Ethiopian Agazian (Axumite) tribe spoke their unique Semitic (more correctly Ethiopic) language called Geez. In addition, the Agazians built monuments and governed distant colonies of Egypt, Sudan, and Yemen. The Agazian Empire extended into certain parts of southern Ethiopia too and as a result, much of southern Ethiopia’s population, language, and culture were influenced. According to historians, the Agazian Empire (Axumite Empire) was a world power comparable to the ancient empires of Greece, Rome, Egypt, and Persia. The Agazian tribe eventually evolved into three separate major branches of ethnic groups. The following is the list of the three major Ethiopian Semitic languages in the order of being most closely related to Geez: Tigre, Tigringa, and Am(h)arigna (Amarigna) among others. Amharic, the most Southern of these three languages expanded further south while Tigre expanded to the West and Tigrigna remained at the locality where the Geez people originally lived where it was confined by the Red Sea and the lowlands of the Western region of Axum.

GAFAT is another language that slowly headed into extinction due to the emergence and dominance of Amharic. During the reign of Emperor Fasilida in the 17th century, Gafat was the common language spoken among the Ethiopians who lived in the Blue Nile area of the province of Begemder which is now present day province of Gonder. Unlike Geez, the Gafat language is classified as being Afro-Asiatic Semitic while some classify it as Cushitic. The cultural, ethnic, and environmental interaction of the Gafat language with Amharic culture and dominance contributed to why this language slowly headed into extinction. First, the Gafat people were known for being the bravest of soldiers; for this reason, the Amharic speaking Amhara Emperors recruited them as soldiers. Thus, their career as soldiers for the Emperor of Ethiopia (and allies of the Amhara people (Amhara Culture), eroded the Gafat language and culture. Second, since the Gafat people were surrounded by the Amhara people from the North and East, the Gafat people had no choice but to adapt to the culture and environment of the Amhara people. These are very significant anthropological facts because culture is a result between the environment and human beings; therefore, culture is knowledge. Also, culture is a way of survival if human beings are able to adjust to their environment and with each other.

QEMANT is the third major ancient Ethiopian language that slowly headed into extinction due to the emergence and dominance of Amharic. The Qemant are an ancient Cushitic people living in Northwestern Ethiopia near Lake Tana. This language is a branch of another "almost" extinct Ethiopian language called Agaw. Nevertheless, the Amharic language and culture of the Amhara people slowly forced the Qemant people to abandon their language along with their pagan Hebraic religion. The scripts they use is Ethiopic but earlier travellers have reported that there was a script used by the Qemant. In addition there are remamnts of their language within the Amharic type they use in their daily conversations today.

Finally, WEYTO is the fourth major ancient Ethiopian language that slowly headed into extinction due to the emergence and dominance of Amharic. The Weyto lived near Lake Tana where their language was spoken. The hippopotamus dwelt in this region and these animals were used for food and their skins were used as shields for the Amharas (some classify these Weyto as Hippopotamus Culture people). The Weyto tribe practiced their traditional pagan religion and they were not Christians like the Amhara ethnic group. For this reason, the Weyto were not allowed to enter the homes of the Christian Amhara peoples because they believed that their presence would bring them bad luck. The Amharas never learned or adapted to the language of the Weyto. In a sense, the Weyto language was kept a secret from the Amhara peoples so that they could use it as a secret language. Thus, the language of the Weyto people died out and today they are an indistinguishable ethnic group from the Amhara people. This is true because the Weyto adapted to the culture and language of the Amhara. The classification of this language is uncertain; however, it is probably classified as being Eastern Sudanic or Cushitic. In sum, since the Weyto people were surrounded by Amharic speakers, they had no choice but to conform to the major language of Amharic and their Cushitic culture was absorbed by the Amhara culture.

In conclusion, the indigenous dominant language of Amarigna and its Ethiopic scripts expanded from the central province of Amhara. Ethiopia is a multiethnic society with over eighty languages and with over two hundred dialects. Thus, Ethiopia is an excellent country to study the evolution of new languages and the extinction of old ones. In addition, the Ethiopians viewed Amharic as being a language of nobility; for this reason, many Ethiopian tribes desired to speak it, aside for use as trading communication. In other words, the Ethiopians highly esteemed and glorified Amharic and considered it as the language of Kings (Lisane Negus). It is important to know that language is described as being a very complex system of symbols. Language in some sense defines culture; however, language does not define cultural identity. For this reason, it is not possible to know a language without knowing the culture.

References; Emperor Tewodros Ethiopian Library, Washington DC http://www.angelfire.com/ga2/ethiopia/

Where is the Letter P in the Ethiopic Languages ?

2008-09-08T18:36:00.000-04:00

There are no words in the Ethiopic Languages that contain the letter P. Only loan words such as Police, Post Office, Pyramid, Peter and Paul etc exists in the Amharic Tigrigna, Tigre, Oromo, Afar, Somali and other Ethiopian languages. An Amharic dictionary may have no more than 20 loan words in the P category (example Kesate Birhan Amharic Dictionary).
The nearest alphabet used by rural Ethiopians unfamiliar with the "P" loan words is by pronouncing the "P" as a "B". Therefore these loan words are pronounced as: Bolice, Bost or Bosta, Byramid, Beter and Baul. This phenomenon also exists in Arabic speakers of the Middle East
The alphabet or Abugida or HaHuHi letter "P" is found in the Ethiopian Alphabetical Chart (See below) in the Ethiopic form and its origin is uncertain.

The Ethiopian Alphabets

There are two versions of the Letter "P" (click twice on Chart); A regular "P" and a tight "P.". Post is written out with the regular "P" and Peter is written using the tight "P."

The details, origins, philosophy, description and interpretation of the Ethiopic Alphabets (also called Geez, Giiz, Abugida and HaHuHi), refer to the excellent work of Dr. Ayele Bekerie of Cornell University. The author also describes how it is related to the ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics and other cultures. For even further details visit the sight at http://www.library.cornell.edu/africana/Writing_Systems/book.html

Dula(s): The Staff and Stick Culture of Ethiopia

2008-09-02T20:47:00.001-04:00

Ethiopians have to use Dulas due to the terrain of the country. Here many use the dula during the celebration of Timket also known as Epiphany.

Dulas

In Ethiopia, one can very well ask the question which came first, the stick or the stone as the first tool. The archeo-paleo-anthropological stone-age era could have well been preceded by the stick era. It is obvious that sticks have turned to dust somewhere in the mist of time as compared to stone tools; or has it? Take a closer look into the present day Ethiopian culture and one will aptly find the remnants of the stick culture still in use today. Thus, the stick may have come first many millennia ago in Ethiopia. The stick commonly called “dula” in Ethiopia may have been the first tool after all. Even today, the dula is still widely used to ward off wild animals and ensure that humans can travel from point A to point B without being eaten alive by the clawed and fanged beasts of the fields, forests, and savannas. The dula is also used as a deterrent against strangers, highway robbers and enemies.
The lonely dula, however, did not remain for long as a plain regular stick. Like the staff of Moses, it has branched and flowered into many types of instruments and weapons. Hundreds of stick varieties evolved from the simple and lonely dula. It would be very difficult to include all the various types of sticks, staff, rods, and batons practiced by the eighty ethnic groups of Ethiopia. The majority of the dulas described here are from the main tribes of the Oromo, Amhara, Tigre and other tribes.
The Ethiopian stick is usually made from hardwood or bamboo. It is fired or flamed to further harden it and oiled to preserve the integrity of the wood to prevent cracking. Dulas are also made from cedar wood (tid), acacia (grar), wild olive (weira), sycamore (warka), vines (hareg) and bamboo (shembeko Kerkeha and Reed).
The most common term for sticks is dula. The dula can be a walking stick, a guard's zebegna stick, or any type of long well oiled and flamed stick about four to five feet in length. The term dula will therefore be used as a generic word for stick in describing the dula stick culture of Ethiopia.

Dula(s): The Staffs and Sticks of Ethiopia

Dula is an Amharic word for a stick or staff. It can refer to any stick but in most cases it is the humble walking stick that is used throughout Ethiopia. On rare occasions, it can be the name of a boy born on the high windswept mountains or fierce deserts of Ethiopia. Structurally, the dula consists of a head, neck, body (or spine) and the foot. The head is the part that is handled by the hands. The foot of the dula is the part that touches the ground. The neck of the dula lies immediate to the rear of the head. The main body between the foot and the neck can be described as the body or spine of the dula. These famous Dulas (Sticks) of Ethiopia can been categorized into 5 groups;

1. Walking stick dulas
2. Fighting stick dulas
3. Honorific stick dulas
4. Utility stick dulas
5. Game stick dulas

Walking Stick Dulas
These sticks are typically and commonly called Dula (plural Dulas). It is a generic term and can be applied to many types of sticks used for many types of purpose. However, in Ethiopia, a dula is mostly understood to be a walking stick or a stick used for protection.

Dula: The typical Ethiopian walking stick or stick used for protection from adversaries and wild animals. The dula is used as a generic term to describe any stick that has been oiled, fired and hardened.

Komet: This dula is typically used by youths. The head is round and knobbed and is specifically designed to knock off an adversary or incapacitate wild animals. It is usually made from hardwood.

Kentero: A short dula specifically designed to strike down and incapacitate a person to the ground. It is made from hardwood with a large round head, somewhat knobbed. It is short enough in length to use as a walking stick or to swing and strike at an adversary with an effective and deadly result.

Kolmama: A dula that is manufactured from sorghum stem. The body of the dula is twisted around several times for a long-lasting tensile strength. The head part of the stick is knobby.

Belota: A short dula, a walking stick, similar to the Kentero.

Kerkeha: A dula or walking stick made from a bamboo (or reed) called kerkeha. It sometimes goes by the name kerkaha signifying the material it is made of, i.e., kerkeha bamboo.

Kezera: This dula is similar to the Kerkeha but is made from wood. It has a seven-shaped head. It is somewhat similar to the Beter and Merkuz and sometimes even goes by these names.

Deguasa: A very large Beter walking stick dula.

Qumit: walking stick (?).

Meqa Dula: A dula stick made from Meqa, a type of reed.

Shenboqo Dula: A dula stick made from shenboqo, a small Ethiopian bamboo.

Zeng: Zeng is a type of Beter used by those who walk long distances in the wilderness and wilds of Ethiopia. It is a formidable weapon and as such held very dearly and closely by the owner.

Beter: A slender wood somewhat long, well-oiled and treated. It is often used as a corporal punishment tool on misbehaving children.

Utility Stick Dulas
Utility sticks are sticks used for some other chores other than walking sticks, dulas

Cheibo:
This is a torch made from brushes and sticks. It can be embedded with other combustible material to ensure a long term effect. It is used on holidays such as Buhay (Harvest Festival) and Meskel (Festival of the Cross or Finding of the True Cross). This type of torch is usually hand-held.

Tcheraro:
Thin pieces of low-quality sticks used for various purposes. As a single stick with small branchesof no more than a yard in length, it can be used as a temporary dula. But the name signifies as thin, so it cannot be used in the classical sense as a dula (see Walking Stick). One usually swings it around aimlessly as he or she walks. It can also be used for making a cheibo or to start a fire and keep the fire going on or as a temporary outdoor broom. “Thin as a tsheraro” is a common expression.

Demera:
A Demera is a bonfire of special significance. Piles of sticks are burned during New Year, called Enqutatash, or during the celebration of Meskel, the finding of the True Cross. Personal Demera maybe be a foot high and National Demera used at Meskel Square in Addis Abeba can be twenty feet high and twenty feet across.

Terada:
This long dula is used inside a tent to prop up and support it. If the pole that is used is positioned in a horizontal manner, it is referred to as Agdem Terada.

Mensh:
A long stick with 3 pronged or forked end used in the field during harvest time.

Mekotkocha:
A long wood used to till the earth. It is smaller than the Geso and used extensively in agriculture.

Mekoferiya:
A long stick used to upturn the earth.

Yelo:
The Yelo are sticks derived from the Atena (A small tree) of below good grade value. The Yelo is of a girth that is too large to use as a dula and thus often used for walls of the “mud and wattle” type of houses (Gojo Bet or Tukul). Technically, the girth or diameter is about 4 inches or as the Amharic description goes “Behulet Ej Yemitchebet”.

Tewaga:
A strong pole about 4 feet long used to jam a door from the inside to prevent access into a house. This is a typical device used in huts in the countryside or small villages where padlock keys may not be available or suitable to use.

Madenkeria:
This is a similar device as a Tewaga but can be used as a jamming device anywhere applicable.

Kulkuye:
A dula stick used by shepherds. It is effective in protecting the herds as well as the shepherd (in Amharic Eregna) from wild animals and cattle hustlers.

Attara Dula:
A dula stick used by shepherds. This may be similar to the Kulkuye mentioned above or a variation of the dula itself.

Terkeza:
A long pole used as an oar for boats (Jelba) or a papyrus reed boat called a Tankwa. The Tankwa is similar in appearance and build to the reed boats used by the ancient Egyptians and the Indians of Lake Titicaca in South America. Basically, the user or oarsman firmly plants the Terkeza pole into the water and pushes the boat forward.

Meqzefia:
An oar used for a boat (Jelba) or a papyrus reed boat (Tankwa).

Embilta:
A very long flute-like musical instrument made from the kerkeha bamboo trunk. It is strapped to the chest or held by both hands in a vertical position and played by blowing into a hole on the side of the bamboo. Each Embilta has its own unique sound and therefore several instruments are played in unison to achieve a somber music with unusual resonance.
The Dula can have many applications other than a walking stick.

Zabia:
Zabia is the wooden handle of a spear. The term also applies to the handle of an ax, pick, shovel and other tools. Another name for Zabia is Somia.

Somia:
The wooden handle of a spear is called Somia. Another name for Somia is Zabia.

Kareyza:
A stretcher made from two large dulas to carry a sick person or a casualty of war to a hospital or treatment center or home.

Meberberia: A long wood with a 3-pronged head. It is also called a Mensh and is used for agricultural purposes such as willowing.

Zenezena:
A very large dula, the girth of which is about 4 inches in diameter used to pound grain in a muketcha.

Mesbekia: A wooden stick used for churning milk.

Fighting Stick Dulas

Fighting sticks are generally used in sports and for protection from wild animals and enemies. Fighting sticks can range in size anywhere from 3 feet to nine feet in length. It is a stick that is held very closely, treated with respect and strengthened by initially firing it and oiling it to prevent cracking and splintering. Some dulas, like the Donga and the Eba are specifically made for fighting and/or competition sport while others, like the Kentero, are actually a walking stick.

Donga:
This is a very strong fighting stick that is used by the Surma and Mursi of Southwestern Ethiopia. It exceeds in length greater than the height of the owner and a ten foot weapon is not unusual. Hundreds gather during sports events and fighting competition continues until a winner is declared as the hero of the tribe. The prevention of serious injuries is accomplished by wrapping the head, arms, legs and torso several times with cotton shawls. In a ferocious fight, one can hardly make out the figure of a person as the blur of the stick and shawl envelops the fighter into a ghostly figure!

Iba:
The game of Iba is played by the Oromo people of Metcha in the province of Showa, Ethiopia. The formidable weapon used is essentially a large Dula of no particular description. Two opposing groups vie for the best spot to invade each other’s territory. Commonly, a stream divides the opposing resident’s fighters. Swinging their large Dulas, the fighters prepare to invade each other’s territory by stomping the earth and chanting war songs. Eventually, one group courageously invades, and a fierce battle begins until dusk. The clubbing stops when one territory surrenders in humiliation and defeat.
Emperor Haile Selassie, upon hearing about the Iba game, condemned the bloody sport and had it banned. Nevertheless, this sport continues to this day.

Honorific Stick Dulas

These dulas are typically used for ceremonial purposes. They are handled with great honor and respect and are sometimes elaborately designed. The honorific dulas are often repetitive of a people, nation and chiefs.

Sendek:
The Sendek is a dula known commonly as a flag pole. It is used to fly the National Tri-color of Ethiopia’s Green Gold and Red Flag. In the ancient times, before the flag was adapted as the National Flag, bunches of leaves and Adey Abeba flowers adored the end of the pole to signify the new birth of the new year called Awdamet or other festivities. This ceremony is still carried on today during the Meskel and New Year festivities. The Sendek with the flag was commonly raised at the tent of the emperor so that the exact location of the Ethiopian leaders was visible to all who encamped. This imperial mobile city of tent camps was actually the Capital City of the Nation.

Mequamia:
This is a prayer stick used by the elderly and the church clergy. The Mequamia is used in the standing position during the long church ceremonies. The head of the staff has a T-shaped brass or iron handle that can be used as a chin rest. In church festivities, such as in “dances” at Epiphany called Timket in Amharic, the Mequamia is held and waved according to certain rules and rhythms of the church chants of praise. Thus the Mequamia is somewhat akin to a conductor’s baton in an orchestra. In addition it is used respectfully as a walking stick by the very elderly when traveling to and from church.

Zeger:
This was an honorific spear used in the old days. It was respectfully carried by a special spear and shield carrier of a feudal chieftain. This type of spear was unusually large and long with ornamented wood and a sharp tipped spear head.

Betre Mengist:
This is a golden baton that is held by the right hand when the emperors were crowned King of Kings. It represented authority and ability of the emperors to rule Ethiopia.

Miniature Dulla Sticks:

This sticks are too small to be considered as dulas but the technique to develop them and craft them are nevertheless the same!

Meka Berei (Reed Pen)
As the name implies, this is a pen (Berei) made from Meka, a type of bamboo reed that is stronger than Shenboko. This type of miniature dulla stick has been used for many centuries by Ethiopian scribes.

Ters Mefakia (Chewing Stick or tooth brush)

Ethiopian tooth brush or Ters Mefakia (thebeltonfamily.net)

Ters Mefakia literally means teeth scrapper in Amharic. Chewing sticks are made from the roots, twigs and stems of plants that contain high levels of fibers. The Zana tooth brush is used more often but other types of twigs such as acacia is used in Ethiopia. Sometimes these tooth brushes are a two or three foot long twigs with leaves still attached such that the person can also use it as a miniature dula stick to ward of flies or even animals such as dogs. Continued use of this twig, particularly by shepherds, shortens the Ters Mefakia to a 6 inch or less stub that can be pocketed after use. Alternatively a village merchant manufactures these tooth sticks using the best fibrous twigs and makes a living. His customers are mainly city folks who have less access to the tree.
A smart Ethiopian student in Germany (1960's) used to sell Ters Mefakia and was able to finish school and return back to his homeland. He peddled the tooth brushes as anti-cancer sticks which many Germans enthusiastically purchased. This story was obtained from Ato Kebede of the Ethiopian Embassy. It is a fact though that the Ters Mefakia twigs usually have an antimicrobial effect as well as scrapping plaques off, thus leaving a clean and fresh mouth at all times.

Ye Astay Entshet or Sebeka Entshet(flint Wood)
When Ethiopians did not have access to matches to light a fire, they had their own system of using twigs or wood to create fire by friction. Remote areas may still use this stone age method.

Enzert (Spindle)

Ethiopian Enzert Spindle

This miniature wood is made from the Kerkeha wood, a type of bamboo. It is used to spin cotton and is commonly used by women in the household as an extra source of income.

Sports Game Dulla Sticks:

These dulla sticks are typically made for sports and fun games. However, they can be weaponized when the need arises as protective weapons.

Kolafa (Hockey Stick)

Gena Game and Kolafa dula

This dula is used for playing the game of Gena. Gena, which means Christmas, is played during Christmas Day on January the seventh. The main feature of the stick is the bent front end or head of the club used to hit the Gena ball.

The Kolafa (Negarit Drum Stick)
Kolafa is also the name applied for the drum stick of the huge Negarit drum of Ethiopia. The booming sound that is produced is used to summon the people for mobilization in times of war.

Seged Dula:(Lance)
A long stick or lance used in the game called Gittay. The size may vary from 5 to 7 feet in length but no specific length is recommended as long as it can be tossed great distances. However the wood is as strong as olive wood and it is made from a type of hard wood found in the lowlands. The game of Gittay is to aim and throw the Seged dula and strike a cactus tree from several feet away.

Eba Dula:(War Club)
Eba is a war game that is played by the Metta Oromos of Ethiopia near Ambo, about 50 miles from Addis Abeba. Groups of youths from either side of a river face each other, chanting war songs, sizing each other and swinging the dula in a strike pose, threateningly. This intimidation is followed by a charge, actual and bluffs, until one opposing group overwhelms the other and declares victory. (Check Eba as Fighting Stick).

Shkerkerit: (Hoop Wheel)
A hoop made from a flexible twig or a strong vine. The hoop is rolled and controlled with a hooked wire attached to the end of a wooden stick.

Yeferas Guks or Feres Guks: (Polo)
A horse game akin to Polo of the West. Only Ethiopian men play yeferas guks. Two opposing groups ride on horseback and throw bamboo or wooden lances at each other. It is often held during the afternoon of Timqat. Young warriors in capes and head-dresses made from lions' manes battle one another by throwing the bamboo lances. They protect themselves with shields or just glance back and avoid the incoming lance. Centuries ago, survival in this type of game depended on the rider's skill, because there was no armor for protection and the javelins used were sharp and deadly.

Ethiopian Hair Styles

2008-07-21T19:11:00.001-04:00

Ethiopian Hairstyles from former Provinces of Ethiopia. There are many variations of these styles from other tribes. The names of some of these hair styles are described below.

Sheruba

Qaray

Mursi People Hairstyle

Sadula Hairstyle of Tigre and Amhara

Mertu Hairstyle of the Oromo People

Afar People Sheruba Hairstyle

Afar Sheruba

Tshefrer (Afro Goferay with a twist) and dreadlock combination

Afro of Afar People

Sheruba of unmarried Afar

Many types of hair styles exists in Ethiopia. Basically, braids (sheruba in Amharic), Afros (Goferay in Amharic) and dreadlocks of monks and pilgrims are common. In major towns however, the wonderful styles are not seen as common as in the rural areas. Most Ethiopians may proudly hang up photos of traditional hair styles in their homes but usually avoid wearing it themselves probably because they may be depicted as backwards. Many years ago The Ethiopian Post Office printed a set of stamps that depicted various tribes wearing unique and stylistic hair styles from the provinces of Arussi, Bale, Begemedir (Gonder), Eritrea, Shoa and Kaffa (double click for larger image). Some of these hair styles were actually used by the ancient Egyptians and Pharoahs and people of the Nile Basins. In fact there are many traditions and cultures used in Ethiopia that are presently absent in other parts of the Nile valley such as Head Rests, Cistrums, Ear wax cleaners and reed Rain Coats are still used in Ethiopia. Interestingly, the Ice Man found in the Alps of Italy used a similar Reed Rain Coat though he used it as a sleeping mat as do the Ethiopians! The hair styles shown here are from the stamps printed many years ago by the Ethiopian Post Office

Men usually have a hair style in the Afro fashion. However, they are known to also braid their hair. A well known examples of braids in men is that of Emperor Tewodros and Yohannes. This style is common among the Amhara of Ethiopia depicted on the left.

Hair styles also exists for the young. Mischievous toddlers receive a Mohawk type of hair cut. The Amharic name for this style is "Kuntcho". The traditional story behind this style is that the angels will pull the kids out of trouble by holding onto the tuft of hair of the kids. An example is the kid on the left. Young girls receive a hair cut that includes a shaved top surrounded by a halo of an Afro style. The girl on the left probably has this type of hair style but whether the top is shaved is not visible

Traditional hair style of Emperess Taitu, wife of Emperor Menilik.

This Subject is constantly being Updated...please be patient! Feedbacks appreciated!

Hairstyles of Ethiopia

Hairstyles for Children

Quntcho: This hairstyle is used mostly in toddlers and the very young. It consists of a tuft of hair on top of a shaved head. In Ethiopian tradition, the angels save the child from mischief and trouble by holding them by the tuft of the Quntcho hair. This Quntcho style however is disappearing in large towns but it is still common in rural Ethiopia where it is a sign of tradition and not backwardness.

Zerantch: The hair of the Quntcho that grows on the head of a child is called Zerantch.

Qaray: A narrow strip of hair is allowed to grow from the mid-forehead to the back of the neck. The rest of the head is shaved. This style of hair is known as a Mohawk in the United States of America. However, within Ethiopia, it has been practiced as a tradition for many centuries in young boys. A well known Hollywood actor with a famous Qaray is the African American actor known as Mr. T. However, Mr. T also has an extra pair sticking out of his temples! It should be emphasized that Qaray is a hairstyle for children not for the sexually mature and married individual. In the United States, the Mohawk in African Americans is sometimes called Black Mohawk or Fro Hawk. Fro stands for Afro. This style is used in both sexes.

Sheruba: Sheruba is braid whether it is braided as a cornrow or as a free-hanging braid.

Sadula: Teenager maidens shave their hair on the top of the head and leave the outlying fringes unshaven. The shaven hair is allowed to grow only after the women have matured and married. The first growth of this shaven hair after marriage is called Endermamit or Fesesay The hair that has not been shaved, that is, the outlying fringe, is either braided or combed into an Afro. The Sadula is practiced mostly by the Amharas and Tigreans and some other tribes of Ethiopia.

Gamay: The Gamay is similar to a Sadula hairstyle used by girls.

Zur Gamay: This hairstyle is another name for Gamay Sheruba worn by young unmarried girls. It is also similar to the hairstyle known as Sadula.

Gamay Sheruba: This hairstyle is a Sadula hairstyle using braids. Unmarried girls shave the top part of the head and braid the remaining hair surrounding the bald spot.

Endermamit: When a young virgin girl with a Sadula hairstyle has married, the one year growth of new hair from the previously shaved area is called Endermamit. It is customary to comb this new growth with great respect.

Fesesay: This term is identical with Endermamit. When a young virgin girl with a Sadula hairstyle has married, the one year growth of hair that she combs and takes care of is called Fesesay.

Hairstyles for Women

Sheruba:

Sheruba: Hair that is braided into a cornrow or as a free-hanging braid.

Gadeiray: This is a type of braided hairstyle by Amhara people.

Gofeiray: Any type of hairstyle that involves the excessive growth of woolly hair. In the West it is known as an Afro. This hairstyle is also used by women.

Gufta: Gufta is a hairstyle commonly practiced by the Oromo and Gurage people in Ethiopia. Basically, the hair is combed into a fluffy Goferay (Afro). It is then neatly covered with a shash and tied at the rear.

Eshem: This hairstyle is a thick large braid worn by women mostly but also by men in the older days. It is actually a large corn row beginning from the forehead and ending at the back of the neck. Tradition does not dictate as to the number of corn-row braids but Eshem is convenient for those who cannot stand the long hours of fine cornrow braiding. Gungun is another type of Eshem.

Eshem Dereb: This name implies a Double Eshem. This is a type of Eshem that involves the creation of one large Eshem over the top of another.

Gungun: This is a type of Eshem braid. It is a hurriedly prepared hairstyle to suit those who do not have time for an elaborate time-consuming cornrow braidng of the hair.

Mertu: This hairstyle is traditional amongst the Ethiopian Oromo people. The hair is braided in a rope-like fashion (twisted around) and ends in a tuft of hair. This is not done in the fashion of a cornrow. In most cases the hair and scalp is conditioned with ghee (an organic conditioner commonly practiced by Ethiopians) giving the hairstyle a glossy appearance. Mertu is also practiced by other ethnic groups such as the Gurage where it is also weaved like a rope. The hair is allowed to hang down freely.

Sadula: Teenagers, virgins and unmarried maidens shave off the hair on top of the head and leave the outlying fringes unshaven. The hair is allowed to grow only after the women have married. The hair that has not been shaved, that is, the outlying fringe, is either braided or combed into an Afro. The Sadula is practiced mostly by the Amharas and Tigreans of Ethiopia.
Endermamit: When a young virgin girl with a Sadula hairstyle has married, the one year growth of new hair from the previously shaved area is called Endermamit. It is customary to comb this new growth with great respect.

Fesesay: This term is identical with Endermamit. When a young virgin girl with a Sadula hairstyle has married, the one year growth of hair that she combs and takes care of is called Fesesay.

Hamar Bumi and Karo (Southwestern Ethiopians) Women Hairstyle: Hamar Bumi and Karo Ethiopian women who are unmarried have their hair rubbed with fat into small balls then cover them with ochre. These women change their hairstyle after marriage by changing the balls into long twisted strands rubbed in ochre. A fancy decorative ornament usually is included in the hairdo.

Afar Women Hairstyle: Afar (Danakil, Dankali) women that are unmarried wear their hair as hanging ringlets. After marriage, these women cover their hair with Shash or mushal.

Gerdaba Shash: A type of shash that covers the hair and used mostly by by Oromo women. The hair is usually combed as an Afro first then covered with the shash (Shash in Amharic).

Qelbay Shash: This is similar to the Gerdaba Shash but is a term in Amharic.

Kebs: this is a head and hair cover used by women and priests

Gutena: A type of Goferay, an Afro hairstyle.

Hairstyles for Men

Goferay: Any type of hairstyle that involves the excessive growth of woolly hair. In the West it is known as an Afro. This hairstyle is also used by women.

Hamar Bumi and Karo Hairstyle (Southwestern Ethiopians): Hamar Bumi and Karo men wear clay hair buns representing killing of an enemy or a dangerous animal. The hairdo lasts up to one year. Above the forehead, a small holder is made to hold ostrich feathers. Hamar men also braid their hair into cornrow.

Afar Hairstyle: Afar (Danakil, Dankali) men frizzle their hair into a fuzzy mop (so-called Fuzzy Wuzzy of the British). When ringlets are desired, ghee is used to soften the hair into the desired fashion.

Tchefrer (Fuzzy Wuzzy): The Tchefrer (or Fuzzy Wuzzy is a term created by the British and is only mentioned here as a historical note) is well known by patriots, Monks and Spiritualists (Qalitcha). The Ethiopians in the borderlands near the Red Sea were well known to be described as the Fuzzy Wuzzy people. The Beni Amir, Besharin, Amrar, Bilen, Afar, Saho, Hadendowa as well as others exhibit an unusual exaggerated Afro. Some of these tribes still wear this hairstyle. The Fuzzy Wuzzies gave these people a fierce appearance to their enemies. It should be mentioned here that these people were not conquered since the Roman times. When the British first encountered them, they aptly called them Fuzzy Wuzzies not knowing their culture language or origin. Previous to that the Romans and Greeks considered them as apes who resided in the ground and classified them as Troglodytes. The nearest Ethiopian word for Fuzzy Wuzzy is Tchefrer which means unkept frizzled hair worn by Patriots, Monks and Spiritualists.

Nazrawi: This is a Christian monk who wears his hair in a Goferey (Afro style combined with dreadlock) and wraps a long chain several times around his shoulders and waist. This monk or pilgrim also carries a long metal rod that is topped with the crucifix (cross). Nazrawi in itself is not a hairstyle but is mentioned here as an information about Nazrawi monk hairstyle.

Keloita; this is a skullcap worn by men of the Islamic faith.

Buqedaday; Elephants in Ethiopia were plentiful in the past centuries. An elephant killer (Zehon Gedaye) proudly showed their status by wearing the Buqedaday shash (head band) as a sign of valor. The narrow sash, usually green yellow and red (The Ethiopian National Symbol) over a white background, covers part of the forehead and was tied at the back of the head near the nape. An extra piece of the sash usually dangled down the back from the knot.

Comment of Obama's East African Robe

2008-03-04T18:27:00.000-05:00

Recently Senator Barack Obama was shown wearing an East African or Somali robe. The West has completely misrepresented this African culture of East Africa. It has nothing to do or with the Muslim or Islam clothing. In fact Muslim clothing is more directed to woman. The male population in the Muslim countries or African countries can be wearing anything from the typical Western business suit to a loin cloths of some tropical country.

Bishari or Beni Amer Ethiopians in the province of Eritrea. The design has nothing to do with religion or Islam. (Golden Lion An Expedition to Abyssinia, by Hartlmaier)

An Afar from Ethiopia wearing the fashion that Obama was wearing in Kenya.(Courtesy:A Cure for Serpents)

Ethiopia Afar Tribemen wearing the Shemma. The heat of the lowlands compels them to wear the robe in such fashion but in the Highlands of Ethiopia, the fashion used is different. Due to the cool climate, it is wrapped around the shoulders by Christians, Muslims and Animists men and women.(Ethiopian Tourist Organization)

The African fashion in the Sudan where Islamic Arab culture is eroding the African Zaghawa culture. The lone person on the right is wearing the Traditional African garb (from:The Life of my Choice)

A Beja Tribe that inhabits from Ethiopia to Egypt. (Courtesy:The History of the Beja)

The so-called Somali clothing that Obama is featured is also practiced by a number of tribes in the horn of Africa. The Afars, also known as Danakils or Adals wear a similar clothing whether they are Muslims or animists or Christians. In addition to the Somal, the Saho and Tigre people also wear a similar fashion. In Ethiopia, the material used is usually made from local fabric called Netela or Shemma. A number of other tribes also wear this style across Ethiopia and even up to Egypt. It is not surprising that the Ancient Egyptians also wore such type of fashion.
Another misinterpretation by the uninformed is the name Barack as a Muslim word. In fact it has nothing to do with adherence to a certain faith. In Arabic it means Blessing. In Swahili it also means Blessing and is derived from Arabic language (Arabic is not a religion but a language). Within Ethiopia the equivalent of Barack is Bereket in Amharic or Berekhet in Tigre and Tigrigna. The word also is used by many of the other tribes in Ethiopia. The meaning is still Blessing.

American Meskel Flower (Yadey Abeba)

2008-02-25T13:02:00.000-05:00

In the month of September in Highland Ethiopia, after the Monsoon rains, rural areas of the country blooms with the yellow daisy known as Yadey Abeba and Meskel Abeba in Amharic. Simultaneosly in The Eastern part of the United States, when summer month comes to an end, the countryside also turns yellow with a similar wild flower identified as Tickseed Sunflower (scientific name Bidens aristosa or Bidens polylepis of the Asteraceae, Aster family). The flowers, seeds and plant leaf and growth pattern of both Ethiopian and American plants are identical. The question here is: Was it possible that the flower was initially introduced from Ethiopia by a botanist at the turn of the century? Below are some photographs of the flowers taken in Catharpin, Virginia about 30 miles south of Washington DC. The flower also has the distinctive smell of Yadey Abeba, the long resistent seeds and the carpet growth characteristics in the open fields. In Ethiopia the flowers are used in the festival known as Enkutatash and Meskel but the same flower is considered as weed in the Eastern United States, especially Virginia and North Carolina. (Photos by B.W.Gabriel September 2007 Virgina USA)
Clusters of the American Yadey Abeba known locally as Tickseed Sunflower on Sudley Road (Route 234) near Catharpin, Virginia.

A closeup of the Meskel flower in full bloom and a bud that is ready to bloom.

The characteristic yellow color of the American Meskel flower is identical to the Yadey Abeba of Ethiopia.

Fields are a welcome site for the daisies to flourish year after year. The seeds are very resilient resulting in condensed growth of the flowers.
Tickseed Sunflower of America and the Yadey Abeba of Ethiopia are identical yellow daisies that stop growing due to dry season.
The height and stem of the flowers from both countries are identical. Good fertile soil produces bigger flowers and taller plants.

numerous types of butterflies bees and insects feed on the nectar of this bright flower.

Dedication to Emperor Haile Selassie I by Emperor Tewodros Ethiopian Library

2007-12-11T17:36:00.000-05:00

His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie the First, Emperor of Ethiopia, King of Kings, Elect of God, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, 225th Consecutive Ruler of the Solomonic Dynasty.
Girmawi Kedamawi Haile Selassie, Neguse Negest Ze Etiyopiya, Tseyum Egziabher, Moa Anbessa Ze Imnegede Yehuda, 225gna Negassi Ze Solomonawi

Emperor Haile Selassie's Uniform Riband Bars 1974 and the Emperor in his later years (from Ethiopia Reaches Her Hand Unto God by Copley and forward by Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie 1988)

Emperor Haile Selassie was a world wide traveler here seen with the Japanese in 1956. I would like to point out that the media usually prints his name as Selassie. This is a big error. The name Haile Selassie is one single name. Henceforth through out this section Haile Selassie will be printed the Ethiopian way, that is the correct name. Since this is a throne name too (or baptismal name) there is no last name or so-called ancestral name associated with Haile Selassie. Teferi is his given name and his father's name is Mekonnen, which is his father's given first name. It sounds complicated because in reality it is very simple. In Ethiopia only first names exist and only recently have people began to use the given names of their grandparents as an ancestral name

The Emperor in 1955 by Sandford

This photo was taken by the Swiss Sven Tillge-Rasmussen in 1930 in the book Abessinien I Krig. The author was from a group of Red Cross regiment provided by the Swiss during the invasion of Ethiopia by the Fascists in 1936.

Ras Teferi in 1925 taken by Powell, a traveler throughout East Africa.

Ras Teferi in 1925 taken by Powell. The throne is now at the National Museum in Addis Abeba. Empress Zewditu authorized Ras Teferi as Prince regent and heir apparent to the throne of the Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

Ras Teferi just before his coronation as Haile Selassie I Emperor (Atse) of Ethiopia. (Pankhurst frontipiece. Economic History of Ethiopia).

Emperor Haile Selassie before Fascist invasion in 1935 from a book by Princess Asfa Yilma. It is suggested by the author that this is his favorite portrait.

Haile Selassie (1935) in coronation garb. Emperors had live lions and the tiger indicates foreign influence. Westerners visited Ethiopia during Fascist saber-rattling!(Ernest Work 1935)

Regent Ras Teferi and Empress Zewditu on the Throne of Ethiopia (1930's) from Frank Hayter's Gold of Ethiopia,1936. Frank was a gold prospector eager to make money in Ethiopia and was known to hunt wildgame. The scepter (Sendek in Amharic) in Ras Teferi's hands appears to be of foreign design. Ethiopian Scepter is a simple staff.

A portrait for the American people by Ras Teferi in 1927 (The Last of Free Africa, MacCreagh, 1928). It is apparent from the different portraits that Ras Teferi was careful not to duplicate his wardrobe for different visitors to the Empire.

Emperor Haile Selassie around 1930. Reuters reprisentative Dunckley was in Addis to check out the country of Haile Selassie and Ethiopia before the Fascist invasion.

Emperor Haile Selassie as Ras Teferi about 1926. The period before the fascist invasion was visited by many journalists and travelors and so-called Explorers to see the (so they thought) the last of free Abyssinia. Regardless Haile Selassie took this opportunity to make friends. James Baum had previously titled the book Savage Abyssinia but in in his later edition titled it Unknown Ethiopia.

This photo by Bergsma from Rainbow Empire 1932. He was a surgeon at Teferi Mekonnen Hospital at the American Mission in Addis Abeba under the auspices of the United Presbyterian Church of North America.

Official portrait of Haile Selassie I from "For God and Country" by Della Hanson, an Adventist teacher and wife of an Adventist school developer at Akaki. She was asked by Haile Selassie to coordinate the Palace receptions and banquets as well as other assignments before during and after the Fascist barbarism.

Della Hanson and JanHoy before 1958 during a trip. Mrs Hanson worked in the palace for years and witnessed the fascist entry into Addis Ababa and evacuation of JanHoy to England and Geneva. She was there when JanHoy also came back from exile on May 5th.

Della Hanson snapped this when Haile Selassie was visiting the Adventist operated and owned Zewditu Metasebia Hospital which was adjacent to the Jubilee Palace (pre-1958).

Well trained Palace servants that Della Hanson directed on orders of Haile Selassie. She worked for 14 years directing every facet of events at the Jubilee Palace. The uniforms were colored green and red and yellow buttons.

Lielt Tsehai,Asfa Wossen, Leul Mekonnen and Haile Selassie. Behind HS I is probably Hakim Martin Workineh as he was the rep in England.(1964 Mosley)

from Haile Selassie The Conquering Lion Mosley 1964

from Haile Selassie The Conquering Lion Mosley 1964

from Haile Selassie The Conquering Lion Mosley 1964

from Haile Selassie The Conquering Lion Mosley 1964

Teferi Mekonnen at 5 and 7 years old with relatives Ras Imru and Teferi Belew

Teferi Mekonnen 11 years old

Official portrait of Haile Selassie as Representative at The League of Nations (Indiana University)

The Royal Family. Leul Mekonnen, The Emperor, Crown Prince Asfa Wossen and Princesses (Sandford 1955. The Lion of Judah shall Prevail)

Ras Teferi, Lij Iyasu and Ras Biru during their good times as feudal chiefs.

Mrs Sandford's picture of the royal family and palace ground pool about 1945

Haile Selassie in exile in England

Emperor Haile Selassie inspecting the troops in Addis Abeba about 1945. Sitted to his right is Prince Mekonnen who was always together on trips and official functions. It is said that Leul Mekonnen was the favorite son of the emperor.

The Palace Body Guards of the Jubilee Palace in 1945 called Kebur Zebegna in Amharic. They may be barefoot but they wore lion's mane on their heads! The body guards went through several changes, from traditional swordsmen to modern soldiers.

Some of Emperor Haile Selassie's trusted Rases in 1945. Click on photo for identity of these Rases!

The emperor was not known as a good horseman like Emperor Yohannes or Lij Iyasu. He was delicate short but full of dignity. He is known to release an aura that was very intimidating. It is said that one conspirator confessed his motive to asassinate him as he approached the emperor on the throne. Photo Emperor inspecting troops in Addis Abeba. (from Mittelholzer's Abessinien Flug, Zurich, 1934)

(from Mittelholzer's Abessinien Flug, Zurich, 1934)

The major event in 1930 was the transformation of Teferi Mekonnen from Ras to King to Emperor. He was Ras Teferi in early 1930, then crowned Negus Teferi on April 8th and by November 1930 became Emperor (or Qedamawi Haile Selassie Neguse Negest Ze Etiyopiya). In this photo from General Virgin's book The Abyssinia I Knew (1936), the Emperor and Empress Menen (Itegue) are shown in their coronation robes.

Emperor Haile Selassie in yet another uniform. Photo from General Virgin's book The Abyssinia I Knew (1936).

Negus Teferi days before his coronation (Schwab 1979)

Words of Wisdom and Prophecy for the League members in 1936 (Schwab 1979)

Haile Selassie at JFK funeral

Haile Selassie I in his office in 1945

Ethiopian Travelers 1790

2007-12-10T18:42:00.000-05:00

Bertuch's Bilderbuch was designed to teach German kids about the physical world such as these Ethiopian travelers and their environment, geography, flora and fauna. In the above hand-colored etching published in Bilderbuch fur Kinder between 1792-1810, the travelers are seen at rest somewhere in Ethiopia. Could you identify the details presented here and determine the locality, culture and who these people where? A keen analyst can determine by close study of the trees and vegetation, land, clothing, weapons and the domestic animal as well as the hut in the background. Check it out and comment about it! Double click on image for closer examination.

TRANSLATION:from the German by Kebede Demissei Shell Petro-Chemical Engineer and Economist in Germany:

Notice about (Subject Matter) CXLVI/ Volume 7 No. 31

Abyssinians; Who are Taking A Rest on a Journey

Abyssinia is a great Kingdom on the Eastern coast of Central Africa; very mountainous but fertile and produces all sorts of agricultural products abundantly.
Although the population is of Arabic (Ethiopedia: Ethiopians are non-Arabic people) origin, most of the Abyssinians are followers of the Greek Christian Church (Ethiopedia: Ethiopian church is unique and closer to the Coptic Church of Egypt).
They are governed by a king called Negus (Ethiopedia: The country is governed by the emperor called Neguse Negest), who is an absolute ruler.
We did not know any pictures of the Abyssinians or of their traditional clothing and their customs. Thanks to the newest journey (around 1790) made by the English Lord Valentia and his companion Mr. Salt, this has become possible for the first time. Therefore, we are able to see in this picture traveling Abyssinians making a rest in a mountainous region of Abyssinia.
Their clothing consist of a white Shamma which is twisted around the body. Around both shoulders hangs sheep leather, without which no Abyssinian leaves his home. Their heads are not covered by anything. The upper class Abyssinians covers the lower part of the face with their Netelas. Their weapons consist of spears and shields. Only a few use a sort of rifle (loaded by the nozzle of rifle).
Their houses are huts with high pointed roofs like the one shown in the background of the picture.
When an Abyssinian gentleman travels, he is accompanied by a group of armed people. The picture shows most probably such an occasion. The horse (Ethiopedia: a mule) is reserved for the gentleman.

Ethiopians Destroyed Egyptian Army led by American Confederate Generals in 1875

2007-06-25T17:47:00.001-04:00

This is the true story of how the Ethiopian army led by Atse (Emperor) Yohannes completely destroyed and annihilated an Egyptian army invasion force led by American Confederate generals. The humiliating part of this tragic event for the Confederate generals was that they had already been losers in the American civil wars which was fought over the question of slavery. A couple of generals have preserved the secrets of this events and how they despised the Egyptian Fellahin (peasants) and the barbarous Ethiopian patriots. This is the story of the battles of Gunda-Gundet and Gura and Arissa in which the Ethiopians completely annihilated the coalition armies of the Ottoman Turks, Egyptian and Confederate American generals as written by the American Colonel William M. Dye. The book is erroneously titled Moslem Egypt and Christian Abyssinia because it was more a war of the coalition forces of Egypt, the Ottomans and the Confederate Americans against Ethiopia. An illustration above from the book depicts an Ethiopian horseman, a Sudanese Kababich, an Egyptian soldier and an Ethiopian Oromo fighter surrounding Pompous Egyptian rulers. The shield with the lion probably represents the Ethiopian emperor's emblem as Yohannes had 4 lions with him at all time. The Egyptians and Ottomans hatched a new and secret idea of recruiting confederate American generals and officers in 1869. These corrupt and unaware Americans were secured by Blacque Bey, the Turkish minister at Washington D.C. A five year contract was drafted obligating the officers to serve against countries Egypt was at war with except the United States. The Americans eventually realized that they would be fighting against Christian Abyssinia (Ethiopia). The famous American general, W.T. Sherman recruited in confidence most of the forty eight Americans . One is left to ponder whether the American administration at that time was in fact knowledgeable about the conspiracy against Ethiopia that was hatching right under their noses. My opinion is that the United Stated knew about this conspiracy, assisted in the transportation and covered up the deal. This was also a good way to get rid of the defeated unemployed confederate officers in Washington D.C. and the South. Following are the names of those who served the Egyptians; Brigadier Generals, W. W. Loring (Leader of Group), C. C. Sible, Carrol Tevies, C. P. Stone, Major General Henry A Mot, Majors W. C. Campbell, Parrys, Hunt, Eugene Fehet, Chansler M. Martin, W. B. Hall, White, J. D. Dennison, Charles F. Loshe, Robert Schrryler, H. G. Prout, C. Macomb Mason, Colonels Alexander Reylands, T. G. Rheet, W. H. Jenifer, Beverly Kennon, Frank Reynolds, Vanderbilt Allen, R. C. Colston, W. McE. Dye, Robert M. Rogers, Samuel H. Lockett, Charles B. Field and McIvor, Lieutenant Colonels Sparow Purdy, C. C. Long, Will Ward, Wm. W. Dunlap, James Bassel, H. B. Reed, C. J. Graves, H. C. Derrick, Captains Freeman, James Morgan, David Essex Portal, Irgens, John Savage, Drs Johnson, W. H. William, Arlson, Professor L. H. Mitchell, Misters Middleton, Testaferrata and Garnard.
In 1875, Egyptian forces under Munzinger, a Swiss, were annihilated at Arissa. This was an attempt by Ismael Pasha of Egypt to bypass Yohannis and communicate with Menelik of Shoa. The Egyptians then tried a second trick again in 1875 under the Dannish Colonel Ahrendrup Bey (Bey being a Turkish promotion). This army of Egypt was again destroyed by Atse Yohannis at Guda Gundet in 1875. The third trick that the Egyptians and their Ottoman masters tried was to bring the Arab army of Egypt under the American Confederate Army of W.W. Loring. It is this story that is being told here because it was kept largely in the limelight due to the utter annihilation and humiliation of the “white” armies (The coalition forces of Egypt, Turkish Ottomans and Confederate Americans) by the African armies of Atse Yohannis. In effect Ethiopia, an African country, fought three continental armies of North American led by Colonel Loring, Asia Minor led by the Ottomans and quasi-African-Arab-European Egypt led by Ismael Pasha, the Khedive of Egypt. The plans of the Khedive to conquer the “Barbarian Habashis” and take their Blue Nile Basin was childish in itself as the Ethiopians with little arms that they possessed, had a more sophisticated and intelligent plan that sent the pitiful invaders running to the shoreline of Mistewa (Massawa) where they were having real fits of nervous breakdowns.
The notable battle on the plains of Gura was described by Dye and others very starkly. The Gura battle plan was arranged by the council of the Confederate Americans General Loring, Derrick and Dye and the Egyptian Osman Pasha. In this bloody fight, the Ethiopians overwhelmed the Egyptian-Ottoman-Confederate American coalition forces into oblivion. The invaders retreated after being mauled by the Ethiopian lions (literally mauled because there were 4 lions of Emperor Yohannes that growled and pawed the air in the heat of the battle). Colonel Dye describes the Ethiopian frenzy as “beating and blowing the “Negariths and Aimbeltas arousing their barbarous souls to fury and combat”. He further describes how Dejach Hagos of Shire was killed during the battle on horseback while the cowardly Egyptian Prince Hassan rides away on his horse to Massawa and his cavalry gallop away too. The Egyptian foot soldiers meanwhile staggered all the way to the sea shore following their leaders. Dye bitterly refers to the Egyptians as Fellahin which means peasants, not worthy of being soldiers, no doubt to relief himself of his own shortcomings. Indeed the American battle-hardened confederate armies were also fleeing the battle grounds. The infamous names of the defeated Americans were Long, Lockett, Hall, Dennison, Johnson, Wilson, Porter, Field, Martin, Dye, Colston, Stone, Gravis, Loshe, Lamson, Loring, Derrick, Wilson and Irgens.
One of the casualties of the battles against the Egyptians and their mercenaries were the imperial lions of Atse Yohannis, symbols of Ethiopia. A lion or two were lost at Gundet while two were lost at Gura. Colonel Dye reports that one of these lions was stuffed and placed near a tree for all to see its majestic powers.
Throughout the fight of preserving the Independence of the country, Ethiopia always had to deal severely with enemies from within the country itself. Thus one of the products from this victory was that the Egyptians settled for a more devious method of creating a division within the people of Ethiopia by using Ethnic tensions and propaganda ploys. The strangest character from this method was an opportunist Ethiopian known as Ras Wolde Mikael. His allegiance shifted between the Arabs and the Ethiopians. At times he laid waste to the Hamasein province and on other occasions he allied with Ras Alula to beat away the Egyptians. The method still continues in the 21st century with many Wolde Mekaels created by the Egyptians to once and for all attempt to revenge their defeat and bring powerful united Ethiopia into many weak fiefdoms that would endlessly kill each other.
The president of the United States at this time, Andrew Johnson, is described by the Miller Center as “Though Johnson was deeply committed to saving the Union, he did not believe in the emancipation of slaves”. Clearly as president he did not care about the destruction of Ethiopia and as such knew the on-goings of the Sherman-Turkish minister deal in Washington. Further more the Center describes him as “Andrew Johnson is largely viewed as the worst possible person to have been President at the end of the Civil War. He utterly failed to make a satisfying and just peace because of his racist views, his gross incompetence in federal office, and his incredible miscalculation of public support for his policies”. His Secretary of State was a certain Seward who “worked to prevent European recognition of the Confederacy during the Civil War”. There is no doubt that Seward, at the same time, instigated and gave the green light to the Confederate General Sherman to recruit and ship the secret mercenaries to Egypt to kill the Ethiopians and capture the Nile Basin and Maritime lands of Ethiopia. Sherman was also commander-in-chief of the United States between 1865-1883 and his recruiting of confederate armies against Ethiopia took place at this time. In the end however almighty Ethiopia prevailed.

Further readings: Loring http://stonewall.hut.ru/leaders/loring.htm and Sherman http://www.civilwarhome.com/sherbio.htm

Great Ethiopian Song Praises Cultural Festivities

2007-04-25T10:27:00.001-04:00

Awdamet by Manalemosh Dibo
Basic Translation for Non-Amharic Speakers
A Joyous Song Praising Awdamet an Ethiopian Holiday

Its festival Times, its Awdamet, Its Amet Baal
A time to rejoice and praise thanks to Amlak, God
The majestic sun rises and casts its rays all over Ethiopia
And Awdamet begins early with the first crow of the rooster
Here and there and everywhere echoes the greetings of joys
The traditional kissing and hugging and endless salutations

Bow low bow low then kiss the knees the Elder's Knees!
On and On and On; Dehna Nachehu Dehna Nachehu?
How are you? How are the children, the cattle, the horses!
How is your health ? How is your business? Praise the Lord!
Egziabeher Yemesgen! Amen! Thanks Amlakthe Lord!
The whole country seems like one big big Family!
The festivities! The food! The visitors! The children!
Its one big Celebration of Life, A new beginning
Amlak Yemesgen, Praise and Thanks to God
The bonfire Demera, some big, some small
Light the evening skies and from a mountain top
Like earthly twinkling stars stud the valleys and plains
Shimmering until the coldness of night turns off the flames
Bahelachen, our culture, casts good wishes, good health
Oh praise Amlak the Lord Let us praise Enamesgen
The aroma of wheat bread , the dabo or Ambasha
Like butterflies on the soft wind of early spring
Whiffs its welcome scent through out the land!
Great Awdamet Praise be to Amlak, God
How can one forget the injera and wat
With its spicy and nourishing taste
The palate asks for more and more!
Wrap the healthy morsel with soft injera
Here Gursha my friend Here Gursha my kid
Here Gursha my love, How sweet the bond created!
Oh the Feresegna, the Horseman, that chicken breast
Aptly Reserved for the House head and the Elders
Eaten lavishly and the relish shared amongst all
Until the bones remains standing like a horse
Alas, the Feresegna has been consumed
Awdamet Awdamet Praise be to Amlak, God
Traditional music from traditional Masinko and Krar
Sending their thanks and joy to One creator, Amlak Hoy
The Iskista, the shoulder and head rhythmic movement
Now this way Now that way, Sliding and Gliding along
Enkwan Aderesachehu which means Happy Holidays
Destana Tsega which means Happiness and Blessings
Amlak Yemesgen, which means Praise to the Lord
Traditional Home Brewed drink, Pass it on!!
Tej honey mead and Tella traditional Beer
Cupping the hands to pour and to taste
How colorful the Ethiopian way!
Awdamet is happiness Awdamet is blessing
Amlak Yemesgen, which means Praise the Lord
The Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony, so old so vibrant
Yet so very new to so many on just this one earth
Roasting crackling beans turn brown then black
Sending their mystic smoke high high and high
Oh how sweet the smell, here breath the aroma
Above your head it goes and down your face
Each sweep of coffee cloud with their palms
For one or so last sniffing, one last blessing
Abul, First serving for the distinguished
Tona, the second serving for good luck
Baraka, the third serving for blessing
Yes Indeed Let's celebrate Awdamet
Awdamet, gift for the Healthy Aged
Awdamet is happiness and joy
Awdamet is a blessing
Today we rejoice and Praise
But the morrow we leave to God
Light up the Shammas, the candles
Let smoke rise from the Sended incense
Wear your new clothes Spray the perfumes
Scatter Findesha popcorn and chase evil away
Where green Ketema grass covers the floor
The green of the National Ethiopian Flag
The green of the rainbow, the first flag
A sign of spring and a New Life
Hand around still the Ambasha bread
Let the Children play Celebrate Awdamet
Let us once more praise the Lord Amlak
While the Elders shower us blessings
Merekat, good will and good wishes

Love each other Forgive each other

Its the Spirit of Awdamet A time of Joy
Awdamet is happiness Awdamet is blessing
Amlak Yemesgen, which means Praise the Lord

Enkwan Aderesachehu Amlak Yemesgen Praise the Lord

Rough Translation by Ethiopedia

Ethiopic: An African Writing System by Ayele Bekerie

2007-03-15T12:14:00.000-04:00

This is a book with many purposes. Beyond accounting the history and principles of Ethiopic, this book challenges the accepted institutionalized theory that South Arabia is the origin of Ethiopic.

My favorite parts of the book was first, the strongly defended theory about the origin of the fisted right hand black power symbol; second, the explanation of the beginnings of b'al and the usage of grass during coffee ceremony; and thirdly, the study of Ethiopic as a pictographic form. There was a lot more to the book; for instance, the numeric system and its relation to the mystery of why God said that Abraham's name must be Abraham and not Abram ("Abraham corresponds to the sum total (numerical values of 60 (40+9+6+1+4), which when divided by 5 the total number of [Ge'ez] characters in the name reveals the 12 House of Israelites"). Also, the writing systems connection to astronomy and the calendar (there are 182 syllographs, which equals the total number of days in half a year or in one equinox). Oh, and the fact that animal skin was used for writing material because of the abundance of livestock in northern Ethiopia. Actually, animal skin is still used today - a friend of mine recently returned from Ethiopia with a large piece of cow skin, dried and then, partly shaved to be covered with a story from the Bible.

But back to my favorite parts of the book: Ayele Bekerie poses the question "What is the relationship between the African American or South African 'Black Power' salute and the ideographic character (Yä) Yäman, literally a [Ethiopic] term for a fisted right hand?

Another interesting point: Dr. Ayele links the use of grass (qétäma) to a 1700 BC script on a sandstone sphinx. On the sphinx is inscribed the term "B'alat" in the Proto-Sinaitic script (throughout the book he shows the close relationship between Ethiopic and Sinaitic writing). B'alat was the word for gods or goddesses of fire or sun. Quoted from Porphyry de Abstinentia, "Who inhabit the most sacred region made by the Nile, began first, from the vestal hearth, to sacrifice to the celestial gods, not myrrh, or cassia, or the first fruit of things...but grass, which, as a certain soft wool of prolific nature, they plucked with their hands."
For years, in Ethiopia B'al, a Ge'ez and Amharic term for holidays associated with "abundance, festivity, and wealth," is celebrated by decorating the floor with grass (qétäma).

The final point I must highlight: Ethiopic writing system has a pictographic foundation similar to the Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. Dr. Ayele examines the Proto-Sinaitic pictographic scripts and its "direct relationship" to the Proto-Ethiopic script.

It excites my nerves to know that their is a great probability that such an intelligent writing design existed in sub-Sahara Africa 2000 years BC. Dr. Ayele's work challenges Ethiopianist and Africanist to do more extensive and fair archaeological work on the continent of Africa below the Sahara Desert.

Quragna: A Banking System Outlawed by Iyyasu

2007-03-02T14:26:00.000-05:00

Western banking systems use loans and interest rates to bind a creditor to a debtor. With increasingly high interest rates, often debtors are mentally, socially, and even physically chained to banks. Up to the 19th century, in Ethiopia, being chained to your creditor was literally a reality.

It is known as the quragna system and until the debt was paid off, the debtor was chained to the creditor. This harsh system was made illegal in the early 1900s by Lij Iyyasu of Wallo. A hundred years later, to the west of Ethiopia, a woman used the same creditor/debtor binding system on her 15 year old daughter. A mother was chained her run-away daughter "out of love" in Massachusetts, USA. You can find the article about the mother-daughter Quragna system at: http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=132092

Another mother chained herself to a delinquent teenager in a fashion similar to the Ethiopian Quragna system where a creditor is chain to a debtor. Rebellious Tonya Kline was ordered chained to her mother Deborah Harter by order of Judge Wayne Creech of Charleston South Carolina. This prevented the daughter from going back to the detention center until sentencing day. The mother wanted her to be at home expecting her to wear an electronic monitoring device but the judge ordered the shackles instead as there was no law against it. In Ethiopia the Quragna Law was outlawed by Lij Iyasu at the turn of the century. Tonya had to wear a prisoners shackle (belt) which was chained to her mother by a chain. Tonya was only free when she had to go to the bathroom and the shower. Tonya’s crimes was truancy, shoplifting and breaking into homes. Tonya said “Its taught me a lesson” and “ I’m already straightened out”. A by-product of this chaining was that a stronger bond developed between the daughter and the mother. (You can find the article about the mother-daughter Quragna system in The Washington Post Dec. 15, 1995 by Bruce Smith of the Associated Press)

Learn more about Quragna by reading a book by Bahru Zewde A History of Modern Ethiopia.

Pictures are from the Ethiopian Tewodros II Ethiopic Library, the Washington Post and Boston Herald.

Kings and Queens of Ethiopia 4470 B.C.E. to 1930 A.D.

2007-01-22T17:56:00.000-05:00

We are listing here the magical history of the rulers of Ethiopia from Ethiopian sources. In 1914, a document listing the line of sovereigns of Ethiopia was provide to the traveller Charles Rey by Ras Teferi, Regent of Ethiopia. This extensive and continues line of Kings and Queens has yet to tell wonderful stories of Kingdoms past, a challenging task for Ethiopianists. We will attempt to scrape off the mist of history and time to reveal the grandeur of Ethiopia, also known as Abyssinia. This will be a slow process, sort of like painting the Mona Lisa with the secret smile. Modifications will be slow and an on-going event or as the Ethiopian saying goes "patience turns milk into butter"

I. TRIBE OF ORI or ARAM: Years are in BCE
1. Ori or Aram 4470 2. Gariak I 4404 3. Gannkam 4321 4. Queen Borsa 4254 5. Gariak II 4194 6. Djan I 4114 7. Djan II 4054 8. Senefrou 4034 9. Zeenabzamin 3976 10. Sahlan 3916 11. Elaryan 3836 12. Nimroud 3776 13. Queen Eylouka 3731 14. Saloug 3701 15. Kharid 3629 16. Hogeb 3529 17. Makaws 3459 18. Assa 3429 19. Affar 3379 20. Milanos 3317 21. Soliman Tehagui 3244 . The line continues with Kam.

II. TRIBE OF KAM: BCE

1. Kam 2635 2. Kout (son of Kam) 2585 3. Habassi 2545 4. Sebtah 2515 5. Elektron 2485 6. Neber 2455 7. Amen 2434 8. Queen Nehasset Nais 2404 9. Horkam 2375 10. Saba II 2345 11. Sofard 2315 12. Askndou 2290 13. Hohey 2255 14. Adglag 2235 15. Adgala 2205 16. Lakniduga 2180 17. Manturay 2145 18. Rakhu 2115 19. Sabe I 2085 20. Azagan 2055 21. Sousel Atozanis 2035 22. Amen II 2020 23. Ramenpahte 2000 24. Wanuna 3 days 25. Piori I 1985 . The line continues with the Agdazian Dynasty.

III. AGDAZYAN DYNASTY of KINGDOM of JOCTAN: BCE

1. Akbunas Saba II 1930 2. Nakehte Kalnis 1871 3. Queen Kasiyope 1890 4. Sabe II 1856 5. Etiyopus I 1800 6. Lakndun Nowarari 1770 7. Tutimheb 1750 8. Herhator I 1730 9. Etiyopus II 1700 10. Senuka I 1683 11. Bonu I 1675 12. Queen Mumazes 1671 13. Aruas (daughter of Mumazes) 7 months 14. Amen Asro I 1641 15. Ori (or Aram) II 1611 16. Piori II 1596 17. Amen Emhat I 1556 18. Tsawi 1541 19. Aktissanis 1531 20. Mandes 1514 21. Protawos 1481 22. Amoy 1460 23. Konsi Hendawi 1455 24. Bonu II 1453 25. Sebi III (Kefe) 1438 26. Djagons 1418 27. Senuka II 1408 28. Angabo I (Zaka Laarwe) 1358 29. Miamur 2 days 30. Queen Helena 1347 31. Zagdur I 1307 32. Her Hator II 1277 33. Her Hator (Za Sagado) III 1276 34. Akate (Za Sagado) IV 1256 35. Titon Satiyo 1246 36. Hermantu I 5 Months 37. Amen Emhat II 1241 38. Konsab I 1236 39. Sannib II 1231 40. Sanuka III 1226 41. Angabo II 1186 42. Amen Astate 1156 43. Herhor 1140 44. Wiyankihi 1131 45. Pinotsem I 1114 46. Pinotsem II 1073 47. Massaherta 1057 48. Ramenkoperm 1043 49. Pinotsem III 1036 50. Sabi IV 1026 51. Tawasaya Dews 1013 52. Queen Makeda 982 . Son of Makeda (Queen of Sheba or Saba) begins Solomonic line.

IV. MENELIK I SOLOMONIC DYNASTY: BCE

1. Menelik I 957 2. Hanyon 956 3. Sera I (Tomai) 930 4. Amen Hotep Zagdur 899 5. Aksumay Ramissu 879 6. Awseyo Sera II 841 7. Tawasya II 820 8. Abralyus Wiyankihi II 788 9. Aksumay Warada Tsahay 765 10. Kashta Hanyon 752 11. Sabaka II 740 12. Queen Nicauta Kandake 13. Tsawi Terhak Warada Nagash 681 14. Erda Amen Awseya 675 15. Gasiyo Eskikatir ? 16. Nuatmeawn 671 17. Tomadyon Piyankihi III 659 18. Amen Asero 643 19. Piyankihi IV (Awtet) 609 20. Zaware Nebret Aspurta 568 21. Saifay Harsiataw II 556 22. Ramhay Nastossanan 542 23. Handu Wuha Abra 531 24. Safelya Sabakon 500 25. Agalbus Sepekos 478 26. Psmenit Waradanegash 457 27. Awseya Tarakos 445 28. Kanaz Psmis (son of preceding) 432 29. Apras 422 30. Kashta Walda Ahuhu 402 31. Elalion Taake 392 32. Atserk Amen III 382 33. Atserk Amen IV 372 34. Queen Hadina 362 35. Atserk Amen V 352 36. Atserk Amen VI 342 37. Queen Nikawla Kandat 332 38. Bassyo 325 39. Queen Akawsis Kandake III 315 40. Arkamen II 305 41. Awtet Arawura 295 42. Kolas II (Kaletro) 285 43. Zawre Nebrat 269 44. Stiyo 255 45. Safay 242 46. Queen Nikosis Kandake IV 232 47. Ramhay Arkamen IV 222 48. Feliya Hernekhit 207 49. Hende Awkerara 187 50. Agabu Baseheran 177 51. Sulay Kawawmenun 157 52. Messelme Kerarmer 149 53. Nagey Bsente 139 54. Etbenukawer 129 55. Safeliya Abramen 109 56. Sanay 99 57. Queen Awsena 88 58. Dawit II 78 59. Aglbul 70 60. Bawawl 60 61. Barawas 50 62. Dinedad 40 63. Amoy Mahasse 35 64. Nicotnis Kandake V 25 65. Nalke 20 66. Luzay 8 67. Bazen BCE YEAR 8 to AD YEAR 9

Non-Christian Rulers After Christian Era (AD):

1. Sartu Tsenfa Assegd 30 2. Akaptah Tsenfa Ared 38 3. Horemtaku 40 4. Garsemot Kandake VI 50 5. Hatosza Bahr Asaged 78 6. Mesenh Germasir 85 7. Metwa Germa Asfar 94 8. Adgale II 104 9. Agba 6 mo of Adgale + 6 mo 105 10. Serada 121 11. Malis Alameda 125 12. Hakabe Nasohi Tsiyon 131 13. Hakli Sergway 143 14. Dedme Zaray 153 15. Awtet 155 16. ALaly Bagamay 162 17. Awadu Jan Asagad 192 18. Zagun Tsion Hegez 197 19. Rema Tsion Geza 200 20. Azegan Malbagad 207 21. Gafale Seb Asagad 208 22. Tsegay Beze Wark 212 23. Gaza Agdur 221 24. Agduba Asgwegwe 229 25. Dawiza 230 26. Wakana (Queen) 2 days 27. Hadawz 4 months 28. Ailassan Sagal 233 29. Asfehi Asfeha 247 30. Atsgaba Seifa Arad 253 31. Ayba 270 32. Tsaham Laknduga 279 23. Tsegab 289 34. Tazer 299 35. Ahywa Sofya (Queen) 306 . The line continues with Christian rulers and Ethiopia becomes a Christian nation.

Christian Rulers After Christian Era (AD):
1. Ahywa (Sofya, mother of Abreha Atsbeha). 2. Abreha Atsbeha (partly with his mother) 332 3. Atsbeha (alone) 344 4. Asfeh Dalz 351 5. Sahle 365 6. Arfed Gebra Maskal 369 7. Adhana I (Queen) 374 8. Riti 375 9. Asfeh II 376 10. Atsbeha II 381 11. Amey 396 12. Abreha II 7 months 13. Ilassahl 2 months 14. Elagabaz I 398 15. Suhal 402 16. Abreha III 412 17. Adhana II (Queen) 418 18. Yoab 428 19. Tsaham I 430 20. Amey II 431 21. Sahle Ahzob 433 22. Tsebah Mahana Kristos 436 23. Tsaham II 438 24. Elagabaz II 444 25. Agabi 445 26. Lewi 447 27. Ameda III 450 28. Armah Dawit 464 29. Amsi 469 30. Salayba 478 31. Alameda 486 32. Pazena Ezana 493 . Kaleb continues the line as a Dynasty until Emperor Gedajan.
Kaleb Dynasty:
1. Kaleb 523 2. Za Israel 1 month 3. Gabra Maskal 537 4. Kostantinos 565 5. Wasan Sagad 580 6. Fere Sanay 603 7. Advenz 623 8. Akala Wedem 631 9. Germa Asafar 646 10. Zergaz 656 11. Dagena Mikael 682 12. Bahr Ekla 701 13. Gum 725 14. Asguagum 730 15. Latem 746 16. Talatam 767 17. Gadagosh 780 18. Aizar Eskakatir 1/2 day 19. Dedem 78520. Wededem 795 21. Wudme Asfare 825 22. Armah 830 23. Degennajam 849 24. Gedajan 850 25. Gudit (Yodit, a Jewish Queen) 890 26. Anbase Wedem 910 27. Del Naad 920 . Events ends Solomonic dynasty and begins the Zagwe (line of Moses) Dynasty
V. ZAGWE Dynasty
1. Mara Takla Haymanot (Zagwe) 933 2. Tatawdem 973 3. Jan Seyum 1013 4. Germa Seyum 1053 5. Yermrhana Kristos 1093 6. Kedus Arbe (samt) 1133 7. Lalibala 1173 8. Nacuto Laab 1213 9. Yatbarak 1230 10. Mayrari 1245 11. Harbay 1253
(Israelite rulers during Zagwe Dynasty:1. Mahbara Wedem 2. Agbea Tsion 3. Tsinfa Arad 4. Nagash Zare 5. Asfeh 6. Yacob 7. Bahr Asagad 8. Edem Asagad).

Yekuno Amlak throned and continues the Solomonic line.
VI. YEKUNO AMLAK AND HIS SOLOMONIC POSTERITY
1. Yekuno Amlak 1268 2. Yasbeo Tseyon 1277 3. Tsenfa Arad 1278 4. Hesba Asagad 1279 5. Kedme Asagad 1280 6. Jan Asagad 1281 7. Sabea Asagad 1282 8. Wedma Ared 1297 9. Amda Tseyon 1327 10. Saifa Ared 1355 11. Wedma Asfare 1365 12. Dawit 1395 13. Tewodoros 1399 14. Yeshak 1414 15. Andreyas 6 months 16. Hesba Nafi 1418 17. Bedl Nafi (6 mo with Andreyas) 1419 18. Amde Tseyon 1426 19. Zara Yacob 1460 20. Boeda Maryam 1470 21. Iskender 1486 22. Amda Tseyon 1487 23. Naod 1500
24. Lebna Dengel 1532 25. Galawdewos 1551 26. Minas 1555. The Emperors and Empresses moved around the realm until the establishment of Gonder as a Capital City. The line continues as House of Gondar.

VII. THE HOUSE OF GONDAR
1. Sartsa Dengel 1589 2. Yakob 1598 3. Za Dengel I 1599 4. Susneyos 1627 5. Fasil 1662 6. Degu-Johannis 1677 7. Adyam Sagad Iyasu 1702 8. Takla Haymanot 1704 9. Tewoflus 1707 10. Yostos 1711 11. Dawit 1716 12. Bakaffa 1725 13. Birhan Sagad Iyasu 1749 14.Iyoas 1764 15. Johannis 5 months + 5 days 16. Takla Haymanot 1772 17. Solomon 1774 18. Takla Giyorgis 1779 . The accession line continues by Princes who claimed the throne as Emperors. These Princes began the Zemene Mesafint Era.

VIII. RULERS of ZEMENE MESAFINT ERA
1. T. Yasus 1784-88 2. Takla Haymanot 1788-89 3. Iskias 1789-95 4. Baeda Maryam 1795- 97 5. Junus 17976. Adimo 1797-99 7. Egwala Sion 1799-1818 8. Joas 1818-21 9. Gigar 1821-26 10. Baeda Maryam III 1826 11. Gigar (again) 1826-30 12.Iyasu IV 1830-32 13.Gabra Kristos 1832 14.Sahala Dengel 1832-40 15.Johannes III 1840-41 16.Sahala Dengel (again) 1841-55 . The end of Zemene Mesafint begins with Tewodros.

IX. RULERS of MODERN ETHIOPIA
1. Theodore 1855-68 2. John IV 1868-89 3. Menelik II 1889-1913 6. Lej Yasu 1913-16 7. Zauditu (Empress) & Ras Tafari Makonnen (Regent & Heir) 1916 Negus Tafari Makonnen (King) 1928-1930 8. Haile Selassie I 1930-1974. The Royal line is terminated by Marxist and Tribalist Unknowns

X. SOLOMONIC LINE DISRUPTED BY REVOLUTIONARIES

1. Communist and Ethnic-oriented leaders reversed the continuity of the Solomonic line.

The Mysterious Origin of the Flag of Ethiopia

2007-01-21T03:27:00.005-05:00

The book Ethiopian National Flag attempts to document the origin of the Ethiopian National Banner from all angles. The author, Asfaw Tefera, in 1999, has surgically examined the folklore, legends and documented accounts of the Ethiopian Flag or Sendek Alama. He was able to discover that at various times the Ethiopian flag was either blue or contained two white stripes and many more variations of the Green Yellow and Red. The interpretations of the flags are also discussed. Unfortunately, there is a tendency to discount the Ethiopian legend as he attempts to discover the origins of the Ethiopian National Flag. is by strongly relying on documents. Basically there is an attempt to describe the legend as nothing more than myth since Ethiopians are well known to rely on legends than on documentations.

In this section, we shall attempt to reveal the mysterious origin and interpretation of the Ethiopian flag which has been passed down as folk lore through oral history. The Ethiopians call their flag Sendek Alama, which literally means "Sceptre Motto " or "Sceptre Symbol" or "National Flag". The Ethiopians also use the bastardized name Bandira (Italian=Bandiera), unaware that it is of Italian derivative for banner or flag. We believe that the Ethiopian flag of Green Yellow and Red is the oldest flag in the world and are presenting the wonderful and majestic story here.The earliest flag used by humankind is probably the colors of the rainbow (Keste Damena or Bow of the Cloud), basically the Green Yellow and Red. Two nations that have kept these cultures are Ethiopia and Bolivia. Today Bolivian Indians still use the colors to celebrate some of their festivals but in Ethiopia it is still the emblem of the country. Throughout the year, it is seen in the rains of the monsoon seasons or in one of the many waterfalls (Fwafwate) during the dry season, as a reminder that God made to man never to destroy the earth with water. The right photo above show the rainbow after a shower in Yayi, Ethiopia. The left photo is the perpetual rainbow at the Blue Nile falls (Tis Isat or Smoke of Fire). The flag has an ancient roots and therefore has many interpretations. The flag colors signifies such doctrines as Faith Hope and Charity, Father Son and Holy Spirit and Wealth Blood and Fertile Land. Ethiopians however believe it was given to them by God and its sanctity is beheld. (Photo from Pankhurst, Ethiopia).

The image of the flag with the Lion of Judah (Moa Anbessa) is from a flag used in the Jubilee Palace and depicts the official and correct Lion of Judah symbol. Certain individuals use the British or Persian lion but the Lion of Ethiopia is unique and as depicted on the currency of the country. Tourists and pseudo-scholars sometimes provide wrong information that are picked up by the lay person just because it was written by a European. One such example is Herbert Vivian, a British traveler who was in Ethiopia in 1900 and who describes the flag of Ethiopia in his book Abyssinia as White Red White horizontal strips when he first saw it near Somadu and Gildessa close to Harar.

The White Red White Flag at the Guardhouse near Gildessa in 1900

The Ethiopian Flag in Wylde's 1900 book "Modern Abyssinia" as top yellow, middle red and lower green Pendants. This type of flag was used by Emperor Menelik in Addis Abeba. The three pendants were later united into the traditional Green Yellow Red horizontal strips of the Ethiopian flag as we know it today. Sometimes in the early part of 1900's the three colors were united to signify the unity of Ethiopia and as part of Menilik's desire to modernize Ethiopia. Herbert Vivian describes in his 1902 book "Abyssinia" the National flag of Abyssinia as a stripe of white middle as red and white. The flag however was hoisted at the Gildessa guardhouse and is probably a religious flag described by priests as the purity of Christ and the red blood that flowed for the sake of mankind. Harrington, a British, tells Herbert Vivian that he removed the Ethiopian flag from the British territories (which made Menelik mad) but does not describe it. It must have been the Yellow Red Green (photo on left) that Menelik hoisted over his palace unless the white red and white was used by the Church.

Emperor Menilik watching TNT (dinamit) explode near Bishoftu lake. Notice the 3 pendant flags

Different regions of Ethiopia used different flags whose origin is uncertain. Sometimes the origin can be traced to the times of the Portuguese and beyond. This 1844 image (from Highlands of Ethiopia by Harris) displays a pendant flag with a cross. The place was called The Mother of Grace and was located in Shoa during the rule of Negus Sahle Sellassie of Shoa. Harris does not clearly describe the place but it is an Amba in Shoa that Gragn is believed to have camped nearby. This flag probably has nothing in common with the National Ethiopian flag.

Cartographers produced hundreds of maps known as the Prester John Maps. These were maps of Ethiopia and Abyssinia covering the Baher Negash Province (Eritrea)to the Great Rift Valley Lakes of East Africa. The legend shown here on a 1660 map was based on Ortelius' map of 1573. This Blaeu Prester John famous map depicts the colors of the Ethiopian flag on the Ethiopian figures. Even today the flag is worn on Shammas and Ethiopian National clothings. The image of a man and a Woman with two Ethiopian kids holding an Ethiopian Tila (parasol) reinforces the concept that the Ethiopian flag is not a Johnny-come-lately phenomenon. The podium or shield also displays the Green yellow and Red is proof of the existence of the Ethiopian flag in the 1600's and before. This map was certified as original color from 1600's and was not a recent addition. The country is also identified as Ethiopia and Abyssinia on this 400years old map.

Queen Victoria lived in what British historians term The Victorian Age. One of their strangest African war was the war to release their diplomatic and missionary subjects that Atse (Emperor) Tewodros chained on the Meqdela Amba palace grounds. The bragging Irish soldiers were happy to be awarded the Meqdela Medalion which shows an Ethiopian cross embedded with the image of the queen and hanging from an Ethiopian flag. The White Red White horizontal strip is an image from a book by William Simpson's "Diary of a Journey to Abyssinia, 1868". This is the same flag described by Herbert Vivian in 1900.

Ethiopia's Downfall: The End of the Aksumite Empire

2007-01-12T14:21:00.000-05:00

Ethiopians love to brag about their history and the once upon a time great empire that now exists only in our memories. The Aksumite Empire was one of the grandest, richest, and most respected nations in the first 6 centuries A.D. The market flourished of gold and other riches. The merchants traded with the Roman Empire, the Egyptian Empire, the Greek Empire, the Persian Empire.

So, what happened to that great nation? No one ever discusses the fall of the Aksumite empire or even the events that led to the fall of the great kingdom.

Aksum, the capitol of the Aksumite empire, was located in the North of Ethiopia. The Empire included Djibouti, Eritrea, Yemen, parts of SW Arabia, the Red Sea, and great parts of the nile. It's most important area of control, in terms of economy, was the Red Sea allowing easy trade and international relations. Aksumites exported gold, rhinoceros horn, ivory, incense, and obsidian; in return, they imported cloth, glass, iron, olive oil, and wine.

The 4th century AD: Aksumite converted to Christianity.
The 6th and 7th century AD: Aksumite lost the SW Arabia, including Yemen, and Red Sea ports(it was taken over by Sassanian Persians). Still, parts of the Red Sea coast were controlled by Byzantine Egypt, which had good relations with Ethiopia being a Christian state. However, Sassanian Persians expanded and took control of Byzantine Egypt ports. So, Ethiopia's network on the sea declined.
The 7th and 8th century AD: the spread of Islam. Islam conquered the Arabian Peninsula and Byzantine Egypt's territory. Egypt was Aksumite's greatest trade partner. When Islam was established in Egypt, the good relations between the Aksumite (Christian) state and Byzantine (Christian) state vanished. Muslim Arabs took control of the Red Sea; and Islam spread fast to Djibouti and Somalia and other areas along the Red Sea.
The 12th century AD: Islam spreads into the mainlands of the Aksumite Kingdom, east and south of the central highlands. The native cushitic people (Oromo is one main group) who practiced indigenous religions converted to Islam. This group struggled with the Amhara-Tigray Semitic Christian people for the throne of Ethiopia.
The 11th and 12th century AD: The grand Aksumite Empire had been forced inwards cutting off much access to wealth and leaving it landlocked. Moreover, the Christian state was threatened by its new Muslim neighbors; so the Christian state focused on preserving and strengthening its religious laws. It also began to expand southward. Using its military, it spread the Aksumite culture, Semitic languages, and Christianity southward all the way to Shewa and took possession of a lot of land (it gained more land than it had before).

Around 1137, the Zagwe Dynasty gave rise. This dynasty was devoted to the Christian religion. Lalibela, along with many other churches, was constructed during this reign. The religion was very strict, devotional, and centered. There was no focus on spreading Christianity (missionary work). There was little contact with outside nations leaving the nation reliable on its own land and resources.

Source: Ethiopian Country Studies, Library of Congress

Ethiopian Population Types

2007-01-10T09:32:00.000-05:00

This image was captured by German Max Gruhl. Wollamo People can be found in the South of Ethiopia. They are famed for their unique hip shaking dance. Here is a little linguistic information about the Wollamo people:

Wolaytta

A language of Ethiopia

ISO/DIS 639-3: wal

Population 1,231,673 (1998 census). 999,694 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 1,269,216 (1998 census).

Region Wolaytta Region, Lake Abaya area.

Alternate names Wellamo, Welamo, Wollamo, Wallamo, Walamo, Ualamo, Uollamo, Wolaitta, Wolaita, Wolayta, Wolataita, Borodda, Uba, Ometo

Dialects Zala. Dorze, Melo, Oyda may be dialects of Wolaytta or of Gamo-Gofa-Dawro. Lexical similarity 79% to 93% with Gamo, 84% with Gofa, 80% with Kullo and Dorze, 48% with Koorete, 43% with Male.

Classification Afro-Asiatic, Omotic, North, Gonga-Gimojan, Gimojan, Ometo-Gimira, Ometo, Central

Language use 89,801 second-language speakers.

Language development Literacy rate in first language: 1% to 5%. Literacy rate in second language: 29.6%. NT: 1981.

Comments Geographic names: Balta, Borodda, Ganta, Otschollo, Uba. SOV. Traditional religion, Christian.

Population	1,231,673 (1998 census). 999,694 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 1,269,216 (1998 census).
Region	Wolaytta Region, Lake Abaya area.
Alternate names	Wellamo, Welamo, Wollamo, Wallamo, Walamo, Ualamo, Uollamo, Wolaitta, Wolaita, Wolayta, Wolataita, Borodda, Uba, Ometo
Dialects	Zala. Dorze, Melo, Oyda may be dialects of Wolaytta or of Gamo-Gofa-Dawro. Lexical similarity 79% to 93% with Gamo, 84% with Gofa, 80% with Kullo and Dorze, 48% with Koorete, 43% with Male.
Classification	Afro-Asiatic, Omotic, North, Gonga-Gimojan, Gimojan, Ometo-Gimira, Ometo, Central
Language use	89,801 second-language speakers.
Language development	Literacy rate in first language: 1% to 5%. Literacy rate in second language: 29.6%. NT: 1981.
Comments	Geographic names: Balta, Borodda, Ganta, Otschollo, Uba. SOV. Traditional religion, Christian.