TheAgaworAgew(Ge'ez:አገው,romanized:Agäw,modernAgew) are aCushiticethnic groupnative to the northern highlands ofEthiopiaand neighboringEritrea.[4]They speak theAgaw languages,also known as theCentral Cushitic languages,which belong to theCushitic branchof theAfroasiatic language family,[5]and are therefore closely related to peoples speaking otherCushitic languages.
 Agaw horsemen fromAwi | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Horn of Africa | |
 Ethiopia | 899,416 (2007)[1] |
 Eritrea | 100,000 (2012)[2] |
| Languages | |
| Agaw•Amharic•Tigrinya | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity(Ethiopian Orthodox·Eritrean Orthodox·Catholic),Traditional religions,Judaism,Islam(Sunni) | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
The Agaw peoples in general were historically noted by travelers and outside observers[6]to have practiced what some described as a “Hebraic religion”, though some also practicedEthiopian Orthodoxy,[7]and many wereBeta IsraelJews. Thousands of Agaw Beta Israel converted to Christianity in the 19th and early 20th century (both voluntarily and forcibly),[8]becoming theFalash Mura.
History
edit
The Agaw are first mentioned in the third-centuryMonumentum Adulitanum,anAksumiteinscription recorded byCosmas Indicopleustesin the sixth century. The inscription refers to a people called "Athagaus" (or Athagaous), perhaps from ʿAd Agaw, meaning "sons of Agaw."[9]The Athagaous first turn up as one of the peoples conquered by the unknown king who inscribed theMonumentum Adulitanum.[10]The Agaw are later mentioned in an inscription of the fourth centuryEzana of Axum,known as theEzana Stone.Here, they are referred to as "Atagaw," a name closely resembling the earlier mention.[9][11]
Cosmas Indicopleustes also noted in hisChristian Topographythat a major gold trade route passed through the region "Agau". The area referred to seems to be an area west of theTekezé Riverand just south of theSemien Mountains,perhaps aroundLake Tana.[9]He also makes a reference to a "governor of Agau", who was entrusted by Kaleb with the protection of the long-distance caravan routes from Agau. According toTaddesse Tamrat,Kaleb's governor of Agau probably has his seat of government in the area ofLasta,which would later serve as the center of theZagwe dynasty.[12]
The Cushitic speaking Agaw formed and ruled during theZagwe dynastyof Ethiopia from about 1137 to 1270. Post-contemporary sources would subsequently accuse the Zagwe of being usurpers and derided their achievements. The Zagwe rulers were deposed, and the throne was seized by a Semitic-speakingAmharadynasty, which would claim to be a resumption of the Solomonic lineage of the pre-ZagweAxumite Kingdom.Despite this, the new monarchs granted the Zagwe rulers and their descendants the title ofWagshum,allowing them to govern their native regions ofWagandLasta.[13]
Language
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The Agaw speak theAgaw languagesalso known as theCentral Cushitic languageswhich are a part of theCushiticbranch of theAfro-Asiaticfamily.[14]Many also speak other languages such asAmharic,Tigrinyaand/orTigre.
Distribution
editThe Agaw consist of several different linguistic groups, residing in scattered communities across a wide geographical area spanning fromEritreatoGojjam.In their local traditions, they consistently point toLastaas their origin of dispersal.[15]
These scattered enclaves include theBilenin and aroundKeren, Eritrea;theQemant people(including the now-relocatedBeta Israel), who live aroundGondarin theNorth Gondar Zoneof theAmhara Region,west of the Tekezé River and north of Lake Tana; a number of Agaw live south of Lake Tana, aroundDangilain theAgew Awi Zoneof theAmhara Region;and another group live in and aroundSoqotain the former province ofWollo,now part of the Amhara Region, along withLasta,Tembien,andAbergele.
Subgroups
editNotable people
edit- Gebre Mesqel Lalibela,ruler of Ethiopia who is credited with having constructed the rock-hewn churches ofLalibela
- Na'akueto La'ab,Kedus HarbeandYetbarak,otherZagwekings
- Abebaw Tadesse,Ethiopian general
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Census 2007"ArchivedMarch 5, 2009, at theWayback Machine,first draft, Table 5.
- ^"Bilen".Joshua Project.Venture Center.Retrieved28 January2013.
- ^Joireman, Sandra F.(1997).Institutional Change in the Horn of Africa: The Allocation of Property Rights and Implications for Development.Universal-Publishers. p. 1.ISBN1581120001.
- ^Concise Encyclopedia of Languages of the World.Elsevier. 2010-04-06.ISBN9780080877754.Retrieved2023-10-25.
- ^Concise Encyclopedia of Languages of the World.Elsevier. 2010-04-06.ISBN9780080877754.Retrieved2023-10-25.
- ^Gamst, Frederick C. (1969).The Qemant - A Pagan-Hebraic Peasantry of Ethiopia.New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. p. 29.
- ^Gamst 1969,p. 30.
- ^Gamst 1969,p. 119–121.
- ^abcUhlig, Siegbert, ed.Encyclopaedia: A-C.p. 142.
- ^Munro-Hay, Stuart (1991).Aksum: an African Civilization of Late Antiquity.Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. p. 187.ISBN0-7486-0106-6.
- ^Tamrat, Taddesse (1972).Church and State in Ethiopia (1270–1527).Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 26.ISBN0-19-821671-8.
- ^Taddesse Tamrat,Church and State in Ethiopia(Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972), p.50
- ^Pankhurst, Richard (2001).The Ethiopians: A History.Wiley. p. 45.ISBN0631224939.
- ^Concise Encyclopedia of Languages of the World.Elsevier. 2010-04-06.ISBN9780080877754.Retrieved2023-10-25.
- ^Taddesse Tamrat,Church and State in Ethiopia(Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972), p.51