Debre Birhan(Amharic:ደብረ ብርሃን)[3]is a city in centralEthiopia.Located in theSemien Shewa ZoneofAmhara Region,about 120 kilometers north east ofAddis AbabaonEthiopian highway 2,the town has an elevation of 2,840 meters, which makes it the highest town in Africa. It was an early capital of Ethiopia and afterwards, withAnkoberandAngolalla,was one of the capitals of the kingdom ofShewa.Today, it is the administrative center of theNorth Shewa Zoneof the Amhara Region.
Debre Birhan
ደብረ ብርሃን | |
|---|---|
City | |
 A street in Debre Berhan | |
  Debre Birhan Location within Ethiopia | |
| Coordinates:9°41′N39°32′E/ 9.683°N 39.533°E | |
| Country |  Ethiopia |
| Region |  Amhara |
| Zone | North Shewa Zone |
| Founded | 7 March 1456 |
| Founded by | Zara Yaqob |
| Area | |
• Total | 14.71 km2(5.68 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2,840 m (9,320 ft) |
| Population (2007)[1] | |
• Total | 65,231 |
• Estimate (2021)[2] | 139,724 |
| • Density | 4,400/km2(11,000/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+3(EAT) |
History
editOrigins
editDebre Birhan was founded byEmperorZara Yaqob,in response to amiraculouslight that was seen in the sky at the time. Believing this was a sign fromGodshowing his approval for the death bystoningof a group of heretics 38 days before, the emperor ordered a church built on the site, and later constructed an extensive palace nearby, and a second church, dedicated toSaint Cyriacus.Zara Yaqob spent 12 of the last 14 years of his life in Debre Birhan.
HistorianRichard Pankhurstoffers the date of 1456 for the date of the founding of this church, providing a plausible argument that the light in the sky wasHalley's Comet,which could have been seen in Shewa that year, although the traditional dates (10th day of the month of Maggabit, i.e. 6 or 7 March) do not coincide with the days that the comet was most visible (13 through 17 June).[4]
While his sonBaeda Maryamdid spend the first part of his reign in Debre Birhan, eventually Baeda Maryam returned to the established itinerant practice of living in a permanent encampment that was constantly on the move through the realm. The departure of the court led to a decline in the population and importance of this town. Pankhurst explains that the needs of the imperial court and army—who numbered in the thousands—for firewood and food was so burdensome that, "it could not remain in any one locality for more than four months, nor return to the same place in less than 10 years due to the resultant shortage of food",[5]which prevented the growth of any capital city in this period.
16th-18th century
editWhile little more than a large village, Debre Birhan is mentioned a few times in the 16th century, the first time as a mustering center by EmperorLebna Dengelagainst the invading armies ofAhmad Gragn.[6]After he had defeated Lebna Dengel at theBattle of Amba Sel,Ahmad mustered his troops twice in Debre Birhan before leading them on campaigns deeper into Ethiopian territory. At the second mustering in 1535, he proclaimed before his followers, "Thanks be to God, Abyssinia is conquered. OnlyTigray,BegemderandGojjamare left... Shall we march against them, or shall we stay on in this region for a year until we have settled it down? "then led them into theEthiopian highlands.[7]
19th century
editThe village regained importance in the reign ofAsfaw Wossen(1775–1808),Meridazmach of Shewa,who built a palace there, and divided his time amongst this town, Ankober and Angolalla.[8]The succeeding Meridazmaches prized Debre Birhan as a hunting lodge for its surrounding plains, and used it as a riding place.[9]His sonSahle Selassierebuilt Debre Birhan after it had been ravaged byAbichu Oromoat the beginning of his reign, and built a church dedicated to the Selassie ( "Trinity") in this capital.[10]
When thenNegusMeneliksubmitted to EmperorYohannes IVin the treaty of Wadara of 1878, it was also stipulated that the capital of Shewa would be moved fromLicheto Debre Birhan.[11]
The Debre Birhan market in the 1880s was considered important for mules and horses. The Selassie church was rebuilt by Emperor Menilek in 1906 and contains many mural paintings.[12]David Buxton believes that it was inevitable that Debre Berhan would regain importance, "Although a somewhat cold and inhospitable place," he writes about the town, "it has an obvious advantage as commanding what must always have been an important focus of routes. Even in modern times it was inevitable that the Asmara road should be brought through this easy passage, avoiding the impassable gorges on the other."[13]
20th century
editDebre Berhan received electricity in 1955 when a 90 kW hydro-electric power station was put into service; by 1965, the installed electrical capacity in the town was 125 kVA and annual production 103,000 kWh. On 26 April 1957, EmperorHaile Selassieopened the Community Teacher Training School in the town.[14]By 1958 it was one of 27 places in Ethiopia ranked as First Class Township.[12]
On 2 July 1994 it was broadcast that nine people were killed and eleven captured in an exchange of fire with security forces inAsagirtworeda. The people were alleged to have broken into the Debre Berhan prison before that, setting a number of prisoners free. According to the police, Andale Melaklu, the Debre Berhan representative of theAll-Amhara People's Organizationwas one of the "bandits" killed in the fire exchange.[12]
Demographics
editBased on the 2007 national census conducted by theCentral Statistical Agencyof Ethiopia (CSA), this town has a total population of 65,231, of whom 31,668 are men and 33,563 women. The majority of the inhabitants practicedEthiopian Orthodox Christianity,with 94.12% reporting that as their religion, while 3.32% of the population said they wereMuslimand 2.15% wereProtestants.[1]
The 1994 national census reported a total population for Debre Birhan of 38,717 in 8,906 households, of whom 17,918 were men and 20,799 were women. The five largest ethnic groups reported in the town were theAmhara(90.12%), theOromo(3.94%), theTigrayan(1.81%), theGurage(1.60%), and theArgobba(1.20%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.33% of the population.Amharicwas spoken as a first language by 93.81%,Oromiffawas spoken by 3.04%, and 1.50% spokeTigrinya;the remaining 1.65% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants practisedEthiopian Orthodox Christianity,with 94.59% reporting that as their religion, while 4.05% wereMuslim,and 1.02% reported asProtestant.[15]
Climate
editDebre Birhan is one of the coolest cities found in the subtropical zone of Ethiopia. The city has a typicalsubtropical highland climate(Köppen Cwb). The average annual temperature of the city during day and night hour is 20.7 °C and 8.2 °C respectively with precipitation 964mm.[16]
| Climate data for Debre Birhan | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 19.5 (67.1) |
19.7 (67.5) |
20.9 (69.6) |
22.1 (71.8) |
23.8 (74.8) |
23.5 (74.3) |
19.9 (67.8) |
20.5 (68.9) |
20.9 (69.6) |
19.6 (67.3) |
19.1 (66.4) |
18.9 (66.0) |
20.7 (69.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 12.3 (54.1) |
13.2 (55.8) |
14.4 (57.9) |
15.5 (59.9) |
16.9 (62.4) |
16.9 (62.4) |
14.6 (58.3) |
16.5 (61.7) |
15.3 (59.5) |
13.5 (56.3) |
13.0 (55.4) |
12.0 (53.6) |
14.5 (58.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 5.1 (41.2) |
6.8 (44.2) |
8.0 (46.4) |
8.9 (48.0) |
10.1 (50.2) |
10.3 (50.5) |
9.3 (48.7) |
10.7 (51.3) |
9.8 (49.6) |
7.4 (45.3) |
7.0 (44.6) |
5.1 (41.2) |
8.2 (46.8) |
| Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 9 (0.4) |
21 (0.8) |
57 (2.2) |
45 (1.8) |
41 (1.6) |
72 (2.8) |
319 (12.6) |
249 (9.8) |
104 (4.1) |
28 (1.1) |
15 (0.6) |
4 (0.2) |
964 (38) |
| Source:[17] | |||||||||||||
Local economy
editDebre Birhan is located alongEthiopian Highway 2,which connectsAddis Abebawith the north of the country. The gravel road between Debre Birhan and Ankober, 42 kilometers in length, was overhauled in May 2009.[18]
The Debre Birhan Wool Factory, the first wool factory in Ethiopia, started production was 1 January 1965 with 120 spindles and 6 looms, having the capacity to process one metric ton of wool daily. In its first six months, the factory produced 7,065 blankets in a single-shift operation with a labor force of about 200, of whom 45% were women. TheDerggovernment announced 3 February 1975 that the Debre Birhan Wool Factory was among 14 textile enterprises to be fully nationalised.[12]
Debre Birhan is also a famed center ofrug making.
Education
editDebre Berhan Universityis located in Debre Berhan city. Amhara Region, Ethiopia. It is one of thirteen new universities which were established in 2007 by the Ethiopian government.
Landmarks
editDespite its historical importance, none of the buildings Emperor Zara Yaqob built exist today due to the fact that the sixteenth century Adal leaderAhmed ibn Ibrahim al-Ghaziordered their destruction, and no obvious 19th century construction is visible.[19]The present church, although located on the site of the 15th century church, was built in 1906 at the orders of EmperorMenelik II.
International relations
editDebre Birhan is twinned with (sister city of)
Notes
edit
- ^abCensus 2007 Tables: Amhara RegionArchivedNovember 14, 2010, at theWayback Machine,Tables 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2 and 3.4.
- ^"Population Projection Towns as of July 2021"(PDF).Ethiopian Statistics Agency.2021.Retrieved31 May2022.
- ^Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911)..Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 86.
- ^Pankhurst, Richard K. P. (1982).History of Ethiopian Towns.Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner Verlag. p. 37.
- ^Pankhurst,Ethiopian Towns,p. 41
- ^Sihab ad-Din Ahmad bin 'Abd al-Qader,Futuh al-Habasa: The conquest of Ethiopia,translated by Paul Lester Stenhouse with annotations by Richard Pankhurst (Hollywood: Tsehai, 2003), p. 59.
- ^Sihab ad-Din Ahmad,Futuh al-Habasa,pp. 337f.
- ^Pankhurst,Ethiopian Towns,pp. 188f
- ^Pankhurst,Ethiopian Towns,p. 280
- ^Abir, Mordechai (1968).Ethiopia: The Era of the Princes; The Challenge of Islam and the Re-unification of the Christian Empire (1769-1855).London: Longmans. pp. 152f.
- ^Marcus, Harold G. (1995).The Life and Times of Menelik II: Ethiopia 1844-1913.Lawrenceville: Red Sea Press. p. 55.ISBN1-56902-010-8.
- ^abcd"Local History in Ethiopia"[permanent dead link]The Nordic Africa Institute website (accessed 16 December 2007)
- ^D. R. Buxton,"The Shoan Plateau and Its People: An Essay in Local Geography",Geographical Journal,114, (1949), p. 162
- ^"Opens Debre Berhan Teacher Training Center",Selected Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I,New York: One Drop Books, 2000, pp.76-79
- ^1994 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: Results for Amhara Region,Vol. 1, part 1ArchivedNovember 15, 2010, at theWayback Machine,Tables 2.1, 2.7, 2.10, 2.13, 2.17, Annex II.2 (accessed 9 April 2009)
- ^"Climate: Debre Berhan".Retrieved30 July2016.
- ^"Climate: Debre Birhan".Climate-Data.org.RetrievedDecember 21,2017.
- ^"42-km Debrebirhan-Ankober road being maintained"[permanent dead link],Ethiopian News Agency,29 May 2009 (accessed 30 May 2009)
- ^Dabra Birhan.Encyclopedia Aethiopica.Archivedfrom the original on 8 March 2023.Retrieved19 August2022.