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Wollo Province

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Wollo(Amharic:ወሎ) was a historicalprovinceof northernEthiopia.During the Middle Ages this province name wasBete Amharaand it was the centre of theSolomonicemperors. Bete Amhara had an illustrious place in Ethiopian political and cultural history. It was the center of theSolomonic Dynastyestablished by EmperorYekuno AmlakaroundLake Hayqin 1270. Bete Amhara was bounded on the west by theAbbay,on the south by the riverWanchet,on the north by theBashilo Riverand on the east by theEscarpmentthat separate it from theAfar Desert.[1]

Wello during the reign of Haile Selassie

The original Wollo province was mainly only the area of modern-daySouth Wollo.But in the 1940s, under Emperor Haile Selassie, administration changes were made and provinces such asLasta,Angot(now known as Raya), and parts of Afar lands were incorporated into Wollo.

History

A rock-hewn church ofLalibela

Today's Wollo was long the center of Ethiopia (half underAgew/Zagweand half under theAmhara/Solomonicleadership). The people ofAmharaandZagweProvinces (today's Wollo) were the strongest adherents of Christianity and both believed inIsraelite SemiticBiblical AncestryZagweclaimed lineage fromMoseswhile theSolomonidsclaimed lineage fromSolomon,and the beliefs and customs of the Church from an essential part of tradition and culture to this area.[2]Evidence of Wollo's political importance to Ethiopia in the medieval era was that the region's rulers played a disproportionate role in the politics of the Ethiopian state. In the medieval era, theTsahife Lam(ጻሕፈ ላም), governor of theBete Amharaprovince, was the most senior military officer next to the Emperor. Along with that, theJantirarofAmbassel(the center of Bete Amhara and lordship ofYekuno Amlakhimself prior to his ascension asEmperor of Ethiopia), was tasked with protectingAmba Geshen.Believers contend that the monastic life is the highest stage of Christian life. Devout Christians hope to live their last years as monks or nuns, and many take monastic vows during old age. The Monastic school ofLake Hayqfounded in 1248 by AbaIyesus-Mo'awas the fundamental school to Saints, scholars and Christians. The Monasteries spread along with the Ethiopian Empire andTekle-Haymanot(1215-1313) was trained at Hayq byIyasus Mo'aand started the important Monastic community of Debre Asbo in Shewa AmharaDebre Libanos,Abune Hirute Amlak was also trained in this Monastery by Iyasus Mo'a and started the imperative Monastic community of Daga Estifanos inLake Tsanaand Aba Georgis Zegasecha trained and started the Monastic community of Gasecha.[3]

Muslim prisoners before Emperor Yekuno Amlak

As a result of this, several Church works were performed and it was the land of Saints and Christian kings. Therefore, many famous Churches were built by Christian kings and Monasteries were established by great Saints and wonderful Rock Hewn Churches were carved out of rock. Furthermore, it was the center of Church Education. For example, from the Monastery ofHayq Estifanosthe well-known Saints and Christian kings had learnt Church education. For this reason, literature, paintings and other heritages flourished throughout the land. In the region many Rock Hewn Churches were built by Saints like, King Abrha and Astbha. Most of them were in the place of WolekaDebresinabut they destructed and hidden during the invasion of Ahmad Gragn. Aba Betselote Micheal, Aba Giorgis Zegasecha, Aba Tsegie Dengel, Abune Yaekob Zedebrekerbe and by King Lalibela, the rock Church builder - 1140-79 A.D. had a set of ten Rock Hewn Churches built in his capital of Roha, which was later renamed Lalibela. It is also said that he built the Gezaza Abune Gebre Menfes Kidus Church (Gezaza Abbo) in this region around Wegde. All these are rock hewn Churches carved in solid rock, deserve to be taken as few among wonders and are a remarkable monument to the skill and craftsmanship of the Ethiopians.

Mekane Silasse Church was established before 485 years in 1513 E.C. The foundation was started byAtse Naod(1489-1500) and it was finished by his son AtseLebna Dengel(1500-1513). This Church is different from other Churches because it took 25 years to construct it. Atse Naod worked on it for 13 years but he died before finishing it. So, his sonLebna Dengelfinished it after 12 years by constructing a great Church and more beautiful than his father. At the inauguration of the Church in 1513 many famous persons were present. Among them, the Portuguese priest and historian writer, Francisco Alvarez was the one who recorded the ceremonies of the Church inauguration at that time. He admired and writes about the Church's architectural design.

The Church was constructed from Geha stone and it had a Mekdes, Kidist and Kine Mahilet. The four sides of the Mekdes and Kidist were equal in size and shape but the shape of the Kine Mahlet was circular. The Church was also much wider and bigger than other Churches of the time found around Wesel.[4]The Portuguese priest and historian writer, Francisco Alvaraze said the following about its architectural design: “the wall of this Church was made from systematically carved stones and it was designed by a graphic decoration…..the door of the main entrance was covered by gold and silver. Inside the gold and silver there were some precious stones. The roof was laid down on the six columns of the Church and the outer part of the roof was supported by 61 long columns. There were also sixteen curtains made of golden cotton cloth.[citation needed]

On the other hand, the historical writer of Ahmad Gragn, Arab Faqeh, recorded about its architectural design before the destruction of the Church. He admired its construction and architectural design and said that the following:“there was one church in Bete Amhara which no church could imitate in Habesha land".[5]It was constructed by the father ofLebene Dengel,King Naod. Its work and ornament had taken 13 years but king Naod died before finishing it. His son Lebna Dengel finished it after 25 years. He finished the Church by covering all part of it with gold above what his father had done. So the Church reflects like a fire, because, it was covered by gold and all the church holy treasures liturgical objects) were made from gold and silver. The width of the Church was more than a hundred yards and the height was also more than fifty yards... Christians called the Church Mekane Silasse..... In this Church, the tomb ofEmperor Na'odwho is the grand son ofZera Yacoband the son ofBe’ede Mariamis found.”[citation needed]

Although the presence of Muslim communities in Wollo is dated to at least the 8th century[6]the province was chiefly inhabit by ChristiansAmhara.[7]The Jihad ofAhmad Granand the Oromo expansion latter on brought a significant cultural change in /Wollo. A province which was once a centre of Christianity and Christian culture have become the centre of Islam and Islamic studies.[8]

The Oromo clans that invaded Wollo in the late 16th century adopted Islam during their expansion process. And when they arrived in the province they committed various atrocities against its local ChristianAmharapopulation; they burnt churches in every district which they invade, killed the clergy and sold Christians into slavery. EmperorTekle Giyorgis Idecided to punish the Oromo over the atrocities that they committed against the Christian population of Bete Amhara but failed to completely operate it due to internal problems that he faced.[9]The Amhara were pushed into the western districts ofSayint,DelantaandWadla.Whereas part of them remain isolated and clustered in highland areas of wollo; especially inWarra HimanoandAmbassel.Christianity virtually disappeared in much of what was the medieval province of Amhara.[10][11]

After occupying and settling in the province, the Oromos changed the original names of many districts in Bete Amhara and named them after their clans and sub-clans, such as: Borona, Qallu, Bati, Wuchale, Worra Himano, Lagga Ghora, Tehuladere, Laggambo, and Lagga-Hidda.[12][13][14]According toJ. Spencer Triminghamit become regular among foreign travellers to call all the Muslim population of the region “Wollo Galla” but many of the Wollo do not belong to theOromoethnic group at all. That is especially the case with the population in the highland regions of Wollo; such as the massifs ofLegamboandLegahidaand theWere IluPlateau. These from ethnical point of view areAbyssinianswhom their only common link with Oromo is the Islam religion.[15]

With the adoption of the1995 constitution& the establishment ofethnic federalismsystem inEthiopia,parts of the expanded Wollo province, which were mostly inhabited byAfar peoplewere given to the newAfar Region.The newAmhara Regionabsorbed the remainder of the province in theEthiopian Highlandsand kept the name Wollo for its two new zones (South Wollo Zone&North Wollo Zone). Wollo is known to be the origin of the four melodic-modes (kignits) of Ethiopia.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^Melaku, Misganaw Tadesse (2020)."Social and political history of Wollo Province in Ethiopia: 1769-1916".University of the Western Cape:46–47.
  2. ^Abbink, Jon (2016-07-07)."In memoriam Donald Nathan Levine (1931–2015)".Aethiopica.18:213–222.doi:10.15460/aethiopica.18.1.936.ISSN2194-4024.
  3. ^Blackhurst, Hector (October 1974)."Church and State in Ethiopia, 1270–1527. By Taddesse Tamrat. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972. Pp. xv + 327, bibl., ill., maps. £5·50".Africa.44(4): 427–428.doi:10.2307/1159069.ISSN0001-9720.JSTOR1159069.S2CID146979138.
  4. ^Beckingham, C.F.; Huntingford, G.W.B., eds. (2017-05-15).The Prester John of the Indies.doi:10.4324/9781315554013.ISBN9781315554013.
  5. ^"Futūḥ al-Ḥabasha".Christian-Muslim Relations 1500 - 1900.doi:10.1163/2451-9537_cmrii_com_26077.Retrieved2020-12-15.
  6. ^Melaku, Misganaw Tadesse (2020)."Social and political history of Wollo Province in Ethiopia: 1769-1916".University of the Western Cape:64–65.
  7. ^J. Spencer Trimingham (1952).Islam in Ethiopia.Oxford University Press. p. 193.
  8. ^Melaku, Misganaw Tadesse (2020)."Social and political history of Wollo Province in Ethiopia: 1769-1916".University of the Western Cape:77–78.
  9. ^Fage, J. D.; Oliver, Roland Anthony (1975-09-18).The Cambridge History of Africa.Cambridge University Press. pp. 572–573.ISBN978-0-521-20413-2.
  10. ^Melaku, Misganaw Tadesse (2020)."Social and political history of Wollo Province in Ethiopia: 1769-1916".University of the Western Cape:75.
  11. ^Melaku, Misganaw Tadesse (2020)."Social and political history of Wollo Province in Ethiopia: 1769-1916".University of the Western Cape:95.
  12. ^Melaku, Misganaw Tadesse (2020)."Social and political history of Wollo Province in Ethiopia: 1769-1916".University of the Western Cape:76–77.
  13. ^Levine, Donald N. (1974).Greater Ethiopia: The Evolution of a Multiethnic Society.University of Chicago Press. p. 82.ISBN978-0-226-22967-6.
  14. ^Melaku, Misganaw Tadesse (2020)."Social and political history of Wollo Province in Ethiopia: 1769-1916".University of the Western Cape:82–83.
  15. ^J. Spencer Trimingham (1952).Islam in Ethiopia.Oxford University Press. p. 196.

11°30′N40°00′E/ 11.500°N 40.000°E/11.500; 40.000

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