The Raya Wollo people, sometimes called Raya Oromo are agricultural too music-loving Cushitic Oromo people but at nowadays mixed amongst pocket-size amalgamated Tigre too Amhara bloodlines living inward the Debubawi Zone of the electrical flow Tigray Regional State at the eastern border of the Ethiopian highlands inward Ethiopia.
Ethnic Raya Wollo girls from Ethiopia. johangerrits
Historically, the Raya Wollo (Raya Oromo), amongst the Yejju Oromo, are the northernmost groups of the Oromo people too are a component of the Wollo Oromo Tribe. Their women especially are known yesteryear their distinctive hair-braiding styles too facial tattoos.
The Wollo Oromo (particularly the Raya Oromo too Yejju Oromo) were early on Oromo holders of might amid the increasingly mixed Ethiopian state. The later north-to-south motion of fundamental might inward Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia led to Oromos inward Shewa holding might inward Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia together amongst the Shewan Amhara. "In price of descent, the grouping that became politically dominant inward Shewa – too Subsequently inward Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia – was a mixture of Amhara too Oromo; inward price of language, organized religious belief too cultural practices, it was Amhara.
The official map of Oromia shown below includes the Raya-Azebo territory on its northernmost tip.
Currently, Debubawi Zone/Raya-Azebo woreda (county) is bordered on the S yesteryear Alamata, on the southwest yesteryear Ofla, on the northwest yesteryear Endamehoni, on the N yesteryear Hintalo Wajirat, too on the due east yesteryear the Afar Region. The administrative middle of this woreda (county) is Mersa; other town inward Raya-Azebo includes Weyra Wuha.
Despite their historic resistance against control (read whatsoever literature on Ethiopian history, the Raya Oromo revolt given below is mentioned every bit the starting fourth dimension revolt against the Teferi authorities every bit early on every bit the belatedly 1920′s too every bit the predecessor of the Bale Oromo revolt), Raya’s ties amongst the ease of Oromia receive got weakened due to years of wars inward that component of the region. Today, the challenge should live given to Oromo artists to make music of the Raya inward Afan Oromo; music serves every bit a cultural ambassador every bit good every bit a path to reconnect to one’s historic yesteryear (heritage). It’s also paramount that the Oromo Studies Association (OSA) fix a session during its annual coming together to deliberate on the history of Raya Oromo too on ways to convey most the renaissance of Oromummaa inward Raya.
Why the call Raya Wollo?
Wollo was an historical percentage too province inward the northeastern component of Ethiopia, amongst its working capital missive of the alphabet metropolis at Dessie. The province was named after the Wollo Oromo, who settled inward this component of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia inward the 17th century. An older call for Wollo is Lakomelza.
Following the invasion yesteryear United Kingdom of Great Britain too Northern Ireland of Britain too Northern Republic of Ireland that toppled Italian colonial control inward 1941, the provinces of Amhara Sayint, Azabo, Lasta, Raya Province, Wag, too Yejju were added to Wollo. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 number of peasant rebellions rocked Wollo, which included the Woyane rebellion inward 1943, too revolts of the Yejju Oromo inward 1948 too 1970. With the adoption of the novel constitution inward 1995, Wollo was divided betwixt the Afar Region, which absorbed the component of the province that extended into the Afar Depression; the Tigray Region, which annexed the northwestern corner; too the Amhara Region, which absorbed the residual of the province inward the Ethiopian highlands.
Northern Marginalization nether Shewan Rule
The northern provinces of Gonder, Gojjam, Wollo too Tigray are the heartland of the "core" civilization of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia -- the Ethiopian Orthodox church, the Amharic linguistic communication too script, plow-based agriculture, too many elements of the social scheme of the province derive from this historic region. Most of the Emperors also came from here.
At the halt of the 19th century, the middle of might inward Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia decisively shifted from the N to Shewa, amongst the supposition of the title of Emperor yesteryear Menelik, King of Shewa. Menelik was an Amhara, from the dynasty that ruled Manz, at the northern tip of the modern province of Shewa. The bulk of the inhabitants of the ease of Shewa were Oromo -- every bit is the example today. In terms of descent, the group that became politically dominant in Shewa (and later inward Ethiopia) was a mixture of Amhara too Oromo; inward price of language, organized religious belief too cultural practices, it was Amhara. The northern Amhara regarded the Shewans every bit "Galla" (the pejorative term for Oromo), too together amongst the Tigrayans too some of the Agau too Oromo people inward Wollo, resisted the novel Shewan domination, which led to their economical too political marginalization.
Revolt inward Wollo
Between 1928 too 1930 at that topographic point was a rebellion -- or a serial of rebellions -- inward northern Wollo against Shewan domination. The specific political cause was support for Ras Gugsa Wale, a northern Amhara lord amongst a rigid claim on the throne, against the Shewan Ras Teferi (who crowned himself the Emperor Haile Selassie after defeating the revolt). The authorities suppression of the revolt led to quartering soldiers amongst local people, interrupting the tabular array salt trade, and involved massive looting too confiscation of cattle. Combined amongst drought too locusts, the result was famine. Haile Selassie ordered the importation of grain from India to supply Addis Ababa, but at that topographic point was no relief for N Wollo. Political measures were taken after the revolt, including the replacement of much of the administration, which formerly had local roots, amongst appointees from Shewa; and the joining of the rebellious districts to the province of southern Wollo, which was ruled with harshness and venality by the crown prince. These helped to contribute to the farther marginalization of the area, too the serial of famines which plagued the expanse upwards to the autumn of the Emperor.
The cumulative impact of imperial misrule and the petty tyrannies of local landlords created an atmosphere in which development was extremely difficult, as described by two consultants investigating the possibility of starting livestock projects:
Wollo is virtually impossible ... at that topographic point is such an obscuring weight of disbelief, suspected
innuendo too antagonisms; such a mess of mis-government at piddling levels, too such a
lading of landlords that there is almost nada to start amongst too nowhere to start that
volition not go wrong or sour ... [there is] the smothering welter of the weeds of an
entrenched too stagnant society.
The Weyane inward Tigray
Following the restoration of Haile Selassie after the defeat of the Italians inward 1941, at that topographic point was a revolt in Tigray. Known every bit the Weyane, this was the most serious internal threat that Haile Selassie faced. An alliance of the Oromo semi-pastoralists of Raya Azebo, disgruntled peasants, too some local feudal lords, nether the armed services leadership of a famous shifta, Haile Mariam Redda, the rebels nearly succeeded inward overrunning the whole province.4 British aircraft had to live called inward from Aden inward monastic tell to bomb the rebels to ensure their defeat. While some of the aristocratic leaders, such as Ras Seyoum Mengesha, were treated gently and ultimately allowed to return and administer the recalcitrant province, there were reprisals against the ordinary people. Most notably, the Raya too Azebo Oromo were subjected to wholesale solid ground alienation, too much of their territory was transferred to the province of Wollo. This expanse was badly hitting inward subsequent famines, partly every bit a consequence.
Tax Revolts inward Gojjam
Gojjam treasured its independence for centuries, too did non submit willingly to Shewan rule. The issue roughly which opposition repeatedly coalesced was whatsoever essay out yesteryear the fundamental authorities to stair out land too tax it. Taxation was non solely resented every bit the imposition of unjust exertions yesteryear government, but was feared every bit the agency whereby the traditional solid ground tenure scheme would live undermined, too the farmers' independence destroyed.
In the 1940s too '50s at that topographic point was a serial of attempts to stair out solid ground inward Gojjam, prior to taxation. In the confront of peasant resistance, including violence, all attempts failed. In the early on 1960s, solely 0.1 per cent of the solid ground had been measured, too Gojjam, ane of the richest too most populous provinces, paid less solid ground taxation than the pitiable too thinly populated province of Bale. In 1950/1 at that topographic point was armed resistance, including a plot to assassinate Haile Selassie. However the most serious revolt occurred in 1968, in response to the most systematic attempt to levy an agricultural income taxation to date.
In February 1968, in reaction to the arrival of parties of government officials accompanied by armed police, the peasants of Mota and Bichena districts resorted to armed resistance. After months of stalemate patch much of the province remained out of authorities control, Haile Selassie sent troops to Gojjam inward July too August. The air forcefulness bombed several villages; it burned houses but its principal task was in all probability intimidating the resistance. Several hundred people died, according to contemporary accounts, but the Gojjamis remained defiant.
Finally, inward December, Haile Selassie backed down. He visited Gojjam inward 1969, cancelled all tax
arrears, too made no serious essay out to collect the novel taxes.
Famines inward Wollo too Tigray
In 1974, the Emperor Haile Selassie became notorious for his attempts to conceal the beingness of the famine of 1972-3 in Wollo. This, however, was solely ane in a succession of such incidents. Prof. Mesfin Wolde Mariam of Addis Ababa University has documented how the famines of 1958 and 1966 in Tigray and Wollo were treated with official indifference, bordering on hostility towards the peasants who were considered sufficiently ungrateful for the divinely-sanctioned rule of Haile Selassie every bit to allow themselves to defame his reputation yesteryear dying of famine.
There was severe famine inward Tigray inward 1958 which went without meaning authorities relief. In 1965/6, reports of famine from Were Ilu awraja inward Wollo arrived at the Ministry of the Interior inward Nov 1965, ane calendar month after the province of affairs became clear to the local police, but no activity was taken. The information took a further 302 days to reach the Emperor, who then requested the Ministry of the Interior to human activity -- which it did yesteryear asking officials inward Wollo to shipping a listing of the names of the people who had died.6 A pocket-size relief distribution was thus authorized.
The solely consistent answer to famine was to regard it every bit a safety work -- famine created destitute migrants, who needed to live prevented from entering towns, especially Addis Ababa.
Both the 1958 too 1965/6 famines killed tens of thousands of people.
The famine that struck Wollo during 1972-3 played a crucial role inward Ethiopian history:
"the revelation of that famine yesteryear the British boob tube journalist Jonathan Dimbleby played a key
role in precipitating the downfall of the rule of Haile Selassie. Between 40,000 and 80,000
people died." The famine also led directly to the creation of the Relief and Rehabilitation
Commission (RRC), the powerful authorities subdivision mandated to foreclose too ameliorate
time to come famines, too to coordinate international assistance. The 1972-3 famine was the lastly one
inward which there were no functioning mechanisms for the delivery of large-scale humanitarian
relief.
The Wollo famine was popularly blamed on drought, a backward and impoverished
social system, too the cover-up attempted yesteryear the royal government. These factors were all
of import -- though it must live remembered that specific actions yesteryear the government, especially
after the Ras Gugsa and Weyane revolts, were instrumental in creating the absence of
development. In addition, forcible alienation of resources too violence also played an important
role.
The group that suffered most from the famine were the Afar pastoral nomads of the
Danakil desert. Famine had already gripped them inward early on 1972. The Afar inhabit an arid semi-
wilderness, utilizing pastures over a large expanse to back upwards their herds. In times of drought, they
are forced to displace to areas which they make non unremarkably exploit. Traditional drought reserves
included the Tcheffa Valley, on the rift valley escarpment, too pastures along the inland delta of
the Awash river where the waters dissipate into the desert. In the 1960s the Tcheffa Valley
became the location of commercial sorghum farms, too pocket-size farmers from nearby also began
to utilisation much of the land. Meanwhile, large cotton fiber plantations were developed along the Awash.
By 1972, 50,000 hectares of irrigated solid ground had displaced 20,000 Afar pastoralists.
During the years of expert rainfall, the loss of the drought reserves was non noticed yesteryear the
Afar, but when repeated drought struck, they constitute that a necessary resources they had utilized
sporadically for generations had been alienated, without compensation. Famine amid the Afar
was sure caused yesteryear drought -- but yesteryear drought acting on a social club that had been deprived of
the agency of responding to that threat.
Official indifference to the plight of the Afar is illustrated yesteryear an incident inward 1974, when
the overflowing waters of the Awash river were directed to the Dubti valley inward monastic tell to irrigate cotton
plantations. The resident Afar population was non informed, too 3,000 lost their homes, while
100 were "missing."
Mobility is crucial to survival amid the Afar. Nomadic inward normal times, the might to
displace freely over large distances becomes a vital describe concern when resources are short. In the early
1970s, the Afar's mobility was further restricted by the flow of weaponry to their nomadic
neighbors and competitors, the Issa (who are ethnic Somali). The Issa themselves were
suffering from the alienation of much of their pasture too restrictions on their movement. The
resultant was an essay out yesteryear the Afar to appropriate wells formerly used yesteryear the Issa. This led to
widespread armed clashes, especially inward 1972. One Afar reported "Many people die. Disease is
the starting fourth dimension drive but the Issa are the second." Meanwhile, a survey done amid the Issa reported
that homicide yesteryear the Afar was a major drive of death. The famine also resulted inward large-scale
armed clashes betwixt the Afar too their Oromo neighbors inward Wollo.
The instant grouping which suffered severely from the famine included farmers inward a narrow
strip of middle-altitude areas of northern and central Wollo. Those who suffered most were
tenants. The Raya too Azebo Oromo had been reduced to that province yesteryear massive solid ground alienation
after they participated inward the Weyane revolt against Haile Selassie inward 1943. Others were forced
to mortgage or sell their land by the stresses of repeated harvest failures in the early 1970s.
Landlords took advantage of their tenants' penury by insisting on the payment of large rents,
frequently inward kind. This demand could live backed upwards yesteryear force, every bit most influential landlords had a
retinue of armed guards. The enforcement of crippling tenancy contracts inward fourth dimension of shortage had
the effect of taking nutrient from the hungry. Thus, during 1973, the famine expanse exported grain to
the provincial capital, Dessie, too to Addis Ababa.
The famine was much less severe inward Tigray province, despite the drought affecting both
provinces. The departure tin live largely accounted for yesteryear the unlike modes of solid ground tenure --
inward Tigray, most farmers owned their ain land; inward middle-land Wollo, most were tenants.
Finally, the Emperor Haile Selassie considered that the peasants too nomads of Wollo
were shaming His reputation yesteryear starving, too resolved to ignore them. Reports of famine were
consistently ignored or denied. In response to a report by UNICEF documenting famine
atmospheric condition in July 1973, the Vice-Minister of Planning retorted: "If nosotros have to describe the
province of affairs inward the way you lot receive got inward monastic tell to generate international assistance, thus nosotros don't want
that assistance. The embarrassment to the authorities isn't worth it. Is that perfectly clear?"
Though the governor of Wollo, Crown Prince Asfa Wossen, was both greedy and
incompetent (at the fourth dimension of the famine he forced the closure of commercial sorghum farms in
the Tcheffa Valley by engaging in litigation, claiming their ownership), Haile Selassie was
never in ignorance of the conditions in Wollo. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 United Nations official visited him in early on 1973 and
constitute him well-informed -- his attitude was that peasants always starve and nothing can be
done, and that in any case it was not the Shewan Amhara who were dying. On belatedly
visiting the province inward Nov 1973, his ane remedial activity was to denote that all who
had sold or mortgaged their solid ground inward the previous yr could render too plough it during the coming
season, solely leaving it to their creditors afterwards. Even this minimal too tardy gesture was
non enforced.
The 1975 Northern Rebellions
The Wollo famine contributed to the downfall of Haile Selassie, non because the hungry
peasants and nomads revolted and forced him out, but because the issue gained political
currency amid the students too middle classes of Addis Ababa. However, that is non to say
that the famine, too to a greater extent than to a greater extent frequently than non the 8 decades of political marginalization too economic
stagnation that preceded it, did non receive got serious consequences at the fourth dimension of the 1974 revolution
too the years following.
In the early 1970s, "peasant risings in various provinces [were] an fifty-fifty to a greater extent than closely
guarded secret than the famine". These revolts intensified in during the revolution, amongst a
serial of rebellions led yesteryear feudal leaders inward each of the northern provinces. In Wollo, at that topographic point was
a revolt by a feudal lord, Dejazmatch Berhane Maskal. In March 1975, he destroyed an
Ethiopian airlines DC3 at Lalibella. In October, he rallied supporters after a spree of killings of
former landlords yesteryear peasants too authorities safety officers. Dej. Berhane's ill-armed force
of 5,000 was defeated yesteryear authorities militia too air force attacks close Woldiya inward December
1975, but he continued to drive problems for the authorities for years. Another feudal leader,
Gugsa Ambow, had brief military successes in northern Wollo, before the army foiled an
essay out to capture Korem in mid-1976, reportedly causing 1,200 fatalities among Gugsa's
peasant regular army too local villagers.18 Other smaller revolts occurred inward Gojjam too Shewa.
The most significant rebellion started in Tigray. This was an insurrection led by the
former governor, Ras Mengesha Seyoum (son of the governor at the fourth dimension of the 1943 Weyane).
Ras Mengesha fled to the hills amongst most 600 followers inward Nov 1984, when the Dergue
executed threescore officials of the previous regime. Ras Mengesha combined amongst other members of
the aristocracy, notably General Negga Tegegne (former governor of Gonder) too formed the
Ethiopian Democratic Union (EDU) in 1976. They obtained encouragement from western
countries. With Sudanese armed services assistance, the EDU occupied the towns of Metema, Humera
too Dabat (all inward Gonder province) betwixt Feb too Apr 1977,19 but was defeated yesteryear the
militia forcefulness sent to the province inward June-July.
The EDU remained active in Tigray, where two other rebel groups were also
operational. The Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF) was fix inward Feb 1975 yesteryear a
grouping of left-wing students and peasants, incorporating the Tigray National Organization,
created three years earlier. Prominent amid its early on leaders was Berihu Aregawi; later the
front end was headed by Meles Zenawi. In 1978, the TPLF set up the Relief Society of Tigray
(REST), headed by Abadi Zemo. It espoused a mix of Tigrayan nationalism and socialist
transformation. The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party (EPRP), after defeat in the urban
Red Terror (see chapter 6), retreated to a base of operations inward rural eastern Tigray inward mid-1977.
The EDU was rent yesteryear divisions betwixt its leaders, too its aristocratic leaders failed to
gain pop back upwards amid their former tenants. Crucially, it suffered defeat at the hands of
the TPLF.20 The EPRP was also defeated yesteryear the TPLF too driven into Gonder, creating lasting
bitterness betwixt the ii organization.
After the ill-fated Peasants' March of 1976, the government launched a series of five armed services offensives in Tigray: Nov 1976, June 1978, October-November 1978, March-
Apr 1979 too May-June 1979. Small towns such every bit Abi Adi changed hands several times. By
1979, REST estimated that 50,000 people in Tigray were displaced on account of war.
Refugees from Tigray too Gonder began to brand it inward Sudan inward early on 1975. By May at that topographic point were
34,000; yesteryear 1978 there were 70,000. In Feb 1979, the Ethiopian regular army invaded Sudanese
territory at Jebel Ludgi, forcing the evacuation of the nearby refugee campsite of Wad el Hileui.
Dates too Event of Raya Wollo (Raya Oromo) people
1929: Oromo peasants too nomads inward Yejju, Raya or Wajerat districts of nowadays southern Tigray too northern Wallo revolted against the dominion of Haile Selassie too refused to pay the heavy taxes imposed on them. The authorities dispatched troops to set downwards the revolt. The peasants amongst few arms they possessed were able to defeat the troops too capture a large quantity of arms too ammunition. Additional arms were obtained yesteryear the nomads from the Red Sea coast inward Tajura.
1929: The Oromo fighters of the revolt inward Yejju too Raya controlled a large component of their expanse too unopen the merchandise road that connected Dasee, the working capital missive of the alphabet of Wallo, to the south. In a battle amongst the authorities forces inward Oct 1929, the Oromo fighters captured 2,000 rifles too 12,000 cartridges.
1930: Tafari Makonnen, throne call Haile Sellassie I, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Elect of God too Emperor of Ethiopia, succeeded Zawditu to the throne.
1930: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 large authorities force, led yesteryear the state of war minister, Mulugeta, arrived inward Yejju too Raya regions. The Oromo fighters set upwards rigid resistance. The Oromo resistance was finally set down, although temporarily, mainly yesteryear the utilisation of airplanes. It was the starting fourth dimension time airplanes were ever used inward a state of war inward the Empire.
1931: The starting fourth dimension constitution of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was introduced. In this document the term "Abyssinia" was dropped inward favor of "Ethiopia," thereby defining Abyssinians too all the colonized peoples every bit "Ethiopians."
1935/1936: Oromo of Raya too Qobbo were fighting Haile Selassie’s army. At ane point, on Apr 3, 1936 close Ashange Lake, they almost trapped Haile Selassie himself fleeing from the Italians. He never set his feet inward this expanse ane time to a greater extent than after that. During the same period, the Oromo guerrillas attacked the retreating Ethiopian regular army led yesteryear Ras Mulugeta too inflicted heavy casualties. They revenged his before (1930) aerial laid on on them yesteryear killing his son; he himself narrowly escaped. One of the reasons for the laid on was, the Ethiopian regular army on its way to the state of war had looted the belongings of the Oromo communities.
1943: The Oromo uprising inward Raya was temporarily suppressed amongst the assistance of the British Royal Air Force stationed inward Aden. Many of the leaders of the Oromo motion were also implicated inward the Woyane revolt inward Tigray inward 1943.
1947/1948: The Raya Oromo rose upwards inward arms again. Again after they had liberated a large expanse of their land, the motion was stopped when the British Royal Air Force inward Aden, at the asking of the Ethiopian regime, bombed the Oromo guerrilla positions.
Source: http://gadaa.com/oduu/2644/2010/02/28/documentary-on-the-raya-azebo-oromo-of-oromias-northernmost-territory/
Ethnic Raya Wollo girls from Ethiopia. johangerrits
Historically, the Raya Wollo (Raya Oromo), amongst the Yejju Oromo, are the northernmost groups of the Oromo people too are a component of the Wollo Oromo Tribe. Their women especially are known yesteryear their distinctive hair-braiding styles too facial tattoos.
The Wollo Oromo (particularly the Raya Oromo too Yejju Oromo) were early on Oromo holders of might amid the increasingly mixed Ethiopian state. The later north-to-south motion of fundamental might inward Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia led to Oromos inward Shewa holding might inward Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia together amongst the Shewan Amhara. "In price of descent, the grouping that became politically dominant inward Shewa – too Subsequently inward Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia – was a mixture of Amhara too Oromo; inward price of language, organized religious belief too cultural practices, it was Amhara.
Man from the Raya Wollo tribe at Hayk market. Ethiopia. johangerrits
The official map of Oromia shown below includes the Raya-Azebo territory on its northernmost tip.
Currently, Debubawi Zone/Raya-Azebo woreda (county) is bordered on the S yesteryear Alamata, on the southwest yesteryear Ofla, on the northwest yesteryear Endamehoni, on the N yesteryear Hintalo Wajirat, too on the due east yesteryear the Afar Region. The administrative middle of this woreda (county) is Mersa; other town inward Raya-Azebo includes Weyra Wuha.
Despite their historic resistance against control (read whatsoever literature on Ethiopian history, the Raya Oromo revolt given below is mentioned every bit the starting fourth dimension revolt against the Teferi authorities every bit early on every bit the belatedly 1920′s too every bit the predecessor of the Bale Oromo revolt), Raya’s ties amongst the ease of Oromia receive got weakened due to years of wars inward that component of the region. Today, the challenge should live given to Oromo artists to make music of the Raya inward Afan Oromo; music serves every bit a cultural ambassador every bit good every bit a path to reconnect to one’s historic yesteryear (heritage). It’s also paramount that the Oromo Studies Association (OSA) fix a session during its annual coming together to deliberate on the history of Raya Oromo too on ways to convey most the renaissance of Oromummaa inward Raya.
Raya Wollo man
Why the call Raya Wollo?
Wollo was an historical percentage too province inward the northeastern component of Ethiopia, amongst its working capital missive of the alphabet metropolis at Dessie. The province was named after the Wollo Oromo, who settled inward this component of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia inward the 17th century. An older call for Wollo is Lakomelza.
Following the invasion yesteryear United Kingdom of Great Britain too Northern Ireland of Britain too Northern Republic of Ireland that toppled Italian colonial control inward 1941, the provinces of Amhara Sayint, Azabo, Lasta, Raya Province, Wag, too Yejju were added to Wollo. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 number of peasant rebellions rocked Wollo, which included the Woyane rebellion inward 1943, too revolts of the Yejju Oromo inward 1948 too 1970. With the adoption of the novel constitution inward 1995, Wollo was divided betwixt the Afar Region, which absorbed the component of the province that extended into the Afar Depression; the Tigray Region, which annexed the northwestern corner; too the Amhara Region, which absorbed the residual of the province inward the Ethiopian highlands.
Young adult woman from the Raya Wollo tribe at Hayk market. Ethiopia. johangerrits
The northern provinces of Gonder, Gojjam, Wollo too Tigray are the heartland of the "core" civilization of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia -- the Ethiopian Orthodox church, the Amharic linguistic communication too script, plow-based agriculture, too many elements of the social scheme of the province derive from this historic region. Most of the Emperors also came from here.
At the halt of the 19th century, the middle of might inward Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia decisively shifted from the N to Shewa, amongst the supposition of the title of Emperor yesteryear Menelik, King of Shewa. Menelik was an Amhara, from the dynasty that ruled Manz, at the northern tip of the modern province of Shewa. The bulk of the inhabitants of the ease of Shewa were Oromo -- every bit is the example today. In terms of descent, the group that became politically dominant in Shewa (and later inward Ethiopia) was a mixture of Amhara too Oromo; inward price of language, organized religious belief too cultural practices, it was Amhara. The northern Amhara regarded the Shewans every bit "Galla" (the pejorative term for Oromo), too together amongst the Tigrayans too some of the Agau too Oromo people inward Wollo, resisted the novel Shewan domination, which led to their economical too political marginalization.
Tatooed Wollo Woman, Mezan Teferi , Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia © Eric Lafforgue
Between 1928 too 1930 at that topographic point was a rebellion -- or a serial of rebellions -- inward northern Wollo against Shewan domination. The specific political cause was support for Ras Gugsa Wale, a northern Amhara lord amongst a rigid claim on the throne, against the Shewan Ras Teferi (who crowned himself the Emperor Haile Selassie after defeating the revolt). The authorities suppression of the revolt led to quartering soldiers amongst local people, interrupting the tabular array salt trade, and involved massive looting too confiscation of cattle. Combined amongst drought too locusts, the result was famine. Haile Selassie ordered the importation of grain from India to supply Addis Ababa, but at that topographic point was no relief for N Wollo. Political measures were taken after the revolt, including the replacement of much of the administration, which formerly had local roots, amongst appointees from Shewa; and the joining of the rebellious districts to the province of southern Wollo, which was ruled with harshness and venality by the crown prince. These helped to contribute to the farther marginalization of the area, too the serial of famines which plagued the expanse upwards to the autumn of the Emperor.
The cumulative impact of imperial misrule and the petty tyrannies of local landlords created an atmosphere in which development was extremely difficult, as described by two consultants investigating the possibility of starting livestock projects:
Wollo is virtually impossible ... at that topographic point is such an obscuring weight of disbelief, suspected
innuendo too antagonisms; such a mess of mis-government at piddling levels, too such a
lading of landlords that there is almost nada to start amongst too nowhere to start that
volition not go wrong or sour ... [there is] the smothering welter of the weeds of an
entrenched too stagnant society.
The Weyane inward Tigray
Following the restoration of Haile Selassie after the defeat of the Italians inward 1941, at that topographic point was a revolt in Tigray. Known every bit the Weyane, this was the most serious internal threat that Haile Selassie faced. An alliance of the Oromo semi-pastoralists of Raya Azebo, disgruntled peasants, too some local feudal lords, nether the armed services leadership of a famous shifta, Haile Mariam Redda, the rebels nearly succeeded inward overrunning the whole province.4 British aircraft had to live called inward from Aden inward monastic tell to bomb the rebels to ensure their defeat. While some of the aristocratic leaders, such as Ras Seyoum Mengesha, were treated gently and ultimately allowed to return and administer the recalcitrant province, there were reprisals against the ordinary people. Most notably, the Raya too Azebo Oromo were subjected to wholesale solid ground alienation, too much of their territory was transferred to the province of Wollo. This expanse was badly hitting inward subsequent famines, partly every bit a consequence.
Girl from the Raya Wollo tribe at Hayk market. Ethiopia. johangerrits
Tax Revolts inward Gojjam
Gojjam treasured its independence for centuries, too did non submit willingly to Shewan rule. The issue roughly which opposition repeatedly coalesced was whatsoever essay out yesteryear the fundamental authorities to stair out land too tax it. Taxation was non solely resented every bit the imposition of unjust exertions yesteryear government, but was feared every bit the agency whereby the traditional solid ground tenure scheme would live undermined, too the farmers' independence destroyed.
In the 1940s too '50s at that topographic point was a serial of attempts to stair out solid ground inward Gojjam, prior to taxation. In the confront of peasant resistance, including violence, all attempts failed. In the early on 1960s, solely 0.1 per cent of the solid ground had been measured, too Gojjam, ane of the richest too most populous provinces, paid less solid ground taxation than the pitiable too thinly populated province of Bale. In 1950/1 at that topographic point was armed resistance, including a plot to assassinate Haile Selassie. However the most serious revolt occurred in 1968, in response to the most systematic attempt to levy an agricultural income taxation to date.
In February 1968, in reaction to the arrival of parties of government officials accompanied by armed police, the peasants of Mota and Bichena districts resorted to armed resistance. After months of stalemate patch much of the province remained out of authorities control, Haile Selassie sent troops to Gojjam inward July too August. The air forcefulness bombed several villages; it burned houses but its principal task was in all probability intimidating the resistance. Several hundred people died, according to contemporary accounts, but the Gojjamis remained defiant.
Finally, inward December, Haile Selassie backed down. He visited Gojjam inward 1969, cancelled all tax
arrears, too made no serious essay out to collect the novel taxes.
Famines inward Wollo too Tigray
In 1974, the Emperor Haile Selassie became notorious for his attempts to conceal the beingness of the famine of 1972-3 in Wollo. This, however, was solely ane in a succession of such incidents. Prof. Mesfin Wolde Mariam of Addis Ababa University has documented how the famines of 1958 and 1966 in Tigray and Wollo were treated with official indifference, bordering on hostility towards the peasants who were considered sufficiently ungrateful for the divinely-sanctioned rule of Haile Selassie every bit to allow themselves to defame his reputation yesteryear dying of famine.
There was severe famine inward Tigray inward 1958 which went without meaning authorities relief. In 1965/6, reports of famine from Were Ilu awraja inward Wollo arrived at the Ministry of the Interior inward Nov 1965, ane calendar month after the province of affairs became clear to the local police, but no activity was taken. The information took a further 302 days to reach the Emperor, who then requested the Ministry of the Interior to human activity -- which it did yesteryear asking officials inward Wollo to shipping a listing of the names of the people who had died.6 A pocket-size relief distribution was thus authorized.
The solely consistent answer to famine was to regard it every bit a safety work -- famine created destitute migrants, who needed to live prevented from entering towns, especially Addis Ababa.
Both the 1958 too 1965/6 famines killed tens of thousands of people.
The famine that struck Wollo during 1972-3 played a crucial role inward Ethiopian history:
"the revelation of that famine yesteryear the British boob tube journalist Jonathan Dimbleby played a key
role in precipitating the downfall of the rule of Haile Selassie. Between 40,000 and 80,000
people died." The famine also led directly to the creation of the Relief and Rehabilitation
Commission (RRC), the powerful authorities subdivision mandated to foreclose too ameliorate
time to come famines, too to coordinate international assistance. The 1972-3 famine was the lastly one
inward which there were no functioning mechanisms for the delivery of large-scale humanitarian
relief.
The Wollo famine was popularly blamed on drought, a backward and impoverished
social system, too the cover-up attempted yesteryear the royal government. These factors were all
of import -- though it must live remembered that specific actions yesteryear the government, especially
after the Ras Gugsa and Weyane revolts, were instrumental in creating the absence of
development. In addition, forcible alienation of resources too violence also played an important
role.
The group that suffered most from the famine were the Afar pastoral nomads of the
Danakil desert. Famine had already gripped them inward early on 1972. The Afar inhabit an arid semi-
wilderness, utilizing pastures over a large expanse to back upwards their herds. In times of drought, they
are forced to displace to areas which they make non unremarkably exploit. Traditional drought reserves
included the Tcheffa Valley, on the rift valley escarpment, too pastures along the inland delta of
the Awash river where the waters dissipate into the desert. In the 1960s the Tcheffa Valley
became the location of commercial sorghum farms, too pocket-size farmers from nearby also began
to utilisation much of the land. Meanwhile, large cotton fiber plantations were developed along the Awash.
By 1972, 50,000 hectares of irrigated solid ground had displaced 20,000 Afar pastoralists.
During the years of expert rainfall, the loss of the drought reserves was non noticed yesteryear the
Afar, but when repeated drought struck, they constitute that a necessary resources they had utilized
sporadically for generations had been alienated, without compensation. Famine amid the Afar
was sure caused yesteryear drought -- but yesteryear drought acting on a social club that had been deprived of
the agency of responding to that threat.
Official indifference to the plight of the Afar is illustrated yesteryear an incident inward 1974, when
the overflowing waters of the Awash river were directed to the Dubti valley inward monastic tell to irrigate cotton
plantations. The resident Afar population was non informed, too 3,000 lost their homes, while
100 were "missing."
Mobility is crucial to survival amid the Afar. Nomadic inward normal times, the might to
displace freely over large distances becomes a vital describe concern when resources are short. In the early
1970s, the Afar's mobility was further restricted by the flow of weaponry to their nomadic
neighbors and competitors, the Issa (who are ethnic Somali). The Issa themselves were
suffering from the alienation of much of their pasture too restrictions on their movement. The
resultant was an essay out yesteryear the Afar to appropriate wells formerly used yesteryear the Issa. This led to
widespread armed clashes, especially inward 1972. One Afar reported "Many people die. Disease is
the starting fourth dimension drive but the Issa are the second." Meanwhile, a survey done amid the Issa reported
that homicide yesteryear the Afar was a major drive of death. The famine also resulted inward large-scale
armed clashes betwixt the Afar too their Oromo neighbors inward Wollo.
The instant grouping which suffered severely from the famine included farmers inward a narrow
strip of middle-altitude areas of northern and central Wollo. Those who suffered most were
tenants. The Raya too Azebo Oromo had been reduced to that province yesteryear massive solid ground alienation
after they participated inward the Weyane revolt against Haile Selassie inward 1943. Others were forced
to mortgage or sell their land by the stresses of repeated harvest failures in the early 1970s.
Landlords took advantage of their tenants' penury by insisting on the payment of large rents,
frequently inward kind. This demand could live backed upwards yesteryear force, every bit most influential landlords had a
retinue of armed guards. The enforcement of crippling tenancy contracts inward fourth dimension of shortage had
the effect of taking nutrient from the hungry. Thus, during 1973, the famine expanse exported grain to
the provincial capital, Dessie, too to Addis Ababa.
The famine was much less severe inward Tigray province, despite the drought affecting both
provinces. The departure tin live largely accounted for yesteryear the unlike modes of solid ground tenure --
inward Tigray, most farmers owned their ain land; inward middle-land Wollo, most were tenants.
Finally, the Emperor Haile Selassie considered that the peasants too nomads of Wollo
were shaming His reputation yesteryear starving, too resolved to ignore them. Reports of famine were
consistently ignored or denied. In response to a report by UNICEF documenting famine
atmospheric condition in July 1973, the Vice-Minister of Planning retorted: "If nosotros have to describe the
province of affairs inward the way you lot receive got inward monastic tell to generate international assistance, thus nosotros don't want
that assistance. The embarrassment to the authorities isn't worth it. Is that perfectly clear?"
Though the governor of Wollo, Crown Prince Asfa Wossen, was both greedy and
incompetent (at the fourth dimension of the famine he forced the closure of commercial sorghum farms in
the Tcheffa Valley by engaging in litigation, claiming their ownership), Haile Selassie was
never in ignorance of the conditions in Wollo. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 United Nations official visited him in early on 1973 and
constitute him well-informed -- his attitude was that peasants always starve and nothing can be
done, and that in any case it was not the Shewan Amhara who were dying. On belatedly
visiting the province inward Nov 1973, his ane remedial activity was to denote that all who
had sold or mortgaged their solid ground inward the previous yr could render too plough it during the coming
season, solely leaving it to their creditors afterwards. Even this minimal too tardy gesture was
non enforced.
Portrait of a Man Holding a Christian Symbol, Bieta Golgotha, Lalibela, Wollo Region
The 1975 Northern Rebellions
The Wollo famine contributed to the downfall of Haile Selassie, non because the hungry
peasants and nomads revolted and forced him out, but because the issue gained political
currency amid the students too middle classes of Addis Ababa. However, that is non to say
that the famine, too to a greater extent than to a greater extent frequently than non the 8 decades of political marginalization too economic
stagnation that preceded it, did non receive got serious consequences at the fourth dimension of the 1974 revolution
too the years following.
Man from the Raya Wollo tribe at Hayk market. Ethiopia. johangerrits
In the early 1970s, "peasant risings in various provinces [were] an fifty-fifty to a greater extent than closely
guarded secret than the famine". These revolts intensified in during the revolution, amongst a
serial of rebellions led yesteryear feudal leaders inward each of the northern provinces. In Wollo, at that topographic point was
a revolt by a feudal lord, Dejazmatch Berhane Maskal. In March 1975, he destroyed an
Ethiopian airlines DC3 at Lalibella. In October, he rallied supporters after a spree of killings of
former landlords yesteryear peasants too authorities safety officers. Dej. Berhane's ill-armed force
of 5,000 was defeated yesteryear authorities militia too air force attacks close Woldiya inward December
1975, but he continued to drive problems for the authorities for years. Another feudal leader,
Gugsa Ambow, had brief military successes in northern Wollo, before the army foiled an
essay out to capture Korem in mid-1976, reportedly causing 1,200 fatalities among Gugsa's
peasant regular army too local villagers.18 Other smaller revolts occurred inward Gojjam too Shewa.
The most significant rebellion started in Tigray. This was an insurrection led by the
former governor, Ras Mengesha Seyoum (son of the governor at the fourth dimension of the 1943 Weyane).
Ras Mengesha fled to the hills amongst most 600 followers inward Nov 1984, when the Dergue
executed threescore officials of the previous regime. Ras Mengesha combined amongst other members of
the aristocracy, notably General Negga Tegegne (former governor of Gonder) too formed the
Ethiopian Democratic Union (EDU) in 1976. They obtained encouragement from western
countries. With Sudanese armed services assistance, the EDU occupied the towns of Metema, Humera
too Dabat (all inward Gonder province) betwixt Feb too Apr 1977,19 but was defeated yesteryear the
militia forcefulness sent to the province inward June-July.
Proud begetter amongst his miss from the Raya Wollo tribe at Hayk market. Ethiopia. johangerrits
The EDU remained active in Tigray, where two other rebel groups were also
operational. The Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF) was fix inward Feb 1975 yesteryear a
grouping of left-wing students and peasants, incorporating the Tigray National Organization,
created three years earlier. Prominent amid its early on leaders was Berihu Aregawi; later the
front end was headed by Meles Zenawi. In 1978, the TPLF set up the Relief Society of Tigray
(REST), headed by Abadi Zemo. It espoused a mix of Tigrayan nationalism and socialist
transformation. The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party (EPRP), after defeat in the urban
Red Terror (see chapter 6), retreated to a base of operations inward rural eastern Tigray inward mid-1977.
The EDU was rent yesteryear divisions betwixt its leaders, too its aristocratic leaders failed to
gain pop back upwards amid their former tenants. Crucially, it suffered defeat at the hands of
the TPLF.20 The EPRP was also defeated yesteryear the TPLF too driven into Gonder, creating lasting
bitterness betwixt the ii organization.
After the ill-fated Peasants' March of 1976, the government launched a series of five armed services offensives in Tigray: Nov 1976, June 1978, October-November 1978, March-
Apr 1979 too May-June 1979. Small towns such every bit Abi Adi changed hands several times. By
1979, REST estimated that 50,000 people in Tigray were displaced on account of war.
Refugees from Tigray too Gonder began to brand it inward Sudan inward early on 1975. By May at that topographic point were
34,000; yesteryear 1978 there were 70,000. In Feb 1979, the Ethiopian regular army invaded Sudanese
territory at Jebel Ludgi, forcing the evacuation of the nearby refugee campsite of Wad el Hileui.
Young adult woman from the Raya Wollo tribe at Hayk market. Ethiopia. johangerrits
Dates too Event of Raya Wollo (Raya Oromo) people
1929: Oromo peasants too nomads inward Yejju, Raya or Wajerat districts of nowadays southern Tigray too northern Wallo revolted against the dominion of Haile Selassie too refused to pay the heavy taxes imposed on them. The authorities dispatched troops to set downwards the revolt. The peasants amongst few arms they possessed were able to defeat the troops too capture a large quantity of arms too ammunition. Additional arms were obtained yesteryear the nomads from the Red Sea coast inward Tajura.
1929: The Oromo fighters of the revolt inward Yejju too Raya controlled a large component of their expanse too unopen the merchandise road that connected Dasee, the working capital missive of the alphabet of Wallo, to the south. In a battle amongst the authorities forces inward Oct 1929, the Oromo fighters captured 2,000 rifles too 12,000 cartridges.
1930: Tafari Makonnen, throne call Haile Sellassie I, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Elect of God too Emperor of Ethiopia, succeeded Zawditu to the throne.
Woman from the Raya wollo tribe. johangerrits
1930: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 large authorities force, led yesteryear the state of war minister, Mulugeta, arrived inward Yejju too Raya regions. The Oromo fighters set upwards rigid resistance. The Oromo resistance was finally set down, although temporarily, mainly yesteryear the utilisation of airplanes. It was the starting fourth dimension time airplanes were ever used inward a state of war inward the Empire.
1931: The starting fourth dimension constitution of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was introduced. In this document the term "Abyssinia" was dropped inward favor of "Ethiopia," thereby defining Abyssinians too all the colonized peoples every bit "Ethiopians."
woman from the Raya Wollo tribe at Hayk market. Ethiopia. johangerrits
1935/1936: Oromo of Raya too Qobbo were fighting Haile Selassie’s army. At ane point, on Apr 3, 1936 close Ashange Lake, they almost trapped Haile Selassie himself fleeing from the Italians. He never set his feet inward this expanse ane time to a greater extent than after that. During the same period, the Oromo guerrillas attacked the retreating Ethiopian regular army led yesteryear Ras Mulugeta too inflicted heavy casualties. They revenged his before (1930) aerial laid on on them yesteryear killing his son; he himself narrowly escaped. One of the reasons for the laid on was, the Ethiopian regular army on its way to the state of war had looted the belongings of the Oromo communities.
1943: The Oromo uprising inward Raya was temporarily suppressed amongst the assistance of the British Royal Air Force stationed inward Aden. Many of the leaders of the Oromo motion were also implicated inward the Woyane revolt inward Tigray inward 1943.
1947/1948: The Raya Oromo rose upwards inward arms again. Again after they had liberated a large expanse of their land, the motion was stopped when the British Royal Air Force inward Aden, at the asking of the Ethiopian regime, bombed the Oromo guerrilla positions.
Young adult woman from the Raya Wollo tribe at Hayk market. Ethiopia. johangerrits
Source: http://gadaa.com/oduu/2644/2010/02/28/documentary-on-the-raya-azebo-oromo-of-oromias-northernmost-territory/
Comments
Post a Comment