The Menelik Conquest from the Perspective of the Boorana

The Menelik Conquest from the Perspective of the Boorana Dereje Feyissa – Markus Virgil Hoehne: Borders and Borderlands as by Chikage OBA-SMIDT1 Resources in the Horn of Africa. Woodbridge 2010 (SZÉLINGER Balázs) 140 Abstract Conference Reports

The Menelik Conquest of southern Ethiopia was a major historical event thfor almost all ethnic groups in Ethiopia. It caused social crisis and forced them to Thereconstruct 18 International their world Conference of Ethiopian Studies in Dirre Dawa: views. There is much historical research which seeks to reconstruct how the conquest“Movements really in Ethiopia, Ethiopia in Movement”, 29 October to happened in marginal regions. However, such research tends to ignore how the3 localNovember people 2012 (Wolbert SMIDT – Chikage OBA-SMIDT) 144 perceive this event and how they try to construct their own history inNational their own Workshop: way. This „Socio-cultural Impact Assessment of the Welqayt paper discusses an example of a regional interpretation of “The Menelik Conquest”Sugar and by Irrigation Project”, 6 October 2012, Mekelle University analyzing oral traditions of the Oromo-Boorana. (MITIKU Gabrehiwot) 150 The Mikael Iyasu Library: Mekelle University Acquires 2,500 Books from the Keywords: Menelik Conquest – southern Ethiopia – Oromo – BooranaFamily – oforal the Late Mikael Iyasu – Inauguration (AYELE Bekerie) 153 traditions International Workshop on Documentation and Preservation of Ethiopian Cultural and Art Heritage of the Haddis Alemayehu Cultural and 1. Introduction Research Institute, Debre Markos University, 19 May 2012 – An Illustrated Conference Report (Manuel RAMOS) 155 In this paper, I would like to show an example of a regionalInternational interpretation Workshop of on “Culture, Environment and Development” “The Menelik Conquest” by analyzing oral traditions in the caseat Mekelle of the University, 15 March 2012 (Yoko FURUSAKI) 160 Oromo-Boorana. The Menelik Conquest was a major historicalFrom Ambivalence event for to Acceptance – International Conference on Azmari almost all ethnic groups in Ethiopia. It caused social crisis and forced them to in Ethiopia, University of Hildesheim, 6 − 8 January 2012 reconstruct their world views. There is much historical research which seeks to (Andreas WETTER) 164 reconstruct how the conquest really happened in marginal regions (ex. James et al. 1986; Miyawaki 2006). However, such research tends Workshoto ignorep how“On the History and Culture of the Horn of Africa” at local people perceive this event and how they try to constructMekelle their own Uni versity, 17-18 March 2011 (Carsten HOFFMANN history in their own way. – Zeus WELLNHOFER) 166 Traditionally, historians tend to use oral traditions mainly as a sort of historical record for the reconstruction of the past of societies whose history cannot be reconstructed through documentary evidences. In the 1960s, Research and Expedition Reports Hudson defined history reconstructed “by outsiders” as “ethno-history”. On the other hand, he called historical accounts rememberedA Journeyby local to people Central and Western Tigray (Dietrich RAUE) 169 “folk-history”. He suggested that historians should focus moreDid on the folk gold-hi ofstory, the Aksumites originate in Tigray? A report on ongoing research on local traditions of gold mining in Tigray

MIDT EBREMICHAEL 1 Assistant Professor, Department of Foreign Languages, Mekelle University and(Wolbert associated S , in collaboration with G Nguse) 181 researcher at the National Ethnological Museum, Osaka. – I wish to thank Wolbert Smidt for his great interest in my research and his steady encouragement. I especially thank my field assistants, who were always ready to help me in improving my Oromo language skills, and my Research Abstracts numerous Boorana informants for being so ready to share their traditions and knowledge with me. This paper is based on the presentation at a French conference andSel at ectedthe African abstracts Studies of research projects in social sciences and humanities Department of the Asien-Afrika-Institut of Hamburg University. Thank you for having invited me to give a talk on the Boorana oral traditions in December 2008. at Mekelle University 193 42 41 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 5 The Menelik Conquest from the Perspective of the Boorana which is the way history is created and preserved by local people themselves (HudsonDereje Fey 1966).issa – CriticallyMarkus Virgil it could Hoehne perhaps: Borders be remarked and Borderlands that despite as our focus on andResources perception in theof Hornfolk-history, of Africa nonetheless. Woodbridge the 2010 way we deal with a particular(S ZÉLINGERhistory still Balázs) follows an outsider’s point of view, i.e. the Western140 tradition of reconstructing an objective history, different from the more dynamic and fluid traditions in many non-Western societies.Conference Reports Rosaldo also pointed out that we should treat oral tradition mainly as a th culturalThe 18 record,International showing Conference the perception of Ethiopian of the Studiespast from in Dirre a local Dawa: perspective (Rosaldo“Movements 1980). Rosald in oEthiopia, argued that Ethiopia history in represents Movement”, the 29past October from a topresent viewpoint3 November which is 2012confined (Wolbert by cultural SMIDT –world Chikage views. OBA We-SMIDT can) learn about 144 people’sNational Workshop:world views, „Socio ways-cultural of thinking, Impact andAssessment perceptions of the of Welqayt their history throughSugar the analysis and Irrigation of oral traditions.Project”, 6 October 2012, Mekelle University Following(MITIKU this Gabrehiwot) perspective, I would like to use oral traditions not 1to50 reconstruct history but to understand the cultural interpretation of historical The Mikael Iyasu Library: Mekelle University Acquires 2,500 Books from the events from the viewpoint of the Boorana. In this paper, I wish to focus on Family of the Late Mikael Iyasu – Inauguration (AYELE Bekerie) 153 the local perspective, how the Boorana have interpreted, narrated and integratedInternational the Workshop Menelik conquest on Documentation into their history. and Preservation of Ethiopian Cultural and Art Heritage of the Haddis Alemayehu Cultural and 2. The MenelikResearch conquestInstitute, Debre Markos University, 19 May 2012 – An Illustrated Conference Report (Manuel RAMOS) 155 2.1.International The Menelik Workshop conquest on and “Culture, the raaga Environment and Development” The Booranaat Mekelle are agro University,-pastoralis 15ts March who live2012 in (Yoko southern FURUSAKI Ethiopia) and northern 160 Kenya. They speak one of the dialects of the Oromo language. Although they From Ambivalence to Acceptance – International Conference on Azmari belong to the Oromo ethnic groups, they identify themselves specifically as Boorana,in notEthiopia, as Oromo. University of Hildesheim, 6 − 8 January 2012 According(Andreas to WoralETTER traditions) of Boorana which I collected, the Boorana164 emigratedWorkshop in “On the themid- History17th century and Culture from the of theBaale Horn region of Africa”to the land at which they inhabit Mekellenow. They Uni versity,had been 17- 18a totally March 2011independent (Carsten societyHOFFMANN based on a clan- system and– Zeus a generation-gradeWELLNHOFER) system, until the Menelik conquest took place.16 6 Their generation-grade system is called gadaa (ex. Asmarom 1973; Schlee 1989; Tagawa 2000; Baxter 2005). The gadaa is the political institution which makes consensus of the Boorana beyondResearch clan level. and This Expedition institution Reportshas also helped to maintain the Boorana identity and common historical memories amongA Journey the toBoorana. Central and Western Tigray (Dietrich RAUE) 169 The Boorana have oral chronicles based on gadaa. The Boorana chose their Did the gold ofth the Aksumites originate in Tigray? A report on leader fromongoing 6 generation-research ongrade local calledtraditions gadaa of generation- gold miningset in group. Tigray The leader is called(Wolbert abbaa gadaa SMIDT. Abbaa, in collaborationgadaa is chosen with for G 8EBREMICHAEL years at a time. Nguse) He bears the 181 main responsibilities for politics and religious ceremonies of the Boorana society during these 8 years. The Boorana refer to each 8-year period by the name of the respective abbaa gadaa. Until now, there haveResearch been 70 abbaaAbstracts gadaa. The Boorana have memorized the genealogy of abbaa gadaa (see Annex). Thus, whenSelected the abstracts Boorana of narrate research oral projects histories, in social they sciencesrefer to anda specific humanities time by the abbaa gadaaat Mekelle’s name. University According to the Boorana oral chronicles, the ‘Menelik193 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 43 42 5 Chikage Oba-Smidt conquest’ took place during the period of the 55th abbaa gadaa, Liiban Jaldeessa (c. 1888-1896). Dereje Feyissa – Markus Virgil Hoehne: Borders and Borderlands as The so-called ‘Menelik conquest’ was indeed carried out by ResourcesMenelik II, in the Horn of Africa. Woodbridge 2010 who was emperor of Ethiopia from 1889 until 1913. In the latter (ShalfZÉLINGER of the Balázs) 140 19th century, there were many kingdoms in the area of today’s Ethiopia. Among those kingdoms, the Ethiopian Empire, which was dominated by Conference Reports Amhara and Tigray people, stretched from the Northern to the Central th Highlands. Within the Empire, there were local governors,The 18 princes International and Conference of Ethiopian Studies in Dirre Dawa: sometimes kings under the emperor, ruling in Tigray, Begémd“Movementsir, Gojjam, in Ethiopia, Ethiopia in Movement”, 29 October to Wollo, and Shewa. Among those kings, Menelik II of Shewa, already3 November before 2012 (Wolbert SMIDT – Chikage OBA-SMIDT) 144 becoming emperor himself, had formed especially strongNational connections Workshop: with „Socio-cultural Impact Assessment of the Welqayt European and Arab traders, and acquired significant amounts of weaponrySugar and by Irrigation Project”, 6 October 2012, Mekelle University trading with them. Since the 1860`s, Menelik II gradually conquered(MITIKU theGabrehiwot) 150 Southern and Eastern peoples, kingdoms and sultanates to get land for his The Mikael Iyasu Library: Mekelle University Acquires 2,500 Books from the feudal followers, and continued after he became emperor in 1889. The Family of the Late Mikael Iyasu – Inauguration (AYELE Bekerie) 153 Boorana territory was finally conquered in 1897. When I asked informants about the conquest, some of themInternational suggested Workshop that on Documentation and Preservation of Ethiopian the Menelik conquest had been foreseen by the raaga (prophets)Cultural2. One canand Art Heritage of the Haddis Alemayehu Cultural and assume that the raaga have historically had great power over and influenceResearch oInstitute,n Debre Markos University, 19 May 2012 – An the Boorana society. Indeed, there are many poetic prophecies ofIllustrated raaga and Conference Report (Manuel RAMOS) 155 oral histories regarding the raaga. The Boorana have narratedInternational how the Workshopraaga on “Culture, Environment and Development” dealt with historical events, such as issues in Boorana politics,at ecologicalMekelle University, 15 March 2012 (Yoko FURUSAKI) 160 disasters, or conflicts with the Boorana’s neighboring ethnic groups, including From Ambivalence to Acceptance – International Conference on Azmari the Arsi, Gujji, Gabra, Garri, and Somali (see Annex). It is said that the raaga looked beyond historical events, criticizedin Ethiopia, society, University of Hildesheim, 6 − 8 January 2012 advised people to organize ceremonies, and engaged in discourse (Andreasin order to W ETTER) 164 overcome social problems. Their stories and discourses continueWorksho to bep “On told theby History and Culture of the Horn of Africa” at people while being reinterpreted under present contexts (Oba-SmidtMekelle 2012). University, 17-18 March 2011 (Carsten HOFFMANN In this paper, I wish to show which of the raaga`s stories exist– Zeus onW theELLNHOFER ) 166 Menelik conquest.

2.2. The prophecies of Areero Boosaroo and Boruu Jiloo Walee Research and Expedition Reports I have documented five stories of the raaga on the Menelik conquest. Here I will describe one of them. This text is about the night beforeA the Journey conquest. to Central and Western Tigray (Dietrich RAUE) 169 Did the gold of the Aksumites originate in Tigray? A report on ongoing research on local traditions of gold mining in Tigray (Wolbert SMIDT, in collaboration with GEBREMICHAEL Nguse) 181 2 We may translate raaga as prophet. Marco Bassi and Boku Tache have indeed translated raaga in this way. But I do not use the term in this article. The term “prophet” is implicitly related with the Christian-Jewish-Muslim tradition. Of course, we can find similarity between raaga Research Abstracts and prophets. For example, through revelations from waaqa or God, raaga and prophets in ancient Israel warned people not to disobey their customs. However, Selit isected good abstractsto use local of research projects in social sciences and humanities terms for understanding phenomena within the local context. at Mekelle University 193 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 4443 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 5 The Menelik Conquest from the Perspective of the Boorana Areero Boosaroo gaafa Ahamaarti dhufte. Ado isiin hin dhufni nyaaphatti dhufaa, Derejedibbee Fey kurikuruuttiissa – Markus liiban Virgil goromti Hoehne harree: Borders qalaa, yoo and isan Borderlands goromti harree as sun qaltan sidaamittiResources hin dhuftuu, in the Hornlafa tana of Africani hanqatti. Woodbridge jedhe, duratti 2010 hime, irratti dhaarefatan, himan(SZÉLINGER akkana hima, Balázs) didan akkan badanii jedhe taa’e, yoo taani sidaamiiti dhufte140 guyya kan fardaan qaqabatan lalu dhafan, isiin goromti harree taan qa’uuttii jirti, jaralee raagi warra la hime, amaan tan deebitan hin dabsatanConference beena jedhe Reports lakkise innilee achuman lafa tana qabate taa’u jalqabde. th The 18 International Conference of Ethiopian Studies in Dirre Dawa: Areero“Movements Boosaroo in had Ethiopia, already Ethiopia foretold inthat Movement”, an enemy would29 October come, to before their3 Novemberactual coming 2012 and (Wolbert that the S BooranaMIDT – Chikage should sacrifice OBA-SMIDT a female) donkey 144 3 Nationalat Dibbee Workshop: Kurikuruu „Socio in-cultural Liiban Impact region Assessment. He said thatof the if Welqaytwe do so, the enemySugar would and Irrigationnot come. Project”, But the Boorana6 October did 2012, not Mekellebelieve him. University He told the Boorana(MITIKU that Gabrehiwot) if the Boorana rejected his suggestion, the Boorana would150 disappear. The Amhara came. The Boorana went to the Amhara on horse The Mikael Iyasu Library: Mekelle University Acquires 2,500 Books from the to see a situation. The Boorana saw that the Amhara sacrificed a female Family of the Late Mikael Iyasu – Inauguration (AYELE Bekerie) 153 donkey. The raaga in the Amhara had also ordered the Amhara to do so. InternationalAreero Boosaroo Workshop had on said Documentation that if the Amhara and Preservation would so, thenof Ethiopian the Boorana couldCultural not win and overArt Heritagethe Amhara. of the Then Haddis the Alemayehu Amhara invaded Cultural the and land of BooranaResearch and Institute, conquered Debre the Markos Boorana. University, (Narration 19 Mayby Dhenge2012 – An Gayyoo, translatedIllustrated by ChikageConference Oba-Smidt). Report (Manuel RAMOS) 155 International Workshop on “Culture, Environment and Development” th th Areero atBoosarooMekelle isUniversity, one of the 15 famous March raaga2012 who(Yoko lived FURUSAKI in the 19) to early 20 160 century. It is said that he died between 1904 and 1912 and was buried in Diida From Ambivalence to Acceptance – International Conference on Azmari4 Baallii. Marco Bassi and Boku Tache reported his prophetic poem . In another in Ethiopia, University of Hildesheim, 6 − 8 January 2012

ETTER 3 In this story,(Andreas it is an W interesting) point that Areero Boosaroo advised the Boorana to sacrifice1 64a femaleWorksho donkeyp “On to overcome the History the Amharaand Culture aggressors. of the Elsewhere, Horn of however, Africa” we at cannot observe the sacrificeMekelle of a female University, donkey 17 in- 18the MarchBoorana 2011 and (Cathe rAmharasten HOFFMANN society. It is a strange and unusual practice for them, at least at present. How can we therefore understand this strange ELLNHOFER oral tradition?– Zeus I suggestW 3 approaches) for explanation. One is the pure imagination of what166 Amhara custom could look like from a Boorana perspective. Thus, when it is said that an Amhara prophet ordered the sacrifice of a female donkey, this would appear as a strange custom for the Boorana. This is perhaps rootedResearch in the Boorana and imagination Expedition of the ReportsAmhara as a mysterious enemy. Indeed the story of sacrificing a donkey could express this idea. The second possibility is that the Boorana really witnessed that the Amhara did something with a AUE donkeyA Journey during to the Central conquest. and Some Western Boorana Tigray then (Dietrichwould have R tried to) interpret this activity169 in orderDid theto understandgold of the it. AksumitesThe explanation originate was then in Tigray? transmitted A report among on the people and then became theongoing basis for research the oral on tradition. local traditionsThe third possibilityof gold mining is that ain ritual Tigray related with an unusual donkey sacrifice was connected with the interpretation of the present event and then MIDT EBREMICHAEL re-used to(Wolbert construct Sthe story., in In collaboration fact, when people with want G to get over a crisis,Nguse) they carry out 181 unusual activities, in order to encounter something unusual or impossible with something else, which is also unusual or impossible. The ceremony of sacrificing livestock in an unusual way is a good example. The more unusual the activity is, the more possibleResearch it is to overcome Abstracts a big problem. This logic would be connected to a mythical old oral tradition. 4Sel Seeected the articl abstractse of Bassi, of research Marco, Bokuprojects Tache, in ‘socialThe Oromo sciences Eschatology: and humanities The prophecy of Areeroo Boosaroo narrated by Borbor Bulee and Guyyoo Danbii’, Journal of Oromo Studies, vol. 13 (1 andat 2), Mekelle 2005. University 193 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 45 44 5 Chikage Oba-Smidt story, a raaga, Boru Jiloo Wale also foresaw the coming of an enemy stronger than the Boorana, two days before the conquest. Boru JilooDereje Ware Fey issatold– hisMarkus Virgil Hoehne: Borders and Borderlands as premonition to members of ya’a village (olla-ya’a) which is a centerResources of the in the Horn of Africa. Woodbridge 2010 Boorana politics. But people did not believe him except for one old(S man.ZÉLINGER Boru Balázs) 140 Jiloo Wale used a magic spell to help the old man. Then the empire attacked and destroyed the ya’a village. The old man and his family who had believed Conference Reports the raaga survived. th Both stories of Areero Boosaroo and Boru Jiloo WaleThe have 18 similar International plot Conference of Ethiopian Studies in Dirre Dawa: and consequence. Both of them imply that if the Boorana had believed“Movements their in Ethiopia, Ethiopia in Movement”, 29 October to prophecies, they would not have been conquered by the Empire.3 November Here, I 2012 (Wolbert SMIDT – Chikage OBA-SMIDT) 144 would argue that the narrators constructed the Boorana’s histoNationalrical memory Workshop: by „Socio-cultural Impact Assessment of the Welqayt integrating the conquest into the stories of the raaga. We can observeSugar and the Irrigation Project”, 6 October 2012, Mekelle University construction of historical memory by the establishment of a relation(MITIKU to the Gabrehiwot) 150 prophecies of the raaga. The Mikael Iyasu Library: Mekelle University Acquires 2,500 Books from the

Family of the Late Mikael Iyasu – Inauguration (AYELE Bekerie) 153 2.3. The prophecies of Waariyoo Uudate and Boru Jiloo Wale International Workshop on Documentation and Preservation of Ethiopian According to the narrators, these prophecies, which I described above,Cultural were and Art Heritage of the Haddis Alemayehu Cultural and foretold just before the coming of an army of the Empire. The nextResearch prophec Institute,y Debre Markos University, 19 May 2012 – An which I will show dates back to the 1880’s. Illustrated Conference Report (Manuel RAMOS) 155 International Workshop on “Culture, Environment and Development” Axe minilkk duratti, Boorani huqqatte cite dhiphate, Gurrachaa fi atAmsaMekelle dargee University, 15 March 2012 (Yoko FURUSAKI) 160 walitti aana, gaafa kan duuba dhiphatle, Boorana kora jedhani, Elddallotti koran From Ambivalence to Acceptance – International Conference on Azmari jedha Abba (Huqqa Abitanoo), raaga 8 guura jedhani, raagi 8 cufiti dhufe jedha, gaafasi raasatti lafa jira kuno Boorani huqatte, dhiphate, waan Booranain Ethiopia,dubbadha University of Hildesheim, 6 − 8 January 2012 jedhani, jedha raga kaaniin, raagi 7, bullee 8 dhiqaatatti qala jedhe,(Andreas jedhe bullee W ETTER) 164 hooraa 8, bullee looni 8, dhiqaatti qala jedhe, jedhe, dhiqaatumaWorksho sooddap “On kana the History and Culture of the Horn of Africa” at beetama, dhiqadhaa, koraayyu gala, kombola gala, tullu namaduri Mekellegalaa, karaa Uni versity, 17-18 March 2011 (Carsten HOFFMANN kaarra qiiqicha, ka dheeka bofa gaafa, karaa kana galaa, hayyu marmare,– Zeus bookuWELLNHOFER ) 166 dadutti dhaaba jireenyaa jiru malee omma hin haamne jedhanii,nagee jedhanii. Raagi kun 8 waariyo uudati ofuma ciisa, kaan walii gale jedha, bulee 8 galaa walii gale amma isiitti akkana, akkana jedhe, jhedhe wario uudati yoo taate jhedhe,・・・Jari Research and Expedition Reports jireenya fagee jiru fage, wagga tanaan 4 qeenca loon cofa hin dhabne, farbaafi harree hin nyaane, beeta waariyo uudati, cinaa tittee gurracha hima duranaA Journey jira, toqara Central hin and Western Tigray (Dietrich RAUE) 169 dhufne. Waagga suniin 7 jari buuda gurracha dhufee lafaan waliinDid thehin goldboojine, of thejari Aksumites originate in Tigray? A report on jirenna fagee, jiru fagee tana argee jedhe jedhe. Beeta Amsa Daarge hima・・・ongoing research on local traditions of gold mining in Tigray (Wolbert SMIDT, in collaboration with GEBREMICHAEL Nguse) 181 Before the time of Menelik and the appearance of a great number of black flies (cinaa tiitte gurraacha), many Boorana suffered and died. The Boorana opened meeting in Eldallo. According to Huqqa Abitaano, people called 8 Research Abstracts raaga to this meeting. The raaga existed at this time. The Boorana asked the raaga how to solve their problems. 7 raaga askedSel ectedthe Boorana abstracts to of research projects in social sciences and humanities sacrifice 8 gray cattle (bulee) and 8 gray sheep in Dhiqaata,at toMekelle purify University 193 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 4645 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 5 The Menelik Conquest from the Perspective of the Boorana ourselves in this place and to emigrate to Koraayyu, Kombola, Tullu- Derejenama- Feyduri,issa – Kaarra Markus-qiiqicha, Virgil Hoehne and Dheeka: Borders-bofa- andgaafa. Borderlands They said as that if we wouldResources do so, in the the troubleHorn of of Africa the . BooranaWoodbridge would 2010 disappear and peace would(SZÉLINGER come to Balázs)Boorana. Only Waariyoo Uudate was silent. Other raaga140 said the same thing.・・・ Waariyoo Uudate said “Is it true?” He said that although 7 raaga foresaw peace for the BooranaConference in the future, Reports he

foresawth that almost all livestock of Boorana would die 4 years later; The people18 International would have Conference to eat horse of Ethiopian and donkey. Studies Then in Dirre Black Dawa: Horn (buuda gurraacha“Movements) would income Ethiopia, and conquerEthiopia Boorana in Movement”, 7 years 29 later. October (Narrated to by Duuba3 November Kaarruu, 2012translated (Wolbert by Chikage SMIDT –Oba-Smidt). Chikage OBA -SMIDT) 144 National Workshop: „Socio-cultural Impact Assessment of the Welqayt This textSugar is about and Irrigationthe raaga WaariyooProject”, 6Uudate. October He 2012, lived Mekelle in the latterUniversity half of the 19th century.(MITIKU His Gabrehiwot) lineage continues until now. But it is said that his150 descendantsThe Mikael Iyasu do not Library: have Mekelleprophetic University abilities. Acquires His story 2,500 is long, Books divided from theinto three episodes,Family ofand the covers Late Mikael a timespan Iyasu from– Inauguration the 1880`s (A toYELE the 1910`s.Bekerie) Here, 1 53I reviewed its first episode. The second and third episodes are a dialogue betweenInternational Waariyoo Workshop Uudate on andDocumentation Abitano Guyyoo. and Preservation After the events of Ethiopian foreseen by WaariyooCultural Udate and happened, Art Heritage one ofof the the Haddis knowledgeable Alemayehu Boorana,Cultural andAbitaano GuyyooResearch believed Institute,that Waariyoo Debre UudateMarkos wasUniversity, a genuine 19 Mayraaga 2012 and –went An to ask WaariyooIllustrated Uudate aboutConference his and Report Boorana`s (Manuel future. RAMOS ) 155 InternationalThe great Workshopnumber of on black “Culture, flies (cinaa Environment tittee gurracha and) atDevelopment” the beginning of the text refersat Mekelle to the big University, famine caused15 March by tsetse2012 (Yokoflies and FURUSAKI smallpox) from 1888 1to60 1892.From ItAmbivalence is narrated tothat Acceptance the Boorana – International opened a big Conference meeting before on Azmari the famine and asked the raaga about the future of Boorana. Waariyoo Uudate foresaw the in Ethiopia, University of Hildesheim, 6 − 8 January 2012 great famine5 and the Menelik conquest in this story. (Andreas WETTER) 164 There is another story which has similar plot of the above story. One of grandWorkshosonsp of“On Boru the JilooHistory Wale and narrated Culture Boruof the Jiloo Horn Wale of Africa” foresaw at the arrival of the EmpireMekelle at the Uni periodversity, of 17 abbaa-18 March gadaa 2011 Diida (Ca Bitaatarsten H (c.OFFMANN 1874 – c. 1882). But people –didZeus notW ELLNHOFERbelieve his) prophecy as same as people did not believe166 prophecy of Waariyoo Uudate. Through such stories, we can observe how people compose their history not only about what happened after Researchthe conquest and but Expedition also what happenedReports before it. This is similar to historians who try to write history by naming the causesA Journey of events, to Central which an dpredate Western them. Tigray Ho (Dietrichwever, the R BooranaAUE) have no memory169 ofDid contacts the gold withof the the Aksumites Ethiopian originate Empire in before Tigray? the A reportconquest, on and therefore cannot relateongoing to, researchor make onsense local of traditions what happened of gold to mining them induring Tigray the event of being conquered(Wolbert SbyMIDT the ,Ethiopian in collaboration Empire. with I suggest GEBREMICHAEL that the period Nguse) of the big 181 famine and the conquest were so shocking to the Boorana that they created a historical memory based on reinterpretations of stories of the raaga. By Research Abstracts Sel ected abstracts of research projects in social sciences and humanities 5 It is narrated that a prophet of Nuer also foretold about the spreading tsetse flies and smallpox atfrom Mekelle Ethiopia University at the same period (Johnson 1994). 193 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 47 46 5 Chikage Oba-Smidt connecting the raaga’s stories with the Menelik conquest, the Boorana people today can accept these events as part of their destined history.Dereje Feyissa – Markus Virgil Hoehne: Borders and Borderlands as Resources in the Horn of Africa. Woodbridge 2010 2.4. From xiloo waraaba to the Menelik conquest (SZÉLINGER Balázs) 140 The last raaga story is about Ali Bode. It deals with a major political conflict within the Boorana during the time of abbaa gadaa Diida Bitaata, from 1872 to Conference Reports 1880 (see Annex). The Boorana call this conflict xiloo waraaba6, in which the th Boorana killed each other during a big meeting. The 18 International Conference of Ethiopian Studies in Dirre Dawa: The conflict was initially sparked by a preceding conflict between“Movements qaalluu in Ethiopia, Ethiopia in Movement”, 29 October to Odituu and qaalluu Karayyuu. The qaalluu are religious leaders of the3 November Boorana. 2012 (Wolbert SMIDT – Chikage OBA-SMIDT) 144 They belong to the Odituu clan in the Goona group and toNational the Karayyuu Workshop: clan „Socio-cultural Impact Assessment of the Welqayt in the Sabbo group. So great was their political influence at the Sugartime thatand Irrigationa Project”, 6 October 2012, Mekelle University conflict between them spread among all the Boorana. (MITIKU Gabrehiwot) 150 In this story, the members of the Karayyuu clan asked a raaga, Alii Boddee The Mikael Iyasu Library: Mekelle University Acquires 2,500 Books from the how they could win against the members of the Odituu clan. But Alii Boddee Family of the Late Mikael Iyasu – Inauguration (AYELE Bekerie) 153 did not inform them how they could win. Instead, he warned them about bad fortunes which the conflict would cause. International Workshop on Documentation and Preservation of Ethiopian Cultural and Art Heritage of the Haddis Alemayehu Cultural and yoo isanii kenne hin baddani, lakkisa, irgaa diimessati isani baafata,Research nyaaphati Institute, Debre Markos University, 19 May 2012 – An kuyiisaa kessa isaniti baafata, kuyyisi manaa biyye, lakkisaa, maanyaaIllustrated muruqoti Conference Report (Manuel RAMOS) 155 isatti baafatte namii durii lafanaa hin jirre, aabayi isantti meexameInternational eerereen Workshopisantti on “Culture, Environment and Development” cite, aaddan tessan taa durii cufti baddi, lakkisaa jedhe, Alii Boddee. Laat kkisiiMekelle nuu University, 15 March 2012 (Yoko FURUSAKI) 160 kenni, deemi kateebuu galaanatti nagii, fiincaan kateebuu galaana jalaa hin hamne, From Ambivalence to Acceptance – International Conference on Azmari malti itti dhufee baraa cinna kaa inni sun keessa jirau Sidaamti miniliki Amsaadaaarge itti eergani, achiin aadaa isaa taan cufaa gadii dhisisanii,in Ethiopia, aadaa University of Hildesheim, 6 − 8 January 2012 Boorana cufaa ballesani. Ooromoo Booranaa malee kaan cufaa aadaa(Andreas isaa gadi W ETTER) 164 dhisisan. Workshop “On the History and Culture of the Horn of Africa” at Mekelle University, 17-18 March 2011 (Carsten HOFFMANN Alii Boddee said, “If I tell you how to win over the Odituu– Zeusclan,W theELLNHOFER ) 166 Boorana will nonetheless disappear. So stop it. Another ethnic group will live in the Boorana land. An enemy who lives in soil-houses will come. Maanyyaa muruqo (lack of social relationship) will come. Eerereen (crisis) will Research and Expedition Reports follow like floods of the Abbay River. Aadaa Boorana (customs of the Boorana) will disappear. So stop it.” But people neverA Journeygave up. to So Central Alii and Western Tigray (Dietrich RAUE) 169 Boddee said “Go and put Kateebuu (100 calves) into a river.”Did the gold of the Aksumites originate in Tigray? A report on What happened later? The crisis came. Menelik sent Amsaongoing Darge research(It on local traditions of gold mining in Tigray seems Asfaw Daarge who was a commander) to the Boorana.(Wolbert All aadaa SMIDT , in collaboration with GEBREMICHAEL Nguse) 181 Borana broke down after the conquest. Aadaa Boorana started to disappear. (Narrated by Gurraacha Godaanaa, translated by Chikage Oba-Smidt). Research Abstracts 6 The narrator insisted on the tradition that xiloo waraaba itself was an unavoidable destiny. He suggested that this event relates to maqa-baasa, which is another importantSel historicalected abstracts concept of of research projects in social sciences and humanities Boorana society. The Boorana believe that an event happens according to an inevitable cycle (Asmarom 1973; Gemetchu and Aneesa 2005: Oba-Smidt 2011). at Mekelle University 193 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 4847 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 5 The Menelik Conquest from the Perspective of the Boorana

TheDereje narrator Feyissa who– Markus told thisVirgil story Hoehne interpreted: Borders the and conflict Borderlands as portending as the coming Resourcesof the Conquest. in the Horn It was of because Africa. Woodbridgepeople did not 2010 heed the advice of the raaga and(SZÉLINGER made use Balázs) of strong magic that the Menelik conquest happened.140 Indeed, such an interpretation of the conquest was incorporated into and forms part of the Boorana’s view of history. Conference Reports

th 3.The Conclusion 18 International Conference of Ethiopian Studies in Dirre Dawa: “Movements in Ethiopia, Ethiopia in Movement”, 29 October to I chose 3oral November traditions 2012 about (Wolbert the raaga SMIDT and– Chikagetheir prophecies OBA-SMIDT as example)s for 144 regionalNational interpretationsWorkshop: „Socio of the-cultural Menelik Impact conquest. Assessment The stories of the of Welqayt the raaga have becomeSugar a basis and for Irrigation constructing Project”, the Boorana’s 6 October historical 2012, Mekelle memory. University In the cases which I(M showed,ITIKU Gabrehiwot)the narrators connected a great historical event to a prophecy150 of the raaga in order to explain the conquest. I suggest that the raaga’s stories The Mikael Iyasu Library: Mekelle University Acquires 2,500 Books from the are one of the ways for constructing the Boorana’s history. When the Boorana Family of the Late Mikael Iyasu – Inauguration (AYELE Bekerie) 153 construct their history, they explain the cause of the conquest by reinterpreting prophecInternationalies of Workshop the raaga and on Documentationby putting together and differentPreservation elements of Ethiopian of different prophecies.Cultural and Art Heritage of the Haddis Alemayehu Cultural and TheResearch Ethiopian Institute, Empire Debrewas a completelyMarkos University, unexpected 19 May enemy 2012 and– Anbrought a major crisisIllustrated and catastrophe Conference to Report the Boorana. (Manuel The RAMOS Boorana) therefore needed 1to55 referInternational to their Workshopown historical on “Culture,context to Environment understand theseand Development” events. Of course, as they didat notMekelle have University, any context 15 ofMarch their 2012 own (Yoko for this FURUSAKI trouble,) they created 1 60a historically contextualized logic for themselves on the basis of their oral From Ambivalence to Acceptance – International Conference on Azmari traditions. As I showed, they perceive history as a realization of prophecies and thus explainin Ethiopia, accidental University events of as Hildesheim, being directly 6 − connected8 January 2012 with their socio- political(Andreas life. In this WETTER sense,) the raaga stories are an important factor in the164 historicalWorksho pre- “Oninterpretation the History of and the Culture conquest of from the Horn the Boorana’s of Africa” perspective. at Mekelle University, 17-18 March 2011 (Carsten HOFFMANN – Zeus WELLNHOFER) 166

Research and Expedition Reports

A Journey to Central and Western Tigray (Dietrich RAUE) 169 Did the gold of the Aksumites originate in Tigray? A report on ongoing research on local traditions of gold mining in Tigray (Wolbert SMIDT, in collaboration with GEBREMICHAEL Nguse) 181

Research Abstracts

Selected abstracts of research projects in social sciences and humanities at Mekelle University 193 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 49 48 5 Chikage Oba-Smidt Annex: Raaga stories related with historical events Dereje Feyissa – Markus Virgil Hoehne: Borders and Borderlands as RaagaResources stories related in the Horn of Africa. Woodbridge 2010 with events (SZÉLINGER Balázs) 140

Conference Reports

The 18th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies in Dirre Dawa: “Movements in Ethiopia, Ethiopia in Movement”, 29 October to 3 November 2012 (Wolbert SMIDT – Chikage OBA-SMIDT) 144 National Workshop: „Socio-cultural Impact Assessment of the Welqayt Sugar and Irrigation Project”, 6 October 2012, Mekelle University (MITIKU Gabrehiwot) 150 The Mikael Iyasu Library: Mekelle University Acquires 2,500 Books from the Family of the Late Mikael Iyasu – Inauguration (AYELE Bekerie) 153 International Workshop on Documentation and Preservation of Ethiopian Cultural and Art Heritage of the Haddis Alemayehu Cultural and Research Institute, Debre Markos University, 19 May 2012 – An Illustrated Conference Report (Manuel RAMOS) 155 International Workshop on “Culture, Environment and Development” at Mekelle University, 15 March 2012 (Yoko FURUSAKI) 160 From Ambivalence to Acceptance – International Conference on Azmari in Ethiopia, University of Hildesheim, 6 − 8 January 2012 (Andreas WETTER) 164 Workshop “On the History and Culture of the Horn of Africa” at Mekelle University, 17-18 March 2011 (Carsten HOFFMANN – Zeus WELLNHOFER) 166

Research and Expedition Reports

Research Abstracts Selected abstracts of research projects in social sciences and humanities at Mekelle University 193 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 5049 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 5 The Menelik Conquest from the Perspective of the Boorana

Dereje Feyissa – Markus Virgil Hoehne: Borders and Borderlands as Resources in the Horn of Africa. Woodbridge 2010 (SZÉLINGER Balázs) 140

Conference Reports

Research and Expedition Reports

Research Abstracts Selected abstracts of research projects in social sciences and humanities at Mekelle University 193 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 51 50 5 Chikage Oba-Smidt

Bibliography Dereje Feyissa – Markus Virgil Hoehne: Borders and Borderlands as Resources in the Horn of Africa. Woodbridge 2010 ANDERSON, David M. – JOHNSON, Douglas H. (1995), Revealing(SZÉLINGER Prophets Balázs) 140 Prophecy in Eastern African History. Ohio University Press. ASMAROM Legesse (1973), Gada: Three Approaches to the Study of African Society. Conference Reports New York: Free Press. th BASSI, Marco (2003), “Boorana”, in: Siegbert UHLIG The(ed. ):18 Encyclopaedia International Conference of Ethiopian Studies in Dirre Dawa: Aethiopica, vol. 1, Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, p. 605-607. “Movements in Ethiopia, Ethiopia in Movement”, 29 October to BASSI, Marco – BOKU Tache (2005), “The Oromo Eschatology: The3 NovemberProphecy 2012 (Wolbert SMIDT – Chikage OBA-SMIDT) 144 of Areeroo Boosaroo Narrated by Borbor Bulee andNational Guyyoo Workshop: Danbii”, „Socio-cultural Impact Assessment of the Welqayt Journal of Oromo Studies 13 (1 and 2), p. 174-222. Sugar and Irrigation Project”, 6 October 2012, Mekelle University BAXTER, Paul W. (2005), “Gadaa”, in: Siegbert UHLIG (ed.): Encyclopaedia(MITIKU Gabrehiwot) 150 Aethiopica, vol. 2, Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, p. 633-638. The Mikael Iyasu Library: Mekelle University Acquires 2,500 Books from the GEMETCHU Megerssa – ANEESA Kassam (2005), “The ‘Rounds’ of Time: Family of the Late Mikael Iyasu – Inauguration (AYELE Bekerie) 153 Time, History and Society in Borana Oromo.”, in: Wendy JAMES – David MILLS (eds.), The Qualities of Time: Anthropological Approaches,International New WorkshopYork: on Documentation and Preservation of Ethiopian Berg, p. 251-265. Cultural and Art Heritage of the Haddis Alemayehu Cultural and HUDSON, Charles (1966), “Folk-History and Ethno-history”, EthnohistoryResearch 13Institute, Debre Markos University, 19 May 2012 – An (2/1), p. 52-70 Illustrated Conference Report (Manuel RAMOS) 155 JAMES, Wendy et al. (1986), The Southern Marches of ImperialInternational Ethiopia: Essays Workshop in on “Culture, Environment and Development” History and Social Anthropology. New York: Cambridge University Press.at Mekelle University, 15 March 2012 (Yoko FURUSAKI) 160 JOHNSON, Douglas H. (1994), Nuer Prophets, Clarendon Press. From Ambivalence to Acceptance – International Conference on Azmari MIYAWAKI Yukio (2006), 辺境の想像：エチオピア国家支配に抗する少数民族ホール. Kyoto: Sekaisisousya Press. in Ethiopia, University of Hildesheim, 6 − 8 January 2012 ETTER OBA Chikage [OBA-SMIDT] (2011), 無文字社会における歴史記憶の生成と継承：(Andreas W ) 164 南エチオピア牧畜民ボラナにおける口承史の分析をとおしてWorksho (‘Howp “Onpeople the History and Culture of the Horn of Africa” at without a writing tradition preserve and construct their history: MekelleAn analys Uniis versity, 17-18 March 2011 (Carsten HOFFMANN of the oral chronicle among the Boorana in Southern Ethiopia– Zeus’). PhDWELLNHOFER ) 166 thesis, Osaka: The Graduate University for Advanced Studies in National Ethnological Museum. ID. (2012), “社会変動を超克する技法:エチオピア南部牧畜民ボラナの「口 Research and Expedition Reports 頭年代史」における予言者に関する語りに焦点をあてて”（‘Local Techniques to Interpret Social Change: The Narratives in the OralA Journey Chronicles to Central of and Western Tigray (Dietrich RAUE) 169 Boorana Prophets in Southern Ethiopia’), Soukendai ReviewDid theof Cultural gold of theand Aksumites originate in Tigray? A report on Social Studies 8, p. 75-98. ongoing research on local traditions of gold mining in Tigray OROMIYAA FINANCE OFFICE (2007), Census of Boorana Zone, Yabello.(Wolbert SMIDT, in collaboration with GEBREMICHAEL Nguse) 181 ROSALDO, Renato (1980), Ilongot Headhunting: 1883-1974: A Study in Society and History. Stanford University Press. SCHLEE, Günther (1989), Identities on the Move: Clanship and Pastoralism in Research Abstracts Northern Kenya. London: Manchester University Press. TAGAWA Gen (2000) 年齢体系と儀式：南部エチオピアのオモロ語系ボラナ人Selected abstracts of research projects in social sciences and humanities のガダ体系を巡る考察. PhD thesis, Tokyo: Hitothubasi atUniversity. Mekelle University 193 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 5251 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 5