Conference Reports Dereje Feyissa – Markus Virgil Hoehne: Borders and Borderlands as Resources in the Horn of Africa. Woodbridge 2010 The 18th(S ZÉLINGERInternational Balázs) Conference of Ethiopian Studies in Dirre Dawa:140 “Movements in Ethiopia, Ethiopia in Movement”, 29 October to 3 November 20121 Conference Reports

th 1.The Introduction 18 International Conference of Ethiopian Studies in Dirre Dawa: On 29 “MovementsOctober to 3in November Ethiopia, Ethiopia 2012 the in 18Movement”,th International 29 October Conference to of Ethiopian3 November Studies (ICES18) 2012 (Wolbert was held SMIDT in –Dirre Chikage Dawa O BAin-S Ethiopia,MIDT) with the 144 leadingNational theme Workshop: “Movements „Socio-cultural in Ethiopia, Impact Ethiopia Assessment in Movement” of the Welqayt2. This city is located Sugarin the and east Irrigation of Ethiopia, Project”, a commercial 6 October city,2012, historically Mekelle University connected to Djibouti(M byITIKU railroad. Gabrehiwot) Around 300 researchers participated in this conference,150 whichThe Mikael was Iyasuheld Library:at venues Mekelle in Di Universityre Dawa AcquiresUniversity 2,500 (DDU) Books and from the the city administrationFamily buildingof the Late. Mikael Iyasu – Inauguration (AYELE Bekerie) 153 The conference was organized by the French Centre of Ethiopian Studies (CFEE),International Addis Workshop Ababa, theon DocumentationFrench research and institution Preservation in Ethiopia, of Ethiopian and the InstituteCultural of Ethiopian and Art Studies Heritage (IES) of ofthe Addis Haddis Ababa Alemayehu University, Cultural in cooperation and with DDU.Research As theInstitute, organizer Debre of Markosthe conference University, was 19 France, May 2012 with– Ana French CommitteeIllustrated having Conference been set up Report by the (CFEEManuel3, Rit AMOSwas originally) expected that1 55it wouldInternational be organized Workshop in France, on “Culture, but finally Environment it was decided and Development”to convene it in Dirre Dawa. atTheMekelle reason University, for this 15was March (1) the2012 scarcity (Yoko FofURUSAKI funds,) which caused 160 considerableFrom Ambivalence difficulties to Acceptance to organize – Internationalit in France, Conferenceand (2) considering on Azmari that the in Ethiopia, University of Hildesheim, 6 − 8 January 2012

ETTER 1 A Japanese(Andreas version Wof this conference) report is accessible on the internet, at the website1 of64 theWorksho Japan Associationp “On the for History Nilo-Ethiopian and Culture Studies of in the Kyoto Horn (JANES), of Africa” Japan at: Wolbert Smidt (ウォルバート・スミットMekelle Uni)versity, & Ôba Chikage17-18 March (大場千景 2011): 第 (Ca回国際エチオピアrsten HOFFMANN学会学術大会, JANES Newsletter / JANES ニュースレター, 21, p. 28-32 (http://www. janestudies.org/drupal- ELLNHOFER jp/node/165– Zeus). WeW thank Yoko )Furusaki, Mekelle University (member of the organizing166 committee of ICES18), for assisting in the translation of this text. 2 On the participation of researchers from Mekelle and the conceptional framework of the conference see: Wolbert Smidt: “Report on theResearch Participation and of ExpeditionStaff Members ofReports Mekelle University at the 18th ICES, Dire Dawa, Oct./Nov. 2012”, in: voice, The Magazine of the College of Social Sciences and Languages, No. 10, [May] 2013, p. 20-22. – In the conference announcement AUE ofA Journey2011 the conferenceto Central theme and Westernwas described Tigray in these (Dietrich terms: R“The agreed) theme of the ICES169 18Did is the‘Movements gold of inthe Ethiopia Aksumites / Ethiopia originate in Movement’. in Tigray? This A themereport is onaimed at encouraging panel proposalsongoing and research subsequently on local paper traditions proposals of thatgold would mining deal in Tigraywith the issues of ‘movement’ in its widest sense. Not only studies on social, religious, political, cultural MIDT EBREMICHAEL movements(Wolbert are likely S to fit into, in collaborationthe theme, but alsowith any G focus on circulationNguse) of words, ideas 181 and peoples; the dynamics of contacts and exchanges; the effect of intellectual or economic change on societies, etc. Movement can also be understood in its concrete physical and spatial meaning encompassing travels, migrations and transportation of goodsResearch and commodities Abstracts at different scales. Dances and gestures are also movements.” 3Sel Chairedected by abstracts the CFEE of director research Dr projectsEloi Ficquet, in social and, after sciences the decision and humanitieswas made to convene it in Ethiopia, jointly chaired by Dr Ahmed Hassen, director of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies (honoraryat Mekelle chair: University Andreas Eshete, former president of AAU). 193 145 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 144 5 Conference Reports CFEE was located in Addis Ababa, it would be more feasible to organize it in Ethiopia. (3) In addition, organizing it in a regional universityDereje would Feyissa assure– Markus Virgil Hoehne: Borders and Borderlands as attention and recognition to the new academic landscape of EthiopiaResources which in the Horn of Africa. Woodbridge 2010 has gradually been forming outside Addis Ababa, where the conference(SZÉLINGER had Balázs) 140 already taken place regularly, and (4) from among the cities with new universities, Dirre Dawa was chosen as it has a deeply rooted historical Conference Reports relationship with France. th In the conference, researchers from Ethiopia, France,The Germany, 18 International Italy, Conference of Ethiopian Studies in Dirre Dawa: Japan, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Israel, Russia,“Movements the in Ethiopia, Ethiopia in Movement”, 29 October to Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland and Djibouti participated.3 November 2012 (Wolbert SMIDT – Chikage OBA-SMIDT) 144 Compared to past conferences whose participants were mainlyNational Europeans Workshop: and „Socio-cultural Impact Assessment of the Welqayt Americans, we observe a strong tendency of increased Ethiopian participation,Sugar and Irrigation Project”, 6 October 2012, Mekelle University which had already characterized the previous conferences in Hamburg(MITIKU (2003), Gabrehiwot) 150 Trondheim (2007) and Addis Ababa (2009). The Mikael Iyasu Library: Mekelle University Acquires 2,500 Books from the

Family of the Late Mikael Iyasu – Inauguration (AYELE Bekerie) 153 2. Panels and plenary sessions 2.1. Panels International Workshop on Documentation and Preservation of Ethiopian After the opening ceremony on 29 October, presentations byCultural individual and Art Heritage of the Haddis Alemayehu Cultural and researchers were held from 30 October until 2 November in the panels.Research There Institute, Debre Markos University, 19 May 2012 – An was a total of 44 panels. These panels can be classified into sevenIllustrated research Conference Report (Manuel RAMOS) 155 themes: (a) Archaeology and physical anthropology – 4 panels;International (b) History Workshop and on “Culture, Environment and Development” archive studies – 8 panels; (c) Religious studies – 4 panels; (d) Anthropologyat Mekelle University, 15 March 2012 (Yoko FURUSAKI) 160 and various studies based on anthropological method – 10 panels; (e) From Ambivalence to Acceptance – International Conference on Azmari Development studies and current issues – 10 panels; (f) Linguistic and socio- linguistic studies – 5 panels; (g) Visual arts and cultural heritage – 3 inpanels Ethiopia,. University of Hildesheim, 6 − 8 January 2012 As there were about 300 paper presentations, it is not possible(Andreas to treat W ETTER) 164 them all here, but at least some of them will be mentioned.Worksho p In“On (a) the - History and Culture of the Horn of Africa” at Archaeology - there was a panel focusing on recent excavationsMekelle of pre Uni- versity, 17-18 March 2011 (Carsten HOFFMANN Aksumite archaeological sites and their findings, such as in Wuqro and– Zeus YehaW ELLNHOFERin ) 166 Tigray. In this panel, new insights were presented resulting from the excavations led by archaeologists of the German Archaeological Institute (DAI). The following two points were presented: (1) On the one hand, the Research and Expedition Reports society formed in the pre-Aksumite period (the Di’amat kingdom) was strongly marked by South Arabian culture, and on the other hand thereA Journey was a to distinct Central and Western Tigray (Dietrich RAUE) 169 indigenous culture which left its own mark, today discernibleDid the through gold of local the Aksumites originate in Tigray? A report on cultural-political elements in the inscriptions and material remains.ongoing These two research on local traditions of gold mining in Tigray elements came together to form an Ethio-Sabaic culture. (2) It was(Wolbert strongly SMIDT , in collaboration with GEBREMICHAEL Nguse) 181 underlined that the older hypothesis of a “Sabaean domination“ having been the basis for the Aksumite kingdom was going too far; rather, the culture of South Arabia and a local political system mutually intermingled and created the Research Abstracts basis for the formation of the Aksumite kingdom, of which many details are still unknown and some are becoming clearer just now. Selected abstracts of research projects in social sciences and humanities at Mekelle University 193 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 146145 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 5 Conference Reports In the area of (b) – History –, there were numerous presentations based on newDereje perspectives Feyissa – Markusand approaches. Virgil Hoehne For example,: Borders there and Borderlandswas a presentation as which went beyondResources the usual in the focus Horn on of the Africa Christian. Woodbridge world and 2010 elaborated in detail on the historical(SZÉLINGER relations Balázs) of Ethiopia with the Ottoman Empire, i.e. the Muslim140 world. In a presentation focusing on the history of Ethiopian-Egyptian relations, the deeply rooted interconnection of the two countriesConference was descrReportsibed with details from ancient times until now. Also, the history of slavery, never th wellThe discussed18 International in Ethiopian Conference history, of was Ethiopian presented Studies for the in firstDirre time Dawa: in detail . One“Movements panel focused in onEthiopia, the formation Ethiopia of in boundaries Movement”, between 29 October the nations to of the Horn3 Novemberof Africa, which2012 (Wolbert constitutes SMIDT an important– Chikage aspect OBA-S inMIDT historical) studies 144 ofNational Ethiopia. Workshop: Some part „Socio of -culturalthe following Impact discussions Assessment was of themarked Welqayt by strong individualSugar viewpoints, and Irrigation showing Project”, to wh 6at October degree this 2012, is stillMekelle generally University considered a burning(M topic.ITIKU TheGabrehiwot) panel organizers made clear that there is a need for more150 comprehensive approaches using the complex methods and tools of The Mikael Iyasu Library: Mekelle University Acquires 2,500 Books from the international law, anthropology, sociology etc. and combining them Family of the Late Mikael Iyasu – Inauguration (AYELE Bekerie) 153 dispassionately with data from all sides of the existing borders, where radically diffInternationalerent view Workshoppoints, perspectives on Documentation and experiences and Preservation persist independently of Ethiopian from each otherCultural. and Art Heritage of the Haddis Alemayehu Cultural and TheResearch panel on Institute, the history Debre of Markos cartography University, in the 19 MayHorn 2012 of –Africa An was especiallyIllustrated interesting. Conference Although Report its importance (Manuel R AMOShad been) pointed out in the155 pastInternational by a limited Workshop number on of “Culture,historians, Environment this panel was and the Development” first attempt to focus on it as atoneMekelle theme, University, and to comprehensively 15 March 2012 discuss (Yoko theFURUSAKI matter.) Doing research 160 on the history of maps will offer important insights in the field of history, but From Ambivalence to Acceptance – International Conference on Azmari also the field of anthropology. By analyzing the development and change of maps overin Ethiopia, time we University can for example of Hildesheim, clearly 6understand − 8 January the 2012 change of local concepts(Andreas of territory WETTER as defined) by individual ethno-political groups. 164 WorkshoTherep was“On also the Historya new dynamicand Culture approach of the Hornin the of field Africa” of (c)at – Religious studies. MekelleThere Uniwereversity, many 17 -presentations18 March 2011 on(Ca r(1)sten Islam,HOFFMANN (2) new religious movements– Zeus originatingWELLNHOFER in ) different streams of Protestantism, such 16as6 Pentacostalism and Evangelical Churches, (3) in contrast to the previously quite exclusive focus of researchers on the Orthodox Church. One panel, which tried to clarify the mechanism andResearch history ofand religious Expedition conversion Reports, was especially interesting. In previous religious studies in Ethiopia, it was conceived thatA Journey the religious to Central situation and Western is basically Tigray conservative (Dietrich RandAUE stable.) However, when169 oneDid thelooks gold at of the the Aksumitesdifferent regions, originate in in someTigray? regions A report a ongreat number of conversionsongoing have research taken placeon local over traditions many centuries, of gold mining while inother Tigray regions were marked (Wolbertby stability, SMIDT suggesting, in collaboration that the religious with GEBREMICHAEL landscape should Nguse) generally 1be81 perceived as more dynamic than previously considered. In the panel on Pentacostalism, the spread of new religious movements in the cities of the highlands and southern regions was analyzed.Research The AbstractsProtestant creed had been considered a foreign religion by researchers in religion and thereforeSelected abstracts neglected, of thusresearch previously projects no in serious social sciences research and had humanities been undertaken. at Mekelle University 193 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 147146 5 Conference Reports But it is expected that more research in this area will result in new insights in the field of religious studies. Dereje Feyissa – Markus Virgil Hoehne: Borders and Borderlands as In (d) – Anthropology and various studies based on anthropoResourceslogical in the Horn of Africa. Woodbridge 2010 method – a panel focused on oral tradition for the first time in the(S historyZÉLINGER of Balázs) 140 this series of conferences. Although such research is considered important also in the field of anthropology, so far it has not been carried out much by Conference Reports anthropologists working on Ethiopia. Anthropologists as well as archive th researchers had heretofore largely been neglecting oral tradition,The 18 International but now Conference of Ethiopian Studies in Dirre Dawa: numerous new studies in this field were presented. There were presentations“Movements in Ethiopia, Ethiopia in Movement”, 29 October to on local perceptions of history, and on local methods of keeping3 Novemberhistorical 2012 (Wolbert SMIDT – Chikage OBA-SMIDT) 144 memory in societies without traditions of writing. Also,National there Workshop: was a „Socio-cultural Impact Assessment of the Welqayt presentation helping to understand the impact of local, orallySugar preserved and Irrigation Project”, 6 October 2012, Mekelle University traditions on the creation of written literature, through a comparative(MITIKU analysis Gabrehiwot) 150 of contrasting oral information and religious texts. The Mikael Iyasu Library: Mekelle University Acquires 2,500 Books from the There was a panel on diaspora communities focusing on the dynamic Family of the Late Mikael Iyasu – Inauguration (AYELE Bekerie) 153 relationship between Ethiopian societies and the world, which has not received much attention until now. One interesting case was a paperInternational on an IndianWorkshop on Documentation and Preservation of Ethiopian dynasty which belonged to a group of people migrating from northeasternCultural and Art Heritage of the Haddis Alemayehu Cultural and Africa to India (the Habshi), who had become kings in India afterResearch several Institute, Debre Markos University, 19 May 2012 – An centuries. Also there was a presentation on the Rastafarian communityIllustrated inside Conference Report (Manuel RAMOS) 155 Ethiopia. International Workshop on “Culture, Environment and Development” It was now the second time in the history of this conference seriesat Mekelle that aUniversity, 15 March 2012 (Yoko FURUSAKI) 160 panel on visual anthropology was held (the first having been organized in From Ambivalence to Acceptance – International Conference on Azmari Trondheim). In this panel, it was demonstrated convincingly how important films are for recording and documenting cultural phenomena suchin Ethiopia,as spirit University of Hildesheim, 6 − 8 January 2012 possession and other customary ceremonies, which sometimes go well(Andreas beyond W ETTER) 164 what can be described in words. For example, spiritWorksho possessionp “On is the a History and Culture of the Horn of Africa” at phenomenon, known in many parts of the world, that can be wellMekelle presented Uni versity, 17-18 March 2011 (Carsten HOFFMANN in the form of film documentation; a rising use of the method– Zeusof visualWELLNHOFER ) 166 presentation in comparative studies is expected in the future. Also historical film material on Ethiopia from the beginning of the 20th century, which was unknown so far, was presented. Research and Expedition Reports A new perspective on territories was provided in the panel on socially and culturally important spatial networks created by rivers andA wadis. Journey Until to Centralnow, and Western Tigray (Dietrich RAUE) 169 rivers have rather been considered as an obstacle creating boundariesDid the gold between of the Aksumites originate in Tigray? A report on spaces of separate ethnic groups, and dividing cultural zones. However,ongoing in this research on local traditions of gold mining in Tigray panel there were several presentations on rivers as networking(Wolbert tools, SMIDT , in collaboration with GEBREMICHAEL Nguse) 181 dynamically connecting societies far away from each other, thus suggesting that essentialistic ideas of ethnic boundaries and territorial separatedness need to be re-conceptualized. Research Abstracts Regarding (g) – Visual arts and cultural heritage - although there are many excellent works of art and cultural heritage in Ethiopia,Sel ectedthe number abstracts of of research projects in social sciences and humanities presentations was unfortunately very small. In one of the panels theat Mekellere was aUniversity 193 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 148147 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 5 Conference Reports presentation on destruction of cultural heritage linked with economic development,Dereje Feyissa –suggesting Markus Virgil that Hoehne some: Bordersaspects and of Borderlands the rapid as economic developmentResources of Ethiopia in the Horn can endangerof Africa . culturalWoodbridge heritage 2010 in some cases, where growth (ShappensZÉLINGER without Balázs) taking into account the great cultural, communal (and140 touristic) potential of historical or cultural sites. Conference Reports 2.2. Plenary sessions and round tables th The following18 International were the Conference themes discussed of Ethiopian in the Studiesplenary insessions Dirre Dawa:and in smaller round “Movementstables: (1) Modern in Ethiopia, music Ethiopia in Ethiopia in Movement”, (key-note 29 Octoberspeaker: toFrancis Falceto),3 (2)November the recent 2012 history (Wolbert of development SMIDT – Chikage in Ethiopia OBA-S MIDT(key-note) speaker: 144 BahruNational Zewde), Workshop: (3) a„Socio round-cultural table onImpact sound Assessment pollution ofin the modern Welqayt Ethiopia (“megaphonism”),Sugar and Irrigation (4) a session Project”, providing 6 October an overview 2012, Mekelleof academic University journals on northeastern(MITIKU Africa, Gabrehiwot) and (5) a plenary session discussing the future 1of50 economics and politics in the Horn of Africa. The Mikael Iyasu Library: Mekelle University Acquires 2,500 Books from the During conferences such as this one, opinions on hot issues regarding Family of the Late Mikael Iyasu – Inauguration (AYELE Bekerie) 153 political or economic matters in Ethiopia are often passionately discussed, as theInternational conference Workshop provides ona frameworkDocumentation for an and open Preservation discussion of in Ethiopian an academic setting. CulturalIn the historianand Art Heritage Bahru Zewdeof the ’sHaddis talk onAlemayehu the 20th -Culturalcentury andhistory of developmentResearch in Ethiopia, Institute, hot Debre discussions Markos wereUniversity, indeed 19 triggered. May 2012 – An In anIllustrated extra round Conference table sessionReport (onManuel academic RAMOS journals) on northeastern155 Africa,International offered Workshop by the historicalon “Culture, anthropologists Environment Eloiand Development”Ficquet and Wolbert Smidt, aat totalMekelle of 16 University, such journals 15 March and bulletins 2012 (Yoko were F presented.URUSAKI) The following 160 were introduced in the session by their respective representatives: (1) Annales From Ambivalence to Acceptance – International Conference on Azmari d’Éthiopie, published by the CFEE; (2) Journal of Ethiopian Studies (JES), publishedin Ethiopia,by the IES; University (3) Northeast of Hildesheim, African Studies 6 − 8, MichiganJanuary 2012 University Press, published(Andreas in the USA; WETTER (4) )Rassegna di Studi Etiopici (RSE), Istituto per l’Oriente,164 puWorkshoblishedp in“On Italy; the (5)History Journal and of CultureModern ofAfrican the Horn Studies of, Africa”Cambridge at University Press, publishedMekelle Uni in Greatversity, Britain; 17-18 March(6) ITYO 2011P IṢ (Ca, Northeastrsten HOFFMANN African Journal of Social Sciences and– Zeus HumanitiesWELLNHOFER, published) by Mekelle University; (7) Ethiopian Review16 of6 Cultures, published in Ethiopia; (8) Aethiopica, International Journal of Ethiopian and Eritrean Studies, published by Hamburg University; (9) Pount, Cahier d’études, Corne de l’Afrique, Arabie du Sud, publishedResearch by Les é thiopisantsand Expedition associés, Reports Bièvres, France; (10) a new internet journal, Afrique – débats, méthodes et terrains d’histoire, revueA Journey consacrée to Centralaux études and Westernsur l’Afrique Tigray ancienne (Dietrich, Centre RAUE d’études) des mondes169 africains.Did the gold In of addition,the Aksumites the originatefollowing in Tigray?were presentedA report on briefly without representatives:ongoing research(11) International on local traditionsJournal of of Ethiopian gold mining Studies in Tigray (IJES), Tsehai Publishers,(Wolbert published SMIDT in, in the collaboration USA; (12) with Eastern GEBREMICHAEL Africa Social Nguse) Science Research 181 Review, published by OSSREA, which is an international research organisation based in Addis Ababa; (13) Nilo-Ethiopian Studies, published by JANES; (14) Eritrean Studies Review, published in the USA; (15) JournalResearch of Eritrean Abstracts Studies, Asmara University, published in Eritrea; (16) Journal of Oromo Studies, published inSel theected USA. abstracts of research projects in social sciences and humanities at Mekelle University 193 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 149148 5 Conference Reports Outside the conference halls of DDU, publications were sold by the CFEE, the Southern Omo Research Centre (SORC),Dereje the EncyclopaediaFeyissa – Markus Virgil Hoehne: Borders and Borderlands as Aethiopica project of Hamburg University and the Max Planck ResourcesInstitute of in the Horn of Africa. Woodbridge 2010 Ethnological Research, Halle, Germany. (SZÉLINGER Balázs) 140 At the end of each day there were receptions, musical events, movie presentations (such as with records of Ethiopia in the early 20th century, Conference Reports provided by Hugues Fontaine, who is a photographer and researcher on th historical films), in venues such as the Alliance éthio-françaiseThe in18 Dirre International Dawa Conference of Ethiopian Studies in Dirre Dawa: or hotels. On the final day there was an excursion to the historical“Movements city of in Ethiopia, Ethiopia in Movement”, 29 October to Harer. 3 November 2012 (Wolbert SMIDT – Chikage OBA-SMIDT) 144 National Workshop: „Socio-cultural Impact Assessment of the Welqayt 3. Concluding remarks Sugar and Irrigation Project”, 6 October 2012, Mekelle University Despite some expectations of difficulties in the organisation of such(MITIKU a large Gabrehiwot) 150 academic conference in an Ethiopian regional city, concerning the arrangement The Mikael Iyasu Library: Mekelle University Acquires 2,500 Books from the of hotels, electricity supply, or other infrastructural challenges, the conference Family of the Late Mikael Iyasu – Inauguration (AYELE Bekerie) 153 in fact ran very smoothly. There were numerous minor problems, which were, however, quickly solved and did not become obstacles to theInternational conference. Workshop on Documentation and Preservation of Ethiopian Two ways to publish the paper presentations are envisaged:Cultural The first and Art Heritage of the Haddis Alemayehu Cultural and possibility is an independent separate publication of papers, as eachResearch panel ofInstitute, Debre Markos University, 19 May 2012 – An the conference is considered as an independent unit focusing on oneIllustrated specific Conference Report (Manuel RAMOS) 155 theme. Therefore, every panel organizer could collect the papersInternational from his/her Workshop on “Culture, Environment and Development” panel and independently publish them. The second option is for individualsat Mekelle to University, 15 March 2012 (Yoko FURUSAKI) 160 send their papers to the organising commttee for publication after review. From Ambivalence to Acceptance – International Conference on Azmari These partial proceedings would be published as an extra issue of the Annales d’Éthiopie, by the CFEE, together with the Journal of Ethiopian Studiesin, publishedEthiopia, University of Hildesheim, 6 − 8 January 2012 by the IES. (Andreas WETTER) 164 In the closing ceremony, chaired by the InternationalWorksho Orgp “Onanizing the History and Culture of the Horn of Africa” at Committee (IOC), it was discussed where the next conference willMekelle be held. Uni versity, 17-18 March 2011 (Carsten HOFFMANN The following points were re-confirmed by the international committee:– Zeus WTheELLNHOFER ) 166 conference should continue to be alternately organized in Ethiopia and in another country every two to four years, and every third conference will continue to be organized by Addis Ababa University. Research and Expedition Reports There was also a new suggestion regarding the organisation of future conferences. It was discussed that in the future EthiopianA Journeylocal universities to Central and Western Tigray (Dietrich RAUE) 169 should be increasingly involved in conference organisation.Did There the goldwere of three the Aksumites originate in Tigray? A report on such suggestions: (1) As was the case in this conference, an organisingongoing country research on local traditions of gold mining in Tigray other than Ethiopia could collaboratively organize a conference together(Wolbert with SMIDT , in collaboration with GEBREMICHAEL Nguse) 181 a regional university; (2) several regional universities could organize the conference jointly (e.g., a group of three universities); (3) one regional university could independently organize the conference. These three new Research Abstracts concepts of organisation were proposed at the closing plenary session by the members of the IOC, representing the different countriesSelected with abstracts strong of research projects in social sciences and humanities traditions of Ethiopian Studies. In any case, the IOC strongly urgedat Mekelle those University 193 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 150149 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 5 Conference Reports interested to submit a concrete conference organisation proposal, if there is an institutionDereje Fey whichissa – Markuswould offer Virgil to Hoehne organize: Borders one of theand future Borderlands conferences. as TheResources next conference in the Horn(ICES19) of Africa is planned. Woodbridge to be held 2010 in Warsaw, Poland, in 2015, as(S DrZÉLINGER Hanna Rubinkowska Balázs) had offered representing Warsaw University.140 This was unanimously accepted by the International Organizing Committee. Wolbert SMIDT4 Conference– Chikage OBA Reports-SMIDT5

th The 18 International Conference of *Ethiopian * * Studies in Dirre Dawa: “Movements in Ethiopia, Ethiopia in Movement”, 29 October to National3 November Workshop 2012: “Socio- (Wolbertcultural SMIDT Impact– Chikage Assessment OBA-SMIDT of )the Welqayt 144 SugarNational and Workshop: Irrigation „Socio Project-cultural”, 6 October Impact 2012,Assessment Mekelle of theUniversity Welqayt Sugar and Irrigation Project”, 6 October 2012, Mekelle University The national(MITIKU workshop Gabrehiwot) discussing the socio-cultural impact assessment of the150 Welqayt Sugar and Irrigation Project was opened by Ato Solomon Tesfa- Mariam,The Mikael acting Iyasu DirectorLibrary: Mekelleof IPHC University (Institute Acquires of Paleo 2,500-Environment Books from theand HeritageFamily Conservation, of the Late Mekelle Mikael University) Iyasu – Inauguration. Dr. Joachim (A YELEHerzig, Bekerie) President 1of53 MekelleInternational Univer Workshopsity, then on Documentationmade an opening and Preservationspeech. Prof. of Ethiopian Herzig, after welcomingCultural the guests, and Art discussed Heritage the of thecomplex Haddis relation Alemayehu between Cultural climate, and culture and nature.Research He underlined Institute, Debrethat this Markos complex University, and dynamic 19 May world 2012 of– ours An needs empiricalIllustrated understanding Conference of the Report relation (Manuel between R AMOSconser) ving culture on the one155 handInternational, and developing Workshop agricultural on “Culture, practices Environment and preserving and Development” the environment on the other.at Mekelle Conducting University, interdisciplinary 15 March 2012 research (Yoko andFURUSAKI cooperation) between 160 institutions, organizations and the public at large is a key to understanding the issuesFrom Ambivalenceat hand. He saidto Acceptance that the initiative – International taken by Conference Mekelle University on Azmari staff to carry outin Ethiopia,a large-scale University study on of theHildesheim, Welqayt 6lowlands − 8 January and 2012the impact of the planned(Andreas development WETTER projects) should be appreciated. He stressed that social,164 culturalWorksho andp “On local the kn Historyowledge and should Culture be ofan the integral Horn partof Africa” of any at development activitiesMekelle, with a Unifeasibilityversity, study17-18 and March impact 2011 assessment (Carsten H OFFMANNbeforehand. The– firstZeus speaker,WELLNHOFER Ato Demes) Yigzaw (a parliamentarian) of the Ethiopian166 Sugar Corporation, focused on two major issues: the status of the sugar project and its impact on the local community in general and the Monastery of Waldibba in particular. He summarizedResearch the potential and for Expedition sugar development Reports in Ethiopia, which aims at gearing the country’s sugar production in the coming 12A Journey to 15 years to Central into one an dof Western the top tenTigray in the(Dietrich world. R HeAUE discussed) the need and169 urgency of sugar development in the region as a key to Ethiopia’s future. The Did the gold of the Aksumites originate in Tigray? A report on speaker outlined major comparative advantages of the site for sugar plantation ongoing research on local traditions of gold mining in Tigray and irrigation compared to nearby sites. The potential of the area for sugar (Wolbert SMIDT, in collaboration with GEBREMICHAEL Nguse) 181 cultivation is because of the relative cost effectiveness of the area and its suitability for sugar cane plantation. Yet, he also mentioned that the nearby villages would be affected. There will be steps taken by the government to Research Abstracts

4Sel Associateected abstracts Professor ofin researchEthnohistory, projects Department in social of Historysciences and and Cultural humanities Studies, Mekelle University; member of the CFEE organizing committee of the ICES18. 5 Assistantat Professor Mekelle in University Japanese, Department of Foreign Languages, Mekelle University. 193 ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) ITYOPIṢ vol. 2 (2012) 151150 5