UNIVERSITY OF GONDAR COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND HERITAGE MANAGEMET A HISTORY OF ISLAM IN DANGILA FROM 1900-1991 BY: ZEGEYE WOLDE SEPTEMBER, 2020 GONDAR, ETHIOPIA A HISTORY OF ISLAM IN DANGILA FROM 1900-1991 A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND HERITAGE MANANGEMENT, COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SSCIENCE AND HUMANITY, GONDAR UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIERMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN HISTORY BY ZEGEYE WOLDE GUADIE ADVISOR DEREJE WORKAYEHU (Ph. D Candidate) SEPTEMBER, 2020 GONDAR, ETHIOPIA Gondar University Graduate Program Department of History A History of Islam in Dangila from 1900-1991 By Zegeye Wolde Guadie Approved by Board of Examiners _____________________________ _______________________ Advisor Signature ____________________________ _______________________ External Examiner Signature ____________________________ ______________________ Internal Examiner Signature KEY TO TRANSLATION SYSTEMS The seven sounds of the Ethiopic alphabet are represented as: Vowels Symbols examples 1st Order (ge’ez) ä በ=Bä 2nd Order (ka’eb) u ቡ=Bu 3rd Order (sales) i ቢ=Bi 4th Order (rabe) a ባ=Ba 5th Order (hanes) é ቤ=Bé 6th Order (sades) e ብ=Be 7th Order (sabe’) o ቦ=Bo Consonants are represented as followes: Consonants symbols examples ቸ------------------------ Ć ቻግኒ----Ćagni ጨ Ç ጫራ---Çara ኘ ññ ቃኜ---Qaññé ቀ Q ቀበሌ--Qäbälé ከ k ከበደ--Käbbäda i ዠ ž አዘዥ--Azaž ገ G ገዳም--Gädam ጀ J ጀንበሬ--Jänbäre ጠ Ţ ጠጋ--Ţaga ተ T ተመስገን--Tämäsgän ፀ/ጸ Ť ፀባይ --Ťäbay General Examples አወራጃ--------Awrajja አባ------------Abba ደጃዝማች------Däjjazma ii TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENTS PAGES KEY TO TRANSLATION SYSTEMS .............................................................................................................. i ACKNOWKLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................................... iv ACRONYMS...................................................................................................................................................... vi ABSTRACT.......................................................................................................................................................vii PREFACE…………………………………………………………………………………………………….viii CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................................................. 1 GENERAL BACK GROUND OF DANGILA ................................................................................................. 1 1.1. Geographical Settings ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2: Socio- Economic Conditions of Dangila and its surrounding.................................................................... 5 1.3: Ethno-graphic and Political History of Agäws .......................................................................................... 8 1.4. An Over View of Religion in Dangila ..................................................................................................... 16 1.4.1. Traditional religion in Dangila.......................................................................................................... 16 1.4.2. Universal religions in Dangila and it Surounding............................................................................. 18 CHAPTER TWO .............................................................................................................................................. 22 INTRODUCTION AND EXPANSION OF ISLAM TO DANGILA ........................................................... 22 2.1. Long Distance Trade and Mahdist’s Case ............................................................................................... 22 2.2. Political Incorporation of Mätäkäl into Agäw Meder Awrajja ................................................................ 29 2.3. Settlement of Muslims in Dangila and its Surounding Areas.................................................................. 32 2.4. Dangila Muslims during Fascist Italian Occupation (1936-1941)........................................................... 38 CHAPTER THREE……………………………………………………………………………………….......46 Muslims in Dangila from Libration to Derg Regime..................................................................................... 46 3.1. From Libration to Revolution (1941-1974) ............................................................................................. 46 3.2. Muslims in Dangila during the Därg Regime (1974-1991) ..................................................................... 53 CHAPTER FOUR............................................................................................................................................. 58 SOCIO-CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE DANGILA MUSLIMS............................ 58 4.1. Islamic Holydays and Shrines.................................................................................................................. 58 4.1.1. Hajj Hussien Alämu /Sheikh Dangila/ Mawlid Celebration............................................................. 58 4.1.2. The Annual Mawlid Cermony at Dangila......................................................................................... 62 4.1.3. The Value of Sheikh Dangila Mawlid ................................................................................................. 65 4.2. Religious Associations............................................................................................................................. 68 iii 4.3. Economic Activities of Dangila Muslims................................................................................................ 70 CONCLUSSION ............................................................................................................................................... 74 BIBLOGRAPHY............................................................................................................................................... 77 iv ACKNOWKLEDGEMENTS A lot of people have contributed in different ways to the successful completion of this thesis. Above all, I express my deepest gratitude and thanks to my thesis advisor, Däräjä Workayähu, for his guidance, technical advice and encouragement throughout my work. I had received his intellectual advice and academic critics from the conception of this study when the idea of this topic to my mind as a research title. He followed the development of my study and has been of inspiration for me. He advised me throughout the schedule of the study, sacrifice his golden time, reading all the works and critically commented on the first and final draft. I have received much support from my family and I would like to acknowledge the support I have received from them, which was immeasurable influence to Successful work. I would like to express my special gratitude to my friend Haimanot Amsalu for his support during the every important time of this study and contributing me stationary materials. My heartfelt thanks go to Ato Muhammäd Ali. He made a significant contribution by providing information and pointing out individuals with good knowledge and understanding of the subject. My heartfelt gratitude also to my intimate friends Aynätu Yihun, Täsära Amsalu, Addisaläm Tegestu and Alämayähu Gänät for their moral encouragement and friendly treatments. I am also greatly indebted to all informants who positively treated and even encouraged me. The completion of this paper would not have been possible without the generous assistance of my informants who give the real information. v ACRONYMS ANAZ Awi Nationality Administrative Zone ANRS Amhara National Regional State BGNRS Benisangul Gumuz National Regional State EPRP Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Party BPR Basic Process Reengineering EPMG Ethiopian Provisional Government AAU Addis Ababa University DMUAC Debra Markos University Archival Center vi ABSTRACT The study investigate and concentrated on the history of Islam in Dangila from 1900-1991. It is intended to fill the gap in the historiography of Ethiopia and it will serve as refrence to others. The study was done by extensive collection of clos investigation, analysis of the available primary and secondary sources. The study is concentrated on social, political, cultural and economical aspects of Muslim society in Dangila. The paper outlines the major ways how Islam was introduced and expanded into the areas of Agäw Meder of Gojjam. The influence of trade and Mahdist’s case in Ethio-Sudanse border in Beniśangul Gumuz, the settlement of significant numbers of Muslims from northern Ethiopia since 1920s, the influences of long distance trade and political incorporation of Mätäkäl into Agäw Meder Awrajja were also included. Moreover the thesis included the major problems of Muslim settlers during Haile Sillase rigme Such as Social, economical, political and cultural problems under this period were also discussed. The proclamations of the Därg regime that made better conditions for the Muslims in Study area were outlined. The thesis also indicates about the Sheikh Husssein Alämu/Sheikh Dangila Mawlid celebrations and its value on socio-economic aspects of the society. The religious associations which were existed around mosques by Muslim community as well as the economic features of Muslims in Agäw Meder are also included under this thesis. vii PREFACE This thesis focuses