OROMO HISTORICAL POEMS AND SONGS: Conquest and Exploitation in Western Wallaga, 18861927

Author(s): NAGASO GIDADA

Source: Paideuma, Bd. 29 (1983), pp. 327-340
Published by: Frobenius Institute
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Paideuma
29,1983
OROMO HISTORICAL

POEMS AND SONGS:

Conquest and Exploitation in WesternWallaga,

1886-1927
NAGASOGIDADA
collectionof Oromosongsand poemswasmadein 1970 and 1973 as part
The following
In 1970 WayesaDarsa,whowas
formyBA0,M.A.andPh0D0dissertations,,
of thefieldwork
VIII
was recitedby Gantiof Guye
thenlivingin Dambi Dolio, recitednumberV forme;
Airain 1973; and the remaining
songswererecitedby DarsiGantiin 1970. DarsiGantiwas
werebetweentheagesof 70 and
thenlivingin Finfine(AddisAbeba). All threeinformants
had
been
bornjustbeforetheconquest
them.GantiNono,theoldest
90 whenI interviewed
and Darsi Gantiwerealive
Darsa
Both
of WesternWallagaby Menilek'stroops.
Wayesa
after
rulers
him0
and
other
Amhara
thereignsof dajazmachBiru
during
informants:
these
The poemsand songswerenot composedby
theywerepopularin the
use
old songs,poems,prothemselves
historians
Oral
area duringthe period1886-1927.
Whilediscustheir
to
source
verbsand sayings(all important
testimony.
materials) support
and
recited
informants
songsconpoems
spontaneously
my
singeventsand personalities,
thepast.*
cerning
/
of Wallagaand is locatedin thesouthwestern
partof
Qellemis one of thesub-provinces
thisprovince.The highestmountainin thewest,Walal,is locatedin thecenterof Qellem.
livemainlytheLeeqa Oromo,whilesouthandsoutheastofthe
Northof theWalalmountain
mountainlivethe Sayo Oromo.Westof theWalaland the Sayo regionis Anfilo,wherethe
BusaseandtheMao peopleslive.
moti
battlesbetweenthedifferent
was a sceneofinnumerable
Qellemin the19thcentury
of
of
Dae
Gosa
Abba
of
The
Sayo
different
of
the
sub-group
Burayu
family
regions.
(kings)
foughtagainsttheAnflokingsin the west,and againstabeto Abba Dasa (BakakoTufa)of
of the Sayo. The familyofabetoGumaOshooftheQoxawoclan
Galan,anothersub-group
at theexpenseof AbbaDasa of Galan.But
westwards
at Sadi soughtto extendits territory
was
of
Dasa
Galan
Abba
1880's
the
powerfulenoughto subduetheDae anddriveAbba
by
foreightyears.The forcesof Abba Dasa once
exile
in
remained
he
where
into
Gosa
Sadi,
of
forces
combined
the
defeated
Anflo,Dae, Sadi and Noie.1Thusby 1886 AbbaDasa was
MotisouthofWalalmountain
themostpowerful
* I havetothank
forhishelpwiththetext,
AdamJones
(Frobenius-Institut)
I haveusedthenewOromo
alphabet:
aa,etc.- longvowels
-
eh-
dh-d
j-'
- t
about1,000werehorsemen.
ofwhich
alonearesaidtohaveexceeded
2,000warriors
1 TheNoieforces
andAbba
ofAnfilo
ofHirpaGumaofSadi,AbbaGimbi
TheNoiecameto Qellemat theinvitation
GosaofDae.

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328

NagasoGidada

Northof Walaland amongthe Leeqa, JoteTuliuor Abba Igguwas at thistimenotonly

themotiof Leeqa, but had subduedtheJimmaand HoroOromosouthoftheLeeqa region
theAnfiloandtheSayo.
andnorthofWalal.By about 1886,Jotehad beganattacking
The warriors
underthesemotihad won honourand respectthrough
in hunting
bravery
in
animals
or
wild
their
The
moti
themselves
came
from
battle.
killing
opponents
large
familieswho had acquiredpowerthrough
theirwealth,bravery,
abundanceof children
and
followers
andwisdom.
Successfulhuntersor warriorsused to go to the residencesof theirparentsor rich
Suchhunters
people,holdinga trophyfromthe dead animalor humanbeingand singing0
and fighters
werereceivedwithgreathonour.Big feastswerepreparedand presents
were
to
the
of
killer
honoured
the
The
his
and
described
about
given
day0
guest
sung
experiences
his difficulties
and successes.He praisedhis fatherand motherforgivingbirthto him.He
honouredthebraveandinsultedthosewhowereweak,lazyor cowardly.
Poem I was sung by a hunternamedDhaba after1886 whenJoteTuliu sided with
Menilek'sgeneralras Gobanaandwas thusable to conquerSayo andAnfiloregions.Gobana
grantedJote a monopolyof the whole Qellem;JotecollectedtributefromQellemand
controlledthe forestsand wildanimals.Peoplelike Dhaba who weresuccessful
in hunting
used to giveJotepartof theirspoilse.g. elephanttusks.Theywentto theresidence
ofJote
andsungtheirbravery
songs.
Jote,AbbaIggu,
MootiiuqaalaaBonga.
Garaadhiisii,
Dudiyuuna beela'ee.
Afaandhiisii,
Guriyuuna dheebotee.
Harkaanwaa natihiixachaa,
Afaaniin
na gaafachaa.
of Iggu],
Jote,Abba Iggu[father
King,thegateto Bonga.2
Notmystomachalone,
Evenmybackis hungry.
Notmymouthalone,
Evenmyearsarethirsty.
Passme something
withyourhands.
Askme [howI am] withyourmouth.
II
As is clear fromthe followingpoem sungby Jotehimself,Jotehad the ambitionof
conqueringthe whole of westernWallagaup to theDhidheesaRiverin theeast,But after
2 Bongaisa forest
inthelowlands
ofQellem,
where
andbuffaloes
region
werehunted.
elephants

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Oromo
Historical
PoemsandSongs

329

rasGobanaappointedKumsaMoroda,whowas Christianized
conquering
WallagaforMenilek,
as governor
of thewholeregionup to theJawe,Dilla, and
and renamedGabra Igziabiher,
further
eastthantheJaweRiver.Menilek
Dabus Rivers,thushindering
Jotefromexpanding
in goldand
Jote
was
Jote
and
Kumsa
the
title
askedto paytribute
both
gave
dajazmach".3
tusks.
Joteis said to have sung the followingsong to explainwhyhe was preventedfrom
hisambitions
ofexpansionto theeast.The reasonis indicatedin line4.
fulfilling
Silaa arbibineensa,
Duuriqabaafmalee.
Silaawalgayiin
Dhidheesa,
Xuuriqabaafmalee.
An elephantwouldbe a wildbeast,
Ifit didnothaveduuri.4
Themeeting
placewas at theDhidheesa,
Ifit didnothaveXuuri.5
of KumsaMoroda.
to myinformant
DarsiGanti,Jotewas thebrother-in-law
According
Thusit was a taboo forJoteto fighthis brother-in-law.
The term,,Xuuri"was a symbolic
of thistaboo.
expression
Ill
andsonsto different
of Qellem,he appointedhisbrothers
AfterJotewas madegovernor
districts
whichcameunderhiscontrol.Innoro,one of thesonsofJote,becamethegovernor
of Sayo region.Besidescollecting
tributefromthepeople,Innoroplayedtwootherroles,as
to haveall thetusksofelephants
is expressedin thefollowing
poem.He orderedall hunters
of themas tributeto thenewrulers.
and to pay a proportion
theyhad gatheredregistered
the prevailing
Oromocultureand customsin
Secondly,Innorowas activein suppressing
favourofAmharacultureandChristianity.
Innoroand his brothersAdaba, Mardasa,Oda, Hosana,Dufera,and Caala had already
namesbeen convertedto Christianity.
Adaba,Oda, and Caala had alreadytakenChristian
mamhir
was
children
of
Jote's
The teacher
Salomon,Yohannis,and Balaxa respectively.6
HaylaMaryam,an AmharafromGondarand a priestwho had come to Wallagato christianize theOromo,in linewiththepolicyforEmperorYohannes,proclaimedin 1878. Hayla
whichin
Maryam'smissionwas a strongattackon thoseOromosocialandculturalpractices
he
tookup
once
Thus
his eyeswere"uncivilized"and opposedto "Christianity".7 Innoro,
as
served
but
in Sayo region,not onlyestablished
his post as governor
foreign
politicalrule,
andArab"(Begiand
of"Wallaga
toGabraSillase(1959:339)Jotewasappounted
3 According
governor
Asosa?).
A hunter
tobelikehuman
wereconsidered
beings.
4 Duuriis thehairwhich
growintheears.Elephants
a female
human
as ifhehadkilled
wasdespised
a female
being.
ofkilling
whoboasted
elephant
dirtormenstruation.
means
5 Xuuri
Gidada1971:16-17.
6 Nagaso
Gidada1971:15-16.
7 Nagaso

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330

Gidada
Nagaso

an agentof theAmharain collecting

tributeand destroying
Oromocultureto theadvantage
ofhismasters.
His oppressive
andexploitiveactivities,
wereopposedby thepeople,
however,
Althoughtherewas no organizedopposition,thepeopleat leastexpressedtheircomplaint
throughthe local elders.Innorowas deposed fromhis post in 1908/9by the Amhara
of Qellemwho had replacedJote.The following
governor
poemwas composedat thetime
whenInnoroleftSayo andwentbackto Gidamiin Leeqa0
Ya AbbaFidaako,
Ya Innoromooti.
Arbabiyajiru,
Ilkabareesite.
Biyafayaajiru,
NegusShawajiru,
Sirbabaleesite,
Gaddafakeesite.
DubbiiSayo kana,
Dhiisijenaandide.
Dhidhimtekaa
kunoo,
Daaleenduwaatihafte0
myAbbaFida8,
Innoro,theking.9
Whileelephants
in thecountry,
existed[areplentiful]
You wrote[registered]
thetusks.
Whilethecountry
is healthy[peaceful],
WhiletheNigusin Shawa10wasstillalive,
You destroyed
dances.
[prohibited]
You made[thecountry]
look as ifit werein mourning.11
The case of Sayo12
You wereaskedto stop,butyou refused.
See, you aregoneaway.13
Dale14is leftempty.
8 AbbaFidaor "Fatherof Fida"is thenameofrespect
forInnoro.
Hisfather
JotewasAbbaIggu
ofIggu).Every
married
Oromo
wasnamed
after
hisfirst-born
(father
son.Ifhedidnothavea sonhe
wasnamed
after
hishorse
orgiven
a namewhich
tohisowncharacter
referred
oractions.
9 Theterm
Mootiapplied
heretoInnoro,
isusednotonlyfortheking
butalsoformembers
oftheroyal
forgovernors
andforrichandpowerful
individuals.
family
10 Among
theOromo,
diesaredancing
andsinging
ina locality.
forbidden
onlywhena person
When
a
takesplaceanddancing
andsinging
areforbidden.
Thepoetaccuses
kingdies,general
mourning
Innoro
ofprohibiting
dances
thenegus
wasalive.
although
(Menilek)
11 Seenote10.
12 "Thecaseof Sayo"refers
to theproblems
to Sayoregion
becauseoftheoppression
and
brought
towhich
Innoro's
administration
led.
exploitation
13 1 havetranslated
"dhidhimte"
as "goneaway"."Dhidhimte"
isderived
from
thetheverb"dhidhimu",
"togo down"as inthecaseofa sunset.
Thusonecanreadthelineas: "See,yoursunhas
meaning
set".
14 Dalewastheoriginal
nameforthepresent-day
center
ofSayobefore
Dambi
Tabor,theadministrative
Dolio.

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Oromo
Historical
PoemsandSongs

33 1

IV
KumsaMoroda,like JoteTuliuwas one of thepowerful
Oromomotiwhocompetedfor
exclusivecontroloverWallagajustbeforeGobanaconqueredtheareaforMenilek.Afterthe
battleof Imbabo(6 June,1882) KumsaMorodasubmitted
to Gobana.He wasbaptizedand
receivedtheChristian
AmharanameGabraIgziabiher
(theServantof God). Menilekwashis
Beforethecomingof Gobanato Wallaga,MorodaBakare(thefatherof Kumsa)
god-father.
and his brothersLigidi,Roro, and Amantehad been activein expandingthe territory
of
Westof the Leeqa regionwas
theirfamily(Wanagaof Leeqa in Naqamte)in all directions.
of the Sibu Oromo,whoundertheirmoti(WaoDabalo) strongly
resisted
theterritory
the
expansionof the Bakarefamilytowardstheirregion.Roro Bakare,the uncle of Kumsa
Moroda,challengedWao Dabalo to do battle.Whentheymetin battletheysangbattle
songs.Waoboastedas follows:WaoDabalo.
DabaltichaDabalo.
Waocabbiiroobeka.
Wao[theson of]Dabalo.
One whoaddsanotherDabalo.
Waorainedhail.
Roroon hispartboasted:
RoroBakare.
BakakichaBakare.
aamsituun
jalaa kuma.
Roro [theson of] Bakare.
boltof Bakare.
The thunder
Rainmakers[stoppers]area thousandunderhim.
The strugglebetweenthe familyof Bakare and Wao Dabalo ended only afterthe
comingof Gobana.Withthesupportof Gobana,Waowas defeatedand thewholeofthe
Sibu regionup to theJawe,Dilla, and Dabus riverswas conqueredbythemotiof Leeqa of
Naqamte.As mentionedabove,Kumsa Morodawas giventhe titleof dajaazmachand rein thewest
of Western
Wallagaup to theJawe,Dilla and Dabus rivers
cognizedas governor
andup to GibeRiverin theeast.
V
KumsaMorodadied a fewyearsafterthe Sibu and Leeqa regionswestof theDhidheesa
Riverwereconqueredin 1888-1889. His son Habta Mariamsucceededto his father'stitle
the
to administer
and post. Like Jotein Qellem,Habta Mariamalso appointedhis relatives
and
Mandi.
newlyconqueredLeeqa and Sibu regionssuchas Gimbi,Aira,Guliso,Calia,Najo
appointedby Habta Mariamwho
Accordingto the eldersof Aira,it was the governors

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332

Gidada
Nagaso

areas,
prohibitedthe continuationof the gada System.They builtchurchesin different
appointedAmharaprieststo thesechurchesand orderedthe conqueredpeoplesto become
and have thembaptizedin mass.Land was measuredout in sucha way thata
Christians
portion(qallad) wentto thelocal chiefs,whilethreeportionswentto theAmharagovernmentand the OrthodoxChurch.Thosewho could affordto do so wereallowedto buythe
land confiscated
The Oromomasseswereforcedto becometenantsand
by thegovernment.
serfson landswhichoriginally
belongedto themand theirancestors.The ruleof Joteand
Habta Mariamin Wallagawas as oppressive
as theruleofAmharagovernors
appointedfrom
Finirne(AddisAbeba).
Duringtheearlyyearsaftertheconquestof Wallaga,theregionsof Noie and Arjowere
sentby Menilek.Arjobecametheadministraput underthe directruleofAmharagovernors
tivecenterforthewholeof Wallagaprovince.SomeOromoescapedfromtheseareasto the
regionscontrolledby Joteor HabtaMariam,hopingthattheirfatewouldbe betterunder
Oromogovernors.
Buttheymetwiththesamesystemofoppression:theonlydifference
was
thatthegovernors
farmer
Oromo.
A
who
from
to
Noie
the
spoke
escaped
Najo during reign
of HabtaMariamsangthefollowing:
Jirbiin
lagaHora,
Raada namaabitaa.
GorsiDhinsaJiilcha,
Yaada namaabita.
DaariiNoieka'ee,
Najootiijaaruunko,
Yaada gabaabina.
Thecottonat HoraRiver
Buysa heiferforsomeone.
The adviceof DhinsaJiilcha15
Helps[one] to get[more]ideas.
[My]goingawayfromtheboundaryofNoie
Andbuilding[a house]at Najo
[Was]"short-sightedness".
VI
Jotein Qellemwasdeposedandimprisoned
at Ankobarfrom1908 to 1912.16Duringthe
absenceof Jote,HabtaMariamofNaqamtewasappointedas provisional
of Qellem
governor
till Amharagovernors
arrivedto take overtheirposts.HabtaMariamis said to haveused
the chanceto exploitthe people of Qellem.AfterHabta Mariamhad leftSayo region,a
singercomposedthefollowing:
15 Dhinsa
Jiilcha
wasa wiseelder.
16 NagasoGidada1971:5; BahruZewde1976:198-200.According
to Triulzi
a peasant
revolt
took
from
1909-1912against
theAmhara
placeinQellem
andfreed
fora short
time.
Therebellion
Qellem
seems
tohavebeenledbyMardasa,
thesonofJote.(Triulzi
1980:178sq.).

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Oromo
Historical
PoemsandSongs

333

Dajach Habte
Egaa hingaltee?
HoriiSayo sasaabatee0
DubbiinSayo garaatihafte.
DajachHabte[HabtaMariam],
Did you go home?
thewealthof Sayo.
Gathering
Thecase of Sayo remains
in thestomach.17
VII
Two of the Amharagovernorswho were sent to Qellem,Naaqe and "Saale" (Sahla
in thefollowing
shouldbe
Giorgis),are mentioned
poem.Themessageis thatno distinction
madebetweentwooppressive
alienrulers.
Naaqeennu gagabse0
Saale nu qaqabde?
ManniSimaaGuma,
Jalliitaadhuma.
NaaqeeniifSaaleen,
Jarri
Sidaamuma0
NaaqeenAbbakeeti?
SaaleenAbbakeeti?
Laaxee albaateeti.
HundinuSidaama.
Inniyuusisaama.
Naqe madeus faint.18
[But]Sahle,didyou reachus [in timeto saveus]?
Thehouseof Sima[theson of] Guma19,
Itsbottom[walls]arestraw.20
"
thatthecase
instead
of"onne"(heart).
Thepoetmeans
17 TheOromousetheterm
"garaa"(stomach)
willnotbeforgotten.
thatSahlehadcometo save
thesevere
Somepeoplehadthought
18 Thepoetexpressed
exploitation.
to Triulzi
thosealready"fainting"
(i. e. thoseexploited
by Naqe) from"death".According
inNov.1908
thebrother
ofrasTasamma
tofitawrari
wasentrusted
SahlaGiorgis,
(1980:178)Qellem
thatqanyazmach
to Finfine.
Bahru
Zewde(1976:231)mentions
whenJotewassummoned
Naqiwas
of Jotewas
thatthedomain
to conclude
at Gorein 1904. Fromthisit is plausible
an official
andwho
at GorewhenJotewasimprisoned,
theAmhara
to ras Tasamma,
transferred
governor
ofQellem.
asgovernors
hisofficers
appointed
ofSima,abetoHirpa
19 SimaGumawasthesonof abetoGumaOsho,themotiofSadi.Thebrother
hisfather,
whowaskilledbyabetoAbbaDasa(BakakoTufa)ofGalanina battle.
Gumasucceeded
of
ofHirpa.BotheSimaandHirpawerecontemporaries
of thetroops
SimaGumawascommander
JoteTuliu.Songs4,5,and7 collected
andrecorded
(1922:21sq.)areonSimaGuma.That
byCernili
weread
insong4 (line8) where
andGumaOsho'swifewascalledKueis confirmed
Sima'smother
abbaDienta","themadmanof
ofKue".Line5 states"marattu
"thethunder
"bakakka
Kue-dha",
confused
Gumawiththe
AbbaDienta".AbbaDientawasthepraisenameof GumaOsho.Cerulli
read"Simatheson
ofGumamuchto theSoutheast.
ThusCerulli's
"SimaofGuma"should
Kingdom
ofGuma.
ofGuma"andnotcitizen
inlines3 and4.
ofplastering
them.
Notetherhyme
instead
tothatch
wallswithstraw
20 Itwasa custom

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334

Gidada
Nagaso
Naqe and Sahle,
TheyareSidama.21
Is Naqe yourfather?
Is Sahleyourfather?
You wallowin diarrhoea.22
AllareSidama,
He too plundersyou.

VIII
Jotewas releasedby theuncrownedEmperorlij Iyassu,who visitedQellemin 1912 and
of Jotewho marrieddajachWaldaMariamandbecamarriedwayzaroAskala,the daughter
Butby thencontrol
oftheHaileSillasieUniversity).
Kassa
me themotheroflij
(ex-president
of
status
semi-autonomous
The
to
the
Amhara.
Qellemwas slowly
of Qellemhad passed
have
is
said
to
increased.
partlyrelievedthe
Lij Iyassu
passingaway. Taxes were being
of
because
of
Iyassu'smoveandsungthe
peopleof taxation.The population Qellemrejoiced
following:
Iyaasudofolooko,
Siifannyaadheboqolooko.
Iyassu,myhandsomeone,
It is becauseofyou thatI ate mymaize.23
IX
statuscompletely.
lostitssemi-autonomous
in 1916,Quellern
AfterIyassuwas overthrown
in
in 1918 with
arrived
He
was
Walda
Gabriel
Biru
Qellem
appointedgovernor.
Dajaazmach
thousandsof troops.
and
theSidama[. . . and]tofeedthehorses
toserve
wereforced
"Thepeople,besides
tribute,
paying
or
fortheMalkana
(governors,
mulesoftheNaftana
(soldiers).
Theyhadto buildhousesandfences
A gabar(serf)
hadtogiveprovisions.
theOromo
forthenewcomers,
Besideworking
offiefs).
owners
toSundays."24
hislordatleastthree
hadtoserve
daysina weekinaddition
A poet describedthemiseryof thegabbarin theformofa dialoguebetweentwogabbar
who meton thewayto and fromAwsa,themaincampofdajjazmachBiru,southof Gidami
ofJote).
(theresidence
gabbarA: Eesa dhufta?
gabbar: Awsakatama.
A: Eesa bulte?
: Hundekatama.
A: Maalnyaateebulte?
: Akaayiatara.
fortheAmhara.
term
istheOromo
21 Sidama
themselves
a better
thosewhodeluded
andexpected
lifeunder
Sahle.
22 Thepoetismocking
inWallaga
foritsmaizeproduction.
waswellknown
23 Qellem
24 Gidada1971:5.

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Historical
PoemsandSongs
Oromo

335

A: Maaldhugde?
B: Qiraariiatalaa.
A: Atikaneenyuuti?
Makara.
B: Kan fitraari
A: Atamisinitijira?
: Na hingaafatin
adaraa,
Kan Sidaamabaranaa.
Harkalamaannamaaramaa.
Baranaquunaansafara,
Bar(a)egerqullaansakara.
A: Fromwhereareyoucoming?
: [From]Awsa25camp(town)26
A: Wheredidyou spendthenight?
B: At thebase [belowthehill]ofthekatama
A: Whatdidyou eat duringthenight?
B: Parchedpeas.27
A: Whatdidyou drink?
fromstala.29
B: Qiraari28
A: Whose[gabbar]areyou?
Makara's.30
B: Fitawrari
A: How areyou?
B: Pleasedo notaskme
AbouttheSidamaofthisyear,
He weeds[robs]peoplewithtwohands.
Thisyear,I measuregivequuna.31
Nextyear,nakedwillI totter.
Birru.
Other
ofdajaazmach
center
25 As mentioned
above,Awsawasthemaincamporadministrative
Kanchi(alsosouthofWalal)andDale(later
Amhara
campswereFincho(southofWalal),
important
DambiDolio)
oftheriver
theopening
Sayolaterrenamed
renamed
portatGambella,
Tabor).After
the
Intheearly
center.
andtheadministrative
years
following
becamethemaincampoftheAmhara
in
village
oftheporton theBaroRiver(at Gambella),
Sayo(DambiDolio)wasonlya small
opening
Gambella,
theregionof theLibanclanneara customs
post(kella),on thetraderoutebetween
Dambiisthenameofa treeonthegrave
ShawaandGojjam.
Guliso,
Gimbi,
Najo,Gidami,
Naaqamte,
ontheir
rested
travellers
waytoandfrom
which
theclanofLiban,under
ofa mancalledDoliofrom
Gambella.
oi
onhilltops.Many
erected
wereusually
a city.Thekatama
later
a camp,
inAmharic
26 Katamameans
colonial
onhilltopsandwereformer
arelocated
therefore
camps.
inEthiopia
thetowns
altertheir
oftheOromoinShawaandthatotthoseinWallaga
thecondition
between
27 Thesimilarity
line
inShawa.Compare
Bitima
thepoemscollected
is clearfrom
byTamene
bytheAmhara
conquest
Eventhefoodthe
6 in thispoemandline9 ofTamene's
poemVII. SeealsopoemIX ofTamene.
inthis
ispublished
article
Bitima's
Tamene
wassimilar.
ateonthewayandthemodeoftravel
gabbar
issueofPaideuma.
wouldDeaaaea to tne
thebestbeeris takenout,morewater
of thepoor.After
is a drink
28 Qiraari
tomakeqiraari.
thebeerwasbrewed
from
which
orstuff
residue
to
thrown
Itisusually
awayorgiven
thebeerwasbrewed.
from
which
ofthestuff
29 Atalais thedregs
animals.
domestic
wholivedin Awsa.but neretnename
hel-owners
was one of theAmhara
30 Fitawrari
Makuriya
in
Amharic.
means
Makara
Makara.
to
misery
is
Makuriyachanged
A sackofquunaisequalto 15cupsotgrain.
forgrain.
31 Quunaisa measurement

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336

Gidada
Nagaso

X
Becauseof theoccupationand thegabbarsystem,
theOromowereunableto concentrate
on theireconomicand sociallife.Therewas not enoughtimeto workon theirownfarms.
Husbandswererequired
to farmforthenewlordsandbuildtheirhouses.Wiveswererequired
to grindand cook fortheNafxanasand theMalkanas.Childrenhad to tendthedomestic
animalsof themasters.In sucha situation,
manyOromotriedto escapeby running
awayto
theforeststo liveas robbersorwentto areaslikeBure.32
Manywereemployedas kuliesfor
the merchantsand traders.Hundredsdied in the lowlandsbetweenGambellaand Sayo
as dailyworkersin thewood factories,
(Dambi Dolio). Manyalso lookedforemployment
minesandcoffeecompaniesflourishing
in thearea.
AwariArada,her husbandSolan and herfirst-born
son
Accordingto my grandmother
Bula died beforethecomingof theAmharato DambiDolio; hereldestlivingsonWayesaran
away to Bure in Illu Abba Boru to liveas a labourer;Gidadahernextson was blindand
Gabisawas thenverysmall.The Malkanarequiredhernot onlyto grindand cook forhim
but to tendtheiranimalsand transport
grainto Fincho.She wasnotallowedto go backto
hersmallchildrenforweeks.She wasoncechainedto a postbecauseshetriedto escapeand
go to herchildren.Herspinewas damagedas a resultof theheavyloadsofgrainwhichshe
had to transport
to Fincho,a day'swalkfromSayo. Thereare manysuchstories:theyare
notexaggerations
or fictions.
Becauseof the disruption
of economicand sociallife,manyyoungmenwereunableto
marry.Accordingto myinformant
Bojia Bole, theeldersof Sayo oncewentto complainto
Birruis saidto havebrought
dajaazmachBirrubecausetheyoungpeoplewerenotmarrying.
manytroopswithhimfromKullo Konta.The newsof the FirstWorldWarin Europewas
also widelycurrent.Birrutherefore
told theeldersto telltheyoungpeoplethathe would
send theyoungmento thewarin Europeand givetheyounggirlsto theKontatroopsin
iftheydidnotmarry.
The girlswhoheardof thisaresaidto havesung:
marriage
Qeero,Qeero,
Qeerobada raatuu.
Uttuuisinjirtanii
Kontaadhaanu laatuu?
Youngmen,youngmen,
Youngmen,you fools.
Whileyou arestillalive,
Aretheygoingto giveus to theKonta?
The answerfromtheyoungmenwasas follows:
Yawuunfuudhakeekajeele,
DajaachBirutugadiqajeele.
Biriislubbuunbitadheera.
Moofaashudduutihidhadheera.
32 FromGidami
toBegi(Triulzi
1980:179).
only9000Oromo
escaped

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PoemsandSongs
Historical
Oromo

337

Qilxuuguddaagamakeesaat(i)
darbakajeelee.
Maanyureen
Kan fuudheyuu
galchakajeelee,
Sichuuguddaamanateesa.
WhenI desiredto marry
you,
DajaachBirucamedown.
WithdollarsI haveboughtmysoul.33
[Now]I haveold clotheson mybuttocks.34
[To] thebigsycamore
beyond35,
desiresto pass*36
Manyure
Evenhe whohasmarried
wantsto give
back
her
[hiswife]
[to
parents].
You willyetremainlongerat home.
XI
of
DajaazmachBiruhad severalcampsin Qellem.A personwhoobservedthemovements
Birrufromone campto anotherhoped thathe wouldobservethemiseryunderwhichthe
peoplewereandrelivethem.
Ya dajaachBiruko,
Finchootachibaatee,
Sayo ach ilaalta.
Kaanchiitachibaatee,
Daaleenachilaalta,
Awsaatachibaatee,
Gidoonach ilaalta.
Ya dajaachBiruko,
Agartaajiruuko?
mydajaachBirru,
Climbing
up Fincho37,
You look towardsSayo.38
Climbing
up Kanchi39,
You look towardsDale.40
an expensive
ofdemanding
menmeant
that
33 TheOromoinQellemhavea custom
Theyoung
dowry.
their
totheNafxana
andMalkana.
wealth
theyhadgiven
oftheexploitation
theyoung
menweresopoorthattheydidnothavemoney
tobuyclothes
34 Because
evenforthemselves,
letaloneclothes
fora bride.
suchtreesinthedeforested
ofQellem
served
Thebushes
under
35 "Qilxu"is a typeofsycamore.
regions
ashiding
places.
is a personal
as a fugitive.
name.Hereit
36 "To pass"meanstogo orescapeto theforests
"Manyure"
theyoung
men.
represents
a column
oftheAmhara
ofDambiDolioandTabor.
waslocated
andisnorth
37 Finchois hillonwhich
ofWalalandeastofQellem.
tothewholeregion
south
38 Sayorefers
southofWalalandnorth
ofGalanregion.
Oromo
clanscalledAmara
39 Kanchiis nameofhillanda river
Amara
Caabiliveinthearea.
Caaka,Amara
Kanchi,
ineastern
oftheDalesub-division
ofSayoOromo
to theregion
tribe
40 Dalerefers
living
partofQellem.

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338

Gidada
Nagaso
Climbing
up Awsa41,
You look towardsGido.42
mydajaachBirru,
Do you see mywork?43

XII
and
The reignof dajaazmachBirruin Qellemwas a timeofharsheconomicexploitation
of Oromosocial life. Birrualso disarmedthe people and carriedout intensive
disruption
culturaloppression.The activitiesof thedajaazmach,althoughfroman apologistpointof
view for the colonial systemand in supportof Birru,was recordedin the newspaper
theactivities
of
Oromopoet interpreted
BirhaninaSalam in 1927.44But a contemporary
fromBirhanina
Salam.
dajaazmachBirrudifferently
Ya dajaachBirruko.
Eebo biyajiru,
dullaafakeesite.
Biyanagaajiru,
Sirbabaleesitee,
gaddafakeesitee.
mydajjachBirru.
Whilespearsexistin thecountry,
You madeit looklikea dulia45
is at peace,
Whilethecountry
You destroyed
dancing,
looklikemourning.
[And]made[thecountry]
XIII
DajaazmachBirruruledQellemfrom1918 to 1920 andfrom1922 to 1927.46As we can
see fromthefollowing
thathe leftQellemin
poem,it was in xiqimt(September/October)
1920. The gada periodduringthistimewas Michile.47
to oralinformation,
the
According
lifeof theOromowentto hora(mineral
gada classwhichtook overpowerin thereligious
41 SeealsopoemNr.IX.
forGidami,
42 Gidoisa short
form
ofJote.
theresidence
43 "jiru"or"hoji"(work)
heremeans
life- themiserable
life.
44 Birhanina
June1927:169-170.
Salam,
45 A short
andheavy
stick.
46 See NagasoGidada1971:51,footnote
34. Since1886theOromo
inQellem
havenever
againhada
havebeenappointed
from
aboveandthepeoplehavenever
sayin theirfate.Allgovernors
hadthe
to electtheir
leaders
torunthecountry.
Since1912there
havebeenonlyfourOromo
opportunity
therestwereAmharas.
After
Birru
thefollowing
governors:
Amhara
ruledin
dajaazmach
governors
Qellemupto theItalian
Makonnin
Wasane
occupation.
Dajaazmach
Yigazu1920-1922;dajaazmach
Ashanafi
1927-1930;fitawrari
1930;bashaDasalan1931- 1935;dajaazmach
Wubepartof
Mangasha
1935and1936.
47 SeeNagaso
Gidado1977:5 and7.

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Oromo
Historical
PoemsandSongs

339

waterwell)of Gorba(southof DambiDolio) and prayedto Waqa(theskyGod) to getridof

dajaazmachBirru;Waqa heardtheirprayerand Birruwas removed;he is evensaid to have
werein realitydue to a powerconflict
ended in prison.His removaland imprisonment
betweenhim and ras Tafari.(Theyand lij Iyassuhad been broughtup by Menilekand all
werepleasedto be rid
threeclaimedthecrown.)Whateverthesecase,theOromoin Quellern
of Birru:
Ji'ikuniqimti?
iqimtekaakunoo.
Ya dajaachBirruko,
Abeetjenaandidee,
Sitihimanaandidee,
Dhidhimtekaa
kuno.
Is thismonthiqimt?
It hasbecomeiqimt(September/October)
mydaj ach Birru,
I [we] saidabeet48,
Although
refused
you
[to listen],
Here[thus]youdisappeared.
XIV
likeDajjach Birruleftthe
Not only werethe Oromoof Qellemhappywhengovernors
who remained.Such
colonists
those
attack
to
country:theyalso took the opportunity
In factsuch
solution.
a
about
however,did not bring
lasting
spontaneousviolentuprisings
the
who
conductedby thegovernors replaced old ones.
in greater
actionsresulted
repression,
Ambaltaagagabaabdu,
Qilxuumataarogee.
Malkanahinwaraantuu?
Birruumataansokee.
Theshortambalta49,
whoseheadis flat.
Thesycamore
Don't youspeartheMalkana?
Theirhead,Birruhasgone.
and
whowere"civilized
to Ludolf(1682:237)theOromo
48 In the16thand17thcenturies
according
Abeto
butthatoftheir
Abeto,
usenoother
Abeto,
to theCampase
exclamation,
thosethatbelonged
notonlyto thekingbuttoallthose
is attributed
ofhonour
orLord,Lord,Lord,which
appellation
Abetoliterally
theterm
to Asfa-Wossen
lords".According
Asserate,
whomwe callmildandmerciful
that
Asserate
Asfa-Wossen
reports
of thehouse"andwasthetitleforroyalprinces.
meant"father
TheuncrownGran.
known
wasalready
Muhammad
toBasset(1882:105),theterm
during
according
was
thelastsonofHaileSellasie,
ed emperor,
Iyasu(1913-1917)alsohadthistitle.SahlaSellasie,
also
of
moti
The
1980:
Sayo
Asserate
in
1931.
62).
(kings)
his
father
this
title
(Asfa-Wossen
by
given
abetoGumaOsho(Dadi).
abetoAbbaGimbi
(Anfilo)
hadthistitle:abetoAbbaDasa(Galan),
oftree.
49 A species

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Gidada
Nagaso

340

I hope thatthepoemsand songspresented

herewillassistin understanding
thehistory
and cultureof the Oromo.Theydealnotonlywiththelifeof theOromoundertheAmhara
underOromoleaders.Thisshouldcallattention
butalso withtheirexperiences
to
governors,
thefactthata merechangeof Amharagovernors
to Oromogovernors
wouldnot solvethe
in Oromocountryat theendof 19th
presentproblemsunlessthestateapparatusestablished
centuryis changed.Only a democraticstatewhichrespectsthe rightsof the oppressed
classesand peoplesin theirrespective
areasand a systemwhichcouldgetridoftheprevailin the Oromocountryand in the
ing economicrelationscan bringpeace and development
Horn of Africa.Solutionssuch as "regionalautonomy"50
are chauvinistic.
Measuresof
documented.51
oppressionagainstthe Oromoin present-day
Ethiopiahavebeen frequently
Bibliography
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intheAnalysis
oftheEthiopian
Submited
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1700-1865.
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Oromo
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