Historical facts assure Jimma-Wellega never belong to Oromia

Federalism form of government in Ethiopia based on Ethnicity is fake,

disproportionately dividing lands with no meaningful manner. The ruling junta Tigray
Liberation Front/TPLF annexed lands of Amhara, wekayt tegede,Afar tribes as if itsown
Tigray region. Not only these but also most of the places regarded as Oromia region were
parts of northern, western and southern Ethiopian nations. As OPDO is the right hand of
TPLF at the time of dividing Ethiopia based on Ethnic federalism, a lion share of land of
current Ethiopia is given to OPDO-as Oromia region.
Hence after that time most of us dont belong to them are forced to leave their places
where our ancestors used to live.Morethan 50,000 Amharas displaced from Benishangul
and South Ethiopia in 2012 while genocide happened to evacuate thousands of Anuwaks
from Gambella region. Many South Omo tribes, southern nationalities, Anuwaks, etc were
killed in Bedeno, Jimma,Gambella etc since 1992, and also recently April 20/2014 more
than 200 Amhara farmers evicted from Wellega town.
Unless this fascist TPLF weyane is abolished from Ethiopia all the
nations will be in chaos of displacement. Promote historical facts to withstand and
stop eviction.
This articles summarizes how the Oromos assimilated Kingdom of
Kaffa,Ennariya to Jimma and how the Kingdoms of Damot brutally changed to Wellega,
Illuaba Bor etc, focusing on Western Ethiopia.
The historical accounts mentioned here are from non-Amhara writers for
Amhara phobic Oromo elites. The books of Dr. Tesema Taa on the Mecca Oromo
expansion; the book of Richard Pankhurst on the Ethiopian boarder lines and Historical
Dictionary of Ethiopia by David Shinn et al are among the evidences approving Oromos
never been in what is now categorized as Central-Western Oromia region by TPLF
Weyane.

These are the realities Oromos are invaders of those western, southern, Central Ethiopia.
And Tplf Weyane should revise ethnical form of federal government and should be based
on historical back grounds which tribe founded the area and live for longer time before
and after the 15th century advent of Oromo in Western Ethiopia.

Damot and Enariya Kingdom

Damot kingdom: Originally located south of the Abay river and west of the Muger river
near Shewa, under the pressure of Oromo attacks the rulers were forced to resettle north
of the Abay river in southern Gojjam between 1574 and 1606.
Its earliest mention is in the Gadla or Hagiography of the 13th century Saint Tekle
Haymanot, which mentions Damot under a governor named Motalame, who had his
palace at a place called Malbarde, and whose territory extended east beyond the Muger
as far as the Jimma. (1)
Evidently impressed by the provinces importance, an Arab writer Ibn khaldun( 1332-
1406) states that Damot had been governed by a great king ,Motalame,who reputedly
had a large empire.That is why even the Welayta and Sidama kingdoms also claim
Motalame was their king. Animist by religion, the area christened by St. Tekle Haymanot
latter the king converted and renamed Fesseha Tsion. (2)
Damot throughout the time played an important role in the horn of Africa. Gold trade
evidence of this is found in al-Umari, who asserts that rare metal from the province east
dispatched as far as Ifat, for export via zeyla port and Aden gulf. Gaudefroy-
Demombynes(1927,p.13).
Damot and nearby Hadiya incorporated to the Christian empire by king Amde Tseyon
during his early reign 1316-17, then Amde Tseyon assigned Shabir Ad Din II as the
province ruler. The people served as a warrior to extend the empire north of
Tsegede,Tselemt and against the Muslims of Adal who had invaded Shewa from the
east.(2)
Sertse Dingil appointed Fasil/Fasilo governor of Damot in the third year of his reign 1566.
The Mul'ata of the Oromo tribe afflicted the Christians of Damot; they scattered them and
devastated their country. During their time Shoa and Damot became deserts. (2)

Who were the original inhabitants of Damot prior to the Oromo conquest?
Before the Oromo movement into western central Ethiopia, the region was largely
inhabited by peoples belonging to two major linguistic groupings: the Omotic and the Nilo-
Saharan. (Tesema Taa,2006).
Based on the current distribution of languages in western Ethiopia, it appears that
Omotic speakers inhabited a large portion of the area. Although the main bulk of
Omotic speakers are now found south of the Gojeb river (Keffa Region and Omo
valley), isolated Omotic enclaves are still found in south Gojjam and western Wellega.
One significant Omotic remnant occurs adjacent to Dembi Dollo (Mao and Mes
speakers). (Bender and Fulass 1976. Map - "Distribution of Mother Tongues in
Ethiopia" in the book "Language in Ethiopia)
Without doubt, a large number of these people were absorbed into the Oromo cultural
sphere.
Enariya Kingdom : By the end of the 13th century,Ennariya was referred to as part of
the kingdom of Damot. But by the beginning of the 16 th century, it was virtually an
independent entity with a hereditary kingship system.Almeida reports that the inhabitants
were brave and intelligent and their occupation was sedentary farming with limited trade
activities in slaves, ivory and gold. He also indicated that the kings of Ennariya used to
pay tribute to the Abyssinian emperor.The people of Ennariya had put up a stiff
resistance against the Mecca Oromo incursions at first. Between 1550-1570, however,
Ennariya was conquered by Limmu clan of the Macca Oromo and was thereafter named
limmu enariya. (Tesema Taa ,2006)

Who were the original inhabitants of Enariya prior to the Oromo conquest?

Historocal records of Charles Buckingham (page 600) translates the entire people of
Ennarya is a scion of Hamitic tribe before the tribe of Yoqtan/Semetic in holybible Genisis
10/ came and usurped the kingdom of the tribe of Cush,destroying the people in war and
causing the rest to flee.
And This people lived on the southern borders of Ethiopia, in Welayita, Sidamo, Kullo,
Konta, Amoro, and Janjiro. After the war, they submitted to the kings of the tribe of
Yoqtan, and showed allegiance to them by paying tribute. Earlier, before the Oromo
occupation, Luqma, Jimma, Leqa,Tibbe, Guma, and Kefa were all territories of the people
of Ennariya.

Later, because the Oromo caused it to be evacuated, it became Oromo territory. A king
called Ennarya used to be appointed over it, under the king of kings, in accordance with
the (tradition) that continued from ancient time to the time of Menelik I, and after that up
to the time of Christianity.

Another evidence from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rulers_of_the_Gibe_state_of_Limu-'Enarya clearly
shows Oromo rulers named Aba bogibo,Aba Gomoli,Aba bulgocame after Oromo
conquered Enariya around 1800. Prior to 1800, However, the previous kings such as
Kaba Tseyon(1450-1530) who founded the kingdom of Ennariya ,Bedancho(1580-1603)
who adopted Christianity and kings:- Gaha Nechocho;Kawo Sherocho in the 17th centrury
upto king Chechu Nechecho of 1800 were well known rulers of Kaffaa kingdom ruling
also Enariya.
Related expanssion of Oromos killing the tribes of Kaffa,Omo, Janjero & Gafat

Kaffa Kingdom: Originates from Bonga the Gojeb river formed its northern border,
beyond which lay the Gibe kingdoms; to the east the territory of the konta and Kullo
Peoples lay between Kaffa and the Omo river; to the south numerous subgroups of the
Gimira people, and to the west lay the Majanger people. Its boundaries were extended
upto Woliso and according to Orent even it was a charity that they decided not to go
farther into Shewa province.(Orent,Refocusing on the history, p 277)
Unfortunatelly, the last king Gaki Shorocho defeated by the combined armies of Welde
Giorgis Ras Damisse, and King Abba Jifar II of Jimma, until he was captured on 11
September 1897.
Amazinglly during the reorganization of the provinces in 1942, the former Kaffa
kingdom was enlarged by the addition of a number of other kingdoms from the Gibe
region to become Kaffa Province (1) because King Hailesilasie knows the history
Kaffa lost the territory by the conspiracy of Oromo Aba Jiffar with Ras Demissie ,Despite
territories of Southern and northern Ethiopia annexed to Oromia and Tigray recentlly.
-The Busase state was another Omotic kingdom in southwestern Wallaga. It was
organized by the Busase who had conquered part of the Mao(Nilo -Saharan) people over
whom they established a ruling dynasty called the Busase in Anfillo, prior to the advent
of the Oromo.The Busase dynasty of Anfilo is clearly remembered as having put up a
long and tough resistance against Oromo expansion into their region. It was a well
orginzed state dominated by people who originated in kaffa and who spoke an omotic
language related to kafficho and Sinicho(Shinasha) (3)
References in early European sources and local traditions indicate that the expanding
Oromo faced more challenges from the Omotics than they generally did from the Nilo-
Saharans in the area.(3)
-The nearby Janjero Kingdom was situated in southwestern Ethiopia, in the angle
formed by the Omo and the Jima Gibbe rivers; to the west lay the Kingdom of Jimma and
to the south the Kingdom of Garo. It existed from the 15th century to 1894. The first kings
of Janjero belonged to the Halmam Gama dynasty, which was ejected by the Mwa clan,
who claimed to have come from the north.(1) In support of this fact David Shinn et al on
their book Historical Dictionary of Ethiopia(2004) also written that this kingdom belongs
to Semitic groups ussepered by Orromo agression.(4)
In 1844, warriors of the Kingdom of Jimma defeated the army of Janjero, and the
king of Janjero was taken prisoner. He regained his freedom in 1847, and resumed his
struggle against his more powerful neighbor. (1)
Jimma conquered part of Janjero in the 1880s. The rest of the kingdom was annexed in
the reign of Menelik II in 1894, and its last king, Abba Bogibo, fled to the Gurage country,
but eventually made his submission to Emperor Menelik II.
During the reorganization of the provinces in 1942, the former kingdom was absorbed to
become part of the Kaffa Province. However, with the new constitution of 1995, the area
Janjero once occupied became the Yem Special Wereda/Yeminano, which was added
to the Southern Nations,Nationalities, and peoples region to form the enclave of the
Region west of the Omo River.
-Like the nearby Damot Gafat is reported in the Gedla Yared,to have come under
Zagwe rule in the 12th century and St. Teklehaimanot accomplished his mission as well.

Gafat by the 15th century was firmly under imperial rule ,all the clans used to pay tribute
mainly in cattle before the Oromo wiped them out and forced them to flee to Gojjam. (2)

Encyclopedia Aethiopia states the Gafats who lived on the left side of Abbay escaped
Oromo persecution by crossing Abbay and settling there.
The Geez sources unambiguously provide the names of a few Gafat subgroups, such as
the Abadray, Ashman, Berababo, Den, Harbaqal, Harabawash, Shat, wange, Yasubli ,
Yazambal. the Bot and the Gambo,

The Gaffat people were creative and well known with variant handcraft skills, such as
manual metal casting and leather works that could contribute to cottage industrial
development in the country.(2)

Once in Gojjam, they were incapable of resisting the Christian kingdom, but instead
looked toward them for protection. Overtime thus the Gafat became loyal and
inconspicuous subjects of the Christian empire. Professor Wolf Leslau in 1940s also
concluded that Gafat language was spoken on both sides of Abbay Iit's true Oromo
invasion of Gafat territory was the single most deadly blow that caused the start of their
extinction.

Oromo mass expanssion towards Western Ethiopia in brief

It should be an accepted fact that Oromos are among the natives in the horn of Africa.
However,no evidences found they had been in their present occupation of west
Ethiopia,Wellega ,Illuaba bor or Jimma before 16th century. Let alone to these western
Ethiopia their expansion from Bale was restricted behind lake Ziway for example in 1573
by king Sartsa Dengel who was the first emperor of Ethiopia to confront the
encroachment of the Oromo. He campaigned against them again in his 15th (1578) and
25th (1588) reign years. He also campaigned in Enariya twice, the first time in 1586, and
the second time in 1597 to secure the sustainability of Solomonic dynasty established
along before his birth.(1)
But after his death, according to the sources of Dr.Tessema Taa the Mecca and Tulama
Oromo expansion into most parts of shewa and western central Ethiopia got opportunity
from the reputed site of Oda Nabe,now Akaki vicinity. (3)
Camping at Oda Nabe, later, the Macca Oromo established its own separate Gada known
as Oda Bisil with its center around Ambo and occupied the south western Oromia
(Tessema 2004). Then, the Mecca Oromo divided itself into two groups known as Afre
and Sadacha (which means the fourth and the third) . In the first half of 19th century, the
Afre group established the two Leqa states in Wallega known as Leqa Qelem and Leqa
Naqamte from various clans such as leqa,Amuru,nanno, Jimma, Hulle and Wallaga. Then
the Present IIuabba Bor inhabited by the Tume tribe and even if the tribes such as
Leeqaa,sibu,Gudru & Amuru conquered the area it is the tribe called Wellega dominated
Damot and won the clashes amongst themselves and re named Damot to Wellega(3)
At the same time the second branch Sadacha group of Macca mainly the Hulle clan
established the five Gibe states known as Limmu Enariya, Jimma, Gera, Gomma and
Gumma in the areas of todays Jimma zone.

In Kaffa and Janjero further south, the resistance against the Oromo had been fierce and
deeper penetration. On the other hand the majority of Nilo Saharans resisted only with
bows and poisoned arrows while the Oromos had effective cavalry and infantry armed
with spears, shields and special kinife Billabuta, sharp both sides purposely to cut heads
of enemy according to J.Goody(technology,tradition and the state of Africa 1971) (3)
The Mecca Oromo settlement in most of the Gibe region and western Shewa around
thier gedaa center,Tute bisil, was complete by the turn of the 17th Century.
By the end of the 18th century they had moved into the western corner of Gojjam
(Wambara),central and westeren wallaga and Illuaba bor, more or less completing
their expansion and settlement in western central Ethiopia. (3)
Conclusion

The Christian states contact with Enariya/Jimma,other Gibbe states apparently dated
back to the reign of the Aksumite ruler Degna Jan , and that with Damot/Wellega and
Gafat/south Gojjam to the Zagwe dynasty , while those with Hadeya and Gurage made
by Amdeseyon. (Pankhurst, 1997)

Therefore, they can be regarded as having a history of more than 3000 years equally like
Aksum and also be a family or close friend of Semitic empires since ancient times.
Although the current Ethiopian territory is officially made by Menelik II in the 19th century,
these western central Ethiopian regions of Oromia (Ennariya/jimma, Damot) were in
contact with north Abyssinians along before the 13th century.

If association with Semitic contacts suggested by Rechard Pankrust is not fair for narrow
minded Oromos,they should leave Wellega,Illuaba bor, and Jimma for Omotic and Nilotic
tribes since Damot and Enariya belongs to them 400 and 200 years ago respectively.

It would be the best solution if everyplace belongs to the whole Ethiopians denouncing
TPLF agenda of federalism based on ethnicity. Therefore Tplf should consider historical
facts such as western Oromia belongs originally to other ethnicity prior to the Oromo
expansion of 16th century and their full settlement in the 18th century! Stop eviction!

References
(Notes)
(1) http://en.wikipedia.org
(2) Richard Pankhurst, 1997.The Ethiopian Borderlands: Essays in Regional History
from Ancient Times to the End of the 18th Century Red Sea Press, 1997
(3) Tesema Taa ,2006. The Political Economy of an African Society in
Transformation: The Case of Macca Oromo (Ethiopia).
(4) David Shinn & Thomas Ofcansky,2004. Historical Dictionary of Ethiopia Africa
Series

Contributed by ABRAHAM Taye