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{{more citations needed|date=March 2021}} |
{{more citations needed|date=March 2021}} |
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{{short description|Subbranch of Oromo people in Ethiopia}} |
{{short description|Subbranch of Oromo people in Ethiopia}} |
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The '''Yeju''' or '''Yejju people''', were people that were first mentioned in the 16th century ''Futuḥ al-Ḥabash'' chronicle under the name '''Al-Ejju''' who inhabited a district called "Qawat” located in eastern [[Shewa]]. They were originally [[Christians]] but many were converted to Islam by [[Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi|Ahmad Gran]] and assist him in his conquest of [[Bete Amhara]] and eventually settled in [[Angot]] instead of returning back to their home in Qawat.<ref name=":0">{{cite book |last1=Aregay |first1=Merid |url=https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.308149 |title=Southern Ethiopia and the Christian kingdom 1508 - 1708, with special reference to the Galla migrations and their consequences. |publisher=University of London |year=1971 |page=138-139}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Melaku |first=Misganaw Tadesse |date=2020 |title=Social and political history of Wollo Province in Ethiopia: 1769-1916 |url=https://etd.uwc.ac.za:443/xmlui/handle/11394/7290 |journal=University of the Western Cape |language=en |pages=98-99}}</ref> The Al-Ejju spoke a language that could have been Amharic.<ref name=":1" /> According to the Historian [[Merid Wolde Aregay]] there can be little doubt that the Al-Ejju that are mentioned in Futuḥ al-Habasha are the forefathers of the latter known Yejju people of the [[Zemene Mesafint]] period. The [[Oromo people|Oromo]] who failed to completely assimilate them know the Yejju by the name of “warra sheik”. <ref name=":0" /> Due to their native origin, the yejju spoke [[Amharic]] and adapted themselves more readily and rapidly than the rest of the oromo clans in wollo to the traditional social and political structures of Christian Ethiopia.<ref name=":02">{{cite book |last1=Aregay |first1=Merid |url=https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.308149 |title=Southern Ethiopia and the Christian kingdom 1508 - 1708, with special reference to the Galla migrations and their consequences. |publisher=University of London |year=1971 |page=139}}</ref> |
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[[File:James_Bruce_-_Woodage_Asahel_Wearing_Ceremonial_Headband_-_B1977.14.8771_-_Yale_Center_for_British_Art.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Portrait of Woodage Asahel, Warra Sheik [[Oromo people|Oromo]] ruler of [[Gondar]]]] |
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The Yejju dynasty were known as the "Warra Sheik", meaning; the descendant of Sheikh Omar. According to the Yejju tradition Sheikh Omar was from [[Arabian Peninsula|Arabia]] who during the [[Ethiopian–Adal War|Adal war]] settled in Angot/yejju. His descendants (the Yejju dynasty) dominated Ethiopia during the [[Zemene Mesafint]] period.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite book |last1=Prouty |first1=Chris |URL=https://archive.org/details/empresstaytumeni0000prou |title=Empress Taytu and Menilek II : Ethiopia, 1883-1910 |publisher=Addis Ababa University |year=1986 |page=28}}</ref> |
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The |
The ethnic makeup of the Yejju was complex. It can be conclude that the Yejju are the results of various layers of people: the [[Amhara people|Amhara]] population of [[Angot]], remnants of the forces of [[Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi|Ahmad Gragn]], and the migrating [[Oromo people|Oromo]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Melaku |first=Misganaw Tadesse |date=2020 |title=Social and political history of Wollo Province in Ethiopia: 1769-1916 |url=https://etd.uwc.ac.za:443/xmlui/handle/11394/7290 |journal=University of the Western Cape |language=en |pages=99}}</ref> |
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Before the [[Oromo expansion]], there was also an ethnic group who resided where the Warra Sheik resided who also go by the same name as Yejju.<ref name=":0">{{cite book |last1=Aregay |first1=Merid |url=https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.308149 |title=Southern Ethiopia and the Christian kingdom 1508 - 1708, with special reference to the Galla migrations and their consequences. |publisher=University of London |year=1971 |page=138-139}}</ref> This ethnic group who was also called Yejju were Semetic speaking Christians who would soon be replaced by the invading northward Oromos. |
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The Warra Sheik who ruled the "House of Yejju" would rule most of Ethiopia during the [[Zemene Mesafint]], or the "Ages of Judges", changing the language in the court of Gondar to the [[Oromo language]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Africa :: Ethiopia — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-worldfactbook/countries/ethiopia/|access-date=2020-06-29|website=www.cia.gov}}</ref><ref>Pankhurst, Richard, ''The Ethiopian Royal Chronicles'', (London:Oxford University Press, 1967), pp. 139–43.</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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During the 19th century, the Yejju dynasty, more specifically, the Warra Sheik, or sons of the Sheikh, ruled much of the Ethiopian Empire during the Zemene Mesafint or "Era of the Princes" period. Throughout the era, different ethnic groups, clans and communities made short-term alliances to acquire economic advantage and political power.The rulers of the Yejju dynasty were converts to Christianity, but their power base was the powerful Wollo Muslim principalities such as Yejju, Warra Himano, and Raayyaa. |
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According to Shihab ad-Din's Futuḥ al-Ḥabash, the Yejju were described as a population who were [[Semitic languages|Semetic speaking]]. They inhabited "Kewet" and were a predominantly Christian population. During the 16th century [[Oromo expansion|Oromo expansions]], they were assimilated as a sub-clan of the Barento branch of Oromo people. |
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The Yejju were ruled by the "Warra Sheik," or descendant of Sheikh Omar. Sheikh Omar was a Yemeni Islamic religious leader who married Woyzero Rajiya, a daughter of a noble man of the Yajju district. The descendants of Sheikh Omar were, thus, most commonly refer to as Wara Sheh, meaning "Sons of the Sheikh," Throughout the era, different ethnic groups, clans, and communities made short-term alliances to acquire economic advantage and political power. |
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As early as 1890, under the reign of [[Menelik II]], the homeland of the Yejju was organized into an Ethiopian province (awrajja) named |
As early as 1890, under the reign of [[Menelik II]], the homeland of the Yejju was organized into an Ethiopian province ([[awrajja]]) named for them. It was bordered by the Alewuha River to the north, separating it from [[Kobo (woreda)|Raya Qobbo]] awrajja, the [[Mille River]] to the south, separating it from [[Were Babu]] district, the [[Afar Depression]] to the east, and the highlands of [[Ambassel]] to the west. [[Woldiya]] served as its capital city. With the adoption of ethnic federalism in 1994 and the abolishment of the awrajja administrative structure, Yejju became divided between the [[woreda|districts]] of [[Habru]], [[Weldiya|Woldiya town]], and the mid-altitude portion of [[Guba Lafto]]. Due to the assimilation of Yejju Oromos into the dominant Habesha culture beginning at the turn of the 19th century, the Yejju presently found in the [[Amhara Region]] overwhelmingly identify as [[Amhara people|Amharas]].<ref>[http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Ethiopia%20Administrative%20Map%20%28As%20of%2027%20Mar%202013%29.pdf Ethiopia Administrative Map as of 2013]</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 14:08, 14 December 2023
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2021) |
The Yeju or Yejju people, were people that were first mentioned in the 16th century Futuḥ al-Ḥabash chronicle under the name Al-Ejju who inhabited a district called "Qawat” located in eastern Shewa. They were originally Christians but many were converted to Islam by Ahmad Gran and assist him in his conquest of Bete Amhara and eventually settled in Angot instead of returning back to their home in Qawat.[1][2] The Al-Ejju spoke a language that could have been Amharic.[2] According to the Historian Merid Wolde Aregay there can be little doubt that the Al-Ejju that are mentioned in Futuḥ al-Habasha are the forefathers of the latter known Yejju people of the Zemene Mesafint period. The Oromo who failed to completely assimilate them know the Yejju by the name of “warra sheik”. [1] Due to their native origin, the yejju spoke Amharic and adapted themselves more readily and rapidly than the rest of the oromo clans in wollo to the traditional social and political structures of Christian Ethiopia.[3]
The Yejju dynasty were known as the "Warra Sheik", meaning; the descendant of Sheikh Omar. According to the Yejju tradition Sheikh Omar was from Arabia who during the Adal war settled in Angot/yejju. His descendants (the Yejju dynasty) dominated Ethiopia during the Zemene Mesafint period.[1][2][4]
The ethnic makeup of the Yejju was complex. It can be conclude that the Yejju are the results of various layers of people: the Amhara population of Angot, remnants of the forces of Ahmad Gragn, and the migrating Oromo.[5]
History
During the 19th century, the Yejju dynasty, more specifically, the Warra Sheik, or sons of the Sheikh, ruled much of the Ethiopian Empire during the Zemene Mesafint or "Era of the Princes" period. Throughout the era, different ethnic groups, clans and communities made short-term alliances to acquire economic advantage and political power.The rulers of the Yejju dynasty were converts to Christianity, but their power base was the powerful Wollo Muslim principalities such as Yejju, Warra Himano, and Raayyaa.
As early as 1890, under the reign of Menelik II, the homeland of the Yejju was organized into an Ethiopian province (awrajja) named for them. It was bordered by the Alewuha River to the north, separating it from Raya Qobbo awrajja, the Mille River to the south, separating it from Were Babu district, the Afar Depression to the east, and the highlands of Ambassel to the west. Woldiya served as its capital city. With the adoption of ethnic federalism in 1994 and the abolishment of the awrajja administrative structure, Yejju became divided between the districts of Habru, Woldiya town, and the mid-altitude portion of Guba Lafto. Due to the assimilation of Yejju Oromos into the dominant Habesha culture beginning at the turn of the 19th century, the Yejju presently found in the Amhara Region overwhelmingly identify as Amharas.[6]
References
- ^ a b c Aregay, Merid (1971). Southern Ethiopia and the Christian kingdom 1508 - 1708, with special reference to the Galla migrations and their consequences. University of London. p. 138-139.
- ^ a b c Melaku, Misganaw Tadesse (2020). "Social and political history of Wollo Province in Ethiopia: 1769-1916". University of the Western Cape: 98–99.
- ^ Aregay, Merid (1971). Southern Ethiopia and the Christian kingdom 1508 - 1708, with special reference to the Galla migrations and their consequences. University of London. p. 139.
- ^ Prouty, Chris (1986). Empress Taytu and Menilek II : Ethiopia, 1883-1910. Addis Ababa University. p. 28.
- ^ Melaku, Misganaw Tadesse (2020). "Social and political history of Wollo Province in Ethiopia: 1769-1916". University of the Western Cape: 99.
- ^ Ethiopia Administrative Map as of 2013