Lecture 3: The birth of ‘non-Abyssinian thinking’
In lecture two, I have discussed my first key concept of the series- the ‘Abyssinian thinking’. I concluded that this concept was born out of centuries of conquests and invasions, expansions and contractions, growth and decline.
I have also argued that the ‘Abyssinian thinking’ is based on unique survivalist instincts based on the following two clear beliefs;
Belief 1: Abyssinians have to economically & socially survive through expansion and conquests of surrounding territories and their inhabitants
Belief 2: Abyssinians’ existence depends on defending Christianity against the rise of Islam, and the proselytisation of followers of Pagan religions in the region.
In lecture 3, I will introduce my second and final key concept of the series- the ‘ non-Abyssinian thinking’.
To understand the concept, I will use a period, which I will argue is one of the most important formative periods of the history of Abyssinian empire-building and conquest.
The period in question is between 1855–1913 and I am particularly interested in between 1889–1913(I will explain later why this period is interesting).
In mid to late 19th century, was a period where European empires were fighting over the control of Africa. The leading Empires squabbling with one another in the Horn of Africa were, Britain, Italy followed by France. Needless to say, the British was the largest empire followed by the Italians.
Coincidentally, this period was also a time when the project of Abyssinia had suffered from some internal conflicts. The source of the internal conflicts was due to several princesses fighting for control of the Abyssinian project.
Between 1855- 1889 two princesses are worth mentioning them, Tewodros who becomes Emperor Tewodros before he took his own life, and Yohannes who also becomes Emperor Yohannes IV before he was killed in a battle with Mahdist forces from Sudan.
These two Emperors were ethnic Amhara and Tigre respectively. Although their reigns( mainly in the Northern plateau) were short and brutal, they steadied the ship carrying the Abyssinian project.
Earlier, I mentioned that I am interested in between 1889 and 1913. Here is why this period is interesting. After the death of Emperor Yohannes, arguably the most successful and cleverest political figure of Abyssinian history takes the reigns- his name is Menelik of Shoa.
Professor John Markakis, who is an eminent scholar of Ethiopian history calls him a ‘ milestone……. in the Christian kingdom and Ethiopian history’. Menelik earns these adjectives because of his brutal imperialistic attitude towards non-Abyssinian ethnic groups. Menelik using vast military power would conquer territory after territory, any ethnic groups who organised themselves to defend were obliterated by the brutal ruler and his vast arms.
According to Markakis Menelik’s ethnic cleansing and territorial expansion started in Shoa province where at the time the population stood 2.5 Million of which 1 Million were ‘Amharigna speaking Christians’ and the rest were ‘ Oromo and Afar Muslims’.
In short period of time Menelik de-populated Shoa of non-Abyssinians, turning into Amharigna speaking Christian centre, by Baptised those who submitted and ethnically cleansing those who resisted.
Before he died in 1913, Menelik was able to design the current political map of Ethiopia, by conquering more than 82 ethnic groups and their territories. Except for a brief Italian invasion and subsequent Abyssinian victory, Menelik had a free ride from the European empires to subjugate, extract and de-populate as he wished.
Out of Menelik’s subjugation, de-population, economic extractions and territorial annexation of non-Abyssinians between 1889- 1913, my second major concept- ‘ non-Abyssinian thinking’ comes into being.
I will argue that the ‘non-Abyssinian thinking’ is a belief fully or partially internalised by all non-Abyssinian ethnic groups in Ethiopia during this period, and it is based on the following two major thinking.
- Ethiopia is political geography created to serve Christian Abyssinian ethnic groups while marginalising the rest
- Non-Abyssinian ethnic groups are part of modern Ethiopia through conquests and subjugation rather than through their own accord.
In the final lecture of the series, I will attempt to answer the guiding question of the series: Why Ethiopia is in perpetual conflict with itself? using the disparity between the ‘Abyssinian thinking and Non-Abyssinian thinking’. I will also suggest a solution, which I will argue, has the potential to usher what I call a ‘redress of history’ if Ethiopia is to be at peace with itself.
