The Political Economy of an African Society in Tranformation: the Case of Macca Oromo (Ethiopia)The official historiography of the Ethiopian Empire as well as the majority of the publications on Ethiopian history by European authors used to view the country as a single cultural whole, and to deal only with the history of the Christian empire. The different historical experiences of the Ethiopian multiethnic society and culture used to be usually ignored. In contrast to such one-sided approach this book deals with the Macca Oromo activities, social transformation and historical experiences in the western part of Central Ethiopia, focusing on the political economy of the region. The sources for the book include: 1. written documents in Ethiopian languages (Amharic and Ge'ez), e.g. archival materials, 2. reports by European travellers and missionaries, 3. recent secondary literature, and 4. traditions and oral history collected mainly in Wallagga in 1972-73 and 1979-80. In that region the Macca states had played an important political and economical role until they were subjugated by the order of Menelik II and incorporated into the Ethiopian Empire at the end of the 19th century. Tesema Ta'a belongs to the first generation of the Ethiopian historiographers who graduated from Addis Ababa University in the seventies, and later formed the teaching staff of the History department in Addis Ababa. |
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Contents
Preface | 9 |
Key to the transliteration system | 11 |
Introduction | 13 |
The Oromo origin and mass movement A critical appraisal | 17 |
The Macca expansion and settlement in western central Ethiopia | 31 |
Formation structure and function of the Macca states The case of Jimma and Leeqaa Naqamtee | 52 |
The Macca Oromo states and the creation of modern Ethiopian Empire | 69 |
The politics of centralization and local autonomy | 89 |
Imperial land policy The root of socioeconomic contradictions and mass poverty | 107 |
Conclusion | 119 |
Glossary | 123 |
Sources | 127 |
Common terms and phrases
Abba Jifar Abba Jifar II abbaa bokkuu abbaa qoroo Abbayya Abdissa Mossa Abir Abyssinia Addis Ababa University administrative Africa Amharic areas Arjo B.A. Thesis Bahrey Bakare Baxter Beke Bojji Borana Busase century Cerulli Christian church clans cultural Dajjazmach Deressa Dhidheessa Digga economic Emiru Gebre Emperor Ethiopian Empire Ethiopian Studies feudal Fitawrari formation gadaa gadaa system gasha Gibe Gibe region Gimbi Gobena Gojjam Gondar governor Graz groups Guduru Horro Horro-Guduru Huntingford Imbabo imperial internal Interview Jote Kafa Kanna king kingdom Kumsa labor leaders Leeqaa Naqamtee Leeqaa Qellam Leqa Naqamte Lewis Limmu London Macca Oromo major Menelik Menilek Menilek to Kumsa mootii Moroda Najjo Nilo-Saharan Omotic Oromia Oromo expansion Oromo word peasants production qabiyyee region Sept settlement Shambo Shawan Sibu social society socio-economic and political soldiers Ta'a Tamiru Guta Tarik taxes territories Tesema Tewodros tion trade traditions tribute Triulzi Wallagga western central Ethiopia Wolde Wollega woreda