Wolayita Ditcha University, while graduating more than 4,000 students this year, had given honorary doctorate for two individuals acknowledging their great exemplary contributions in their life time service for their country, Ethiopia. One of the honorable Doctors is Zebdiwos Chema. He is The Ethiopian Herald’s Guest today.
The Ethiopian Herald: Congratulations!
Zebdiwos: Thank you!
Herald: Would you tell us how you earned the honorary Doctorate?
Zebdiwos: I was a teacher for many years. For years, even though some efforts were observed, I had been curious and wondering why there was not a single person interested to deeply study the history and cultural values of the Wolayita people as other parts of the nation had become objects of focus. Being part of the society, I told myself that may be that could be my responsibility. It proved so indeed. So, I put myself in charge of this task and have been trying to discover and popularize the history and cultural values of Wolayita.
When I was observing and searching evidences people used to say “What is wrong with this person? Why is he wandering around jungles and caves like a wild animal?” But I was on discovery or unraveling mysteries. I would take a picture of what I had found and work with other archaeologists and historians to make justifications for the whole thing to be crystal clear. I came up with many fruitful findings and I have described every detail of the history and culture of Wolayta on my book which is on publication now.
Finally, the University and local administration recognized my effort and I received this honor.
Herald: What were the major findings and the things?
Zebdiwos: In Wolayita I myself had uncovered 112 monuments of a very long time. First I had taken photographs. I as well made measurements of those erected monuments as well as identified their patterns or characters. Then, I informed the government for extra study. The Federal Government sent experts and they started excavation under one of the stones, which is found in a place called Offa Gandaba.
As they slowly kept on digging deeper, they found a human fossil. That fossil had already turned into a brown powder because of their long age. The experts took a sample of the fossil and went to the Tiya (of Guragge Zone in SNNPs State, where similar erected stones where found and registered as world heritages by UNESCO.)
There, they found one monument, which has similarity in shape with the one they excavated in Wolayita. Both stones have a shape of a man’s body part and the experts also found human fossils underneath the stones. Then they went to a place called Gelma, in Sidama of SNNPs and dug a similar mysterious grave placed in a grave. There was found a fossil again.
Then the sample of the fossil that was found in Wolayita was sent to different institutions in Africa, Europe and United States of America for laboratory test. The result of the test from all the institutions showed that the monument was a grave yard of a man who lived 1,530 years before. There are several erected stones in different African and other countries outside Africa with different shapes.
Meanwhile, what makes the monuments in Wolayita different is that they all have similar patterns having the shape of men’s reproductive organ.
Hereald: What are the assumptions for the stones being carved with the shape of men’s private part?
Zebdiwos: Considering the fact that the stones with such shape were erected on top of human graves, we assume that they could be the graveyards of brave men. Those people could have been the kings or heroes of their time. Men who prove their manhood or bravery in battle fields or hunting usually win respects and recognition as heroes in most of our old traditions. So we believe that could be the reason why the stones have such shapes of a male’s private part.
There is also a grave with a unique character. It is found seven kilo meters from Wolayita Sodo town. On the grave a monument is erected bearing a shape of a man and a woman body parts joined together. A symbol of relief is manifest on her chest, while the man stands tall leaning on her head. We assume that this could probably be a grave of two loving couples.
Herald: What could be the indications behind these erected monuments and the fossils found underneath?
Zebdiwos: The archaeologists say that there had been an era of monuments on equator that had spread to Japan. Since the erected stones found in different parts of Ethiopia including Wolayita, are from that era, they indicate the level of civilization and creativity of our ancestors who lived during that time.
On the other hand, the difference of design between the monuments throughout the country indicates the diversity of culture. If you see the stones in Tiya of Gurage Zone, except the one with the shape of a man’s body part, all of the others have a design of Enset ventricosum, banana and other trees leafs.
Herald: Tell us about the characters of stones in Wolayita.
Zebdiwos: When we talk about the stones in Wolayita, their characters are like what I said earlier. The length of the tallest stone is 2.80 meters, which makes it the tallest of all in the country. I had seen the place. This stone was assumed to be carved from. It is said to have been carved in a place called Gurumu Pulte, a mining and carving factory area. There are still remains of pieces of stones there, where we could as well find additional monuments buried under.
With all the efforts of discovering these stones and triggering the interest of international experts, I have also tried to collect other historical and cultural values of the Wolayita people. I have also built houses with traditional designs of our ancient civilizations.
Herald: Can you tell us about the traditional housing designs and their implication?
Zebdiwos: In Wolayita, there are different types of traditional housing structures and designs. First as any preemptive society our ancestors lived in caves. Then for some reason or life in the caves proved hard. So they got out and built the first shades that they lived in with groups. Those shades are more like workshops even though they used local material like Hamicho tree, Jibba etc. Then they built better and nice houses called Zuffa, Bulanta, Legamameshawa and Dilmemeshowa in different times. Each and every house though has similar covering from the outside, their interior designs are different and they also tell different stories of civilization.
Zuffa for instance, has designs of sword, spear, shield and the face shape of undeveloped human facial structures. It also has the symbol of the dusk and dawn or morning and evening. While we assess the whole pattern, it has more of weapons and indicates that the time setting would have been a time of war or conflicts and wild adventure. It is a house built in the time of discovery.
Herald: What lessons could youths and scholars draw from your efforts and gains?
Zebdiwos: There is a lot to discover in Ethiopia and Wolayita in particular. I feel bad when the youth do not show interest in knowing their own country more than others. Scholars are still engaged in conducting research on historical things that have been repeatedly researched. But if they dig deeper there is more history and wisdom to find. If they do not explore the history and civilization of their own ancestors, who else would do it? I say they have to be more interested in their own history and culture.
Herald: Thank you for your time!
Zebdiwos: Thank you.
The Ethiopian Herald Sunday Edition 18 August 2019
BY HENOK TIBEBU
