Ankober a treasury of heritages

(A travel story)

In collaboration with North Showa Administrative State, Ethiopian Writers Association (EWA) and Kokeb Media and Adv. Organization had conducted their 6^th trip under the theme «Hiyaw Yetibeb Guzo Wede Tarikawitu Midr Showa» «(Everlasting Artistic Trip to historical land, Showa)» . Accordingly, invited literary figures, journalists, artists, musicians, painters, historians, researchers and members of EWA visited historical places and ecclesiastical sites North Showa from October 5, 2012 to October 10, 2012E.C.

Places in the long visit catalogue were the Cave Church of Abune Zerea bruke, the ancient High School of Abeto Negase kiristos Wored Qal and Arba hara Medhanealem of Menth Mama mider, Zebire Gebriel Church of Lalo midir, the natural beauty and tourist attractive places of Guassa of Menth Gera. The rock hewn Church of Miskabe Qidusan Medhanealem monastrey, Mojana Wedra (Sela dengay), and Ankober and Koremash. Arba hara Medhanealem was established by an Egyptian monk Abune Zerea bruke. Also, Koremash was a place where Emperor Menelik established warehouses to deposit weapons mindful of Italian invasions and violence.

In Zebbir St Gebriel zema bet, currently there are 400 students. Their teacher was the 106 years old, memhire Aklilu, who came from Gondar, Gaynt to that place before 50 years ago. But in case of tiredness, he was replaced by yeneta Tibebu. In Lalo midir, additional historical places, monastries and the anciet prison of Afkera, which is located at the top of a huge and cold mountain are found.

It is narrated that Ankober was founded in 333, during the reign of the kings Abriha and Atsbiha. The earliest records of Ankober as an administrative center dates back to the 12^th century, when King Yikuno Amlak established his base in the area. More recently Ankober was recognized as the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Shoa, Ethiopia, with Merid Azmatch Amha Iyesus (1745-1775), a ruler that descended from the Solomonic dynasty, being credited as the founder.

His descendants ruled from Ankober for around a century and a number of Shoan rulers,most prominent being King Sahle Selassie, the grandfather of Emperor Haile Selassie I, were buried in the churchyards in the area .

Shoan Kings that hailed from Ankober are listed below. Abiye Qedami Qal (1720 – 1745), Merid Azmatch Amha Iyesus, founder of Ankober (1745 – 1775), Asfa Wossen (1775 – 1808), Wossen Sagad (1808 – 1813), Sahle Selassie (1813 – 1847), Haile Melekot (1847 – 1855), Menelik as King (1865 – 1889), Menelik as Emperor of Ethiopia (1889 – 1913). As well royal «guests» and dignitaries did reside on the hill-top palace. During Menelik’s campaign to unify Ethiopia, the following kings and rebel dignitaries were detained at Ankober, where ancient civilization and modernization flourished. .

These were King Tona, of Wolayta, King Tchinito, of Kaffa, Ras Wolie Betul, of Yeju, Ras Hailu Teklehaymanot, of Gojjam, Ras Mengesha Yohannes, of Tigray and Dejach Tayye Gulilat, of Kaffa. Friendly and brotherly, all these great men maintained Ethiopian unity, sovereignty, territory integrity, freedom and peaceful existence of their people. During the reign of Emperor Menelik II, Britain, France and Italy established diplomatic missions in Ankober. For the first time, modern education in English, French and Italy was also introduced in that area, and the sites of their missions can still be distinguished.

After divorcing Weyzero Bafena, Menelik married Itegue Taytu at the Ankober Medhane Alem Church, where the golden wedding cloak is still kept.

Ankober is 172 kilometers far away from Addis Ababa. In the East, it is surrounded by Afar State, in the West, with Basonna Wrana, in the North part, with Tarma ber, in the South area with Asagirt districts.

In Ankobre historical places and tourist attractions are available. To state some, the Palace on the Hill of Ankober and Aliyu Amba can be seen as an example. The Palace at the Hill of Ankober was built in 1830 E.C. during the reign of Sahile Silase, King of Showa. Emperor Menelik II settled in Ankober escaping from the hostage of Emperor Thewodros II.

He renewed the Ankober Palace attractively. Aliyu Amba was a town that used to control excise tax, illegal imports and taxes in general in order to strength the state’s revenue. Also Aliyu Amba was called as a home of handicrafts, who prepared jewelries such as shields , spears ,crowns, cloths to Emperor Menelik II and to his officials .

Then, in1884 E.C, for the first time, Emperor Menelik II standing at the top of Ankober Palace, communicated with Aliyu Amba using telecommunication technology. Hence, he corresponded from Aliyu Amba with Harar. In 1886 Menelik decided to move the capital to its current location, Addis Ababa, where the ancient Ethiopian Kings live and communicated again using telephone and postal service from Addis to Harar.

The Palaces that were built by Emperor Menelik II in Addis Ababa and Addis Alem Maryam are similar to Ankober Palace. Ankober Palace has an elevation of 2,870 meters. It is a very attractive one. Somebody, who stands atop the Palace situated at the hilltop can overlook as far as the Awash valley and the beautiful landscape of Afar.

The ancient town of excise and revenue, Aliyu Amba, which has an elevation of 1,775 metres was established in 1266 E.C. Its name was taken from a known businessman «Aliye». Aliyu Amba was a convenient root to traders, who came from the far distance. It was a trade center convenient for the export and import of different goods through the port of Zeyla.

Moreover, true to Harer, Aliyu Amba is called a place of love since different nationalities live together peacefully and harmoniously with the people of Argobba. At Ankober, we saw firsthand « Birara bridge» which was constructed during the reign of King SAhile Sellase. Ankober Medhanealem Museum, which is located there, houses many precious heritages, which were presented to the Church by ancient Ethiopian Kings and foreign Leaders.

In addition a rock hewn Church called St. Gabreal church, which was constructed during the time of Merid Azmatch Amha Iyesus, Ankober St. Michael Church, which was magnificently built by King Sahile Selase, the Qundi George Defence Wall, which was built by King Wossen Sagadand inside his royal Palace and the Wef Waha Natural Forest, which boasts different birds and covers 9,000 hectars serve as tourist attractions. One of the heritages of Ankober is «Lik marfiya ». There is a saying that Lik marfiya was a place where Church scholars take rest .At this place is found the tombs of foreign Plan and Geography Specialists, the tomb of Antonele, who was Emperor Menelik’s private Italian Doctor.

The Abdul Mejid historical place is located at Ankober, Wahsa Kebele. At this place, slave trade was practiced. Also, at Wahsa Kebele, one observes a historical Mosque, which was erected between 1285 and 1415 E.C. It is believed that this Mosque played quite a role in extending its thought to Ethiopian Muslims. At this place, two historical tombs, by the name Hudad and Fiqar among others are famous.

At the tomb of Hudad, buried are found Abdul Nasir, a founder of that place, different noble men, officials and well recognized elders. At the tomb of Fiqar, that was renamed by the name of Neggadras Mehammed Fiqar, were buried the handsome or the beautiful ones. The two tombs consists more than 3,000 people, including men and women. The tombs were built attractively. The names and the short stories of the mortals are written in Arabic.

The Ethiopian Herald Sunday Edition 24 November 2019

 BY TADDELE GDLIE TSEGAYE (PhD)