The Web River, in Bale Zone of the Oromia State, cascades down from the rocky highland moorlands through deep gorges and tumbles down to forested hillsides until it slows its hectic decent to wind more quietly across Dinchu Plateau Valley. The River goes over one hundred and fifty kilometers far along until it reaches the limestone hills of the Wabe and makes its subterranean way through the natural caves.
The main entrance to the caves les in a small pleasant green valley not far from the village now called Sof Omar after a Muslim holy man who dwelt there for many years. The actual entrance is called Ayiew Maco after the daughter of Omar. The clear emerald stream here disappears into the hillside through deep pools and shadow ripples on its dazzling limestone bed, under a vast natural rock arch hidden in the foliage.
It is said that Allah revealed the opening to this limestone cave system to Sheikh Sof Omar in the 12th century. The sheikh and his followers used the caves as a mosque, a purpose to which the caves were well suited as they had been eroded into columns, buttresses, domes, vaults, and pillars – a natural architectural marvel still used as a gathering place by local Muslims.
Legend has it that Sof Omar was the name of a Muslim holy man who lived in the area while Ayiew was his daughter. Maco and Holuca are derived from the local dialects and they mean ‘name’ and ‘cave’, respectively.
The Sof Omar Cave, situated in the eastern part of Robe within the Oromia State in southern Ethiopia, is the longest cave in Ethiopia measuring about 15 km in length. With 40 main entrances and exits, the cave is also said to be the longest cave system in Africa. The Cave system is estimated to have been created between 23 and 5.3 Million of years, in the Miocene geological period.
The Weyib River flows through the Sof Omar Cave. The river sinks underground at the Ayiew Maco entrance and resurfaces about one kilometre downstream at Holuca.
Inside, the caves are cool and dry. Near the entrance the dim light filters through the crevices illuminating the strange workmanship of columns and buttresses which soar upwards like the vaults of the Gothic cathedral. Leaving behind the chatter of monkeys and last glimmer of daylight, the cavern descends into the earth: passing through a maze of passages and galleys polished through time by the trickling and gripping green water to a marble smoothness.
In the cool darkness, the river roars and foams through narrow crevices or glistens blackly around the great white pedestals of the giant columns. Bats softly flit about or hang in thousands from the vaulted ceilings. One and a half intricate subterranean kilometers later the river re-emerges at a place called “Holuca” which simply means “it appears” but where the caves are particularly impressive.
These caves have always had a prominent place in the life of the area. The local people, neither Christian nor Muslim, have long revered the shrine. They believe that their gods reside in trees and water and that these caves are the home of a particular deity and the caves thus has always been the object prayer and sacrifice. Small pouches and leather straps decorated with beads- offering of thanksgiving- hang from the rocky projections. Nowadays, Muslims from far and wide trek to the dwelling place of Omar the holy man. The big pilgrimage takes place on Ginbot 7, (May 15).
Whatever one’s religion, there is no doubt that the quiet beauty and grandeur of the great limestone arches and the ark ethereal depths induce an atmosphere of awe and mystery, though to the intrepid “caver” they are more of a challenge than a place of worship. It takes only an hour to pass through the caves following the map. However, it is essential to have proper equipment.
The Ethiopian Herald July 22, 2020
BY BETELHEM BEDLU
