Nomadic Muslims arrived to the area around Shoa Robit for the first time in the 9th century. As they settled there permanently they called the place Gozze, which means a place to settle permanently, says Aminu Indris, an elder from the local Argoba community.
The Mosque they built there has also existed since then to the present time. But the situation is so alarming that it needs due attention. Aminu said that the mosque is an indicator of tolerance among various nations where they live around Shoa Robit town of North Shoa Zone of Amhara State where Amhara, Argoba, Oromo, Afar, and others nations and nationalities live harmoniously.
The Mosque is one of the various ancient historical heritages in North Shoa Zone of Amhara state that make the area compete with the famous hub of historical sites of northern Ethiopia.
The problems surrounding the area are, among others the lack of awareness on the significance of such ancient heritages among the society as well as damage of the sites and heritage due to old age.
Zonal Culture and Tourism Office Head Tigist Mekauninte says out of the 24 woredas in the zone, the office has carried out exploration and registration of ancient heritages in 23 of them. In addition to the Ancient Gozze mosque, the manmade, natural, historical, and religious features in the zone include Emperor Menelik II’s ancient palace in the ancient Ankober town, Menze Gera forest reserve, Replica of the Lalibela Rock-hewn churches in Mojja neighborhood.
In addition to this, the procession by 44 arcs (tabot) during the celebration of Ketera, the eve of Ethiopian epiphany yearly celebration in Minjar-Shenkora, is a magnificent event that puts the place next to Gondar town for a colorful celebration of the holiday. Sama Senbet, is the only place where the mid-season of lent is celebrated next to Jerusalem.
The ceremony involves a splendid religious songs and dances. People start preparation for the celebration a month before by building makeshift reception halls. At least 1.5 million people from across the nation visit the place on the occasion of the celebration. This creates a good business opportunity for the local merchants, Tigist said.
Tigist also stated that the zone is undertaking a process of prioritizing heritages for registration. As to her, the actions taken are playing significant role to protect the heritage in sustainable manner. It does not mean that no obstacle is happened during the registration process. It is rather the zone has taking different activities on heritages.
“During heritages registration process, communities are concealed the heritages when they assume uninterested to registering process and believe on unnecessary distrust, while it was a big factor to realize its registration.’’
To solve the problem, the zone has been taking different action in collaboration with stockholders, various governmental organs and areas community therewith extending the system to preserve, conserve, help, and inspecting of heritages. It has also playing decisive role that the place will be change to tourist destination in the forthcoming years.
Architect at Authority of Heritage Conservation and Preservation Alemayehu Gebrewold, says heritages are the finger print of country’s societies and the symbol of civilization. Although Ethiopia is home to various ancient heritages, it is difficult to say heritages are adequately preserved from damaged and renewed timely due to various reasons.
Due to lack of maintenance, the historical Monumental Mosque become on the way of difficulty or distracting. Currently, the Mosque needs 2.7 million Birr for rehabilitation, building fence, guest house and roads among others. Before the current research open here, societies who live round the Mosque attempted to rescue the mosque from destruction through traditional method of maintenance. But the mosque needs modern and research based maintenance.
Since the present research is based on systematic renewed, use the best materials, and the likes, it is likely to play indispensable role to safeguard the mosque guaranteeing at least 100 years without any renewal, he noted.
To realize this, many experts will be participating on the way of renewed the mosque. However, it does not mean that no hinders are persisted in the renew process, it is rather stockholders are become formed strong ties among them. Particularly, the road is from Shoa Robit town to Gozze mosque is so meandering that it reduces the accessibility of the place.
Moreover, any attempt to renew the mosque needs at least six month period only to prepare the gypsum mixture that is the typical material used in the construction. He stressed that, in addition to Gozze mosque many historical heritages are also facing threat of destruction.
In order to safeguard from various damaged, each citizen has playing their own responsibility, while give heritages patent right to the community, stockholders participation therewith ensure community’s beneficiary from the heritages has playing vital role to realize heritages preservation across the nation.
Aminu added that the finance members are collected one million Birr from the sum need amount of 2.7 million Birr to safeguard the ancient historical monument mosque therewith facilitate its infrastructures. In addition to this, the remaining amount money will be collected for the coming few years by collaboration with stockholders.
Not only the ancient historical mosque renew around Shoa Robit town but also other places should be protected from any risky and it should be converted tourism destination or hub of tourism destination, Aminu underlined.
The Ethiopian Herald March 9, 2019
BY MESERET BEHAILU
