According to their traditions they mark out their roots to Menelik I* (the child born of the queen of Sheba and King Solomon). It is believed that the Sabaean (Sheban) people began to settle on the west coast of the Red Sea, from their home in southern Arabia, about 1000 BC.
By about 1500 BC their civilization became the Axum Empire, based on an assortment of the Sabaean culture and the Cushitic culture.
Certain Semitic-speaking tribes, particularly the Agazyan, established the Kingdom of Aksum around two 2000 years ago, and this extended to include what is now:
• Eritrea
• Northern Ethiopia
• Portions of Yemen and
• Portions of Sudan
It is believed that the Amhara inherit their religion and tradition from Axum. The region now known as “Amhara” in the feudal period was comprised of several provinces with greater or less autonomy, covering:
• Begemder
• Gojjam
• Qwara and
• Lasta.
Amhara warlords repeatedly struggled for power of the realm with Tigrayan warlords. Though many branches of the Imperial dynasty were from the Amharic speaking area, a considerable amount was from Tigray.
The Amharas appeared to gain the upper hand with the accession of the so-called Gondar line of the Imperial dynasty in the starting of the 17th century.
Nevertheless, it soon failed into the semi-anarchic era of Zemene Mesafint (meaning “Era of the Princes”), in which adversary warlords fought for power and the Yejju Oromo had effective control.
The Tigrayans only made a short return to the throne in the person of Yohannes IV, whose death in 1889 allowed the capital to go back to the Amharic speaking province of Shewa.
Historians usually believe the Amhara to have been Ethiopia’s ruling elite for centuries, represented by the line of Emperors ending in Haile Selassie.
Many commentators, including Marcos Lemma, nevertheless, dispute the truth of such a statement, arguing that other ethnic groups have always been active in the country’s politics.
One likely source of confusion for this stems from the mislabeling of all Amharic-speakers as “Amhara”, and the fact that many people from other ethnic groups have Amharic names.
Another is the fact that most Ethiopians can trace their descent to multiple ethnic groups. In fact, the last Emperor, Haile Selassie I, often counted himself a member of the Gurage tribe on account of his ancestry, and his Empress, Itege Menen Asfaw of Ambassel, was in large part of Oromo ancestry.
The extended use of Amharic language results mostly from its being the language of the court, and was progressively adopted out of usefulness by many unrelated groups, who then became known as “Amhara” no matter what their ethnic origin.
Feel free to have your say on the debate associated with this topic and we’re glad to publish it in this blog.
* Menelik I was the first of the Solomonic line of rulers of Ethiopia that ended only with the overthrowing of Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974.
Keywords: Amhara, Menelik I, Sabaean culture, Cushitic culture, Agazyan, Amharic, Tigrinya, Zemene Mesafint, Yejju Oromo, Yohannes IV, Shewa, Gurage tribe, Itege Menen Asfaw, Emperor Haile Selassie I,
Dear members of this forum,
I don’t understand how Amhara becomes an ethnic group. (I am also responding to the entry “Derivation of the Name Amhara” where Amhara is stated as an ethnic group). The people group we now know as Amhara have undergone a series of historical evolution. Evidently the Agew of old except few predominantly speak Amharic and hence lost their identity as distinct from their compatriots that claim to be of a different stock. The history of Amhara indicates that they do not necessary praise common genealogy or ancestry, as that is only reserved for the elect few, the specific Solomonic Dynasty. The presumption is that all the rest, except for that family, have lost their pure genealogy. Otherwise, any Amhara could have qualified for the Crown.
Besides, don’t forget the Behere Tigre, the true Axumites. They also identify themselves (even more so sometimes) with Sabeans. Without going into much detail, both groups Amhara and Tigre belong to the common Ge’ez. Historians I know so far trace that the language of the Ag’azian is most probably Ge’ez and not Tigre or Amharic showing that these languages have evolved in Ethiopia and not in Saba (or Sheba).
One more thing – the Queen of Sheba is also mentioned as the Queen from the South (or of azeb in Ge’ez). That is south-east according to Ge’ez, precisely. That is to mean that the queen is from south east of Jerusalem, indicating that the queen is most probably from Yemen. Isn’t that what the Yemeni believe? Check it out for yourself. Notice also that the queen is not called Sheba. She is the queen of the people called Sheba, at least that is what it means in Ge’ez when you say ‘Negeste Saba’ – queen of the Sabeans. It is also the same in English, the Queen of Sheba (i.e. of the people called Sheba).
(Not a final proof but for comparison of various claimants check the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/cultures/sheba_01.shtml)
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the guardian of the Kingdom, tells the story of the Axumites and how their forefathers crossed the Red See and established their kingdom – the main trust of Kibre Negest’s purpose to establish the story of Minilik I rests on this. However, it is not proof enough to say that the Amhara are (Tigre included) truly a people from non-African blood. To be exact, the one thing the people wanted to established is (was) that they are of Semitic stock, in the very thing evidence is lacking. Saba, Biblically speaking, could be of the stock of Kush (Cush) as stated in Gen 10:7 (see also 1 Chron 1:9) as they are of Shem as in Gen 10:28.
There is no question that most Ethiopians trace their descent to multiple ethnic origin. Isn’t that one of the reasons why they are called Habeshi in Arabic (to mean mixed race though the meaning in time got corrupted and became so scornfully representing bastard or slave – one that does not have a noble descent in either case). Well, the fact is, even most Ayssinians of old and many Amhara people do not have high regard for one with mixed race. It is the general culture of Mediterranean people. That is why one must stick to one family and made to forget the other (preferably stick to the most prominent) when born to inter-married couples.
In conclusion, I can safely say that the history and culture of Amhara is not yet fully explored. The history of this great people was overshadowed by the wishes of ruling elites (the Kings), on the one hand, and the unfounded claims (to say the least) of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, on the other hand. Until recently, by blind acceptance of the self appointed historians of Ethiopia (both from the Church or the croniclers of the kings) Amhara acted as if they were the center of the world and considered themselves so privileged that they inherited the three thousand years history of the Horn of Africa. The fact remains that little is known about the people that speak the language Amharic. It only misses the mark to say that those that speak the language are ethnically Amhara. Amharic is the language spoken in todays northern Ethiopia. People from many ethnic origins have come to embrace Amharic as their common language.
The language is surely classified as belonging to the Semitic group, though that does not mean the people speaking that language are also Semites. Even the Sabeans are not conclusively Semites.
Respectfully,
FDLetta
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I have a request. I don’t know where to put it so …here it is. There are tales of a tribe in Ethiopia that is very isolated and stays that way by maintaining a fierce reputation. I have heard that they don’t let anyone near and anyone who gets too close gets killed.
Sound familiar? Who are these people? Why do they keep separate from others? And where are they?
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the Amharas willl continue to live inspite of your fucken propogandas
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How did early European colonialism change the Amhara culture?
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i do not give any comment to you because of the
best work of your site make me silent as consiuos.
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You are absolutly right, I am much interested to appreciate you .I think If you e mail me, in the future we will change alot of informaition about this.
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Waw Minilik is the Man!! No one did such a wonderful job till today!! What a briliant leader in those days. We always love u, respect u and proud of you.
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Como posso saber sobre, uma possivel história que afirma que Maria Madalena proveio deste lugar?
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QUERIA SABER, SE TEM COMO PROVAR À EXISTÊNÇIA DE MARIA MADALENA NESTE ESTADO?
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Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.
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I’m shocked by the hight of their ignorance.
I don’t even know what to call these people (amahra).They have no original identity but, monkeys come out of the mountain and become shameful black ass who claim to be semantic(what or arb). I was watching CNN and commentator said”ethiopian can not be or are not white The hight of their ignorant, limitless lies, munubering stories, claim to make oromo mind as theirs. All great writter, educators, innovators, heroes, well known figures come from oromo. Tigre’s are the most backward tribe, axum is not their civilaztion.Axum was built by kush people who left their mark behind when they move to other locations and places. Tigre’s are the Starved tribe let alone building Axum. All their story is fabrication and lies. you can see and compare with what comes out of meles zenawi the so call prime minister of thiefs. Good luck with your so call seminticism
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Plese I need historical back ground of Amhara People because I am one of them
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goog more info
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OROMO MEAN CIVILIZATION CIVILIZATION MEAN OROMO.
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I am seeking to about Amhara people because of I am one of them.mind u!many amharic speakers are not amhara people so I confuse to the Amhara historical background.
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If oromos ofcourse not all of them but those associated with negative and blood thirsty elements continue their shallow,childish,ignorant,selfish,and ethno-centric nazistic views,ther is no need to give them space but ignore them completly until they start to shut their shameful big mouth for good.HA!HA!HA!
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As an oromo it makes me sick to my stomach to see oromos residing in Europe,etc.,absolutley deny history and blindly preach a unitary and artificialy created propaganda about other people,inparticular amharas.If you go back and look facts oromos like Gobena,Abajifar,etc allied themselves to a nation building campaign,that resulted in the farmation of the modern ethioian state.In as much as amharas oromos also took part at all levels in realising Meniliks plan of one Ethiopia.In short let us not base our opinions based on lies and enuendo.After all we all are inter married and mixed .That is why both amharas and oromos are some what equally wide spread through out ethiopia than any other Ethiopian ethnic groups.We need peace,mutual respect and hard work to bring our people out of poverty than focus on petty differences and biased bickering.God bless.
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You foolish people, I don’t want to mention you name, please read the articlte wrote by By Fikre Tolossa, Ethiopian Review, April 1993 which is availabe at http://www.ethiopianreview.com/news/1196
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What ignorance!!!…..they came in 1000 BC and in 1500 BC their civilazation became Axum empire???…how does that happen? Oh !..they must have time machine which return the world back in 500 yrs. Great Civilization!!!….lol… Habesha’s civilaztion is Teje(araqe) and eating Raw meat. Dude, did u chew to much khat or are U from Tejebet?
The second paragraph is not right. it is better if you correct it. you said “By about 1500 BC(but it is around 500Bc) their civilization became the Axum Empire, based on an assortment of the Sabaean culture and the Cushitic culture.”…..Semitic groups had never been in North eastern Africa before 1000 BC as you mentioned in your first paragraph. So Correct it!!!!
i don’t have any problem on what you said about Amhara but Amhara is well known by killing someone’s language, identity and Culture. Many Ancient tribes of Ethiopia extincted by Amhara including Gafat,Quara, Felasha,Weyto, and Qemante. The population of Agawe is reduced to minority.The biggest Victim of Amhara hegmony is Geez language which was used as national language of Zagew dynasty (cushitic dynisty formed after Axum). Amazingly you didn’t mentioned about them rather you included them as Amhara or tigre who struggled for power while they are neither Amhara or nor tigru. Again don’t forget Geez is not Amhara’s or tigru’s or Semitic tribes’s language. Geez borrowed some Sabean alphabet (which was written from left to right as other semitic language ) ,added their own symbols and changed its way of writing. Amazingly Geez have strongly or weakly stressed Consanat like other Cushitic language (also it has high similarity to Agew language).Around 1000 yrs ago, Amhara(Solomonic dynasty) came to power and destoryed Geez, took its Alphabet as their only Alphabet and change its regulation so that it fits only to Amharic. I always Wonder why Historians(habesha +foreigner) refer Geez as Semtic language. if Agew language is not Semitic how can Geez be semtic language?
it is true that all modern day population of Amhara are not the ancestors of Menelik I or are not the ancestors of five semitic tribes migrated from Yeman. At least half population of Amhara Orginated from Agew(awi +Waghemera),Self-hating oromo and extincted tribes like Qemante, Quara,Zege(weyto) and Damote.
Qumatani Qumata Kalalute ……liftefte yelale!!
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WOW!so far we’ve seen various interpretations of Ethiopian history.What Lol attempted to paint is by far un academic and pure fabrication .I give you 0 out of 10.I am an Eritrean, I tell you Amharas are not in the list of my favorite people,but when someone like you echo a ” crocodile cry ” , your empty knowledge of history needs to be exposed.Look ,try to go back to school ,build some background of rationality and write something mature,STOP CHILDISHNESS!!
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Kaleab…i thought i wrote something about history of Sabean but not Ethiopian. so what is your point with your statement ……”so far we’ve seen various interpretations of Ethiopian history”? what part of my writing is Pure Fabrication?
I tried to show how ignorant the writer of this history of Amhara. 1st he didn’t know how to count years in BC era. 2nd he ignored Zagew dynasty & Agew people totally while he mentioned the Tigrues.
@ last, i don’t care whether u like Amhara or not. i didn’t write anything against Amhara except the truth i knew well. thanks for your advice ….but which school do i have to go back and build some background of rationality ? I learnt through out my life that i am habesh but not black in those school, i learnt that my religion is 3000 yrs old and i had early civilazation of human race. come on help me out , is that what u wanted me to write for you?
I don’t have to be as ignorant and lier as my forefathers.Actually Truth is what needed most!! if u had stg to crticize in my comment or if there something wrong in my writing , please point it out. i am here to correct it.
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Absolutely loved this colorful exchange between tribes !! I looked up the pages to discover how much the land of our forefathers has changed since we migrated some 3,000 years ago. And I discover you distant cousins are still fighting !! Come on ! Grow up !! AJAY SINHA.
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I was hoping to gain some more knowledge from Lol, Kaleab, and Daud with respect to Ethiopian history. All of them have fallen silent suddenly. Please keep the dialogue going ! Ajay.
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I dont really agree with what the article says but i am just overwhemled with what a lot of you people commented on this! Even if you dont agree you shouldnt talk about it with such disrespect! The only thing you guys say are swear words! Seriously learn something good!
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Hi omar(kumar)you are an ediot not only you but all somalies and oromos.How dare you?the amhara people came from yemen & they ruled the horn of africa for a long period.They were not galas like you since 330ad.And LOL you are an asshole.amhara is not killer do you even know where the name amhara is drived from? it is drived from MEHARI (GRACEFUL) CHEK IT OUT ON WIKIPIDIA.
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ISEE HERE SOMALI DEINED AMHARAwhen isee look somali history from brin milk camel , who hated all ethiopian but they frame out amhara hatred to fool other ethiopia tribe , they sold theri land , send wood and matrail auctionery , haraash to world wide , s ee orama too what LOL wrote , all people of ethiopia are orroma
LONG LIVE ALL ETHIOPIAN S
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SOMALI SOLD THEIR LAND , ERTREA IN EMBRAGO HAD NO FOOD COZ THEY BLAMED ETHIOPIA, ORAMA IS ASTRYIN THE ROAD SOAMLI AND ETREA GET LOST
IF THING WILL RETURN ITS ORINGIN , WHO WHO DEIEND ETHIOPIA AND CALLED COLONY , HAD DENIED HIMSELF AND INFEROIR TOO
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i read that the Amharic word created by the oromo people
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i herd that around Gojam at night time people turn to were-hyena
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Skipper and OZ UP
Frends, It is false, and only they way that our rulers discriminate and dishearten people.
Do you think that the Gojjam people are an especial people on the earth?
Why the Amhara people substandard the Gojjam?
Do the Gojjam people are not an Amhara?
Or
Do all the Amhara’s people have a thrilling of turning night to Hyena?
Shame on you for this moron thinking!
don’t say like this again.
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