Invisible Actors: The Oromo and the Creation of Modern Ethiopia (1855--1913)

Yates, Brian James

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/84706 Copy

Description

Title

Invisible Actors: The Oromo and the Creation of Modern Ethiopia (1855--1913)

Author(s)

Yates, Brian James

Issue Date

2009

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Donald Crummey

Department of Study

History

Discipline

History

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies

Language

eng

Abstract

This is a comprehensive study of key Oromo actors in the central Ethiopia traditional provinces of Wallo and Shawa, specifically the Mammadoch of Wallo and the Tulama of Shawa during the reigns of Emperors Tewodros II (r.1855-68), Yohannes IV (1872-1888) and Menilek II (1889-1913). The Oromo entered the political arena in the highlands of Ethiopia in the aftermath of Ahmed Gran's 16th century invasion, and this work aims to trace not only their roles in the creation of Ethiopia, but also the significant shifts in ethnic identity due to many local and national cultural practices used to endear ethnic groups to each other during the reigns of the aforementioned Emperors. Dominant scholarship generally ignores these Oromo actors and focus on the relationship between the Church and State or on Oromo state construction. I argue that after being cast as Habasha, elite Oromo actors, such as Ras Gobana (192?-1888). Fit. Habta Giyorgis (184?-1926) and Ras Mikael (later Negus r. 1914-1916) played key roles in the state and brought it into the modern age during the reign of Menilek, and after when they put one of their own, Iyasu Mikael, on the throne through an alliance of the Shawan and Wallo Oromo elites in 1913.

Graduation Semester

2009

Type of Resource

text

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