Belay Zelleke
Encyclopedia
Belay Zeleke was born in 1896 in the Bitchena , Ethiopia
to a mother from Amhara (Wollo) and to a father from Gojam. At a very young age in a mysterious situation, Belay Zeleke killed his uncle which prompted him to flee his village and live as a fugitive
isolated from his family and friends for the subsequent 15 years. In his solitary life, Belay Zeleke learned to be courageous and decisive.
In 1935 Italy
invaded Ethiopia
. Like the many patriotic Ethiopians, Belay Zeleke felt the need to defend his country and led an insurgency
movement against the occupation in Gojam. Soon, he became known for being remorseless among Italian generals and they fought him as hard as they could. Not only did he defeat the Italian army that was sent to destroy him, he also took into custody the army’s general and executed him by hanging
. After driving the Italian army out of Gojam and some parts of Wollo, he put himself in charge of these particular regions much to the gladness of the population. His courageous heroism inspired thousands of Ethiopians to resist the occupation and many wanted to be like him.
The Ethiopian
patriots librated Addis Ababa
on 6 May 1941 and this victory officially ended Italian occupation. Fascist Italy
's attempts to colonize Ethiopia came to an abrupt end on this day. Emperor Haile Selassie returned to Addis Ababa on 5 May 1941 after spending the preceding 5 years in exile in Europe. This particular victory was realized as a result of the world-famous swift resistance by Ethiopian patriots. The contributions made by Belay Zeleke to the struggle and ultimately to the victory of Ethiopia against the colonialist
aggression of Fascist Italy were enormous. Throughout Ethiopia, - particularly in Addis Ababa – signs of Italian presence in the past remain intact to date. Yet unlike most of the different parts of Ethiopia, there are no physical signs of Italian invasion in the province of Gojjam. It is believed that Belay Zeleke never let the Italian troops camp anywhere in Gojam let alone build construction to leave a legacy of any sort.
Upon the Emperor’s victorious return to Ethiopia in 1941, Belay Zeleke was put in charge of a small region in Gojam when he had assumed a higher rank to be able to play a much bigger role in reconstructing and administering the region. He declined the position in protest and started living life as an outlaw
. Soon he was caught and sent to jail accused of being a threat to the monarchy
. After making unsuccessful attempts to break out of jail, the patriot
Belay Zeleke was then brutally executed by hanging.
In a heartbreaking error of judgment, an Ethiopian hero who gave the country freedom was given death in return. And it will always be remembered as an act of giving a national hero a grave injustice.
Bileh
is an african name sometimes spelled as Belay and pronounced as Bee-Lay. The name means above or superior.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
to a mother from Amhara (Wollo) and to a father from Gojam. At a very young age in a mysterious situation, Belay Zeleke killed his uncle which prompted him to flee his village and live as a fugitive
Fugitive
A fugitive is a person who is fleeing from custody, whether it be from private slavery, a government arrest, government or non-government questioning, vigilante violence, or outraged private individuals...
isolated from his family and friends for the subsequent 15 years. In his solitary life, Belay Zeleke learned to be courageous and decisive.
In 1935 Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
invaded Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. Like the many patriotic Ethiopians, Belay Zeleke felt the need to defend his country and led an insurgency
Insurgency
An insurgency is an armed rebellion against a constituted authority when those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents...
movement against the occupation in Gojam. Soon, he became known for being remorseless among Italian generals and they fought him as hard as they could. Not only did he defeat the Italian army that was sent to destroy him, he also took into custody the army’s general and executed him by hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
. After driving the Italian army out of Gojam and some parts of Wollo, he put himself in charge of these particular regions much to the gladness of the population. His courageous heroism inspired thousands of Ethiopians to resist the occupation and many wanted to be like him.
The Ethiopian
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
patriots librated Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
on 6 May 1941 and this victory officially ended Italian occupation. Fascist Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
's attempts to colonize Ethiopia came to an abrupt end on this day. Emperor Haile Selassie returned to Addis Ababa on 5 May 1941 after spending the preceding 5 years in exile in Europe. This particular victory was realized as a result of the world-famous swift resistance by Ethiopian patriots. The contributions made by Belay Zeleke to the struggle and ultimately to the victory of Ethiopia against the colonialist
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
aggression of Fascist Italy were enormous. Throughout Ethiopia, - particularly in Addis Ababa – signs of Italian presence in the past remain intact to date. Yet unlike most of the different parts of Ethiopia, there are no physical signs of Italian invasion in the province of Gojjam. It is believed that Belay Zeleke never let the Italian troops camp anywhere in Gojam let alone build construction to leave a legacy of any sort.
Upon the Emperor’s victorious return to Ethiopia in 1941, Belay Zeleke was put in charge of a small region in Gojam when he had assumed a higher rank to be able to play a much bigger role in reconstructing and administering the region. He declined the position in protest and started living life as an outlaw
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
. Soon he was caught and sent to jail accused of being a threat to the monarchy
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
. After making unsuccessful attempts to break out of jail, the patriot
Patriot
A patriot is someone who feels a strong support for his or her country. See Patriotism.Patriot or Patriots may also refer to:- Politics :* Patriot Party , various political parties...
Belay Zeleke was then brutally executed by hanging.
In a heartbreaking error of judgment, an Ethiopian hero who gave the country freedom was given death in return. And it will always be remembered as an act of giving a national hero a grave injustice.
Bileh
Bileh
Bileh is a self-styled "spokesman" for Somali pirates operating off the coast of Somalia and based in the town of Eyl in Puntland.He has issued threats on behalf of his group through the media...
is an african name sometimes spelled as Belay and pronounced as Bee-Lay. The name means above or superior.