Qwara Province
Encyclopedia
Qwara was a province in Ethiopia
, located between Lake Tana
and the frontier with Sudan
, and stretcing from Agawmeder
in the south as far north as Metemma
. It was eventually absorbed into the province of Begemder
.
The region contains a large Kemant community, some speaking the nearly extinct Kemant language, and formerly contained a substantial number of Beta Israel
, who spoke the Qwara language
. However, most of its inhabitants have since been assimilated into the dominant Amhara
ethnicity, and speak Amharic
.
Qwara had political importance at least as early as the reign of Iyoas I
, when the Dowager Queen Mentewab
relied on her supporters in Qwara to support her against her rival Wubit, the wife of her son the late Emperor Iyasu II
. More important, it formed part of the territories of the warlord Dejazmach Meru, who had inherited the office of governor of Qwara from his uncle, Kenyazmach Kebte; these territories, known as Ye Meru Qemas (literally, "The mouth of Meru", or "What Meru eats") were inherited by Dejazmach Kinfu. In Qwara was born Kinfu's relation, Kassa Hailu, who later used Kinfu's relationships in Qwara to build a power base there in his successful effort that made him Emperor Tewodros II
. The future Emperor made Qwara his base from the Battle of Koso Bar until his victory at the Battle of Gur Amba
(27 September 1852), sometimes as a shifta
or outlaw
.
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...
, located between Lake Tana
Lake Tana
Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile and is the largest lake in Ethiopia...
and the frontier with Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
, and stretcing from Agawmeder
Agawmeder
Agawmeder was a historical state and region in the northwestern part of Ethiopia. It most likely etymology is from Agew , a people living in the area plus meder , thus meaning "Land of the Agaw"...
in the south as far north as Metemma
Metemma
Metemma is a town in northwestern Ethiopia, on the border with Sudan. Located in the Semien Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, Metemma has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 685 meters above sea level. Across the border is the corresponding Sudanese village of Gallabat...
. It was eventually absorbed into the province of Begemder
Begemder
Begemder was a province in the northwestern part of Ethiopia. There are several proposed etymologies for this name...
.
The region contains a large Kemant community, some speaking the nearly extinct Kemant language, and formerly contained a substantial number of Beta Israel
Beta Israel
Beta Israel Israel, Ge'ez: ቤተ እስራኤል - Bēta 'Isrā'ēl, modern Bēte 'Isrā'ēl, EAE: "Betä Ǝsraʾel", "Community of Israel" also known as Ethiopian Jews , are the names of Jewish communities which lived in the area of Aksumite and Ethiopian Empires , nowadays divided between Amhara and Tigray...
, who spoke the Qwara language
Qwara language
Qwara, or Qwareña , is one of two Agaw dialects formerly spoken by a subgroup of the Beta Israel of the Qwara area. It is a dialect of Qimant....
. However, most of its inhabitants have since been assimilated into the dominant Amhara
Amhara people
Amhara are a highland people inhabiting the Northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Numbering about 19.8 million people, they comprise 26% of the country's population, according to the 2007 national census...
ethnicity, and speak Amharic
Amharic language
Amharic is a Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia. It is the second most-spoken Semitic language in the world, after Arabic, and the official working language of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Thus, it has official status and is used nationwide. Amharic is also the official or working...
.
Qwara had political importance at least as early as the reign of Iyoas I
Iyoas I of Ethiopia
Iyoas I or Joas I was of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty...
, when the Dowager Queen Mentewab
Mentewab
Mentewab , was Empress of Ethiopia, consort of Emperor Bakaffa, mother of Iyasu II and grandmother of Iyoas I. She was also known officially by her baptismal name of Welete Giyorgis...
relied on her supporters in Qwara to support her against her rival Wubit, the wife of her son the late Emperor Iyasu II
Iyasu II of Ethiopia
Iyasu II or Joshua II was of Ethiopia, and a member of the Gondar branch of Solomonic dynasty...
. More important, it formed part of the territories of the warlord Dejazmach Meru, who had inherited the office of governor of Qwara from his uncle, Kenyazmach Kebte; these territories, known as Ye Meru Qemas (literally, "The mouth of Meru", or "What Meru eats") were inherited by Dejazmach Kinfu. In Qwara was born Kinfu's relation, Kassa Hailu, who later used Kinfu's relationships in Qwara to build a power base there in his successful effort that made him Emperor Tewodros II
Tewodros II of Ethiopia
Tewodros II was the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1855 until his death....
. The future Emperor made Qwara his base from the Battle of Koso Bar until his victory at the Battle of Gur Amba
Battle of Gur Amba
The Battle of Gur Amba was fought on 27 September 1852 between the forces of the Ethiopian regent, Ras Ali II, and the rebel forces of Kassa Hailu. Kassa was victorious, and Goshu Zewde of Gojjam, the commander of the regent's forces, was killed...
(27 September 1852), sometimes as a shifta
Shifta
Shifta is term used in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia for rebel, outlaw, or bandit. The word is derived from shúfto. Historically, shifta served as local militia in the lawless rural mountainous regions on the Horn of Africa...
or 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...
.