Video Lesson

Learning Competencies: After learning this lesson, you will be able to:

• trace on a sketch map of Ethiopia the location of the states in the southern Ethiopia’
• recognize the shared historical values of the various Ethiopian peoples’
• list common features of southern states

Brainstorming Questions

• Can you mention the medieval states whose name and legacy survives it?
• The ruins of which one of these things: palace, enclosure, fortification, or any other
  standing structure is found in or near your locality? What is its historical value?

Key terms and concepts

The Southern States

The Omotic peoples are the diverse peoples who live on both sides of the Omo River since early times. The Omotic language family is a part of the Afro-Asiatic super language family. The Omotic language is spoken only in Ethiopia. Major economic activities of the Omotic peoples include sedentary agriculture mainly the large-scale cultivation of enset, pastoralism and handicrafts. The other particular feature of the the Omotic people was the evolution of highly organized polities. The most important among them were the Dorze, Wolaita, Yem, Kafa, Dizi, Bench, Ari, Dasanach, Tsamayi, Erbore, Hamar, Surma, Nyangatom, Bodi, Male, and others.

Omotic Peoples and States under the Tato System

From the Omotic peoples, Kafa, Shekka and Yem had indigenous elaborate state structures. The kingdoms were ruled by Kings who used the title of Tato.

The Kingdom of Yem

The Kingdom of Yem was located between the Gibe and upper Omo Rivers, northeast of Kafa. It is first recorded in King Yeshak’s soldiers’ song (1412-1430), and the Jesuit Antonio Fernandez first mentioned it in 1614. The Halman Gama dynasty initially ruled, replaced by the Mowa (Howa) dynasty in the 14th century. The capital was Angar Fochara, and the kings held absolute power with the title Amno. The administration was hierarchical, with the king at the top, followed by the Astessor council, and local officials Erasho and Gagna. The economy was based on agriculture, primarily enset, barley, and sorghum, with secondary roles for trade and handicrafts.

The Kingdom of Kafa

Located south of the Gojeb River, Kafa gained prominence in the 14th century. The Kafecho people, claiming descent from the Minjo clan, were ruled by the Minjo dynasty from around 1390. The kings used the title Tato. The kingdom was divided into provinces governed by provincial governors, with the central government led by the Tato and assisted by a Council of Seven (Mikkerecho). Bonga was the capital. Kafa had robust defense systems, including natural defenses like the Gojeb River, watch towers, and trenches such as the Hiriyoo. Its economy relied on agriculture and trade, with taxes in cattle and musk collected by Tate Kisho. The kingdom successfully resisted Oromo expansion and expanded its territories in the 19th century under five Tatos: Gahe Nechochi (1821-1841), Gawi Nechochi (1841-1843), Kaye Sharochi (1843-1868), Gali Sharochi/Galito (1868-1890), and Gaki Sharocho (1890-1897). It was incorporated into the Ethiopian Empire in 1897 after defeat by Menilek II’s forces.

The Kingdom of Shekka

Shekka was located west of Kafa and east of the Baro River. It was ruled by the Batto dynasty until the late 16th century, followed by the Bushasho dynasty, which had origins in the neighboring Kingdom of Anfillo. The kings of Shekka, like those of Kafa, used the title Tato. The kingdom was divided into six provinces with governors also serving as councilors of the Tato. Christianity was introduced in the late 16th century by King Sertse Dingil (1563-1597). Shekka frequently battled the expanding Macha Oromo until the late 19th century and had close ties with Ennarya, Kafa, and Anfillo. The capital was Gecha in Anderacha. In the 19th century, Shekka was ruled by five Tatos: Bedi Nechochi (1800-1805), Techi Nechochi (1805-1820), Geli Gawochi (1820-1850), Deji Gawochi (1850-1887), and Techi Gawochi (1887-1898).

Omotic Peoples and States under the Kawo/Kati System

The Kingdom of Wolaita

The Kingdom of Wolaita, located south of the Sultanate of Hadya, had strong ties with Damot. Ruled initially by the Wolaita Malla dynasty, founded by Motalami from Damot, it became a tributary of the Christian highland kingdom under Amde Tsiyon (1314-1344), paying tribute in horses. In the 15th century, the Tigre dynasty succeeded the Malla dynasty, extending influence to neighboring peoples. Wolaita’s defenses included dry stone walls called Ijajo Kalla. The kings, known as Kawo, wielded absolute power and the economy was agriculturally based, with land owned by the king. In the early 19th century, the capital moved to Damota hill, and the kingdom thrived under Kawo Gobe (1848-1888) until it was incorporated into the Ethiopian Empire in 1894 by Kawo Tona Gaga (1888-1894), the last king.

The Kingdom of Dawuro

Located along the Omo River basin, Dawuro was bordered by the Gojeb and Omo rivers and Kafa highlands. The Kawuka dynasty unified many chieftains by 1700, with notable kings Kati Irashu and Kati Halala. Kati Halala, a grandson of the Kafa king, expanded Dawuro to include Konta and constructed the last of the defensive walls, known as Kati Halala Kalla, in the late 18th century. The defensive walls marked the kingdom’s boundaries.

The Kingdoms of Gamo and Gofa

The Kingdom of Gamo

The Kingdom of Gamo was situated between Lake Chamo and Abaya in the north and the Gughe mountains in the south. Known as “lion” in tradition, the Gamo cultivated enset and various cereals in the highlands and maize and sweet potatoes in the lowlands. The Gamo people lived in politically independent units called Darie, each governed by a hereditary ruler known as Kawo. Each Darie had its own assembly for communal issues, with membership determined through elections and genealogical seniority.

The Kingdom of Gofa

The Gofa kingdom was located between the Omo River and the kingdoms of Dawuro and Gamo. Its economy centered on agriculture and animal rearing, with iron bars used as currency. The administration had a dual structure: a “landed chief” (Kawo) in the highlands and a “rain king” (ira-kati) in the lowlands. Gofa expanded southwards in the 17th and 18th centuries, with significant growth during the reigns of Gamo and Ole. The last king, Kawo Kamma, died in 1891 fighting against Ethiopian imperial forces.

Other Omotic peoples including the Zayse, Basketo, Oyda, Kara, Malle, and Kore had more
or less similar socio-economic and political structures based on the Kati or kawo system
of governance.

Cushitic States and Peoples under the Sera-Woma System

The Sidama, Hadya, Kambata, Tambaro, Halaba, and Qabena are Cushitic-speaking peoples from the Eastern highlands of Ethiopia. Their primary economic activity was agriculture, with a focus on cultivating enset and coffee. They developed indigenous governance and dispute resolution systems, known as the Sera-Woma system. The Sera provided customary laws for resolving conflicts related to property, marriage, and homicide, while the Woma served as cultural and ritual leaders at the village level. These systems were integral to maintaining social order and community survival.

. Sidama: – In Sidama society, village-level governance was led by the Woma, chosen for their ability to promote peace, wisdom, and caution. The Sera was the customary law enforced by the Woma. The Sidama were organized into the Luwa institution, an age-grade system with five rotating grades: Wawassa, Darara, Mogissa, Hirbora, and Fullassa. Each grade rotates every 8 years, with variations among sub-groups. The rotation aligns with the New Year celebration, Fiche Chamballalla, which UNESCO recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2015. Male members inherit their Luwa group from their fathers, creating a father-son relationship in the system.

Kambata: – The Kambata people’s governance was based on the Sera system, which facilitated political administration, social interaction, and conflict resolution. A higher council called Hambarcho, consisting of seven members from each clan, handled administrative and judicial duties. In Sidama, the Luwa institution had leaders like “Gadanna” and “Jalawa,” who served for eight years and enforced the Sera. Their roles included recruiting and training military members and nominating candidates for leadership positions. Although the Sidama honored elderly women, they were not allowed to hold positions of authority or defense responsibilities.

The Gedeo People:-  The Gedeo people, who live east of Lake Abaya, have historical ties to the Guji Oromo and a language closely related to Sidama. Their economy centered on enset cultivation. Traditionally, they used an administrative system called ballee, a council of elders structured into seven grades with a ten-year term each, forming a 70-year cycle. This system provided both secular and ritual leadership, with promotions and power transfers handled through ceremonies.

The Konso People:- The Konso people, who speak Affa Konso, are an agricultural society renowned for their soil conservation practices, including terraces and stone enclosures. Before the late 19th century, they had no central authority; instead, each village was governed by a rotating council of elders called Hayyota, chosen by male villagers. Their socio-political structure was village-based with a generation set system known as Tsella, which had varying cycles depending on the village.

The Gurage Chiefdoms:- The Gurage, an ancient people of southern Ethiopia, are divided into several clan groups, with Sabat Bet and Kestane being the largest. Their staple food is enset, and their governance system lacks central authority. Instead, each lineage group follows customary governance. Key institutions include Yajoka Qicha (Sabat Bet) and Gordanna Sera (Kestane), which function as both legislative and judicial bodies. These assemblies also serve as supreme courts, where members can appeal decisions made by local assemblies.

The Silt`e:- The Silt’e are one of the early inhabitants of Southern Ethiopia. In terms of language, they belong to the South-Ethio Semitic family. They have their own customary legal
system known as Ye Silt`e Sera or Malga Sera (the law of Silt`e).