A history of na’o people of goba wäräda, kafa zone, southwest Ethiopia: ca.1897-1991

Abstract

The objective of this research is to reconstruct the socioeconomic and political history of Na’o from 1897 to 1991. The Na’o are one of the indigenous peoples of Southwest Ethiopia. The Na’o were referred by different names in various written sources and their neighbors. They are called “Tol” by Sheko and “Tolwo” by the Me’en in the west, while the Me’en in the east of Sharmi River referred to the Na’o as “Suc” or “Su”. Though the researcher is unable to derive satisfactory meaning for these words; the people call themselves as Na’I and Na’o at the sometime. The Na’o were strong and numerous and had their own sociopolitical entity before they were controlled by the kafa Kingdom in the mid-19th century. It was the expeditionary force of Ras Wäledä-Giyorgis passing through the region towards Lake Rudolf that conquered the kafa including Na’o in 1897. After the conquest, the kafa area including the Na’o was administered by Ras Wäledä-Giyorgis. Particularly, Na’o area was administered by one of Ras Wäledä-Giyorgis’s follower, Fitawrari Alämu (1897-1936). After Ras Wäledä-Giyorgis’s administration gained a firm base in kafa, the imperial forces of Menilek II settled näftäńa (armed settlers). The Na’o and other indigenous peoples of the area were summarily reduced to gäbbar or serfs and began to provide labour services and a share of their produces or crops for the soldiers. They were subjected to war and slavery which reduced their numbers until the Italian invasion. Since the Italian eliminated the manipulative gäbbar - näftäńa systems, they found the period less oppressive than that of the previous imperial regime. Yet the relative peace of Italian not long lasted and their rule was characterized by harsh treatment. The people were forced to construct road and garrisons for their army. People of Na’o in the post liberation period passed through difficult years with full of challenges. Some of these problems came from the administration, the nature of land tenure, increased taxation, lack of peace and stability, outbreak of diseases and lack of infrastructures. The outbreak of the 1974 revolution resulted in sweeping changes in the system of political administration and land tenure. The land reform proclamation of 1975 was the major historical watershed of the revolution. It abolished landlordism, and the landless tenants greatly benefited from it, being welcomed by the people of Na’o. Yet, later due to its forceful implementation of collectivization program and other polices; and downgraded their former administrative status Meketel Wäräda gezat to Qäbälé, the military government was hated and faced stiff resistance from the Na’o even up to execution of Zämač (campaigners)