A Historical Survey of the Agäw people of Mätäkäl, Northwestern Ethiopia: 1902-1991

Abstract

The thesis is on a historical survey of the Agӓw people of Mätäkäl from 1902-1991.It is reconstructed in an attempt to survey the political, economic and socio-cultural aspects of the Agӓw people in the period under discussion. The thesis exhaustively exploited archival, oral, and written secondary sources. The principal method employed in the study is the qualitative combined with historical research method. The chapters are organized thematically and chronologically in the period under discussion. The Agäw people of Mätäkäl are a central Cushitic linguistic group who settled in the area from 6th Century AD to 12h Century AD. The Agäw people of Mätäkäl played a preponderant role in guarding the frontier and maintaining peace and security of Mätäkäl and its environ. Moreover, the people played a significant role in defending the soil of the country from the invading powers from the down of twentieth century to the beginning of the twenty-first century .Economically; agriculture supplemented by trade was the basic subsistent economic aspect of the people. Socioculturally, the people have been dominantly orthodox Christian and distinguished Christian holy day celebrations. The Agӓw people had different cast system and hierarchical grading of the ethnic group. Based on this, there have been varied socio-cultural interactions and marriage ties. Besides the people has been a unique kinship interaction what the people called Zah-Mibera or Gengnu, which was and is still is celebrating annually. The people have strong inter-ethnic interactions. Breast-sucking (Aguwa-Tsahuwi) and Christian parenting (Kestatnt gusaha) were dominant means applied to strengthen inter-ethnic interaction and applied for social cohesion. The people have been Shomegalti or shomegal embraced to resolve inter and intra-ethnic disputes