A history of dandi district, west shewa (1941-1991)

Abstract

The objective of this thesis is reconstructing the major historical developments in Dandi District, West Shewa 1941-1991in areas of economic, political, social, and cultural aspects.The need to look back at the historical background of the history of Dandi is very crucial. On the one hand, the area has long history in different administrative system; still the attention or concern givenby scholars and researchers to the subjects are very little or low. As a result, it was conducted to examine the major historical developments in the district in case of historical background of the people of the area, economic, social and cultural information’s in the district. The study covers the time from the liberation of Ethiopia and the restoration of Emperor Hailä Selasié I to power in 1941 until the removal of Därg government in 1991, in which the inhabitants of the District like the other country side peoples of Oromia region and West Shewa observed important socio-economic and political developments. It begins with the historical study of the district by revealing different developments in the district before the Italian occupation. Besides this, the study outlines the rule of the Italians in the district, in pre-1941 period. It deals with the restoration of the imperial administration and the reforms that were introduced by Emperor Hailä Selasié I in various fields in relation with the administration and land related issues and the importance of the reforms to the people of the district will be the main area of concern. It also outlines taxation issues and view maladministration problems in the district. In addition, the study assessed the formation of Dandi district and its administrative history in the period under discussion. It also attempted to focus on nature of the land tenure system in district and its burden on life of inhabitants of the district. The Därg was interested to consolidate its power by taking different measures which had their own merits and demerits on the political and socio-economic conditions for the inhabitants in Dandi district. Besides this, the study has tried to address the socio-economic situation of the district in which the area has not made much progress. It also attempt to asses’ public services and infrastructural developments in the district, in the last three decades of the monarchical regime. Moreover, the study attempted to asses changes and developments in the district had gone through during the military government.