Argobba
Argobba. Muslim people of Ethiopia. The cryptic Argobba, a Muslim people in Ethiopia are divided into two groups (the Northern and the Southern). They pose some of the major historical and ethnological problems remaining among Ethiopia’s Semitic speaking peoples. Questions exist as to the very survival of the Argobba language, and no ethnography of the group has ever been carried out.
There are three explanations for Argobba distribution. The first is that, in accord with the origin tradition of a migration of the Beni Umayya from Arabia, a very early Argobba presence, around 750, was established in Ethiopia, probably in the northern region. A further development of this possibility would allow for a continuous population of Argobba, encompassing the present locations and intermediate points. There is evidence that the Argobba were more widespread than at present.
A second explanation connects the migration of the Argobba to their southern range with the fortunes of the sultanates which developed in the northern area. This hypothesis has strong circumstantial evidence in its favor, particularly if one connects the Argobba to the Walashima’ dynasty. In 1277, Wali Asma’ began the conquest of the Muslim state of Shawa, completing his task in 1285 and establishing ‘Ifat as the dominant state of the region. ‘Ifat itself was conquered by the armies of Christian Ethiopian kings Dawit I and Yeshaq in 1415, and the Walashima’ were driven towards the Red Sea, finally establishing Adal, which was to become the most powerful of this succession of Muslim polities. This explanation of the origin of the Southern Argobba notes that the capital of Adal was near the site of Harar and the present Argobba villages. Although there is no direct evidence, this hypothesis suggests that the Southern Argobba accompanied the Walashima’ leaders on their flight from ‘Ifat in the early 1400s. There is evidence to suggest that the Northern Argobba were the remaining population of ‘Ifat after the conquest.
The third hypothesis for explaining the links between the Northern and Southern Argobba suggests relatively recent migration to the Harar region. Two major events in Ethiopian history affected the Adal kingdom. In 1529 Imam Ahmed Ibrahim al-Ghazi of Adal mounted a jihad from Harar which swept throughout highland Ethiopia, where the Imam is still remembered with trepidation as Ahmed Gragn, “the left-handed.” He was finally killed in 1549 by the Portuguese troops of Christopher de Gama, who had come to aid the Ethiopian king. In reaction to the jihad, the Christian Ethiopians counterattacked, crushing the Adal kingdom. At this point, Adal retreated to an oasis in the Danakil desert, leaving the city of Harar as the last remnant of the once powerful Muslim principalities of Ethiopia. Immediately following the collapse of the jihad, a major population movement took place which permanently altered the demographic and political balance of Ethiopia. This was the expansion of the Oromo from their homelands in southwestern Ethiopia northward until they occupied most of the Rift region, thus surrounding the Northern Argobba villages, and eastward until they isolated the city of Harar and occupied the environs of the Southern Argobba. The present Argobba villages in this region are, for the most part, situated on hilltops. The inhabitants explain that the sites were chosen to defend against the Oromo invaders.
The Argobba are a Muslim people group that is spread out through isolated village networks and towns in the northeast and east of Ethiopia. The Argobba have typically been astute traders and merchants, and have adjusted to the economic trends in their area. These factors have led to the decline of the Argobba language.
Argobba communities can be found in the Afar, Amhara, and Oromia Regions, in and along the Rift Valley. They include Yimlawo, Gusa, Shonke, Berehet, Khayr Amba, Melkajillo, Metehara, Shewa Robit, and the surrounding rural villages.
In some places the Argobba language has homogenized with Amharic. In other places the people have shifted to neighboring languages for economic reasons. At this time there are only a few areas left where the Argobba are not at least bilingual in Amharic, Oromiffa or Afar. All of these languages have a literature that can be used to serve the Argobba, even though their current literacy rate in any language is low; the Argobba reportedly do not like to send their children to school because they will be influenced by the non-Muslim world. This is the same reason that the Argobba do not go to court.
Argobba. Muslim people of Ethiopia. The cryptic Argobba, a Muslim people in Ethiopia are divided into two groups (the Northern and the Southern). They pose some of the major historical and ethnological problems remaining among Ethiopia’s Semitic speaking peoples. Questions exist as to the very survival of the Argobba language, and no ethnography of the group has ever been carried out.
There are three explanations for Argobba distribution. The first is that, in accord with the origin tradition of a migration of the Beni Umayya from Arabia, a very early Argobba presence, around 750, was established in Ethiopia, probably in the northern region. A further development of this possibility would allow for a continuous population of Argobba, encompassing the present locations and intermediate points. There is evidence that the Argobba were more widespread than at present.
A second explanation connects the migration of the Argobba to their southern range with the fortunes of the sultanates which developed in the northern area. This hypothesis has strong circumstantial evidence in its favor, particularly if one connects the Argobba to the Walashima’ dynasty. In 1277, Wali Asma’ began the conquest of the Muslim state of Shawa, completing his task in 1285 and establishing ‘Ifat as the dominant state of the region. ‘Ifat itself was conquered by the armies of Christian Ethiopian kings Dawit I and Yeshaq in 1415, and the Walashima’ were driven towards the Red Sea, finally establishing Adal, which was to become the most powerful of this succession of Muslim polities. This explanation of the origin of the Southern Argobba notes that the capital of Adal was near the site of Harar and the present Argobba villages. Although there is no direct evidence, this hypothesis suggests that the Southern Argobba accompanied the Walashima’ leaders on their flight from ‘Ifat in the early 1400s. There is evidence to suggest that the Northern Argobba were the remaining population of ‘Ifat after the conquest.
The third hypothesis for explaining the links between the Northern and Southern Argobba suggests relatively recent migration to the Harar region. Two major events in Ethiopian history affected the Adal kingdom. In 1529 Imam Ahmed Ibrahim al-Ghazi of Adal mounted a jihad from Harar which swept throughout highland Ethiopia, where the Imam is still remembered with trepidation as Ahmed Gragn, “the left-handed.” He was finally killed in 1549 by the Portuguese troops of Christopher de Gama, who had come to aid the Ethiopian king. In reaction to the jihad, the Christian Ethiopians counterattacked, crushing the Adal kingdom. At this point, Adal retreated to an oasis in the Danakil desert, leaving the city of Harar as the last remnant of the once powerful Muslim principalities of Ethiopia. Immediately following the collapse of the jihad, a major population movement took place which permanently altered the demographic and political balance of Ethiopia. This was the expansion of the Oromo from their homelands in southwestern Ethiopia northward until they occupied most of the Rift region, thus surrounding the Northern Argobba villages, and eastward until they isolated the city of Harar and occupied the environs of the Southern Argobba. The present Argobba villages in this region are, for the most part, situated on hilltops. The inhabitants explain that the sites were chosen to defend against the Oromo invaders.
The Argobba are a Muslim people group that is spread out through isolated village networks and towns in the northeast and east of Ethiopia. The Argobba have typically been astute traders and merchants, and have adjusted to the economic trends in their area. These factors have led to the decline of the Argobba language.
Argobba communities can be found in the Afar, Amhara, and Oromia Regions, in and along the Rift Valley. They include Yimlawo, Gusa, Shonke, Berehet, Khayr Amba, Melkajillo, Metehara, Shewa Robit, and the surrounding rural villages.
In some places the Argobba language has homogenized with Amharic. In other places the people have shifted to neighboring languages for economic reasons. At this time there are only a few areas left where the Argobba are not at least bilingual in Amharic, Oromiffa or Afar. All of these languages have a literature that can be used to serve the Argobba, even though their current literacy rate in any language is low; the Argobba reportedly do not like to send their children to school because they will be influenced by the non-Muslim world. This is the same reason that the Argobba do not go to court.
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