173 Annales d'Ethiopie, 2000, vol. XVI: 173-183.

A short History of the Argobba

Aklilu Asfaw*

Introduction

It was decided to conduct the study of the Argobba, people in the process of extinction. The chief aim of the study was to gather historical, cultural, and archeological data about this vanishing people, and to record and to analyze them.

The present field study was conducted for 15 days in 1995 in Harbu and Dewe wârâda in Southern Wollo. As the ancient Argobba villages of Tolha and Shenke were found in Dewe woreda, the study was assured of continuation. Although villages like Shenke in Southern Wollo were not visited, it was still possible to record and register them. The villages testified that the Argobba nationality had not become extinct. It was decided to continue the study.

Based on the results and experiences gathered from the on-going studies, two different teams were assigned to study respectively the history and the culture of the Argobba in Southern Wollo and Northern Shoa. Accordingly, Shenke and Tolha villages in Southern Wollo, Aliuyu Amba in Northern Shoa and Gachene in the Argobba sub-zone of the Afar Region were studied.

It was possible to ascertain that the Argobba people spread to the Harar and Afar regions for various reasons (war, trade) both from the field data gathered and from library research. This led to a plan to conduct further study in 1997-98. Accordingly, a one-month field study was conducted in the Harar Region; in the Oromia region (in Eastern and Western Hararge zones) and in the Afar Region (Awash). It was ascertained that the Argobba people lived in village settlements in various places.

Studies on the Argobba people were made from 1993 to 1997. It was possible to establish the settlement pattern of the Argobba, and to know their general character. The study has gathered data regarding the connection of the Argobba with Yifat, Walasma, Harar, Adiya, Doba and Shagura as well as with the coming of Arabs and Islam.