DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0104
88
HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
die, and within seven days you yourself will die! ” Gobana, impressed by the prediction,
decided to return immediately to Faile in Shoa. However, the day of his departure, the
news reached him that Moroda was dead (Moroda’s tomb was found open, and three ser-
pents were twined to his corpse). Gobana continued on his way, but, falling from his
horse, died exactly as Abba Caffie had predicted (according to Loransiyos’s tale)! Allud-
ing to the life of Daggac Wadagb, son of Ras Gobana, a dandy, not fit for a warrior, this
song was sung:
yd okkote damfi gommand wdggln kardn Gibie hafe Gobana wdggln
1 0 pot, boil with the sprouts! 2 The way of the Gibie has remained with Gobana!
Notes. This means: there is no one who can follow in the steps of Gobana beyond
the Gibie!
52
Another protagonist of the wars between the Galla and the Amara during the reign of
Menilek II was Ras Dargie (Galla pronunciation, Dargie). He was the son of Sahle Sal-
lasie, king of Shoa and brother of Hayla Malakot, the father of Menilek II. His war-name
was Abba Gersa.1 After the conquest of Salalie, accomplished with the aid of Gobana (see
song 39, introduction), Dargie was appointed governor of this region. His two residences
were at Salalie and Ficce. As Waldie Baseyum (see song 38) had not helped to conquer the
Guragib’s land, Ras Dargie was charged by Menilek to subdue the Guragie and the Arussi
Galla. As to the Guragie, the expedition ended successfully and many inhabitants of this
region were taken prisoners and sold as slaves. On the contrary, the Arussi resisted des-
perately, led by Sek Nur Husseyn (Galla pronunciation of the Arabic name, Sayh Nur
Hussayn). Fie had, according to Loransiyos, gone to the Arussi country from Harar, to
convert these wild Galla tribes to the Moslem faith. In the beginning, he had little success.
Once while he was teaching the Koran, he was assailed by a squadron of pagan horsemen.
They rushed upon him; but Nur Husseyn, making a sign with his hand, turned them all
to stone. The pagans, still in the posture of hurling their spears, thus became statues of
stone. Even today pilgrims go to admire these statues of Nur Husseyn’s enemies; they
are near the grave of Nur Husseyn in the place which is called “ Sek Nur Husseyn.”2 After
this miracle, the Arussi were all converted to Islam. When Dargie moved against them,
Nur Husseyn proclaimed a holy war (gihad). An officer of Ras Dargie, Fitawrari Dufera
who was in the vanguard of the invaders, was defeated at Fugug and obliged to withdraw.
After some other unfortunate combats, Dargie himself was forced to retreat to Shoa:
yd lima Jidda mattieda garbbtakie qabde dulta
duro gabbotd wdggln dulte 5 nuso NuYie qamnefra
gabbotdkier'lssd takdlte
1 O son of a slave mother, 2 first you have gone to war with your calves. 3 Where have
you bound your calves? You go to the war with your slaves, 5 and you (go) with Nur!
1 Cf. Cerulli, ‘ Canti popolari amarici,’ op. cit. 2 According to Loransiyos’ tale.
HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
die, and within seven days you yourself will die! ” Gobana, impressed by the prediction,
decided to return immediately to Faile in Shoa. However, the day of his departure, the
news reached him that Moroda was dead (Moroda’s tomb was found open, and three ser-
pents were twined to his corpse). Gobana continued on his way, but, falling from his
horse, died exactly as Abba Caffie had predicted (according to Loransiyos’s tale)! Allud-
ing to the life of Daggac Wadagb, son of Ras Gobana, a dandy, not fit for a warrior, this
song was sung:
yd okkote damfi gommand wdggln kardn Gibie hafe Gobana wdggln
1 0 pot, boil with the sprouts! 2 The way of the Gibie has remained with Gobana!
Notes. This means: there is no one who can follow in the steps of Gobana beyond
the Gibie!
52
Another protagonist of the wars between the Galla and the Amara during the reign of
Menilek II was Ras Dargie (Galla pronunciation, Dargie). He was the son of Sahle Sal-
lasie, king of Shoa and brother of Hayla Malakot, the father of Menilek II. His war-name
was Abba Gersa.1 After the conquest of Salalie, accomplished with the aid of Gobana (see
song 39, introduction), Dargie was appointed governor of this region. His two residences
were at Salalie and Ficce. As Waldie Baseyum (see song 38) had not helped to conquer the
Guragib’s land, Ras Dargie was charged by Menilek to subdue the Guragie and the Arussi
Galla. As to the Guragie, the expedition ended successfully and many inhabitants of this
region were taken prisoners and sold as slaves. On the contrary, the Arussi resisted des-
perately, led by Sek Nur Husseyn (Galla pronunciation of the Arabic name, Sayh Nur
Hussayn). Fie had, according to Loransiyos, gone to the Arussi country from Harar, to
convert these wild Galla tribes to the Moslem faith. In the beginning, he had little success.
Once while he was teaching the Koran, he was assailed by a squadron of pagan horsemen.
They rushed upon him; but Nur Husseyn, making a sign with his hand, turned them all
to stone. The pagans, still in the posture of hurling their spears, thus became statues of
stone. Even today pilgrims go to admire these statues of Nur Husseyn’s enemies; they
are near the grave of Nur Husseyn in the place which is called “ Sek Nur Husseyn.”2 After
this miracle, the Arussi were all converted to Islam. When Dargie moved against them,
Nur Husseyn proclaimed a holy war (gihad). An officer of Ras Dargie, Fitawrari Dufera
who was in the vanguard of the invaders, was defeated at Fugug and obliged to withdraw.
After some other unfortunate combats, Dargie himself was forced to retreat to Shoa:
yd lima Jidda mattieda garbbtakie qabde dulta
duro gabbotd wdggln dulte 5 nuso NuYie qamnefra
gabbotdkier'lssd takdlte
1 O son of a slave mother, 2 first you have gone to war with your calves. 3 Where have
you bound your calves? You go to the war with your slaves, 5 and you (go) with Nur!
1 Cf. Cerulli, ‘ Canti popolari amarici,’ op. cit. 2 According to Loransiyos’ tale.