DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0114
98 HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
sluggish Amara; 9 they are not (spoils) of (boys) abandoned by their mothers; 10 they
are not (spoils) of (fallen warriors) trampled by the mules. Ill have overthrown horse-
men! 12 As to troopers, I have a hundred (spoils of them), 13 and as to the horsemen, I
have overcome a hundred. 14 Bring (spoils) of horsemen equal to (the spoils) of mine! 15
0 sons of Dargie, the great, 16 0 sons of Kumsa (son) of Moroda, 17 if (my spoils) are
small, I will complete (their number); 18 if they (i.e. their numbers) are complete, I will
heap up (others)! 19 Bring (spoils) of horsemen equal to (the spoils) of mine!
C. THE ITALO-ABYSSINIAN WAR (1896)
60
When the Emperor Menilek passed the Abbay and marched toward Tigre to fight
against the Italians, a Galla minstrel sang:
motin bar gamd cqe WdqattNmatti yd Ddno
Ddno farangi riebe dugankieti yd Ddno
1 The king has crossed to the other bank of the river. 2 0 Danaw, whip the Europeans!
3 Appeal to Heaven, 0 Danaw! 4 You are in the right, 0 Danaw!
Notes. Danaw was the name of Menilek’s horse. Therefore, the war-name of Menilek
was Abba Danaw (according to the Galla pronunciation, Abba Ddno).
61
Fitawrari Gabayahu was chief of Guragie and asalldfi, i.e. cupbearer of Menilek. He
fought valiantly during the Italo-Abyssinian war. A little Amharic song runs:
Tilydn bilo ndbbdr Sdwa naw ddmbdrie
Tilydn bilo ndbbdr Tigre naw ddmbdrie
imbi aid Gabayahu tatamdo inda bane
1 The Italian said, “ Shoa is a territory of mine! ” The Italian said, “Tigre is a terri-
tory of mine! ” 3 “ No! ” said Gabayahu, yoked as an ox.
62
Gabayahu was killed in the battle at Adowah. This very beautiful song laments his
death:
asalldfi Gdbdyo
iddgm gard Ngdllatte way6
ule dimtu qallayo
fardngi si natte yd Gdbdyo
5 Gabayd ydggumd kufu
badde lolgko
lolen nigusdf galti
Gdbdyo ydggumd kufu
badde yd nitikb
10 nitis bdr hierumti
Gdbdyo ydggumd kufu
badde yd hddako
ggde Gdbdyo
sluggish Amara; 9 they are not (spoils) of (boys) abandoned by their mothers; 10 they
are not (spoils) of (fallen warriors) trampled by the mules. Ill have overthrown horse-
men! 12 As to troopers, I have a hundred (spoils of them), 13 and as to the horsemen, I
have overcome a hundred. 14 Bring (spoils) of horsemen equal to (the spoils) of mine! 15
0 sons of Dargie, the great, 16 0 sons of Kumsa (son) of Moroda, 17 if (my spoils) are
small, I will complete (their number); 18 if they (i.e. their numbers) are complete, I will
heap up (others)! 19 Bring (spoils) of horsemen equal to (the spoils) of mine!
C. THE ITALO-ABYSSINIAN WAR (1896)
60
When the Emperor Menilek passed the Abbay and marched toward Tigre to fight
against the Italians, a Galla minstrel sang:
motin bar gamd cqe WdqattNmatti yd Ddno
Ddno farangi riebe dugankieti yd Ddno
1 The king has crossed to the other bank of the river. 2 0 Danaw, whip the Europeans!
3 Appeal to Heaven, 0 Danaw! 4 You are in the right, 0 Danaw!
Notes. Danaw was the name of Menilek’s horse. Therefore, the war-name of Menilek
was Abba Danaw (according to the Galla pronunciation, Abba Ddno).
61
Fitawrari Gabayahu was chief of Guragie and asalldfi, i.e. cupbearer of Menilek. He
fought valiantly during the Italo-Abyssinian war. A little Amharic song runs:
Tilydn bilo ndbbdr Sdwa naw ddmbdrie
Tilydn bilo ndbbdr Tigre naw ddmbdrie
imbi aid Gabayahu tatamdo inda bane
1 The Italian said, “ Shoa is a territory of mine! ” The Italian said, “Tigre is a terri-
tory of mine! ” 3 “ No! ” said Gabayahu, yoked as an ox.
62
Gabayahu was killed in the battle at Adowah. This very beautiful song laments his
death:
asalldfi Gdbdyo
iddgm gard Ngdllatte way6
ule dimtu qallayo
fardngi si natte yd Gdbdyo
5 Gabayd ydggumd kufu
badde lolgko
lolen nigusdf galti
Gdbdyo ydggumd kufu
badde yd nitikb
10 nitis bdr hierumti
Gdbdyo ydggumd kufu
badde yd hddako
ggde Gdbdyo