Ras Abebe Aregaye: The Indomitable Resistance Leader

By Fitsum G.

July 19, 2005

It has often been reiterated that the history of many of our national heroes, specially those who did not have the luck of outliving the hard times, has yet to be well documented, researched and narrated to the current generation. Many scholars confidently assert that Ethiopia is a historic country by any parameter, while its records are scattered all over the libraries and museums of Europe, some looted during alien invasions, others stolen by thieves and sold to tourists and adventurers. The recent return of the looted Axum obelisk by Italy could usher a new era towards the restitution of all precious historical documents and articles that could in turn enhance the appetite of research for Ethiopians. It is curious that Ethiopian students are reputed to be better versed in alien cultures and history rather than their own. The heroic deeds of people such as Ras Abebe have risked to be forgotten without deserving due attention. The recent publication on the life of 'Abba Gessit' by Dr. Abera Jembere hence takes us one step forward towards bridging such gap.

Today, it is gratifying to note that there are a substantial number of renowned history researchers and academics in Ethiopia with their works being published continuously, despite the skyrocketing cost of paper and publishing. All this will eventually contribute to better understand our country, the psyche that stands behind our society. And such knowledge would contribute to enhance the much cherished democratization and development efforts, struggling in its infancy. It goes without saying that nationals who do not know their own history cannot have a true vision for their future, for they can not appreciate their present status, nor can they resolve their current problems without heeding how not to repeat past mistakes. Hence, history can be put under such perspective as being a locomotive of metamorphosis/transformation.

Among the scholars who have, of late, shown marked interest in Ethiopian history can be cited the recently expired Dr. Abera Jembere, a versatile scholar, Associate Professor of Law at Addis Ababa University. Dr. Abera is well known by law students of AAU for his zeal in undertaking research and his numerous presentations on studies on Ethiopian history in general, beside his lectures of its legal history and institutions. It is unfortunately after his death that the publication of the biography of Ras Abebe Aregaye, 'Abba Gessit', has seen the light of day, just a few months ago. Nevertheless, Dr Abera's credit for contributing his part in trying to make known the personality of people such as Ras Abebe remains enormous. Hard working as he was, Dr. Abera had still a lot to contribute to Ethiopians, motivated by his relentless research and readiness to discover novelties with the enthusiasm of a young scholar, notwithstanding his advanced age and health conditions.

Dr Abera's book is entitled "Abba Gessit, Ras Abebe Aregaye", and is a Shama Books publication. 'Abba Gessit' stands for the name of the person as associated with his horse. 'Abba' implying ownership, fatherhood, while 'Gessit' is the name proper of the horse. It is a tradition of illustrious people, nobility and generals in Ethiopia to be identified in association with the name of their horses, and just to cite a few examples, Emperor Tewodros was known as 'Abba Tatek', Emperor Yohannes 'Abba Bezbiz, Emperor Menelik as 'Abba Dagnew', Emperor Haile Selassie as 'Abba Tekil', his father Ras Makonnen, 'Abba Kagnew', Dejazmach Balcha, 'Abba Nefso' etc.

Who exactly was 'Abba Gessit', then? Dr Abera outlines the major and essential traits of Ras Abebe in this 175-page book, created and narrated in the form of a novel. It principally refers to the darkest moments and perhaps the most significant ones in the life of Ras Abebe. Such period could also be reckoned as the most challenging to modern Ethiopia : the Battle of Maichew, in the north, had just concluded with the humbling of Ethiopian troops, (Fascists used air power and napalm bombs!), the controversial retreat and exile of the Emperor to 'conduct a diplomatic battle at the League of Nations' had materialized, and this had resulted in the Fascist military occupation of Ethiopia, (following a boastful Duce's declaration in Rome at Piazza Venezia that Ethiopia had become an Italian colony, thus completing the nationalist dream of Mussolini to establish L'Africa Orientale Italiana (AOI) consisting of Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. All this was a prelude to the bitter Resistance Movement conducted by brave Ethiopian patriots such as 'Abba Gessit.'

The narration tells us how 'Abba Gessit' used all his talent and intelligence, all his military know how and prestige to mobilize and harness the men and women at his disposal to continue fighting the enemy with vigour and hope, despite the interminable challenges that a formidably well armed and motivated enemy presented. Beside the technology and military might, Mussolini had deployed a lot of human resource, lavish money that was eventually to drive bankrupt Italy itself, so much, so lofty, was the ambition of the Duce in Ethiopia. The constructions he engaged in and the gifts and bribes given to buy off resistant people, a certain nobility, cost him millions.

The book however does not totally limit itself to the Resistance Movement in the central part of the country from which the hero hailed, but contextually narrates the challenges facing modern Ethiopia, including what followed and what had preceded the invasion. The book then ends when Ras Abebe is killed by what could now be called 'friendly fire' because he was victim of certainly a moment of panic and indiscriminate massacre aimed at those who were thought to be responsible for the poverty and underdevelopment of the country, by a group of youths who dreamed of a new and modern Ethiopia. And ironically, Ras Abebe's life, which had survived the atrocious five-year Fascist occupation, the numerous ambushes by local collaborators and traitors, ('banda'), the wounds of various gun shots sustained during the battles, came to a halt by the hands of his own 'revolution and freedom-seeking' compatriots! During the Resistance, he had risked to be killed by courageously rejecting every proposal of peace; he had rejected and forgone huge awards, appointments, money from the Fascist leadership in exchange for collaboration as many did. He had put at risk the life and security of his wife and three young children, in defiance of any compromise with the enemy. He was definitely one of the most heroic figures of 20th century Ethiopia, and yet, he found his death in front of a summary execution, ordered under emergency, confusion and panic. Certainly, he would never have deserved such destiny.

Dr Abera narrates, Ras Abebe was born in North Showa in what was then called Tegulet and Bulga Awraja (Province) in Jeru Wayu woreda, at a hamlet called Abdella, on August 22, 1902. His father was Afe Negus (Chief Justice) Aregaye Becherie whereas his mother was W/ro Askale-Mariam Gobena, daughter of Ras Gobena Dachie, (one of the celebrated military chiefs of Emperor Menelik). Hence, the origins of Ras Abebe were not exactly among the humblest although his parents had come a long way to acquire the status of nobility through their achievements and not blood. And Ras Abebe has thus benefited from a privileged and refined education/tutorship, as his newly acquired class demanded. He went to both the traditional (church school, hymns etc) as well as the modern school, when he joined the Tafari Makonnen School taking lessons in French. When he grew older, he was made to attend the court of his father where he found the manner to learn how justice was administered. He then joined the Imperial Bodyguard acquiring military science, and awarded the rank of lieutenant first, and captain next.

When the Fascist invasion of Ethiopia erupted, 'Balambaras' (his early, modest traditional title) Abebe was chief of the 'City's security forces' ("ye Arada Zebegna", literally, 'the guardian of Arada', the center of Addis) under the municipality, the first organised, uniformed force that was the predecessor to the modern police. It was in these years that Ethiopia was beginning to familiarize itself with the modern ages, organising a modern legal system and new government institutions that were heretofore unknown, (only to be aborted by the Fascist invasion!). When it was heard that the Fascist forces were marching with full speed towards controlling Addis Ababa, (after the Maichew débacle,) 'Abba Gessit' decided not to surrender until his death, and opted to conduct guerilla warfare, hiding in the backyards of North Showa, not distant from the capital where the friendly terrain offered him all he needed. The rugged hills, the hot valleys, rifts, the torrents, suited for distancing enemy troops and waging surprise ambushes on their positions. To move around, he did not need a map, and that was a huge advantage on any foreign enemy, without underestimating the warm hospitality and unfailing support of the inhabitants.

'Abba Gessit' took his mother, wife and three children, along with his faithful to the area where he was to establish his military base, and conduct his relentless attacks on enemy forces. The method he used was intended to deprive the occupying enemy of any peace of mind so that it would be a persistent thorn in the flank of the enemy. Plans of permanent dwelling were to be shattered. When patriots Abraha Deboch and Moges Asgedom, two young Eritrean militants who, enraged by Fascist atrocities in Eritrea, attempted on the life of the head of the occupation force General Graziani at Sidist Kilo, the current site of Addis Ababa University, the enemy panicked and resorted to the most atrocious and indiscriminate of massacres on innocent Addis residents (including those who were reportedly refuged in the Debre Libanos Monastery, a hundred and ten kilometers west of Addis. It was then that the Resistance movement acquired even more adherents, thanks to the outrage. And 'Aba Gessit' found many valiant and committed fighters following such tragic episode. February 20, 1937 remains one of the saddest chapters in the history of modern Ethiopia!

The book describes the first impact of 'Abba Gessit' with the people of the neighbourhood where he joined along with a few of his faithful assistants. He is depicted briefing the people about what was going on in Addis when he fled. That there were invaders trying to enslave the Ethiopian people, and that a few collaborators were being bribed accepting the false propaganda of the Fascists, that these were claiming to civilize the country and help the citizens, but falsely etc. 'Abba Gessit' invited his countrymen to heed the testimony of those who had fled Fascist dictatorship from nearby Eritrea. He outlined the injustices that were reserved to the indigenous population, and warned such lot was what was reserved to Ethiopians as well. He thus motivated the people to totally cast out Italians and reject any compromise over freedom. He convinced the people of all ranks and trades, and gained full consensus about the need to fight back and never surrender, and that there should be a defined strategy that suited the circumstances. He then offered his leadership first in a very limited area, but later became the coordinator of a full range of battalions of patriots that were organized by other leaders as well. That was when he was bestowed with the prestigious rank of 'Ras', literally 'head' of warriors. 'Abba Gessit' not only knew strategies of war, but also enjoyed statesmanship and legal scholarship. His charisma was so marked that every one agreed to fight up to the last of their breaths under his direction. The movement that he had initiated in Jeru, the vicinity of Debre Berhan, was later to finish with the climax of the return of the Emperor from exile in England and the liberation of Ethiopia from Fascist forces. 'Abba Gessit' was then given the title of 'Major General' by the Emperor and assumed the post of chief of staff and later Minister of Defence.

'Abba Gessit' is a mythical figure among the Resistance movement, and as such has remained a headache for the Fascist local leadership, never managing to capture him. He continued to change position and fought both overtly and covertly, at times retreating strategically at others facing head on depending on contingencies. Once he engaged himself with a protracted negotiation and a sort of cease fire with the enemy, while he tried to recover his army from the wounds and losses of earlier battles, (hence buying time). When he was ready, he found a pretext to interrupt the negotiations and continued with his battle.

Dr Abera Jembere's book is enjoyable also because it is written with the style of the giants of our literature, full of picturesque expressions and phrases. And perhaps the best credit of the work is to stimulate a renewed appetite on scholars to study more profoundly the personalities such as 'Abba Gessit' and many other patriotic leaders heretofore little known. Ethiopians value a lot their independence and fight for it, also because it has had a plethora of heroic leaders such as 'Abba Gessit'. The young generation needs to capitalize on such great tradition of valour, and not squander it aimlessly! Many Ethiopians know a lot about General Napoleon Bonaparte but little about say Ras Abebe. Studying history should begin at one's backyards first, to then expand to exploring beyond the frontiers.............