Bahrey
Encyclopedia
Abba Bahrey was a late 16th century Ethiopia
n monk
, historian
, and ethnographer. He is best known for his 1593 work on the history of the Oromo
and their migrations in the 16th century, the "History of the Galla" ("Galla" being a historical and now pejorative term for the Oromo; ዜናሁ ፡ ለጋላ zēnāhū lagāllā). This short work is considered the ultimate source for information on the sixteenth century history of the Oromo: Manuel de Almeida
borrowed heavily from Bahrey in writing his history of Ethiopia, and Hiob Ludolf
derived much of his information on the Oromo from Baltazar Téllez's abridgment of Almeida's work.
Bahrey may also have been the author of Emperor
Sarsa Dengel
's chronicle, "The History of King Sarsa Dengel."
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
n monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
, historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, and ethnographer. He is best known for his 1593 work on the history of the Oromo
Oromo people
The Oromo are an ethnic group found in Ethiopia, northern Kenya, .and parts of Somalia. With 30 million members, they constitute the single largest ethnic group in Ethiopia and approximately 34.49% of the population according to the 2007 census...
and their migrations in the 16th century, the "History of the Galla" ("Galla" being a historical and now pejorative term for the Oromo; ዜናሁ ፡ ለጋላ zēnāhū lagāllā). This short work is considered the ultimate source for information on the sixteenth century history of the Oromo: Manuel de Almeida
Manuel de Almeida
Manuel de Almeida was a native of Viseu, who entered at an early age into the Society of Jesus, and went out as a missionary to India...
borrowed heavily from Bahrey in writing his history of Ethiopia, and Hiob Ludolf
Hiob Ludolf
Hiob Ludolf was a German orientalist, and born at Erfurt. Edward Ullendorff rates Ludolf as having "the most illustrious name in Ethiopic scholarship".-Life:...
derived much of his information on the Oromo from Baltazar Téllez's abridgment of Almeida's work.
Bahrey may also have been the author of Emperor
Emperor of Ethiopia
The Emperor of Ethiopia was the hereditary ruler of Ethiopia until the abolition of the monarchy in 1974. The Emperor was the head of state and head of government, with ultimate executive, judicial and legislative power in that country...
Sarsa Dengel
Sarsa Dengel
Sarsa Dengel was of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty...
's chronicle, "The History of King Sarsa Dengel."