Metemma
Encyclopedia
Metemma is a town in northwestern Ethiopia
, on the border with Sudan
. Located in the Semien Gondar Zone
of the Amhara Region
, Metemma has a latitude and longitude of 12°58′N 36°12′E with an elevation of 685 meters above sea level. Across the border is the corresponding Sudanese village of Gallabat
. According to the British diplomat Hormuzd Rassam
, who travelled through Metemma in November 1865 on his diplomatic mission to Emperor Tewodros II
, "Metemma" comes from the Arabic
for "the place of cutting, or termination -- indicating the end of the Muslim
provinces", although at the time the settlement was better known as Suk ul-Gallabat ("The market of Gallabat").
Metemma hosts an airport, (ICAO code HAMM, IATA ETE).
finding the spot a convenient resting-place for their fellow-pilgrims on their way to Mecca and back, obtained permission from the Emperor of Ethiopia to make a permanent settlement there. However Hormuz Rassam records a different account, stating "within the last century" (i.e., the eighteenth century) the rulers of Metemma were in constant war with their counterparts at Er-Rashid
and manned their armies with slaves taken from Kurdufan
and Darfur. These foreign conscripts eventually revolted and killed the "so-called Arab chief", making one of their number ruler.
Lying on the main trade route from Sennar
to Gondar
(some 90 miles to the east by south), Metemma/Gallabat grew into a trade center of some importance. The Scottish explorer James Bruce
(who called the town Hor-Cacamoot) travelled through the town in 1772. This location not only made the settlement a major marketplace, but also a major slave
market in the 19th century. Richard Pankhurst
has published estimates of the number of people sold in this market during the 19th century that range between 10,000 and 20,000. By 1881, European visitors reported that the Emperor
Yohannes IV
had ordered the slave market closed. Emperor Yohannes was killed in battle nearby on 9-10 March 1889 fighting the Sudenese Mahdist in the Battle of Gallabat
.
An Italian
column from Gadabi occupied Metemma on 12 April 1936, which consisted of one Eritrea
n battalion, one squadron mounted on camels, and 1 platoon of light tanks. During the occupation
, the Italians built a mosque in the town. After war
was declared between the British
and Italians, and the Italians occupied Gallabat, the British captured Gallabat 6 November 1940 with the intent of then capturing Metemma; however, the attack on Metemma failed miserably and the British were forced to evacuate Gallabat. They occupied Metemma for good 19 January 1941.
The trade route through Metemma remained important up to the beginning of the twentieth century, but the introduction of rail transport to Sudan, as well as improvements to the roads inside Ethiopia robbed the town of its importance, until by E.C.
1944 (AD 1952) an official survey found only 129 thatched and corrugated-roof houses in Matemma, of which "fourteen were government properties, three were owned by nagades and twelve were empty -- probably reserved for renting."
During the Ethiopian Civil War
, Metemma was captured by the Ethiopian Democratic Union (EDU) in 13 January 1977, who attacked from positions inside Sudan. The town was taken from the EDU by the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
7 October 1990, claiming to have killed 28 of its enemy forces, wounded 21, and captured 16.
A road to Al Qadarif
of good standard was completed mid-March 2002, allowing import and export goods to be sent through Port Sudan
, where an area had been reserved for Ethiopian goods and containers.
of Ethiopia published in 2005, Metemma has an estimated population of 3132 males and 2449 females for a total population of 5581. The 1994 census reported this town had a total population of 3,183 of whom 1,648 were males and 1,535 were females. It is one of three towns in Metemma
woreda
.
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...
, on the border with Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
. Located in the Semien Gondar Zone
Semien Gondar Zone
Semien Gondar is a Zone in the Ethiopian Amhara Region. This Zone is named for the city of Gondar, the capital of Ethiopia until the mid-19th century, which has often been used as a name for the 20th century province of Begemder....
of the Amhara Region
Amhara Region
Amhara is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, containing the homeland of the Amhara people. Previously known as Region 3, its capital is Bahir Dar....
, Metemma has a latitude and longitude of 12°58′N 36°12′E with an elevation of 685 meters above sea level. Across the border is the corresponding Sudanese village of Gallabat
Gallabat
Gallabat is a village in the Sudanese state of Al Qadarif. It lies at one of the country's border crossing points with Ethiopia; on the other side of the border is Ethiopia's corresponding border village Metemma.-History:...
. According to the British diplomat Hormuzd Rassam
Hormuzd Rassam
Hormuzd Rassam , was a native Assyrian Assyriologist, British diplomat and traveller who made a number of important discoveries, including the clay tablets that contained the Epic of Gilgamesh, the world's oldest literature...
, who travelled through Metemma in November 1865 on his diplomatic mission to Emperor Tewodros II
Tewodros II of Ethiopia
Tewodros II was the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1855 until his death....
, "Metemma" comes from the Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
for "the place of cutting, or termination -- indicating the end of the Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
provinces", although at the time the settlement was better known as Suk ul-Gallabat ("The market of Gallabat").
Metemma hosts an airport, (ICAO code HAMM, IATA ETE).
History
The town traces its origins to the 18th century, when a colony of Takruri from DarfurDarfur
Darfur is a region in western Sudan. An independent sultanate for several hundred years, it was incorporated into Sudan by Anglo-Egyptian forces in 1916. The region is divided into three federal states: West Darfur, South Darfur, and North Darfur...
finding the spot a convenient resting-place for their fellow-pilgrims on their way to Mecca and back, obtained permission from the Emperor of Ethiopia to make a permanent settlement there. However Hormuz Rassam records a different account, stating "within the last century" (i.e., the eighteenth century) the rulers of Metemma were in constant war with their counterparts at Er-Rashid
Er Rahad
Er Rahad is a town in North Kurdufan Province in central Sudan, 30 kilometres south of El Obeid....
and manned their armies with slaves taken from Kurdufan
Kurdufan
Kurdufan , also spelled Kordofan, is a former province of central Sudan. In 1994 it was divided into three new federal states: North Kurdufan, South Kurdufan, and West Kurdufan...
and Darfur. These foreign conscripts eventually revolted and killed the "so-called Arab chief", making one of their number ruler.
Lying on the main trade route from Sennar
Sennar
Sennar is a town on the Blue Nile in Sudan and capital of the state of Sennar. For several centuries it was the capital of the Funj Kingdom of Sennar. It had an estimated population of 100,000 inhabitants in the early 19th century. The modern town lies 17km SSE of the ruins of the ancient capital...
to Gondar
Gondar
Gondar or Gonder is a city in Ethiopia, which was once the old imperial capital and capital of the historic Begemder Province. As a result, the old province of Begemder is sometimes referred to as Gondar...
(some 90 miles to the east by south), Metemma/Gallabat grew into a trade center of some importance. The Scottish explorer James Bruce
James Bruce
James Bruce was a Scottish traveller and travel writer who spent more than a dozen years in North Africa and Ethiopia, where he traced the origins of the Blue Nile.-Youth:...
(who called the town Hor-Cacamoot) travelled through the town in 1772. This location not only made the settlement a major marketplace, but also a major slave
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
market in the 19th century. Richard Pankhurst
Richard Pankhurst (academic)
Richard Keir Pethick Pankhurst OBE is a British academic with expertise in the study of Ethiopia.-Early life and education:...
has published estimates of the number of people sold in this market during the 19th century that range between 10,000 and 20,000. By 1881, European visitors reported that the 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...
Yohannes IV
Yohannes IV of Ethiopia
Yohannes IV , born Lij Kassay Mercha Ge'ez, was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1872 until his death.-Early life:...
had ordered the slave market closed. Emperor Yohannes was killed in battle nearby on 9-10 March 1889 fighting the Sudenese Mahdist in the Battle of Gallabat
Battle of Gallabat
The Battle of Gallabat was fought 9–10 March 1889 between the Mahdist Sudanese and Ethiopian forces. It is a critical event in Ethiopian history because Nəgusä Nägäst Yohannes IV was killed in this battle...
.
An Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
column from Gadabi occupied Metemma on 12 April 1936, which consisted of one Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
n battalion, one squadron mounted on camels, and 1 platoon of light tanks. During the occupation
Italian East Africa
Italian East Africa was an Italian colonial administrative subdivision established in 1936, resulting from the merger of the Ethiopian Empire with the old colonies of Italian Somaliland and Italian Eritrea. In August 1940, British Somaliland was conquered and annexed to Italian East Africa...
, the Italians built a mosque in the town. After war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was declared between the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Italians, and the Italians occupied Gallabat, the British captured Gallabat 6 November 1940 with the intent of then capturing Metemma; however, the attack on Metemma failed miserably and the British were forced to evacuate Gallabat. They occupied Metemma for good 19 January 1941.
The trade route through Metemma remained important up to the beginning of the twentieth century, but the introduction of rail transport to Sudan, as well as improvements to the roads inside Ethiopia robbed the town of its importance, until by E.C.
Ethiopian calendar
The Ethiopian calendar , also called the Ge'ez calendar, is the principal calendar used in Ethiopia and also serves as the liturgical calendar for Christians in Eritrea belonging to the Eritrean Orthodox Church, Eastern Catholic Church and Lutheran Evangelical Church of Eritrea...
1944 (AD 1952) an official survey found only 129 thatched and corrugated-roof houses in Matemma, of which "fourteen were government properties, three were owned by nagades and twelve were empty -- probably reserved for renting."
During the Ethiopian Civil War
Ethiopian Civil War
The Ethiopian Civil War began on September 12, 1974 when the Marxist Derg staged a coup d'état against Emperor Haile Selassie, and lasted until the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front , a coalition of rebel groups, overthrew the government in 1991. The war overlapped other Cold War...
, Metemma was captured by the Ethiopian Democratic Union (EDU) in 13 January 1977, who attacked from positions inside Sudan. The town was taken from the EDU by the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front is the ruling political coalition in Ethiopia. It is an alliance of four other groups: the Oromo Peoples' Democratic Organization , the Amhara National Democratic Movement , the South Ethiopian Peoples' Democratic Front The Ethiopian People's...
7 October 1990, claiming to have killed 28 of its enemy forces, wounded 21, and captured 16.
A road to Al Qadarif
Al Qadarif
Al Qadarif , also spelt Gedaref, Gedarif or El Gadarif, is the capital of the state of Al Qadarif in Sudan. It lies on the road that connects Khartoum with Gallabat on the Ethiopian border, about 410 kilometers from the capital.-Overview:...
of good standard was completed mid-March 2002, allowing import and export goods to be sent through Port Sudan
Port Sudan
Port Sudan is the capital of Red Sea State, Sudan; it has 489,725 residents . Located on the Red Sea, it is the Republic of Sudan's main port city.-History:...
, where an area had been reserved for Ethiopian goods and containers.
Demographics
Based on figures from the Central Statistical AgencyCentral Statistical Agency (Ethiopia)
The Central Statistical Agency is an agency of the government of Ethiopia designated to provide all surveys and censuses for that country used to monitor economic and social growth, as well as to act as an official training center in that field. It is part of the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance and...
of Ethiopia published in 2005, Metemma has an estimated population of 3132 males and 2449 females for a total population of 5581. The 1994 census reported this town had a total population of 3,183 of whom 1,648 were males and 1,535 were females. It is one of three towns in Metemma
Metemma (woreda)
Metemma is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Gondar Zone, Metemma is bordered on the south by Qwara, on the west by Sudan, on the north by Sanja, and on the east by Chilga...
woreda
Woreda
Woreda is an administrative division of Ethiopia , equivalent to a district . Woredas are composed of a number of Kebele, or neighborhood associations, which are the smallest unit of local government in Ethiopia...
.