Belay Zeleke

Belay Zeleke
በላይ ዘለቀ
Governor of Bichena
In office
1941–1942
Personal details
Born 1909
Borana, Wollo, Ethiopia
Died 12 January 1945
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Belay Zeleke (Ge'ez: በላይ ዘለቀ, bälay zälläqä; horse name ኣባ ኮስትር "Abba Koster"; 1909 – 12 January 1945) was an outstanding leader of the patriots in Gojjam, who participated in the resistance against the Italians during the occupation. He emerged from a brigand leader to become a national hero with his five-year struggle against Italian rule in Ethiopia.[1][2]

Early Life

Belay was born in Borana, Wollo. Belay's father, basha Zeleke Laqaw, came from Bichena and served as a bodyguard of lij Iyasu. His mother, woziero Taytu Assane was from Borana-Sayint, Wollo. When lij Iyasu was overthrown, Belay's father moved first to Chaqeta, is wife's birthplace, and later to Lamchan in Gojjam, taking his two sons, Belay and Ejigu. In 1924 the local governor surrounded his residence and asked him to surrender. Zeleke Laqaw and his relatives resisted, an exchange of fire followed and Zeleke was killed and hanged by the local chive in Belay's presence. Henceforth, Belaw was preoccupied with revenge. He became a brigand and was joined by some male members of his family. Thus, in the lowlands around the bank of the Abbay the number of his followers increased considerably even before the Italian occupation of Ethiopia in 1936.[1][3]

Second Italo-Ethiopian War

When Belay learned that Italians had invaded Ethiopia he decided to fight.[4] Within a few days he found a convoy of the Italian army proceeding from Debre Marqos to Bichena, there he ambushed and killed most of them and took their weapons. He was successful in most of his further fighting with the Italians in Gojjam, Wollo and Shewa. As his war activities intensified and his followers increased, many began to address him as leul Belay ("His Highness Belay") and atse begulbetu ("King by his own might"). Belay bestowed upon his followers the traditional titles, such as qenyazmach, dejazmach, Fit'awrari, and ras. When his brother, dejazmach Ejigu, asked him "what title is left for you, as you have given all to your followers?", he replied: "I need no title as my mother had already called me Belay" (in Amharic Belay means "one who is superior to others").[5]

In April 1941, the British forces led by General Wingate liberated Debre Marqos from Italian occupation led by Italian Commander Maraventano. By April 5, the Italians fled to Shoa, the Debre Marqos fell under the control of ras Hailu Tekle Haymanot who then requested Belay to come Debra Marqos by offering him his daughter for marriage. Ras Hailu then insisted on meeting Haile Selassie and had a confrontation with the British forces. When Belay arrived in Debre Marqos, General Wingate ordered that he remain outside of the city at gunpoint and Haile Selassie eventually met him.[6]

Rebellion

After the restoration of independence in 1941, atse Haile Selassie I gave Belay the title of dejazmach and appointed him the governor of Bichena . He tried to fill the subordinate position with his past comrades-in-arms, but his superiors wanted to appoint judges and other functionaries themselves. When Belay refused to appoint those proteges, the superior Gojjam officials reported this to the Emperor, alleging that Belay was revolting against the Emperor's government.[7] He did not carry out the order even when Haile Selassie summoned the quarrelling parties to Addis Ababa. The Emperor sent an army to arrest him, but Belay resisted by holding out in a fortress on Somma mountain. After losing many men, the Emperor dispatched a delegation to him with a promise that he would pardon him, but after Belay surrendered, he was tried by a special commission and sentenced to death.[1]

Death

Belay's death penalty was confirmed by the Emperor, but changed later to life imprisonment.[8] After a few years in prison he made an escape attempt under pressure from lij Mammo Haile Mikael, an Itallian collaborator who was imprisoned in the compound of the Grand Palace with him. They were re-arrested and brought to justice. [1] Belay was arrested and executed by hanging in Teklehaimanot Square in Addis Ababa along with his brother Ejigu and other rebels on 12 January 1945.[1][9]

Legacy

Dejazmach Belay Zeleke is remembered as a hero in Gojjam. In order to acquiesce the province, after Belay's hanging, the imperial government changed the taxation policy in Gojjam to the pre-war system.[7] The major road and school in Addis Ababa are named after him: dejazmach Belay Zeleke Street and dejazmach Belay Zeleke Secondary School.[10][11] There is also a Belay Zeleke road in Bahir Dar.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Jembere, Aberra (2003). "Bälay Zälläqä". In Uhlig, Siegbert. Encylopaedia Aethiopica. 1. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 456.
  2. ↑ Gambare, Abarra (1997). Abba Koster. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University.
  3. ↑ Sellassie, Tsehai Berhane (1977). "Bälay Zälläqä". Encyclopedia Africana-Dictionary of African Biograpby. 1. New York. p. 56.
  4. ↑ Asres, Alem (25 March 2017). "The bandit who became emperor: a role model for all youth". The Reporter. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  5. ↑ Shirefe, David (1995). Bare Feet and Badoliers. London. p. 293.
  6. ↑ Pearce, Jeff; Pankhurst, Richard (2017). Prevail: The Inspiring Story of Ethiopia's Victory over Mussolini's Invasion. New York, USA: Skyhorse Publishing Inc. pp. 497–498. ISBN 9781510718746.
  7. 1 2 Crowder, Michael (1984). "The Horn of Africa". The Cambridge History of Africa. 8: 464.
  8. ↑ Tadesse (2014). Ethiopia. Carlsbad, USA: Balboa Press. p. 268. ISBN 9781452526065.
  9. ↑ Lentakis, Michael (2005). Ethiopia: A View from Within. Cambridge, UK: Janus Publishing Company Lim. p. 106. ISBN 9781857565584.
  10. ↑ "Dejazmach Belay Zeleke Street". Geoview. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  11. ↑ Shibeshi, Haftu (2015). Sources of Conflict between Parents and Adolescents: In Dejach Belay Zeleke Secondary School. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University. p. 8.
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