ከ«ዋናው ገጽ» ለውጦች መካከል ያለው ልዩነት

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መስመር፡ 1፦
A short life history of Fitawurari Ayele Tessema
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1. Early Life and family background of Ayele Tessema
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Ayele was born on 29 may 1912, in North Gondar in the district of Chilga particularly at the village called Daza. He was the son of Mr. Tessema Asresa and Mrs. Aselfech Wondie.
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Mr.Tessema has got his military title as “Qegnazemach” (a military leader of the right flank of) during reign of king Yohannis IV of Ethiopia in 1887. Because Tessema and his followers fought against the Mahadist (Sudanese Mujahidin) and he was able to free many Ethiopia captivities imprisoned by the Mahadist. Moreover, for his patriotism and heroism Tessema was appointed as the vice-governor of the area between Chilga and Mettema which was governed by Dijazemach Betewa Wasie. Tessema’s horse name was called “Aba Mulat”.
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Ayele had three brothers and five sisters. These were Mr. Redda, Mr. Tadesse, Mr. Zegeye, Mrs. Abosenet, Mrs. Achashman, Mrs. Aberash, Mrs. Abeba and Mrs. Ebeste. Among them Redda was the eldest and Ayele was the youngest of all. Like his father, Redda also fought against the Sudanese Mujahidin and got the title “Girazemach” (a military leader the left flank) and his horse name was called “Qeseqese”. Qegnazemach Tessema had a great ambition and respect to Ayele and used to call him “Ayele keber” which means ‘Ayele my glory’. Because it was Ayele who was expected to replace his father’s post.
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When Ayele was a child, he learn how to farm and herd cattle’s from his family members and his fellow local friends. Moreover, Ayele attended a church education in Saint George and Michael churches at Chaqo near Daza. His religious father’s and teachers who tutored him were called Merigeta Enqoneh and Aba Ezera. He attended this church education with his nephew Amare Tasewu and Abera Redda. While learning in the church, Ayele was served as a deacon.
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Besides this when he was at the age between12-18 he started to carry his father’s weapons such as ‘sinader’, ‘moscov’ and ‘wejigera’. In the mean time Ayele was able to operate these guns and started to hunt wild animal in the bush like shooting practices on the bird and hunting wild animals like antelope. Unlike other boys of his village, Ayele was not too much engaged in agricultural activities.
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When Ayele was eighteen he married a beautiful young girl called Mrs. Adebabaye Wondie and got their first daughter called Sehin in Daza.
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2. Ayele’s early bandit life and the Italian Fascist occupation of Gondar
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The Italian occupied Aykel after five days later than the occupation of Gondar on April 7, 1936. Before the occupation the governor of Aykel was “Fitawurari” (commander of the army) Alemayehu Bitewa. Later in the occupation , the governor of Begimeder was the fascist general Nazi, he then appointed Major Tilinti Defaso and Major Mera as governor and vice governor of Chilga respectively.
<div style="top:+0.2em; font-weight:100; font-size:105%;"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ወደ [[ውክፔዲያ]] [[ውክፔዲያ:Welcome, newcomers!|እንኳን ደህና መጡ]]! ውክፔዲያ የብዙ አገር ሰዎች ተሰባስበው በ[[m:List of Wikipedias|ልዩ ልዩ ቋንቋ'ዎች]] የዓለምን ዕውቀት እየመዘገቡ እና እያነበቡ ያሉበት ታዋቂ ድረ-ገጽ ነው። ውክፔዲያ የጋራ ነው። ማንም ሰው ይህን መዝገበ ዕውቀት ሊያሻሽል ይችላል። እርስዎ ለውክፔዲያ አዲስ ከሆኑ [[መለጠፊያ:ለጀማሪወች|ለጀማሪዎች]] የሚለውን ማያያዣ ቢጫኑ የበለጠ መረጃ ያገኛሉ ።</font>
 
Following the fall of Gondar in general and Chilga province in particular on the hand of the Italian. The Fascist Italian officials used different mechanism to undermine local resistance such as attracting the patriots with finical and material rewards if they surrender and submitted peacefully, and the Italian also vigorously confiscate the weapon of the local people by using the information provided by the local spy called “banda”.
እዚህ ውክፔዲያ ላይ ጽሑፍ ለማቅረብ፡
*<font color=" #9E2C20 "><big>መድፈር</big> </font>-- አዲስ ጽሑፍ ለመጀመር ወይንም ያለውን ጽሑፍ ለማስተካከል መድፈር ጥሩ ነው። የሚቀርበው ጽሑፍ ያልተሟላ፣ ወይንም ያልተጠናቀቀ ቢሆንም እንኳ መጨነቅ አያስፈልግም። ጅምር ጽሑፍ በሌላ ጊዜ ሊስተካክል፣ ሊሻሻል እና ሊጠናቀቅ ይችላል።
*<font color=" #9E2C20 "><big>መማር እና ማስተማር</big> </font>-- በማንኛውም የዕውቀት ዘርፍ ለመሳተፍ ይቻላል። ተማሪዎች በጥናታቸው ጊዜ እሚያጠኑትን ትምህርት ተርጉመው በጥቂቱ ቢጽፉ ለጥናታቸው ይረዳቸዋል።
*<font color=" #9E2C20 "><big>መተርጎም</big> </font>-- ጽሑፍ ለማቅረብ የግዴታ ከባዶ መነሳት አያስፈልግም። ከ[[:en:|እንግሊዝኛው ውክፔዲያ]] ወይም ከሌላ ቋንቋ ውክፔዲያም ትርጉም ጽሑፍ ማቅረብ የጽሁፍ ስራን ያቀለዋል።
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Lij Ayele horse name was called “Abba Gudie”, as the result all his hundreds and thousands of fellow patriots were called “Ye Abba Gudie Asheker” (mean follower of Lij Ayele). ‘Lij’ means a title given to a young and energetic boy.
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Some times in January 1937, Ayele and his cousin Abera determined to fight rather than surrender or devolve their weapons and work as a collaborator with the Italian invader. After the a meticulous discussion with all his fellow patriots Ayele and Abera built their own first fortification at a military strategic place not far (around 10km) from the Italian main military base in Aykel at a place called “Gubegi” near to a village called “Bezahao.” They chose this base simply because the topography of this area is rough, mountainous and rocky. Ayele and Abera were in charge of the entire patriots and they all were armed with their own private rifle with few bullets.
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After few days the Italian officers were informed that a group of patriots in Chaqo and Daza were preparing to launch an attack against them. Thus the fascist officers decided to halt the movement of these patriots and advanced to these areas. Fortunately, the force of Ayele and Abera ambushed them by using their secret base in Gubegi which was their first known victory over the Italian. In this battle filed the force of Ayele was able to capture 15 rifle and 5 mules. After the news of Ayele and Abera first military triumph was heard, other local patriots like Mr. Mekonne Zegeye, Mr. Gelagy Chekol, Mr. Kassagn Tefera, Mr. Melkamu Chekol and Mr. Negas Jemberi joined them.
Sometimes after the battle of Bezaho, on January 20, 1937 Ayele and Abera forces moved from their first base to Mettema to launch another surprise and sudden attack by using the information and the guidance of local double agent “Yewuset Arebegna” (a patriot who works with the Italian and at the same time who provide information to the main patriots in the bush). As a matter of chance Ayele brother called Mr. Tadesse Tessema was a double agent “Yewuset Arebegna” and he used to provide Ayele with valuable and priceless information on the movement of the fascist forces.
Lastly, Ayele forces attack the bases of the Italian military camp in “Sabsigie” in the night. In this operation Ayele’s force killed three Italian guards and wounded many Italian officers. Unfortunately, Ayele was injured in his leg at down and he was taken to his home village Daza by local made wooden stretcher. In the next morning, the Italian blame the famous local man called Mr. Zewdie for the incidence at “Sabsige”. He was arrested, tried in fascist military court and then hanged in Aykel.
After a week of difficult journey along the jungle forest Sabsigie all the way to Daza, Ayele arrived in Daza with help of his fellow patriots, then his father hide him in the cave and he started to supply him with a variety of food so that his son would be able to recover from his wound swiftly. However, due to a repeated disagreement and conflict between the home servant and Ayele’s mother, the servant run away from Daza and went to Aykel. Later on she reported to the Italian officers about the true incidence of the attack of “Sabsige” with the belief that the Italian officials would reward her with money.
By using this new information the Italian officials decided to capture Ayele and others patriots who participated in the “Sabsige” operation. And they immediately forced Ayele brother Tadesse (who was a double agent or ‘Yewuset Arbegna”) to help them for the capture of Ayele but he rebuff to collaborate for his brother capture and he was put into custody. At last, the Italian officers with the help other local traitor or ‘banda’ were able to capture Ayele’s fathers and brother Mr. Tessema and Mr. Redda respectively.
At first they were detained with Mr. Taddesse in Aykel but later on after some days the Italian transfer them to Gondar main prison. Because the Italian feared that a local revolt might be broke out against Ayele’s family’s captivity.
In the mean time, Ayele was frustrated and tense about the fate of his families. As time went on when Ayele was recovered from his injury, he decided to continue his struggle to free his country from the Italian colonialist invasion. Ayele’s commitment and patriotism encouraged and motivated the fighting spirit of the patriots in Daza.
In December 9, 1937 the Italian forces from Aykel was secretly heading to attack the patriots forces and their leader Ayele in Daza but they were provided with false map of the terrain by the double agents. The patriot under Ayele leadership was informed about this Italian maneuver and he used this glorious opportunity and easily assaults the fascist force by controlling the key post of the mountain. In this battlefield Ayele’s force was able to capture 57 rifles and many bullets.
On top of this, on January 28, 1938 this same patriot force attacked and terrorized the Italian forces in Dembia at the battle field called “Chenekel Tekelhimanot” and scored another victory over the invaders and captured 50 cattle’s and 10 guns. These successive victories within three weeks time boost up the moral and the spirit of Ayele’s forces and then they immediately marched towards the main Italian camp in Aykel and trap some of the Italian patrol forces around the city. These patriots action ignite a wide spread terror among the Italian force in the main province of Chilga.
After six months in prison, Mr. Tadesse and many patriots were unexpectedly died as a result of the typhoid epidemic that broke out inside the main detention center in Gondar. This episode caused a panic among the family of Ayele’s because they feared that this epidemic might also kill the remaining family members. Then with the frequent request and plead by Mrs. Achashman Tessema, the Italian officers released her father Tessema and her brother Redda. Sorrowfully, Mr. Tessema died after one week of his release due to the typhoid disease. But Mr. Redda went and stayed in Aykel for a little while with his niece Mrs. Salish and then he moved to Chako and joined Ayele forces. Nevertheless, the loss of Mr. Tessema and Mr. Tadesse didn’t embarrassed and discouraged the patriot movement rather their death was seen as a martyr for the Ethiopian freedom and independence.
In Daza, since Redda was the elder son of his father and he had a military leadership experience against the Sudanese mujahidin (Mahadist) with the title “Girazemach” (a military leader of the left flank), he then became commander in chief of the entire patriot force in Chilga province which includes the area between Sekelt Guange river all the way to Mettema and Qwara against the fascist invaders. Redda then summoned and invited all patriots from Chaqo, Daza, Meqenet, Aykel, Seraba, Chenchoke, Dawa , Dangura, Anguaba, Bezaho , Tembera, Negadi Bahir , Mettema, Kokit and Qwara.
Redda also invited all collaborators to desert the fascist invaders and join his force. Many patriots in these areas responded Redda announcement and gathered in Daza. Ayele and Abera were elected as commander of the patriots under Redda leadership. These courageous patriots camped and fortified in Gaza. This was the first patriotic military organization in Chilga province. In connection to this gathering of the patriot in Daza, the following poem was composed.
ነጭ አሞራ ዙሮ ይገባል ከዋሻ
እንዴት አለህ ዳዛ የጦሩ መነሻ፡፡
It’s equivalent English translation;
As a white bird takes a shelter in a cave
How is Daza which bases of the patriots?
 
3. Lij Ayele’s major battlefields and patriotism
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Some times in January 1938, after some weeks of preparation and ceremonies the “Daza force” under the leadership of Mr. Redda moved to a new camp and based in Debre Sina, near Anguaba. In February 1938, around thirty patriots advanced to Aykel and encircle the Italian base and attacked it. But they were forced to retreat due to the military and numerical superiority of the fascist forces. But by using their first base and fortification in Bezaho, Ayele and Abera scored a surprise victory over the Italian who were following and attacking the retreat patriot force from Aykel.
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This Bezaho victory becomes a major source of inspiration and motivation for new collective patriot forces. This was simply because the patriots become much more organized and experienced from one battlefield from another. In general, the patriots now were able to adopted new military strategy and tactics based on this patriot organization in the province of Chilga which includes gorilla and conventional warfare.
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On May, 1938 Ayele and Abera with their fellow patriots went to a strategic place on the road to Gondar between the two main rivers of the area Guange and Awuga river called Wagemit river where they secretly camped and fortified even without informing the double agents. At this time some 50 Italian forces was heading to Aykel in convoy under the commander of Major Mera. Then the forces of Ayele attacked this line and killed many Italian soldiers. And the remaining fascist force with their leader escapes and headed to Gondar. However, the force of Ayele immediately left the area because they got information that a large group mechanized fascist force was on its way to attack Ayele force. In relation to this Ayele’s victory, the following war song was made for his bravery.
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አዉጋ ላይ ገዳይ ከመቃጠሪያዉ
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አደዛ ላይ ገዳይ ከመዛወሪያዉ
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ጓንግ ላይ ገዳይ ከመናሃሪያዉ
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ያባ ሙላት ልጅ ልቡን ያመነዉ
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እንደ ነሃሴ ጅኑ ከባድ ነዉ
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እንደ ሚካኤል መልኩ አማሪ ነዉ
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ተመልከት ብሎ ስቆ ገደለዉ
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ተመልከት ብሎ መታዉ በመቅሪያዉ፡፡
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These military victories of Redda, Ayele and Abera over the Italian from one battle field after another was heard all over the province of Simen and Begimeder. Even emperor Hail Selassie I himself and his military officers in exile heard these bravery and heroism. That is why the king wrote and sent a letter of appreciation to Redda and Ayele.
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The main reason for these successive military victories of Redda and Ayele from one battlefield to another against the fascist Italian forces was because the area between Gondar to Mettema which includes Chilga were the most military strategic place in Simen and Begimeder province. By and large, the people along these areas are war like and brave people by nature and in history since the period of the Gondarian dynasty and king Tewodos II period.
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After their astonishing victory in Wogimet, the patriots under the commandership of Ayele and Abera moved to a place called “Amanit” to stopped the Italian forces that advanced towards Mettema. At the same time another patriot’s force led by Redda was also advanced towards “Amanit” in another front. Finally, on 29 June 1938, the Italian force under the leadership of Banti Chinko Setanta Coranta was attacked by the patriots at his base inside the fort called “Amanit”. But since they Italians were fighting inside their fort, the patriots paid heavy prices and they finally able to defeat these invaders and killed many fascist forces which was the highest causality inflicted by Ayele forces since the beginning of the resistance.
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In this battle field like the other battlefields, the force of Ayele in particular played a significant role. The local people of Chilga and the patriots were happy with Ayele’s force victory because for many of them the death of many Italian troops was seen as a punishment and a revenge for the death of Tessema and Tadesse. Because many people believed that the death of Tessema and Tadess was directly caused by Ayele’s active involvement in the so called “Sabisige” operation. After this remarkable victory at “Amanit” the patriots force returned to their main camp at Daza. As a result this Ayele’s triumph, his own patriots appreciated him with the following war songs such as:-
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አባት አስገዳይ ወንደም አስገዳይ ብለዉ ሲያሙት
|bt2= አዳዲስ ጽሑፎች
ነጭ ሰዉ ገዳይ ወርዶ አማኒት
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ገዳይ አማኒት
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እንደ አራስ ነብር ተጉዞ ሌሊት::
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ገዳይ ኩመር በር
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በለዉ እያለ ከቀስቅስ ጋር፡፡
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የአባቱን ጠላት የተሰማን
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የታዴን ጠላት የወንድሙን
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በቁሙ ጠጣዉ በሳንጃ አልቢን
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አርዶ በካር ጠጣዉ ደሙን፡፡
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4. The Role of Lij Ayele at the battlefield of Bezaho
[[መደብ:ዋና]]
Shortly after their defeat at “Amanit”, the Italian military officers reorganized and regrouped their army and advanced towards Daza to wiped-out the forces of Redda, Ayele and Abera in three main direction i.e ‘Lomi Werqa’, ‘Meqenet’ and ‘Bezaho’. Since the patriots were informed with each movement of the fascist forces, they also fortified in three fronts to defend their main camp and bases. Lij Ayele with his fellow patriots like Amare Tassew, Alem Mekonnen, and Negash Alemu fortified in Bezaho.
Ayele and his patriots fought the Italian beginning from mid-night till the morning. But the patriots were easily overwhelmed by the well armed and wel prepared Italian forces because the patriots had faced a dearth of bullet and ammunition. On top of this their main military leader Ayele was seriously wounded in his stomach and was about to die due to his over bleeding. Then Amare Tassew took and hides him in a certain cave near a place called “Gerameta”. The cumulative effective of all these forced Ayele’s forces to retreat back to their main base Daza.
 
In the mean time, the patriot forces under Redda leadership successfully defended the main camp in Daza and forced the Italian to retreat back to Aykel. Redda then sewed the wound of Ayele by using local herbs. During this critical time the patriots loss many territory and the Italian invaders were able to control many bases of the patriots. But in connection to Italian control and defeat of much area with the exception of Daza and Lij Ayele’s forces, the local people composed the following poem.
አዉሮፕላን ሲሄድ ሲበር እንደ ገዴ
ከሃገር ዳዛ ቀረ ከሰዉ አባ ጓዴ፡፡
Its equivalent English translation is;
An Airplane flew like Gedie bird
Daza and Abba Gudie remained uncaptured.
In due course, Ayele was miraculously recovered from his serious wounded on his abdomen. He was still the leader of the patriots. At this time with the request of King Hail Selassie I letter, Redda with his fellow patriots went to Sudan so as to accompany the king’s force, the king’s envoy Kebede Tessema and the British force under General Sanford and also to bring weapons and bullets. Later on Redda met King Hail Selassie I and received about 300 rifles and 3000 bullets with 1000 birr.
 
Redda finally returned to Daza through Mettema with two British military officers, two canons and a number of Sudanese mercenaries called “Salug”. When Redda was in Sudan, although Ayele was still wounded and recovering from it but he was still in charge of the camp in Daza and with the heroism of others patriots he successfully defended the enemies’ repeated counter attack against them.
 
On May 18, 1941 eight months of after the return of the patriots from Sudan, the various patriots groups advanced towards the Italian fortification at “Birru Sefer” close to “Anguaba”. The Ethiopian forces at this time were commanded in four directions by Ayele, Redda, Dejazemach Kebede and Qegnazemach Manalebeh Bitewa open an attack on the enemy base. On the other hand, the British army under Major Colonel Hanks called the thirteen divisions of Sudanese forces also bombarded and assaults the Italian base by mortar for two days at “Birru Sefer” which result a complete destruction of the Italian base.
 
In this battlefield the Italian suffered a heavy causality and were forced to left and retreat their fortification from Birr Sefer to Aykel and then move to a base called “Eyaho”. The Italian then with new and fresh forces under the leadership of Major Toreli tried to recapture their lost base in Birru Sefer many times with vain. But by the end 1941, Italian fascist were forced to withdraw from their entire main base in Chilga, after losing one battlefield from the other. Eventually, the province of Chilga was totally freed from the fascist occupation with the heroism of the patriots.
The patriots of Chilga credited their victory at Birru Sefer to Ayele leadership and bravery. To this end they make the following war song to Ayele.
ብሩ ሠፈር ገዳይ አስገዳይ ተራ በተራ
ቤዛሆ ገዳይ ቆሣይ አስቆሳይ ከልጁ ጋር
ከበብነዉ ብሎ ጠላት ሲያወራ
መንጥሮት ወጣ ያን ትልቅ ስፍራ
የተጨፈጨፈ የነጭ አዝመራ፡፡
 
5. The life and career of Ayele since liberation to his death
After liberation in 1942, Emperor Haile Selassie I gave power not only to the patriots but also to the traitors so as to balance the power of the patriots. Prince Asfaw Wossen Haile Selassie awarded Ayele Tessema with the title of “Qegnazemach” (military leader of the right flank) and his nephew Abera Redda was also awarded with the title “Girazemach” (military leader of the left flank) in Gondar respectively. But his brother Redda Tessema was later awarded with the highest military title called “Fitawurari” (Commander in chief) in the hand of Emperor Haile Selassie I in the grand palace in Addis Ababa.
 
Beside his new military leadership title, Ayele was also got the power to rule a sub district. However, this award to Ayele was never been expected by many people because he was a founder of patriotic organization and a renowned patriots in the province of Siemen and Begimeder. Moreover at this time the prince was awarding local traitors or “banda” with a higher title like “Fitawurari” and “Ras” (i.e. commander in chief and head of a governor). This made Ayele to be annoyed and to accept the title reluctantly.
 
In relation of Ayele receiving a lower title, the people composed the following idiom “ የጦር ቀን ንጉስ የአለም ቀን ድሃ” which means “Ayele is a king during a time of war but poor in the time of peace.”
 
In 1944 he was appointed as the governor of the city of “Geledeba”. As a governor in Geledeba he ended the widely practiced of slave trade, he reform and reduce land tax system, and he also fought corruption practices in by local officials in this area. Ayele’s social and political advisers in Geledeba were Mr. Abba Azaza, Mr. Chabude Tassew and Mr. Melkamu chekol.
 
During the end of the struggle Ayele had got a son called Tsega from women in Gaba village. However shortly after his appointment as governor Ayele married to Mrs. Alechew Molla from Gondar and got three sons and one daughter namely: Kassahun, Genbeneh, Ambachew and Worqie.
Qegnazemach Ayele later was transferred his governorship from Geledeba to Janda. In Janda Ayele was a popular governor because he eradicated the typhoid epidemic with the help of the province health officers that killed many people. Then in 1952, Ayele was once again transfer as a governor to “Gedebgie” in “Wogera” district, after some months in Gedebgie he was elected as the third judge in the court at “Dabat” based on his acceptance by the local people because as a governor he work hard to solve the problem of the inhabitants in various ways. When he was in Gedebgie he received an urgent call from King Haile Selassie I to come to Gondar and to get the approval of his title “Qegnazemach” (military leader of the right flank) by King Haile Selassie I. Finally, some months after this, Ayele was transferred to his home town province Seraba as governor of Chilga district.
Finally, in Seraba Qegnazemach Ayele Tessema built up a permanent residence with his new wife Mrs. Agegnehush Nega. From her he got two sons and two daughters namely; Mananegrewu, Tadesse, Yeshi and Tenagne.
As a governor in Chilga district, he played an important role in the development infrastructures. In collaboration with the people he constructed road from Guange river all the way to Mettema, he helped the opening of new clinic in Aykel and he organized the expansion of additional class rooms for Seraba elementary and junior school. In Seraba and Aykel he encourages parents to send their children to school. He himself was a role model to the community by sending his own kids to school and even he also brings his relatives children from the rural area and sends them to school. On the other hand in the aspect of religious, Ayele support for building of a new church (Medehanialem) in Serab in cooperation of the local people and he also helped for the reconstruction of the saint George church at Daza.
Moreover, Ayele also played a significant role in the stability and order of the district Chilga. Since he was the most influential and respected man in the area, he was able to end up all activity of banditry (“Shfita”) from Chilga to Mettema through negotiation and dialogue with them. But those bandit who refused to negotiate and reject his fatherly advised were hunted down and jailed in collaboration with his famous police man named Mr. Bazezew Gibrie. As a result he was able to maintain peace and order in the district of Chilga. To this end the local people sung a song like this.
በአየለ ተሰማ
ሃገሩ ተስማማ፡፡
በባዘዘዉ ገብሬ
ዱር አደረ በሬ፡፡
Its English translation was “Ayele Tessema who made the district stable and it was Mr. Bazezewu Gebrie who allowed the cattle to pass the night in the forest.”
 
Two years before the Ethiopian revolution Ayele Tessema retired from his posts as a governor and he started a new way of life in farming in Mettema. After some months of his retirement in 1972, the chief governor of the Simen and Begimider (Gondar Province) promoted Qegnazemach Ayele to the title of “Fitawurari” (Commander in chief of the army) by considering his key role in defending his country from the Italian fascist invasion and his good exemplary works and activity as a governor in Geldeba, Janda, Gedibegi and Chilga with other patriots like Fitawurari Desta Berelle.
However, during the revolution in 1974 Fitawurari Ayele was neutral in the two rivalry parties’ i.e. Ethiopian Democratic Union (EDU) and Ethiopian People Revolutionary Party (EPRP). Moreover, he was always against the administration system of the “Derge” and its red terror. In many occasion the Derge officials always were suspicious of him and they believed that he was member of EDU. This was because the Derge officials heard that EDU force under the leadership of Shambel Atanawu Wasie asked him to join to EDU and Fitawurari Ayele’s rejection.
At one time when Fitawurari Ayele heard the military preparation of the EDU forces to attack Seraba, he sent his personal delegates and informs the EDU’s forces that there were no any military officer and Derge official in Seraba, rather only elderly peoples; hence they turned their operation and attack Aykel.
Shortly after EDU’s attack of Aykel a Derge armies came from Gondar and drove out the force of EDU from Aykel and control the town. Since Fitawurari Ayele was the relative of those peasants who joined to EDU, in order to weaken the EDU force major Melaku Tefera appointed Fitawurari Ayele as the governor of Chilga in 1976 by removing the new Derge governor of Chilga Mr. Hailu Mekonnen who was appointed in 1975. However Fitawurari Ayele was so suspicious of all this Derge’s action and he opposed their decisions in red terror. Even some students of Ayele’s relatives were concealing in his house with the fear of the Derge massacre. Finally all his resistance to all Derge officials and military officers’ decisions brought him into direct conflict with them.
Eventually, Major Melaku Tefera order an arrest warrant against Fitawurari Ayele and a policy force was sent to his house. But Fitawurari Ayele with his son and relatives was able to defend himself and even killed two police in the action in Aykel. He then went to Seraba to take his nephew Mr. Tekeli Redda, the then governor of Seraba, because he feared that Derge might take revenge against him. Finally Fitawurari Ayele with his son and some relatives including Mr. Tekeli Redda went to Daza through Chaqo.
In Daza, he then met Colonel Emiru Woni and Colonel Asnake, former Derge officials but by then the leaders of EPRP. He joined the EPRP and he motivated and helped many local militia to join the EPRP.
In the summer of 1978 when he was Daza, a helicopter which carried foreign military advisors and weapons was forced to land in Daza due to unfavorable climatic condition. But the helicopter was plunder by the people of Daza and the EPRP armies, then the Derge send an army to crush these people and tried to freed the captivities however they failed and returned in vain . Later on after three days Fitawurari Ayele released all the foreign military advisors in helicopter after discussing with the people of Daza.
Finally in 1979, the Derge military force by using mortar and helicopter bombarded and attack the EPRP base in Daza. At this time most of the house of the people including Ayele’s was burned into the ground. However the EPRP or Ayele’ were not strong enough to confront and challenge the strong well- armed and well-prepared mechanized forces of the Derge. Then Fitawurari Ayele went to exile in Sudan with his son and relatives. And he started a new life in Sudan in the town called Teha. But at the same time the EPRP members also exiled to Sudan, thus Fitawurari Ayele sometimes contacted them.
In the end after seven years in Sudan with his family Fitawurari Ayele Tessema was sick in 1983 and treated at Gadarife hospital and died at the age of 72. His body was buried temporarily at the church of Saint Michael in Tewava but later on with the help of his families and relatives his body was exhumed and moved from Sudan to Ethiopia at his birth place, reburied and rest in Saint George church at Daza with vivid ceremonies.
 
Prepared and written by Ashu wasie
 
Reference and further reading on the role Gondar patriots in general and Fetawurari Ayele Tessema in particular are the following.
Alberto Sabaci, Ethiopia under Mussolini (London, zed cots Ltd, 1985)
Selome Gebre Egziabhair ‘The Ethiopian Patriots 1936 -41” Ethiopian observer Vol XII no 2, AA, 1975
Girima Tafrie ; Gondarie Begashawu (Addis Ababa;Tesfa Giber Selassie ,October 1956).
Hiwot Hidarwu , “Yache Ken Tersach”
A short biography of Fitawurari Ayele Tessema prepared by his families for his commoratation , 1998.
Yeshewas Abera, A short biography of Fitawurari Ayele Tessema, in cassette (1997)
Fentahun Alemu A short biography of Fitawurari Ayele (BA, thesis Bahir Dar University, history 2002)
Aychewu Addisu. The Twin town of Chilga and Geldeba (BA thesis, AUU, history 2001).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
[[ስዕል:ጀግናዉ አርበኛ ፊት አዉራሪ አየለ ተሰማ አባ ጓዴ A short life history of Fitawurari Ayele Tessema|thumbnail| Fitawurari Ayele Tessema Abba Gudie a ptariot from Gondar.]]