25/01/2024
The brief history of Gambella Region,
The study of Nuer and Anyuak of Gambella.
1: The origin of the word βGambellaβ
Before 18th century Nilotic tribes have already settled in Ethiopia and have interactions with neighboringβ people such as Oromos meanwhile Gambella region, Jekow and Akobo are woredas where Nuer lived, Dimma and joor were only woreda where Anywaa lived before Ethiopia Unification which was started by Tewodros II (1855-1868) followed by Yohannis IV (1872-1889) and completed by Menelik II (1889-1913).
Before Italy Invasion Nuer and Anywaa directly trade from Damodolo in western and Buri in Southern Oromia, and Ethiopian government had already recognized both Nuer and Anywaa as citizens from 1902-1910 in Ethiopia. But there was still no center of trade for both Gambela citizens and neighbors, when Italy had arrived, they made a center of trade and Nuer used to come selling their cattle, Ivory, Sheep, and Goats, they also buy guns and some millet for their family so do Anywaa come to sell their fishes and vegetables because they are fishers and cultivators, they also buy guns from Italy and Oromos as a mean of survival and protection.
During that time, there was good interaction between those neighbors, when Anywaa used to come to center of trade they used to said let go to β pagn β which mean β town β in English and that name βPagn β is still circulating up to now by Anywaa community. There, many of Nuer pastoralists came to center of trade and also to searched for pastures. So Nuer named that center of trade βGambelβ, and they claims that name originated from them.
Here are some evidences which Nuer believe that name Gambela originate from them.
Historian believe that when Nuer live in β Pam Lacjak β in Nuer Language which mean Mount Lachjak in English( currently known as Kade) located between Itang woreda and Gambela region, during their expansion they were killed by smallpox disease. The Ethiopian government and Italian had decided to help Nuer people with bags of millet by airplane, and when Nuer tried to divide millet so millet always werenβt enough for division among themselves, then they claimed that Government used to distribute β Bel ti gam β in Nuer Language which mean β half millet β in English.
All these points Nuer with tangible evidence claimed that the name Gambela came from them during these dramas, and that named was circulated by only Nuer until it were pronounced by others tribe like Highlanders uses to called Gambela but Nuer literally called Gambel therefore it is barrier of pronunciation. Nuer also name their children βGambelβ about 30 to 40 years now.
2: When and where did Anywaa and Nuer entered Gambella
Based on Ethiopia History, the history of Country depend on Northern part of Ethiopia until 1960s,
Because Northern have contact with outside World as a result Arabs, Greeks, and Romans left valuable information
Northern have written Language therefore, chronicles of kings are available.
The Egyptian Coptic church left important records.
Archaeological finding of the Northern provided information.
So others part of Ethiopia had no written Languages which lead them to lacked source of the history.
But according to Gambela elders, Anywaa and Nuer came from Egypt descended to Northern Sudan lived there, they gradually migrate to South Sudan before colonization in Africa and world war emerges . So Anywaa used to lived in Nyalle ( currently Nasir) and kobo (Currently Akobo) in Southern Sudan, and they gradually migrated to Eastward fishing fishes and cultivated crops along the Nile. Nuer were pastoralist living in Bentiu, Southern Sudan. But during 1725 which is first half of 18th century Nuer started their expansion to Eastward to pursued pastures for their cattle and fertile land for cultivation, but Anywaa try to prevent Nuer Expansion which lead Nuer to push Anywaa toward East until they both gradually reached to Ethiopia. That was the basics cause of Anywaa and Nuer conflict along the line in South Sudan, their common route was along the Nile river with different aims.
Nuer and Anywaa came to Ethiopia paralleled because they believed that Nuer are pastoralists looking for pastures and fertile land, and Anywaa are fishers along the Nile and cultivators. According to Nuer people; they said that their motives were not pursuing Anywaa but were pursuing pastures for their cattle, but the problem were both met along the Nile river. Anywaa used to murder Nuer who were pastoralists without being known, then people who are being searched founded dead with no one killed them. When discovery is made that these pastoralists had been killed by Anywaa, then a war was declared against them and they were gradually displaced until they both arrived to Ethiopia land.
When they reached Ethiopia border Anywaa extended or departed and entered to Ethiopia through Dimma, Puchalla, and Jior borders thinking that Nuer were pursuing them, but unfortunately Nuer extended through different directions in Akobo, and Buribiey, Pagak borders. So after while Nuer across all part of what is today Gambella land where they founded no one along the way till they reached to Buri (currently is part of Oromia), where they only met with Oromo people and Colony ( Italy). Since Nuer came to Gambella and penetrated into Barekelle ( Currently border of Gambella and Oromos regions) up to Buri. They had assess all part of land Beyond Gambella but they were not interested and attracted by land, which lead them to go back and choose to discovered Jekow, Akobo and Lare where they gradually discovered Gninegnang, Wanthoa, Puldeng, Makuey and etc because of some factors affected them in land Gambela.
The land have no good swamp of pastures for cattle survival.
They were killed by Small pox disease.
Cattle were bitted and killed by Black flies.
They were murdered by Italy at nights before smooth interaction.
So when Nuer retreated from Gambella back to Jekow, Lare and Akobo, Anywaa heard the remorse of their return and they carried out the assessment, so they founded that Nuer had crossed the land and go back to their territory Jekow, Akobo and Lare. Therefore they had prepared and declared a war against Nuer, believed that it could be the end of Nuer expansion and they would go back to Bentiu. So they launched attack on Nuer which it were believed as a heavy bloody war, but unfortunately Nuer defeated Anywaa and they captured one of their great warriors called Diw in Jekow and killed at battle. This war leaded Anywaa to go back to Puchalla and started to live there, and then after some years they gradually ,move near town, Itang, kade (Pam Lacjak by Nuer before), Malual, Makher, Abwol, and others village around Gambella.
Therefore others tribes of Gambella come from South Sudan except Majeng people and are only indigenous tribe that was found in the land.
3: The Chronicles of Gambella rulers
According to history, during the time of Ethiopia Unification under Tewodros (1855-1868) up to the time of Yohaness IV (1872-1889) Gambela was between two colonies which were British from Sudan and Italy in Ethiopia, that situation lead Nuer under (Thon Met) refused to gave taxes to British because it was used to collected by Ethiopia government but also claimed by British government. And during the reign of Menelik II (1889-1913) in 1902 signed a delimitation of Ethio-Sudan border and Ethiopia agreed with British and then Gambela was recognized as part of Ethiopia under Illubabor centered in Jimma, continued by Haile Selassie (1930-1975) up to Derge regime under Mengistu Haile Mariam (1974-1991) with the ruler selected from Oromo people which lead Gambela history to the limitation of record about province rulers during that time. But woredas were ruled by local military rulers ranked and known as Balabat in Amharic who were low ranked and placed below governor, their main duties were to maintain security, assist the regional and local governor in collecting taxes and attributes, and mobilizing the local people when taxes is demanded by government until they are qualified to be promoted to high ranked called (Qegnashmash) in Amharic. Some of them are Girazmach Ray Kuon, Girazmach Thiang Jotde of Lare, Girazmach Tongyik Teny, Qegnazmach Chuol Kit of Kuatgaar, Qegnazmach Pal Muon, Fitawurari Koryom Tut of Kurthogn and Qegnazmach Pal Chay, between 1950 and 1957 the number of leaders between Nuer and Anywaa reached to 235 included Balabat polices. At the end of 20th century in the Derge regime there were a revolution which was 1974, where Mengistu Haile Mariam try to exalt this great region but it still stand in the shadow of Illubabor as part of Oromia region. Mengistu came in 1975 to present himself to the Gambela people that he overthrown Haile Selassia 1974 and became a new ruler of Ethiopia, and he came also to arrange Gambela administration. So in the meeting Anywaa and Nuer agree to give Illubabor Governor to Anywaa and Agua Lemma was appointed in 1975 by Mengistu Haile Mariam and they also agreed that Military Authority would be given to Nuer community which lead them to selected Thokwaath Pal Chay as a Military Captain, but after while Anywaa rebelled against regime of Mengistu Haile Mariam in Jior center. so Derge regime ordered Thokwaath Pal to silent Anywaa rebellion in Jior. And then when He carry out heavy Armies to destroy rebels, Agua Lemma went to bush and joined TPLF movement as rebel. after Thokwaath succeeded destroyed Jior rebellions (which is currently Jior woreda), Mengistu decided award Ato Pal in his administration which lead him to announced Thokwaath Pal in place of Agua Lema as Governor of Illubabor in 1977, Mark Chuol Joak was appointed as Gambella and Abobo woreda administrator, Ato Nipnip Reath was appointed as Gambella education Director, and then Gatwech Pal Mignchiek was assigned as Jekow administrator. These all appointments were done between 1977 and 1980s until downfall of Derge regime in 1991 when they were expelled out by the Woyana movement from Tigray. Then Anywaa became angry and stand against government of Mengistu. But after TPLF came to power in 1991 Gambella came out under Illubabor and stand as one among Ethiopia regions known as region 12 and begin to have itβs own rulers as follows.
Agua Lema-1991-1992 was brought back by TPLF without election (GPLM) and later killed by Anywaa community.
President Okelle Oman Agua-1992-1997 (GPLM) and his Vice President Chuol pech then later Chuol replaced by Ojullu Akwar.
President Okelle Gnigile Alammaβ1997-2003 (GPDF) and his Vice President Gach Reath (Chagiy) and later Gach replaced by Kheat Tuach.
President Okelle Akway Ochalla (GPDF)------2003-2004 and his Vice President Kheat Tuach
Keat Tuach(Acting President) ---2004-2005
President Omod Obang Ulum (GPDF) on 29 Sep 2005- Apr 2013 and his deputy Goaner Yar then Goaner replaced by Gatluak Tut Kot 2011-2012
9: President Gatluak Tut Kot (GPDF)Apr 2013-Oct 2018 and his deputy Olero Opiew then Olero replaced by Senay Akwar
10: President Omod Ujullu (GPDF) Oct-2018 and his deputy Thankuey Jock Rom until now.
4: Natural resources found in Gambella region.
Gambela is a fertile land with underground mineral and habitats to some animals and birds :
Below are the available resources of Gambella.
Fertile land for growing crops and forestation
Cattle
Gold
Titanium
River water for irritation
Fishes and dry fish
Benzene(Oil)
Wild life or Animal
5: Populations of Gambella
The current population is not actually known because there is no new census of current population conducted, therefore the estimate of Gambela population based on percentage is estimated in 2022/2014 e.c as Nuer population cover 67%, Anyuak 21% and other tribes are 12% in population of the regional state. Followed by Anywaa and Majeng. But based on numerical census of 2022 estimates population of Gambela region is approximately 508,004 population.
6: The Origin of Nuer and Anyuak Conflicts
Once Anywaa were registered since 1902 and Nuer registered later in the same 1902, they then lived peacefully among each other and with neighbors for while, until 1980 when Anywaa fought against Nuer in Gambela case and war was fueled by two reason.
Anywaa hated Nuer expansion because they fear that expansion would engulf the land that may lead them into extinction, this is the main cause of conflict in case of Gambela.
Secondly, the Nuer and Anyuak culture is parallel but different in some points.
Nuer marriage from Anyuak by paying cows and goats and this issue of dowry payment limit the Anyuak chance of getting marriage from Nuer.
This variety of culture resources cause the hatred for the Anyuak to hate Nuer
7: The administrative waredas in Gambella.
There are three zones under Gambella Killil which have 14 or 15 woredas divided to those three zones.
Nuer zone woredas:
1: Lare woreda
2: Jekow woreda
3: Wanthoa
4: Makuey
5: Akobo
Anywaa zone
6: Gog
7: Dimma
8: Abol
9: Abobo
10: Joor
Majang zone
11: Godare
12: Mangeshe
13: Mesi
Special woredas
14: Itang
15: Gambela town
So some time Mesi in Majang zone is omitted and Gambela town is replace it as 14 woredas or added two to be 15 woredas, it depends on how many woredas you are talking about. Two out of 14 are considered as a special woredas because all five ethnic groups live and share them.
8: Language spoken in Gambella region.
According to Ethiopia history, Gambella is a home to 5 indineous ethnic tribes and many other nationalities of Ethiopia.
Each indigenous ethnic group has their own language and have right to develop it as per the constitution of Ethiopia. 5 languages such as thoknath(Nuer language), Dha anyu (Anyua Language), Majang Lnguage, Oppo and Komo languages are considered as indigenous languages.
72% of Gambella population speak Thoknath and 35% of the Population speak Dha-Anyu.
The Working language is an Amharic language and English language is also recognized.
Full Article will provide details.
By: Professor G. Manyang Jock, African research Institute, London.
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