Bairu Tafla Knihy

The quality of a scholarly presentation at least in the humanities and social sciences depends entirely on the availability of documentation. Though Menilek’s era is one of the fortunate periods in this respect, some aspects are nonetheless more thinly substantiated than others and, hence, fresh documents can certainly enrich our knowledge. Most of the ministerial papers of Menilek’s government were lost in the decades that followed his fatal illness. But some have survived, thank State Councillor Alfred Ilg. During his 28-years‘ uninterrupted service to the Ethiopian government, Bitwäddäd Ilg collected and preserved papers of all kinds – letters, contracts, concession papers, proclamations, certificates of merit and appointments as well as receipts and notes – from which the 312 documents contained in the present volume have been culled. The facsimiles are accompanied by an English translation, introduction, annotation and index.

Aethiopica is an internationally refereed academic journal edited at the Hiob Ludolf Centre for Ethiopian Studies and the Department of African and Ethiopian Studies at the University of Hamburg. Published annually in print, it emphasizes philology, linguistics, archaeology, history, cultural anthropology, religion, philosophy, literature, and manuscript studies, focusing on Eritrea, Ethiopia, the Horn of Africa, and related regions. The journal invites contributions on pertinent academic topics and recent research in these fields. Each issue features substantial book reviews. Primarily published in English, Aethiopica also accepts articles in French, German, and Italian, with English abstracts provided for all submissions. The current issue includes 32 contributions, such as Stéphane Ancel’s examination of Yoḥannǝs IV and the Patriarchate of Alexandria, a handlist of illustrated early Solomonic manuscripts by Sophia Dege-Müller, Jacopo Gnisci, and Vitagrazia Pisani, Hagos Abrah’s study of the Gǝʿǝz manuscripts from the Monastery of Däbrä Ṣǝyon, and new interpretations on the inscribed stele from Ḥǝnzat by Maria Bulakh and Yohannes Gebre Selassie, along with Solomon Gebreyes’ exploration of the Königsberger Silberbibliothek in the context of 16th-century Protestant book culture, and Alessandro Bausi’s insights into Ethiopian manuscripts in the Biblioteca Statale di Montevergine.

This book introduces the historiography of Eritrea, initiated by explorers Werner Munzinger and Leo Reinisch in the late nineteenth century. It features five translated documents that illustrate their approach to the linguistic, legal, historical, and cultural studies of the region. Their scientific works highlight the richness of Eritrean society, its favorable climate, diverse languages, various ethnic groups, friendly inhabitants, and accessible geography. Following their pioneering efforts, numerous European researchers contributed to the field, alongside national documents from church archives and local chronicles, shaping Eritrean historiography. The book includes the following writings: Munzinger's studies on the Anseba Valley, geographic profiles of Halhal and Marea, customs and laws of the Bogos, and the history and traditions of Bet-Takue and Bet-Marea. Additionally, it features Reinisch's work on the origin and settlement of Bet-Tarqe, along with historical traditions of the Bogos. These texts, originally published in scientific journals and books from the 1860s and 1880s, provide valuable insights into the early understanding of Eritrea's complex heritage.

The memoirist was born to fight, and he did so until the end of his life, shaped by the tumultuous era he lived in. Growing up in Eritrea, a battleground for foreign interests, he witnessed the harsh realities of life from an early age. Cruel tax collectors seized peasants' possessions, warriors battled for political control, and looters wreaked havoc; in one incident, his eldest brother was killed. These struggles were driven by larger political forces seeking to dominate the country. Like his parents, he tried to survive by aligning with the prevailing power, regardless of the shifting tides of victory. His blend of traditional and Western education, along with his agility and intelligence, enabled him to adapt to various roles: soldier, interpreter, researcher, public administrator, telegraphist, and political intermediary, all while maintaining his composure. Yet, the demands of the time brought him no peace. Forced into exile, he later returned only to face new political upheavals in his refuge. The turmoil in his native village continued to disrupt his life, leading to personal suffering, imprisonment, and financial burdens caused by his own family.