Sela Dingay
Encyclopedia
Sela Dingay is a town in central Ethiopia
. According to Johann Ludwig Krapf
, the name means "the jumping stone", named for a rock which rolled over the edge of the southern rim of the gorge of the Mofar River
, and killed a group of people sitting on it. Located in the Semien Shewa Zone of the Amhara Region
, this town has a latitude and longitude of 09°58′N 39°38′E with elevations variously given as 2880 and 2915 meters above sea level. It is the administrative center of Termaber woreda
.
in 1804, naming the town after the historic district of Sela Dingay, although the local Debre Mitmaq church had been founded by Emperor Zara Yaqob
, where he convened the Council of Debre Mitmaq in 1450 which resolved a rift in the Ethiopian Church over the observance of the Sabbath
. In any case, Negus Wossen Seged built a second church for the town. When Johann Ludwig Krapf visited Sela Dingay in March 1842, it was the residence of the Queen Dowager
Zenebework
. Following the conquest of Shewa
by the newly-crowned Emperor Tewodros II
and the death of Negus
Haile Melekot
in 1855, the dowager queens retired to Sela Dingay, where Bezabish
died around 1870 or 1871.
One of the military maneuvers that led to the Battle of Segale
in 1916 was Negus Mikael
's occupation of Sela Dingay 14 October. This threatened Ras Leul Seged's left flank, forcing him to withdraw to Ankober
. Despite his action, the Ras's army was annihilated four days later.
in 2005, Sela Dingay has an estimated total population of 2,707 of whom 1,435 are men and 1,272 are women. The 1994 census reported this town had a total population of 1,482 of whom 721 were men and 761 were women.
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...
. According to Johann Ludwig Krapf
Johann Ludwig Krapf
Johann Ludwig Krapf was a German missionary in East Africa, as well as an explorer, linguist, and traveler. Krapf played an important role in exploring East Africa with Johannes Rebmann. They were the first Europeans to see Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro...
, the name means "the jumping stone", named for a rock which rolled over the edge of the southern rim of the gorge of the Mofar River
Mofar River
Mofar River is a west-flowing river of central Ethiopia, and part of the watershed of the Abay. Part of its course is in a deep canyon.- References :...
, and killed a group of people sitting on it. Located in the Semien Shewa Zone 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....
, this town has a latitude and longitude of 09°58′N 39°38′E with elevations variously given as 2880 and 2915 meters above sea level. It is the administrative center of Termaber 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...
.
History
According to Antonio Cecchi, Sela Dingay was founded by Wossen SegedWossen Seged
Wossen Seged was a Meridazmach of Shewa, an important Prince of Ethiopia. He was the elder son of Asfa Wossen, by a woman of the Solomonic dynasty. He was the first ruler of Shewa to claim a higher title than Meridazmach, calling himself Ras.It is during the reign of Wossen Seged that the...
in 1804, naming the town after the historic district of Sela Dingay, although the local Debre Mitmaq church had been founded by Emperor Zara Yaqob
Zara Yaqob
Zar'a Ya`qob or Zera Yacob was of Ethiopia , and a member of the Solomonic dynasty...
, where he convened the Council of Debre Mitmaq in 1450 which resolved a rift in the Ethiopian Church over the observance of the Sabbath
Biblical Sabbath
Sabbath in the Bible is usually a weekly day of rest and time of worship. The Sabbath is first mentioned in the Genesis creation narrative. The seventh day is there set aside as a day of rest—the Sabbath. It is observed differently in Judaism and Christianity and informs a similar occasion in...
. In any case, Negus Wossen Seged built a second church for the town. When Johann Ludwig Krapf visited Sela Dingay in March 1842, it was the residence of the Queen Dowager
Queen Dowager
A queen dowager or dowager queen is a title or status generally held by the widow of a deceased king. In the case of the widow of a deceased emperor, the title of empress dowager is used...
Zenebework
Zenebework
Woizero Zenebework was the wife of Wossen Seged, Meridazmach of Shewa; the mother of Negus Sahle Selassie, the first Negus of Shewa; the grandmother of Negus Haile Melekot of Shewa; and the great-grandmother of Emperor Menelik II...
. Following the conquest of Shewa
Shewa
Shewa is a historical region of Ethiopia, formerly an autonomous kingdom within the Ethiopian Empire...
by the newly-crowned Emperor Tewodros II
Tewodros II of Ethiopia
Tewodros II was the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1855 until his death....
and the death of Negus
Negus
Negus is a title in Ge'ez, Tigrinya, Tigre and Amharic, used for a king and at times also a vassal ruler in pre-1974 Ethiopia and pre-1890 Eritrea. It is subsequently used to translate the word "king" in Biblical and other literature...
Haile Melekot
Haile Melekot
Haile Malakot was Negus of Shewa, a historical region of Ethiopia, from 12 October 1847 until his death. He was the older son of Negus Sahle Selassie and his wife Woizero Bezabish Wolde...
in 1855, the dowager queens retired to Sela Dingay, where Bezabish
Bezabish
Woizero Bezabish Wolde was the wife of Sahle Selassie, Negus of Shewa, mother of King Haile Melekot of Shewa, and grandmother of Emperor Menelik II. She held the districts of Bulga and Yifat as her personal fiefs...
died around 1870 or 1871.
One of the military maneuvers that led to the Battle of Segale
Battle of Segale
The Battle of Segale, fought on 27 October 1916, defeated the supporters of Emperor Iyasu V of Ethiopia and secured the effects of the palace coup that led to Zawditu being proclaimed Empress. Henze states that "Segale was Ethiopia's greatest battle since Adwa."- Background :The nobility of...
in 1916 was Negus Mikael
Mikael of Wollo
Mikael of Wollo , born Mohammed Ali, was an army commander and a member of the nobility of the Ethiopian Empire. He was the father of the "uncrowned" Emperor Iyasu V. He changed his name to Mikael upon converting to Christianity.- Life :Mohammed Ali, an Oromo, was born in Wollo...
's occupation of Sela Dingay 14 October. This threatened Ras Leul Seged's left flank, forcing him to withdraw to Ankober
Ankober
Ankober is a town in central Ethiopia and one of the capitals of the former kingdom of Shewa. Located in the Semien Shewa Zone of the Amhara Region, Ankober is perched on the eastern escarpment of the Ethiopian Highlands 40 kilometers to the east of Debre Birhan, with a latitude and longitude of ,...
. Despite his action, the Ras's army was annihilated four days later.
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...
in 2005, Sela Dingay has an estimated total population of 2,707 of whom 1,435 are men and 1,272 are women. The 1994 census reported this town had a total population of 1,482 of whom 721 were men and 761 were women.