Mereja.Forum

[Tiago]

Obviously we the Amharas are not his "Babse"

https://youtube.com/shorts/VbrgQ89XD-A? ... BO6UWHlmnD

[Noble Amhara]

The migration of the Gurage people to Addis Ababa is one of the most significant demographic and economic movements in Ethiopian history. While today they are known as the "engines" of the city’s economy, their initial move was driven by a combination of harsh political realities and unique agricultural advantages.

The movement occurred in several distinct phases:

1. Forced Labor and Political Conquest (Late 19th Century)
The initial wave of migration was largely involuntary. Following the conquest of Gurageland by Emperor Menelik II in the 1880s, many Gurage were brought to the newly established capital, Addis Ababa, as laborers.

The Neftenya System: Gurage people lost their land rights and were often forced into servitude or low-status manual labor (such as porters or "coolies") to build the city's infrastructure, including roads and the royal palace.

Taxation: To pay the heavy taxes and tributes imposed by the new imperial administration, young Gurage men began migrating to the city to earn cash wages.

2. The "Enset" Factor (Agricultural Freedom)
Unlike many other Ethiopian ethnic groups whose survival depended on labor-intensive cereal crops (like teff), the Gurage staple food is Enset (False Banana).

Low Labor Requirements: Enset provides high caloric yields with relatively little maintenance compared to grain farming.

Mobility: Because their food source didn't require constant, year-round labor from the entire family, young men were "freed" from the land for long periods, allowing them to travel to the city for seasonal or permanent work without risking a famine at home.

3. Economic Dominance and Trade (Post-1941)
After the Italian occupation, the Gurage shifted from being manual laborers to becoming the city's dominant merchant class.

Replacing Expatriates: Historically, Ethiopia’s commerce was dominated by Greek, Armenian, and Arab traders. The Gurage used a "three-legged" strategy—starting as shoeshine boys or street vendors, moving to petty trade, and eventually buying out foreign-owned shops.
+1

The "Mercato": They became the primary force behind Addis Mercato, Africa's largest open-air market, turning it into a hub for Gurage entrepreneurship.

Mutual Aid Societies: The Gurage developed strong "Ikub" (traditional saving circles) and "Idir" (community support groups), which provided the capital and safety nets needed for rural migrants to succeed in the city.