There is no one that misses the past except the previleged idiots who drunk themselves in the spoil that time!
This is why new diverse all inclusive and Ethiopia in renaisance is needed with no relics of the abusive system and the abusers names.
Neftenya (Amharic: ነፍጠኛ, "rifle bearer") were armed soldiers and settlers, primarily of Shewan Amhara origin, tasked by Emperor Menelik II with expanding, controlling, and settling in southern Ethiopia during the late 19th-century expansion. They are highly controversial because they were granted land and exploited local indigenous populations through the neftenya-gabbar system.
Key Aspects of the NeftenyaRole & Function: Originally, they were soldiers in the imperial army who received land in newly conquered territories as compensation for their service. They formed the backbone of the expansion into areas including modern-day Oromia, SNNPR, Gambela, and Benishangul-Gumuz regions.
Settler Role: Neftenya were not just soldiers; they were settlers who established themselves as local landlords in the newly annexed southern regions, acting as representatives of the central government.
The Gabbar System: The settlers were supported by the gabbar system, a feudal arrangement where local indigenous populations (particularly Oromo, but also Dizi and others) were forced to provide labor and food to the neftenya settlers.
Reasons for Controversy
Colonialism and Exploitation: Many in the south viewed the expansion as a form of "Abyssinian colonialism," with the neftenya serving as agents of oppression and exploitation, turning the local populace into serfs on their own land.
Forced Cultural Assimilation: They imposed Amharic language and Orthodox Christian culture, while banning or suppressing local languages and customs, notably targeting Oromo identity.
Atrocities and Slavery: The conquest involved significant brutality, including large-scale slavery and genocidal acts against certain groups, such as the Dizi and Kaficho, during the expansion process.
Lasting Impact: The legacy of the neftenya-gabbar system remains a major source of political controversy in Ethiopia today, often used to define historical grievances between the northern elites and the southern communities.