NADAW, FEQRA MARYAM

Feqra Maryam Nadaw (?-October 26, 1936) became famous for his participation in the celebrated attack on Addis Ababa in 1936 by the patriots of Shawa during the Italian Fascist occupation of Ethiopia (1936-41).

He was the son of Ato Nadaw and Wayzaro Zufannesh Warq, a couple of the Moja clan living in Tagulat, Shawa. As a young man he was brought to the capital, Addis Ababa, by his mother in 1911. Through the influence of her younger brother, Oagnazmach Hayla Selasse Masqal, he was attached to the court of young Dajazmach Tafari, later to become Emperor Haile Selassie [reigned 1930-74]. He held various posts at court until Haile Selassie’s coronation as emperor.

In 1930, he was sent to Wallo as deputy governor to the Crown Prince Asfa Wassan. He was later transferred to guard the property of Empress Manan, wife of Haile Selassie. Having been given the title of Fitawrari, he was made governor of Bati and Awessa in Wallo, and, with the title of Dajazmach, ruled some other parts of Wara Haymanot (Wara Himano), the highland region near Maqdala. He was noted for his suppression of tribal conflicts in the areas for which he was responsible.

He returned from Wallo in April 1936, escorting the Crown Prince Asfa Wassan, when the Ethiopian forces retreated during the Italian invasion. Settling his family in his home district, he rallied followers, and began to wage guerrilla warfare in the territory between Addis Ababa and the Awash River to the southwest, along the Addis Ababa-Jibuti rail line.

He established contact with other guerrilla leaders, and in concert with them stormed Addis Ababa in July 1936. His forces alone fought on in the capital for three days, but withdrew because of Italian air superiority. The Italian forces pursued him, and he was killed on October 26, 1936 at Shankora, a short distance from the capital, after his forces had inflicted considerable damage on the rail line.

TSEHAI BERHANE SELASSIE