Qwara Province - Overview

Overview

The region contains a large Kemant community, some speaking the nearly extinct Kemant language, and was formerly inhabited by a substantial number of Beta Israel, who spoke the Qwara language. However, most of its inhabitants have since been assimilated into the dominant Amhara ethnicity, and speak Amharic.

Qwara had political importance at least as early as the reign of Iyoas I, when the Dowager Queen Mentewab relied on her supporters in Qwara to support her against her rival Wubit, the wife of her son the late Emperor Iyasu II. More importantly, it formed part of the territories of the warlord Dejazmach Meru, who had inherited the office of governor of Qwara from his uncle, Kenyazmach Kebte; these territories, known as Ye Meru Qemas (literally, "The mouth of Meru", or "What Meru eats") were inherited by Dejazmach Kinfu. In Qwara was born Kinfu's relation, Kassa Hailu, who later used Kinfu's relationships in Qwara to build a power base there in his successful effort that made him Emperor Tewodros II. The future Emperor made Qwara his base from the Battle of Koso Bar until his victory at the Battle of Gur Amba (27 September 1852), sometimes as a shifta or outlaw.