AHistorical Survey ofthe Gena Bossa woreda of Southern Ethiopia

ABSTRACT This thesis examines the history of Gena Bossa district of Dawuro zone from 1941 to 1991. 1941 is a turning point in the history of the district because of the restoration of the imperial regime while the year 1991 is a land mark due to the demise of the military regime. Based on relevant archival, secondary and oral sources, this thesis focused on reconstructing the history of Gena Bossa district from1941 to 1991.It also offered background knowledge pertaining to the pre-1941 period. Thus, the main objectives of the thesis were the social, administrative and economic changes in the districtthat evolved during the period of Emperor Haile Selassie and the Derg regim.It also shows the interrelationship between these themes. Depending on the collected appropriatedifferent types of sources, Historical data used to write the thesis are primary sources, secondary sources, and oral informants. The primary sources used to reconstruct a history of Gena Bossa district included manuscripts and archival materials from Gena and Zaba Gazo district, Dawuro zone culture and tourism office(Department), former Dawuro(Kullo-Konta) awrajja capital Waka,Mareka woreda,and Waka town municipal office. Oral informants are also the sources of information for the thesis. Knowledgeable people were selected based on the information they have either directly or indirectly and proximity to the historical events in theGena Bossa district. The secondary sources included books, articles, thesis and chapter in books dealing with the general history of Dawuro and former kullo-Konta people in which Gena Bossa is also included. However, secondary sources that directly explore historical development of Gena Bossa district are inadequate.Thisstudy attempted to assess how much the post-1941 land grant and taxation reform of the emperor and the 1975 of the Derg contributed great inputs in changing the social and economic life of the people of Gena Bossa district. Therefore, the socio-economic andadministrative changes made by the imperial government in the post-1941 period also brought little improvement in the life of most of thelocal people of the district. The economic exploitation and socio-culturalsuppressions continued until 1974. The administrative injustice in thedistrict also continued unabated throughout the imperial period. Thiswas worsened by the reluctance of local governors to implement the rulesand regulations of central government properly in the area.Finally, this study also tried to examine developments that the Gena Bossa district had witnessed during the Derg regime (1974-1991). The military regime attempted to place its power on a better position by introducing several measures at a national level had its own negative and positive effects in the socio-economic and political life of the people of Gena Bossa district. Therefore, I argue that the political, economical and social policies and reforms that had been formulated and implemented by the Derg government at the initial time brought better changes in the life of most of the people of Gena Bossa district than the imperial government. Particularly, the 1975 land reform proclamation there was transformation towards socially marginalized community in the district.