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AHMED UNIFIER OR INVADER: THE ROLE OF AHMED IBN IBRAHIM IN THE UNIFICATION OF ETHIOPIA [Abstract ID: 0504-01]
Traditionally, it is believed that the unification of Ethiopia was initiated by Tewodros II in the 1850s and completed by Menilik II in 1900. But, this tradition seems denied and/or at least underestimates pre 1850s Ethiopia and the claim of three thousand years of history. Meanwhile, some historians believe that Ethiopia even beyond the current border was ruled by Ahmed Ibn Ibrahim from c.1530s to 1540s and, therefore, Ethiopia had already been unified in the 16th century. According to these scholars, Ahmed’s role is high in terms of basing the social, psychological and historical inclusion of Ethiopian Muslims to the country’s affairs. However, it is unfortunate that the role of Ahmed remain controversial in Ethiopian history. Some have not recognized him either as a unifier or as a citizen; he was rather portrayed as an invader. Hence, the main purpose of this paper is to appraise the place of Ahmed Ibn Ibrahim in the Unification of Ethiopia. By reappraising the contested nature of Ethiopia’s medieval period historiography, it also discloses some regularly obscured aspects of the country’s past.