BAHR DAR UNIVERSIT

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND HERITAGE
MANAGEMENT

PROPOSAL TITLE: A HISTORY OF BANDITRY IN

GONDAR KÈFLÄ HӒGÄR
A SYNOPSIS/CONCEPT NOTE SUBMITTED TO HOME-GROWN
COLLABORATIVE PhD PROGRAM TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
HISTORY, BAHR DAR UNIVERSITY
BY: WORKU JEGNIE (MA)

BAHRDAR, ETHIOPIA
2022
Introduction
Background of the Study
Banditry has been a global phenomenon, which have different due to criminality rate and social
basis. Of course, the category of its interpretation traces depending upon the existing realities and
facts in different times and areas. Most accessible documented and oral sources define the word
banditry with related to the interpretation of colonial regimes and the interpretation of the
dominant classes (Bantie, 2016, 18).
Similarly, in Africa, banditry reveals the prevalence of armed robbery or violent crime. It
embraces the use of force, or threat to that effect, to intimidate a person with the intent to rape or
kill against whom antagonized. Banditry is a crime against persons or probably individuals
coerced to revenge against someone else, contradicting a merit and to reaffirm the lost political
or social prestige intact. Furthermore, scholars of different countries viewed banditry from
different angles. They considered that as if it has been a common genre/sort of crime, as well as
cause of violence in contemporary societies (Olukayode, Olabanji and ESE Urhie, 2014, 350).
In the context of our country, Donald Crummy, banditry assumed widely spread during the 19th
and 20th centuries in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian ruling class used banditry as an instrument for
occupation and improved live leading. During the 19th century, the word šifta included many
well-known noble men and individuals notably bribery men. Actually, the first two monarchies
of Ethiopian modern history, namely Tewodros II and Yohannes IV experienced enough with the
life of šifta and come to power one after another (Donald Crummy 1986: 133-135).
According to Donald Crummy, banditry was a common phenomenon in the long history of
Ethiopia. It was true particularly in the Northern part of the country, the extra ordinary activity
carried out of the adopted norms; the Šiftnät and robbers were evidences for the existence of
banditry (Donald Crummy 1986: 133). The concept of banditry (Šiftnät) in Ethiopia is a
complicated one. A šifta may come from different situations: For instance, deprivation of gult
rights, inability to pay tax or tribute and blood feuds were some of the factors that led to banditry
to exist. In any case, may they come patriots, peasant rebels and ordinary robbers all are called
by the name šiftas/bandits. Based on the reasons for which individuals turn to banditry, their
activities and their devotion to the society’s issue, šiftas could be divided into two categories.
These were political or social šiftas and criminal šiäftas (Tadälä, 2016:31).
Statement of the Problem
Banditry has been catching up the attention of various researchers. Several native and foreign
historians produced various works on the history of banditry. To mention some most important
are Donald Crummy (1986), Egwu, Samuel. Et al (2006), Ferny Hough, Timothy (2010), Heinz,
Paul (1986), Hobsbawm, E.J. (1981), John Young (1997), Fried Halliday and Maxine Molyneux
(1981), Caulk R.A. (1984) etc.
However, although several writers wrote the history of the Banditry, it lacks comprehensiveness
and detail especially in the proposed study area. This is because of that some writers, especially
foreign researchers, studied it in a country level or from general not from the particular. Thus,
their works lacks detail since thematically their study is too vast and insurmountable to address
the whole specific events. Then they discussed little or no about the history of Banditry in
Gondar Kèflä Hӓgär. Some others, mainly native writers, also attempted to produce historical
documents. However, their study also still lacks comprehensiveness and detail concerning all
insurgents. Besides, almost all the writers gave more emphasis about the urban incidents at the
expense of the rural one.
Thus, the proposed study will carry on filling the gaps by careful and technical as well as
scientific examining and exploiting of all types of available historical sources including oral
tradition. As a result, the study will be comprehensive, clear and scientific. As inquiring
statement answered by analysis of authentic data, therefore, this study will address the following
basic research questions:
 How did the bandits emerged and strengthened in Gondar Kèflä Hӓgär?
 What was the reaction of government to the bandits?
 How the bandits were launching their struggle?
 What was the participation of the society?
 What was the vital role of the geographical setting of the study area for the guerilla
fighting of the bandits in the study areas?
 What the bandits caused on the overall life of the society both short and long lastingly?
Objective of the Study
General Objective
The general objective of the proposed research is to reconstruct and document a History of
Banditry in Gondar Kèflä Hagar.
Specific Objectives
The following are also incorporated as its specific objectives i.e. it is specificall+y proposed to:
 Assess the emergence and strength of the bandits in Gondar Kèflä Hӓgär.
 Appraise the measure of the government against the bandits.
 Evaluate the war tactics of the bandits.
 Describe the involvement of the society in the bandits.
 Explain the vital role of the geographical setting of the study area for the guerilla fighting
of the bandits in the study areas.
 Discuss the impact of the bandits in the region under the study.
Significance of the Study
The proposed study will have its own significances. Firstly, it will produce a documented history
of Banditry in Gondar Kèflä Hagar. Secondly, it will meliorate in providing of historical
consciousness and lesson especially politically by conducting detail, objective and
comprehensive explanation. Lastly, the proposed research will serve as springboard to encourage
other researchers to conduct further study on the same issue or other related events.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Design
This proposed research will be depended on investigation of all available primary and secondary
sources, oral information and both published and unpublished written documents. It will be
based on qualitative methods of narrative hypothesis, interpretive and constructivism of idea.
Great emphasis will be paid on objectivity, credibility, and validity so as to avoid bias and
misinterpretation of sources.
Sources of Data
To make the proposed study fruitful the researcher will exploit both primary and secondary
sources of data. Primary sources (original and contemporary sources) will include archival
documents and oral information. On the other hand secondary sources (accounts or literatures
based on original sources) could include published and unpublished literatures.
Data Collection Instruments
The main mechanisms of data collection that will be followed are interview, survey and
observation, and document analysis.
Document Analysis
A researcher will collect and analyze archives at Gondar Archival Center (GAC), Institute of
Ethiopian Studies (IES), Wolde Meskel Tariku Memorial Archival Center, Ethiopian National
Military Defense Archive Center (NMAC), and Debre Markos University Archival Center
(DMUAC).
Data Analysis Techniques
All available sources/ data will be analyzed and interpreted carefully in lieu of using them
arbitrarily. A researcher, systematically, will interpret, analyze and cross check both primary and
secondary sources in order to ensure objectivity and authenticity of data. Again collected
sources/data will also thematically be analyzed and interpreted to keep the data in a meaningful
and coherence way.

References
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Crummy, Donald. Banditry and Resistance: Noble and Peasant in Nineteenth Century Ethiopia
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Egwu, Samuel. Et al, Rural Banditry and Conflicts in Northern Nigeria. Nigeria: Center of
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