Onesimos Nesib, Letters, etc.

The documents are in chronological order.
Data according to Paul Persson, ed. More Than Hope:
An Onesimos Nesib Anthology. Addis Ababa: EECMY‒DMT, 2024, part 7.

Documents

Onesimos [O] 1. Onesimos to Rev. B.P. Lundahl, Massawa 1874.10.20

  • Location of the original: ?
  • Swedish text: SEM Missions-Tidning 1874, p. 152
    [This and several other texts are available at https://efsarkiv.nu]
  • English text: Onesimos Nesib Anthology, ed. Persson, p. 149 /
    Arén [A] 1

O 2. Onesimos, “Reminiscences” [1876]

  • Location: ?
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1876, p. 91‒93;
    reprint in Beskow, Den Svenska Missionen i Ost-Afrika, vol. 1, p. 236‒40.
  • English: Anthology, p. 149‒52 / A 2
  • Cf. Note I [by Persson]: Onesimos wrote his “Reminiscences” in Amharic. [The notes can be found in Anthology, p. 214‒15]

O 3. Onesimos, Stockholm 1878.03.24

  • Location of the Amharic original: SEM Head Office Archives
  • Swedish/English: ?
  • Cf. Note II: These texts [O 3 to O 7] are short chronicles in a book where students at Johannelund [seminary] wrote short daily notes. The first one by Onesimos was written in Amharic [O 3]; later entries by him were written in Swedish [O 4 to O 7]. See picture on page 25, note 12.

O 4. Onesimos, Stockholm 1878.09.19

  • Location: SEM Head Office Archives
  • Cf. Note II [See above].

O 5. Onesimos, Stockholm 1878.12.14

  • Location: SEM Head Office Archives
  • Cf. Note II [See above].

O 6. Onesimos, Stockholm 1880.03.28

  • Location: SEM Head Office Archives
  • Cf. Note II [See above].

O 7. Onesimos, Stockholm 1880.12.05

  • Location: SEM Head Office Archives
  • Cf. Note II [See above].

O 8. Onesimos to Neander, Alexandria 1881.09.23

  • Location: Swedish National Archives (Uppsala);
    Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 24. [_ _ _?]
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1881, p. 195

O 9. Onesimos to Neander, Farmaka 1882.01.08

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 24.191
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1882, p. 56

O 10. Onesimos to Neander, Khartoum 1882.06.03

  • Location: ?
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1882, p. 130‒32
  • English: Anthology, p. 152‒54 / A 3

O 11. Onesimos to Neander, Barber 1882.06.28

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 24.211
  • Cf. Note III: This is one of about twenty letters in this overview that have not been referenced in earlier works on Onesimos.

O 12. Onesimos to Neander, Imkullu 1882.09.05

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 24.213
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1882, p. 179‒80
  • English: Anthology, p. 154 / A 4

O 13. Onesimos to Neander, Massawa 1883.01.20

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 24.225
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1883, p. 32‒33
  • English: Anthology, p. 154‒56 / A 5

O 14. Onesimos to Neander, Imkullu 1883.05.14

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 24.230
  • English: Anthology, p. 156 / A 6

O 15. Onesimos to Neander, Imkullu 1883.06.18

  • Location: ?
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1883, p. 118
  • English: Anthology, p. 156 / A 7

O 16. Onesimos to Lundahl, Imkullu 1883.08.17

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 24.235
  • Note: This letter has not yet been published.

O 17. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Imkullu 1883.12.18

  • Location: Uppsala University Library, Ref. Code: T3 I.14
  • English: Anthology, p. 156 / A 8
  • Cf. Note IV: The reference number has been changed for this and some of the other texts after Gustav Arén’s research. See, for example, Arén 1978, p. 264, note 75.

O 18. Onesimos to SEM Board, Imkullu 1884.02.01

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 24.247
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1884, p. 34

O 19. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Sagallo 1885.02.13

  • Location: Uppsala University Library, Ref. Code: T3 I.14
  • Note: This letter has not yet been published.

O 20. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Imkullu 1886.06.23

  • Location: Uppsala University Library, Ref. Code: T3 I.14
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1886, p. 123‒24
  • English: Anthology, p. 156‒57 / A 9

O 21. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Imkullu 1887.11.02

  • Location: Uppsala University Library, Ref. Code: T3 I.14
  • Note: This letter has not yet published.

O 22. Onesimos to “dear friends,” Imkullu 1888.01.02

  • Location: ?
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1888, p. 21 [= frontpage]
  • English: Anthology, p. 157 / A 10

O 23. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Imkullu 1889.01.19

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I 54.835
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1889, p. 52‒53
  • English: Anthology, p. 157 / A 11

O 24. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Geleb 1891.07.13

  • Location: Uppsala Univ. Library, Ref. Code: T3 1.14
  • English: Anthology, p. 157 / A 12

O 25. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Geleb 1892.01.22

  • Location: Uppsala Univ. Library, Ref. Code: T3 1.14
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1892, p. 58‒59
  • English: Anthology, p. 157‒58 / A 13

O 26. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Geleb 1892.01.27‒29 (p. 158)

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 76.1798
  • English: Anthology, p. 158 / A 14 [summary]

O 27. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Imkullu 1893.05.29

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 76.1799
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1893, p. 130‒31
  • English: Anthology, p. 158 / A 15

O 28. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Geleb 1893.07.28

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 76.1800
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1893, p. 149‒50
  • English: Anthology, p. 158‒59 / A 16

O 29. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Geleb 1894.06.25

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 82.2073
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1894, p. 126‒27
  • English: Anthology, p. 159 / A 17

O 30. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Geleb 1894.11.20

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 83.315
  • English: Anthology, p. 160 / A 18

O 31. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Geleb 1895.02.16

  • Location: ?
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1895, p. 78

O 32. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Geleb 1896.01.30

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 90.880
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1896, p. 51
  • English: Anthology, p. 160 / A 19

O 33. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Geleb 1897.01.08

  • Location: ?
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1897, p. 36

O 34. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Geleb 1897.07.12

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 99.2259
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1897, p. 122‒23
  • English: Anthology, p. 160‒61 / A 20
  • Note: Contains Gebre-Ewostateos‘s letter to Onesimos, dated 1897.04.08.

O 35. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Geleb 1897.11.15

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 106.3095
  • English: Anthology, p. 161 / A 21

O 36. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Geleb 1898.01.03

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 104.1581
  • English: Anthology, p. 161 / A 22

O 37. Onesimos to Kolmodin, St. Chrischona 1898.09.10

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 106.2686
  • English: Anthology, p. 162 / A 23

O 38. Onesimos to Kolmodin, St. Chrischona 1898.10.07

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 106.2687
  • English: Anthology, p. 162 / A 24

O 39. Onesimos to Kolmodin, St. Chrischona 1898.10.19

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 106.3096
  • English: Anthology, p. 162 / A 25

O 40. Onesimos to Kolmodin, St. Chrischona 1899.01.01

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 107.395
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1899, p. 11‒12
  • English: Anthology, p. 162‒63 / A 26

O 41. Onesimos to Kolmodin, St. Chrischona 1899.03.05

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 109.1252
  • English: Anthology, p. 163 / A 27

O 42. Onesimos to Kolmodin, St. Chrischona 1899.04.23

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 109.1253
  • Note: This letter has not yet been published.

O 43. Onesimos to mission friends, St. Chrischona 1899.06.10

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 111.2282
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1899, p. 115‒116
  • English: Anthology, p. 163 / A 28

O 44. Onesimos to Kolmodin, St. Chrischona 1899.07.11

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 111.2283
  • Note: This letter has not yet been published.

O 45. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Asmara 1899.08.25

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 112.2599
  • English: Anthology, p. 164 / A 29

O 46. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Asmara 1900.03.21

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I 116.1638
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1900, p. 74
  • English: Anthology, p. 164 / A 30

O 47. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Asmara 1902.03.20

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 128.1784
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1902, p. 81
  • English: Anthology, p. 164‒65 / A 31

O 48. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Asmara 1902.10.22

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 130.2958
  • English: Anthology, p. 165 / A 32

O 49. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Asmara 1903.07.19

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 145.581
  • English: Anthology, p. 165 / A 33

O 50. Onesimos to [Rev. Nils J.] Hylander, Djibuti 1903.12.21

  • Location: ?
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1904, p. 50
  • English: Anthology, p. 190 / Inge H. Rydland [R], no. 1

O 51. Onesimos to Svensson, Addis Ababa 1904.03.23

  • Location: ?
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1904, p. 100
  • English: Anthology, p. 190‒94 / R 2
  • Cf. Note VI: According to Arén (Pioneers, p. 418, n. 234), this letter could have been written some days earlier. It contains a letter from Gobau Desta to the Patriarch requesting a letter to the governor in Naqamte on behalf of Onesimos. It also mentions Abba Mikael [= Mika’el Aregawi] and Josef Bahr [= Yooseef Gaaluu ?]

O 52. Onesimos to [Rev. Karl] Cederqvist, Najo 1904.09.20

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 148.2287
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1904, p. 187
  • English: Anthology, p. 194‒95 / R 3

O 53. Onesimos to Protestant Christians in Hamazen, Najo [prob. late 1904]

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 145.639
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1905, p. 3
  • English: Anthology, p. 195‒97 / R 4

O 54. Onesimos to Cederqvist, Najo 1905.04.14

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 148.2496
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1905, p. 114
  • English: Anthology, p. 197‒99 / R 5
  • Note: The letter mentions that the wife of Daniel Dabala led the singing.

O 55. Onesimos to the Protestant congregation in Eritrea, Najo 1905.04 (?)

  • Location: ?
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1905, p. 123
  • English: Anthology, p. 199‒201 / R 6
  • Cf. Note VIII: On the same page in SEM Missions-Tidning, we find short letters from Fitaurari Debaba dated 1905.04.16, and a letter from the widow of Gebre-Ewostateos and others dated 1905.04.10, on the same subject, namely the death of Gebre-Ewostateos.

O 56. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Najo 1905.05.09

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 148.2496
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1905, p. 115
  • English: Anthology, p. 201‒04 / R 7

O 57. Onesimos to the SEM congregation in Eritrea, Najo 1905.07.30

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 150.436
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1905, p. 178
  • English: Anthology, p. 204‒06 / R 8

O 58. Onesimos to Cederqvist, Najo 1905.10.30

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 149.3074
  • English: Anthology, p. 206‒08; 166 / R 9 ; A 34
  • Note: According to Arén, the letter was written already on 1905.10.03.

O 59. Onesimos to Cederqvist, Naqamte 1906.02.06

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 152.1907
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1906, p. 57 (= frontpage)
  • English: Anthology, p. 166 / A 35

O 60. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Naqamte 1906.12.15

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 162.3631
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1907, p. 50
  • English: Anthology, p. 208‒20 / R 10
  • Note: Onesimos was criticized by some Orthodox opponents for the Oromo folk songs in his publication Jalqaba Barsiisaa [Oromo Spelling-Book and Reader, 1894], as they were considered [pagan] “dances” (p. 214).

O 61. Onesimos to Cederqvist, Naqamte 1907.04.16 to 1907.05.08

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 162.3617
  • English: Anthology, p. 166‒67 / A 36

O 62. Onesimos to Cederqvist, Naqamte 1907.12.02

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 163.439
  • English: Anthology, p. 168 / A 37

O 63. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Naqamte 1908.02.15

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 169.3235
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1908, p. 122
  • English: Anthology, p. 168‒69 / A 38

O 64. Onesimos to Cederqvist, Naqamte 1908.06.13

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 168.2631
  • English: Anthology, p. 169 / A 39

O 65. Onesimos to Cederqvist, Naqamte 1908.12 (?)

  • Location: ?
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1909, p. 66

O 66. Onesimos to the King of Sweden [Gustaf V], Naqamte 1909.03.24

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 173.1407
  • Cf. Note XII: It is unknown if this unpublished application arrived at the Swedish authorities.

O 67. Onesimos to Kolmodin, Naqamte 1909.07.14

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 178.3786
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1909, p. 180
  • English: Anthology, p. 169‒70 / A 40

O 68. Onesimos to Lindgren, Naqamte 1910.07.29

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E IV 1
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1910, p. 183‒84
  • English: Anthology, p. 170‒71 / A 41

O 69. Onesimos to Cederqvist, Naqamte 1911.01.07

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 187.517
  • Cf. Note XIII: This unpublished letter is included in Cederqvist’s letter to the SEM Board, dated 1911.01.24.

O 70. Onesimos [to N.N., no date; probably 1911]

  • Location: ?
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1911, p. 154‒55
  • English: Anthology, p. 171 / A 42

O 71. Onesimos [to N.N., Naqamte [no date, prob. 1911.12]

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 182.1849b
  • English: Anthology, p. 220‒21 / R 11
  • Cf. Note XV: This letter is placed in the archive as a photocopy of an article from an unknown magazine. Further investigation is needed to determine the date of this interesting letter, which contains Onesimos’s clear expressions regarding the current situation.

O 72. Onesimos to Lindgren, Naqamte 1911.06.18

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E IV 1
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1911, p. 171
  • English: Anthology, p. 172‒73 / A 43

O 73. Onesimos to Lindgren, Naqamte 1912.06.13

  • Location: ?
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1911, p. 171

O 74. Onesimos to N.N., Addis Ababa, 1912.12 [?]

  • Location: ?
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1913, p. 173
  • English: Anthology, p. 173 / A 44

O 75. Onesimos to N.N. Addis Ababa, 1913.08 [?]

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 200.2980
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1913, p. 204
  • English: Anthology, p. 173‒74 / A 45

O 76. Onesimos to SEM Board, 1914.05.13

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 205.2306
  • English: Anthology, p. 174‒75 / A 46

O 77. Onesimos to N.N., Naqamte 1914.09.02

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 205.2305
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1914, p. 197‒98
  • English: Anthology, p. 175‒76 / A 47

O 78. Onesimos to SEM Board, Naqamte 1915.07.15

  • Location: ?
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1915, p. 155
  • Cf. Note XIX: The date of the letter is according to Hylander.

O 79. Onesimos to Chairman of the Children’s Mission Association (in Helsingborg), Naqamte 1915.08.28

  • Location: ?
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1915, p. 202‒03
  • English: Anthology, p. 176‒77 / A 48

O 80. Onesimos to Lindgren (?), Naqamte [no date; possibly September or October 1915]

  • Location: ?
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1915, p. 155‒56
  • English: Anthology, p. 177‒79 / A 49

O 81. Onesimos to Lindgren, Addis Ababa 1916.08.22

  • Location: ?
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1916, p. 173
  • English: Anthology, p. 179‒80 / A 50

O 82. Onesimos to Cederqvist (?), Naqamte 1917.01.22

  • Location: ?
  • Cf. Note XXI: This unpublished letter about grammar questions is mentioned in Cederqvist’s letter to Lindgren, dated 1917.02.10.

O 83. Onesimos to Cederqvist, Addis Ababa 1918.10.17

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 205.2306
  • Note: This letter has not yet been published.

O 84. Onesimos to Cederqvist, Naqamte 1919.10.06

  • Location: ?
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1920, p. 7
  • English: Anthology, p. 180‒81 / A 51

O 85. Onesimos to SEM Board, Addis Ababa 1919.12.17

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 223.624
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1920, p. 47
  • English: Anthology, p. 181 / A 52

O 86. Onesimos to SEM Board, Addis Ababa 1919.12.21

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 223.405 [?]
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1920, p. 46
  • English: Anthology, p. 182‒83 / A 53

O 87. Onesimos to Hylander, Addis Ababa 1919.12.26

  • Location: Swedish National Archives; Ref. Code: SEM/ E I a 223.676
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1920, p. 93
  • English: Anthology, p. 183‒84 / A 54

O 88. Onesimos to SEM Board, Naqamte 1920.06.22

  • Location: ?
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1920, p. 250
  • English: Anthology, p. 184‒85 / A 55

O 89. Onesimos to Lindgren, Naqamte 1920.09.16

  • Location: ?
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1921, p. 44‒45
  • English: Anthology, p. 185‒86 / A 56

O 90. Onesimos to Hylander, Naqamte 1922.07.14‒16

  • Location: ?
  • Swedish: SEM Missions-Tidning 1922, p. 254
  • English: Anthology, p. 186‒87 / A 57

O 91. Onesimos’s Diary, Naqamte 1928.08 to 1931.06

  • Location: The two notebooks with Onesimos’s Oromo diary appear to have been lost.
  • Swedish extracts (selected by Rev. M. Nordfeldt): SEM Missions-Tidning Budbäraren 1931, p. 632‒33
  • English extracts: Anthology, part 3, no. 6

Cross-References

» Arén’s excerpts from Onesimos’s texts (Anthology, pt. 4)

» Rydland’s translation of letters by Onesimos (Anthology, pt. 5)