In the summer of 1869 (just over a year after the fall of the Maqdala fortress), Aleqa Afe Worq and Aleqa Welde Mesqel wrote to Prince Alemayehu in England. The letter writers were most likely Prince Alemayehu’s former teachers or guardians. The letter also mentions Aleqa Zeneb [ዘነበ, Zännäb] and Waaree, who both played a significant role in translating biblical books into the Oromo language. In addition to Waaree, several other individuals are mentioned who served Prince Alemayehu in Maqdala.
The letter was written from Adwa (in Tigray), where the missionaries Mayer and Bender were working for the British and Foreign Bible Society. It is noteworthy that in addition to Aleqa Zännäb and the “cupbearer” Waaree, several other individuals close to Prince Alemayehu settled in Adwa. It can be assumed that several of them were participants in the Bible and prayer meetings held by Aleqa Zännäb (at least in the first half of the 1860s).