Oromo Translators Working For Zännäb

work in progress

Introduction

…

(1) Jaagan

1.1 Origin

“Jaagan Ilma Leeqaa kan hiike“ [Genesis, title page] /
“from the descendants of Leeqaa“

The Leeqaa territories are located in the Naqamtee and Gidaamii areas in Wälläga
[cf. article on Sewasew]

1.2 Involvement

Jaagan is mentioned on the title page of the following translations:

Genesis (publ. in 1872)
Matthew and Mark (1875)
Galatians to Revelation (1876)
New Testament (1876)

1.3 Notes

It is highly likely that Jaagan is one of the two Oromo eunuchs who, according to Mayer, held public Bible lessons with äläqa Zännäb in 1869. [View BFBS Report 1870].

(2) Waaree

2.1 Origin

“Kan hiiqe Waaree nama Noonnoo” [Psalms, title page] /
“Translated by Waare from the Nonno people”

The Nonno territories are located in the Jimma area
[Cf. article on Sewasew]

2.2 Involvement

Waaree is mentioned on the title page of the following translations:

Psalms (publ. in 1872)
Matthew and Mark (1875)
Galatians to Revelation (1876)
New Testament (1876)

2.3 Notes

The youth Waaree passed away in the Adwa area [in late 1870 or early 1871; view BFBS Report 1871].

It is highly likely that he is one of the two Oromo eunuchs who, according to Mayer, held public Bible lessons with äläqa Zännäb the previous year. [View BFBS Report 1870].

(3) Sholan

3.1 Origin

“[…] Scholan e stirpe Ada […] enixe auxiliantibus”
[St. Matthew and St. Mark, title page] /
“[Zännäb] with the strong help from […] and Sholan from the offspring of Ada [alias Adʾa or Ada’a]”

Ada is a district south east of Addis Ababa

3.2 Involvement

Sholan is mentioned on the title page of the following translations:

3.3 Notes

Sholan may have originated from Balli, where Johannes Mayer and his colleagues worked from 1880 until early 1886.

Q: Is Sholan the same person as Gäbrä Mika’el?

Gäbrä Mika’el [an Orthodox baptismal name?] was one of the persons Mayer employed as teacher in his Oromo-speaking school in Balli.

(4) Gäbrä Maryam

4.1 Origin

“Kan hiikes Gabira-Maaram Ilmi Darraa […]
Biyya Wallootiitii, ganda Warra Illuutiitii caafame” (Exodus, title p.) /
“Translated by Gäbrä Maryam, a descendant from Därra […]
written in Wärra Illuu in the Wällo Region”

Därra [View article on Sewasew]
Wärrä Illuu, a royal camp and garrison founded by King Menelik of Shewa around 1868, is located in Därrä [View article on Sewasew]

4.2 Involvement

Gäbra Maryam is mentioned on the title page of the following translation:

Exodus (1877)

4.3 Notes

Aläqa Zännäb passed away in October 1876. “Gäbra Maryam” does not appear to have mentioned in writing afterwards.

produced any further Bible translations after aläqa Zännäb’s death.

An Oromo by the name of “Joseph Gallu” from “[Wärra] Ilu in the Galla country” drafted the translation of Barth’s Bible Stories. The book was edited by Johann Jacob Greiner and published for the Religious Tract-Society in 1881.
Are “Gäbra Maryam” and “Joseph Gallu” the same person? If he joined the Protestant missionaries in Ankober after aläqa Zännäb’s death, they perhaps gave him a new name that seemed less strange to European eyes [but is unknown in Oromia].
The communication regarding the financing and printing of Barth’s Bible stories appears to have been carried out by Krapf. It is unlikely that he would have lobbied for the publication of the Bible stories if he had not been convinced of the quality of the translation.
When Greiner had to leave Ethiopia in 1886, he carried with him an Oromo translation of Old Testament prophets (s. Autobiographical Notes). As Greiner was more of a builder than an intellectual labourer, there is much to suggest that the manuscript was written by a skilled Oromo translator. Was it Gäbra Maryam / Joseph Gallu?

Cross-reference

> BFBS Reports, Excerpts 1865-96

> Oromo students at St. Chrischona

> Greiner, Autobiographical notes

Oromo translators working for Zännäb