The Awi History to 1974

This study is a socio-economic and administrative history of the Awi from the time in which they are said to have migrated from Lasta-Säqota to Gojjam in the sixth century up to the fall of the Imperial regime in 1974. It deals with major political religious cultural social and economic developments. Of course the Awi are one of the most ancient and important peoples of Ethiopia who until the seventeenth century kept their own autonomous and ethno-cultural identity out of the Christian kingdom’s rule and cultural domination. Likewise they adhered to their own traditional beliefs and religious practices. Nevertheless following the shift of the Christian kingdom’s political centre from Šäwa to Gondar Lake Ţana region the resistance of the Awi was broken and as a result their attempt to retain independence for eternal longevity remained unattainable and thence their identity was subverted. In spite of dwindling their former territory and the prevalence of bilingualism and cultural pluralism however until these days the Awi are able to survive with their ethno-linguistic identities.