Queen of Flowers and Pearls (excerpt)

892019 Queen of Flowers and Pearls (excerpt)

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullqueen-of-flowers-and-pearls-excerpt 117



C O N T E N T S

Translatorsrsquo Note

Note on Amharic Pronunciation

List of Amharic Words and Expressions

THE PROMISE

Chapter 1

Yacobrsquos Story

Chapter 2

Te Passage Adolescence

Te Advice

Te Flower of the Month

Te Saturday Market

Te Consent

Te First Day of Work

At Legessersquos Shop

Te West Announcement Announcement

Arada Sefer

Te Move

Te First Celebration of imket

in the Capital

Te Chaos before the Calm

Return to Debre Zeit

Te Departure

THE RETURN

Chapter 3

Te Story of the Stupid Lion

and the Monkey

Chapter 4

Te Story of Abbaba Igirsa Salo

Chapter 5

Farisa Alula the Great

Chapter 6

Te urtle Ladyrsquos Story

Kebedech Seyoum

Chapter 7

Te Story of Woizero Bekelech

and Signor Antonio

Chapter 8

Chapter 9



983113983150 983121983157983141983141983150 983151983142 983110983148983151983159983141983154983155 983137983150983140 983120983141983137983154 983148983155 983156983144983141 983113983156983137983148983145 983137983150-983109983156983144983145983151983152983145983137 983150

author Gabriella Ghermandi has presented us the translators with

a dual challenge we are translating rom Italian into English butofen the culture behind the wordsmdashat times even the phrasingmdashis

purely Amharic As Cristina Lombardi-Diop says in the aferwordto the Italian edition Ghermandi has invented ldquoa new Italian a lan-guage based on the oral culture o Ethiopiardquo We have endeavoredto transmit the flavor o this duality

Troughou we have reained he Amharic honorifics ( Abba Woizero Ras etc) and also the Italian ones (Signor and Signora) togive the reader a clearer sense o place Wherever possible we haveparaphrased the words in Amharic that appear in both the Italianand the English versions to avoid interruption o the storyline Oth-

ers are defined in foonoes and in he lis below Sill ohers aresel-explanatory and create a delightul leitmoti to the story suchas ldquoWoinerdquo a recurrent Amharic expression o dismay In a ew in-

stances where the Amharic is loosely rendered into Italian we havechosen to rephrase the meaning rather than try to find a specificequivalent expression in English that the readers might find both

jarring and distractingFinally Gabriella Ghermandirsquos original inen in wriing his

captivating story was to educate Italians about their own colonialhisory largely ignored and rewriten o hide he brualiy of he

occupation We hope that this translation will help a much largeraudience understand the ar-reaching consequences both past andpresent o the Italian colonization o the Horn o Arica

991252Giovanna Bellesia-Conuzzi and Vicoria Offredi PoletoS983149983145983156983144 C983151983148983148983141983143983141 N983151983154983156983144983137983149983152983156983151983150 M983137983155983155983137983139983144983157983155983141983155

T R A N S L AT OR S rsquo N O T E



NOT E ON A MHA RIC

P R O N U N C I A T I O N

983124983144983141 983142983151983148983148983151983159983145983150983143 983145983155 983137 983148983145983155983156 983151983142 983156983144983141 983149983137983145983150 983154983141983139983157983154983154983145983150983143

sounds ranscribed rom Amharic o proper and common nounsfound in this book Te spelling of certain place names has been

changed o reflec he acceped English spellingCh as in childCi as in kinGh as in g inGi as in giggleGe as in gues J as in jamSh as in sheTs as in Tsese Fly W as in loop

Proper nouns are ofen preceded by orms o address Tese arehe main ones each ollowed by an explanaion

Abba = aher in a respecul way reserved or older men Ato =miser in an inormal way Etie = madam in an inormal way Im-

mebet = madam in a very polie way Gash = miser in a respecul way Woizero = madam in a respecul way Atse = honorary ermused or pas emperors

Te Ehiopian calendar ollows he Julian calendar and has hir-een monhs welve monhs have hiry days and one monh fiveTis calendar is eigh years behind ours Te year begins wih hefirs day o Meskerem approximaely Sepember 10486251048625 or 10486251048626 and i con-tinues with the months of Tikmt Hedar Tahsas Tir Yekatit Mega-

bi Meyazeya Genbo Senay Hamlay Nahasey and Pagume hemonh ha only has five days



A M H A R I C WO R D S

A N D E X P R E S S I O NS

aja A cereal similar o barley

amba A fla-opped mounain

arbegna Ehiopian Resisance

figher(s)

areke Disilled corn liquor

Ascari Indigenous soldiers

rom Erirea and Ehiopia who

were par o he Royal Corpso Colonial roops o he

Ialian Army during he period

1048625983096983096983097ndash10486259830979830921048625

azmari Soryeller and poe he

equivalen o he Eas Arican griot

banda Scous

berbere Mixure o spices and hochili peppers ha is he base o

mos Ehiopian dishes

Danakil An ehnic group in he

Horn o Arica also known as

he Aar

dirkosh Pieces o dried injera

doro wot Spicy sauce wih

chicken

fir fir radiional dry bread

broken ino pieces used o soakup sauces

fukera radiional war chans

gabi A piece o cloh similar o

he shemma bu a litle heavier

gebi Palace

genfo Porridge made romdifferen flours served wih a

hole in he middle or meled

buter spices ho pepper and

yogur

getoch Maser boss

gibir Feas

Habesha erm Ehiopianssomeimes use o define

hemselves

injera radiional bread made

rom teff flour

kallicha Forune ellers or people

able o communicae wih spiris

karia A ho green chili pepper

kebele Neighborhood

commitee



Amharic Words and Expressionsxiv

kolo A common Ehiopian snack

Crunchy roased barley grainspeppered wih chickpeas dused

in a ligh saly seasoning

korkoralleo A peddler

masinko A radiional single-

sring violin

Meskel Te feas of he HolyCross one of he principal

religious celebraions in he

Ehiopian Orhodox Church

Meskerem Approximaely

Sepember 983089983089 or 983089983090 Te

beginning of he year in Ehiopia

mezmur Church hymns or songsmimita A very spicy small chili

pepper

nech Whie

negari A kind of bass drum

neela Tin whie coton shawl

spun and woven by hand wiha brighly colored border used

only by women

qene Ehiopian syle of speech in

which one says one hing while

implying a differen meaning a

he same ime and in he same

senence

quana Spiced dried mea

Ras Noble feudal chief of a

region and he head of a regionalarmy subordinae o he

Emperor

sefer Neighborhood

Selam ldquoPeace be wih yourdquo Used

as a greeing

shemma Tick whie cotoncloh spun and woven by hand

used for wrapping around he

body especial ly by men

shiro Sauce made from chickpea

flour and spices

sigawo A spicy beef sew

sisrum An Ehiopian mealmusical insrumen

sollao From he Ialian ldquosoldaordquo

(soldier)

Tabo Wooden or marble ables

fory-four in all replicas of he

ables of he Law as given o

Moses each one dedicaed o asain o an Archangel or o Our

Lady and used in he pracices of

he Ehiopian Orhodox Church

alian From he Ialian ldquoialianordquo

(Ialian)

eff Whole-grain flour made from

an ancien cereal grass



Amharic Words and Expressions xv

tej Fermented Ethiopian mead or

honey wine

tella Fermented barley beer

tibs Meat sauteacuteed with onions

and hot green chili peppers

Timket Te Ethiopian Orthodox

celebration of Epiphany It is

celebrated on January 983089983097 (or January 983090983088 in a leap year)

tri A communal dish

tukul A hut

woi gud My goodness

woine Amharic exclamation of

dismay

wst arbegna An Ethiopian

infiltrator in the Italian colonial

system who worked as a

messenger and go-between to

supply weapons and food to the

Resistance

Zapatie Native squads of

policemen on horseback



W 983144983141983150 983113 983159983137983155 983137 983148983145983156983156983148 983141 983143983145983154 983148 983113 983159983137983155 983139983151983150983155983156983137983150983156983148983161 983138983141983145983150983143

old by he hree venerable elders o our household ldquoYou are

he one who is going o ell our soriesrdquo

Round he coffee po warming on he brazier sa he women Te

elders slighly off in a corner wrapped up in heir whie shemma and

looking disincly like proecive birds blessed he coffee or he

women and ook noe o everyhing around hem

ldquoShersquos very curiousrdquo whispered old Selemon wih an air o sais-

acion Te ohers agreed slowly nodding heir heads Tey were

well aware o ha irresisible bai ha hooked my soul whenever

he aduls used o ell sories and anecdoes abou oher people and

especially when hey spoke abou he secres o Ao Mulughea Bu

ha is anoher sory ha Irsquoll ell you some oher ime

ldquoSo curious ha she becomes paienrdquo whispered old Yohanes

Te oher wo coninued o agree slowly nodding heir heads

I was quie capable o waiing a long ime or he beginning o

some ale born by chance on he lips o a woman while she was pu-

ing down her empy cup afer her firs coffee

ldquoSo curious ha she becomes paienmdashand wily Look a herrdquo

whispered old Yacob and he hree pairs o eyes converged on me

Children were no allowed o lisen o he conversaions o grown-

ups and curiosiy was considered bad manners bu I managed o

lisen wihou heir noicing me I would si in a corner and play

while he women chated I was able o spli mysel in wo on oneside my body was busily absorbed in play ha o he casual observer

gave he impression ha I was oally unineresed in wha was going

chapter one



The Promise 2

on On he oher side my mind was paying atenion o every single

word every blink o an eye ha came rom he women

I was able o blend in like a chameleon Nobody had ever noicedanyhing o he poin ha when one o he women had some spicy

gossip o repor o he ohers she would glance a me and jus o be

sure said ldquoWha abou he litle girlrdquo

My moher would answer ldquoDonrsquo worry when she is absorbed in

her games she is oally unaware o he world around hermdasha war

could break ou and she wouldnrsquo noice anyhing Come on si

down and ell usrdquo No one noiced he flash o amusemen in hecomplici glance o he hree elders

ldquoSo curious she becomes paien and wilyrdquo whispered old Yacob

He was my avorie and every now and hen he would srech ou

his arm o scrach my head I would look up and he would smile

his mouh wide open wih ha soliary upper ooh dangling like a

whie rag hanging ou o an open window

I would reurn his smile He would hen bend down and like a bird rying o peck a somehing bring his ace close o mine and

whisper ldquoHold on igh o ha curiosiy o yours and collec all he

sories you can One day yoursquoll be he voice ha will ell our sories

You will cross he same sea ha Peer and Paul crossed and you will

ake our sories o he land o he Ialians You will be he voice o

our hisory ha doesnrsquo wan o be orgotenrdquo

Ten I grew up and orgo all abou he words and he glances o

our hree elders I even orgo abou he day ha old Yacob had sud-

denly opened he kichen door acing he rear couryard and had

gone ouside Te cas huddled on he landing waiing or lefovers

had scutled off in every direcion and he had smiled saisfied wih

ha rick ha always worked hen he had sreched ou his arm

hrough he door and wih his hand had gesured or me o ollow

him Abba Yacob had gone down he sairs and slipping along he

wall o he house had aken me o he oher couryard Te one by

he main enrance wih he garden ull o flowers ha was my moh-

errsquos pride and joy Passing under he arch o he purple bougainvil lea



CHAPTER ONE 3

ha climbed up he wall o he second floor up o my brohersrsquo room

he had opened he door o his room and had invied me in

I was he firs ime his had ever happened We children were no al-lowed o cross he hreshold o he rooms o he hree elders Tey were

considered sacred Ta was why hey lived on he firs floor in single

rooms o heir own in an area separaed rom he res o he house

I el honored by he inviaion and siffening my body ino an

almos miliary pose I ried o assume he demeanor I deemed sui-

able or he occasion

Old Yacob smiled ldquoDonrsquo sand here all siffrdquo he said o meldquoWach ou I know you You have my permission o ake a look

aroundrdquo Everyhing was fla inside o me no eelings no desire o

look around came rom my curious soul Only ha acue sense o he

honor besowed upon me ha kep me rozen like a saue

ldquoSo show me wha you can dordquo

In order o please him bu sill no moving a muscle I srained my

eyes in every direcion o observe as much as possibleHe laughed wih ha soliary ooh o his ldquoWoi gud anchi lij

My God wha a phenomenal child You donrsquo have o saisy your

curiosiy jus wih your eyesmdashyou have my permission o ouch

everyhingrdquo

Inimidaed by such exreme indulgence I lowered my head

ldquoCome si on he bed Here nex o merdquo he coaxed

I joined him and sa down by his side

Te skir o my dress rusled agains he bed blankes ldquoI like your

dressrdquo he said ldquoSkirs are becoming o women Tey make hem

even more beauiul Remember ha when you grow uprdquo I kep my

eyes lowered fixed on my hands ha I was wringing while waiing

o ge over my embarrassmen

ldquoSordquo he auned me roguishly ldquodonrsquo you wan o give in o your

curiosiyrdquo

Bu wha curiosiy In ha momen i was as i i didnrsquo exis I

was ou o reach buried deep in my soul o escape he spoligh o

his atenion rained on me



The Promise 4

Wih an enormous effor jus o please him I began o explore

moving my head in every direcion

Tere wasnrsquo much in he room On he sone floor resed he eeo a bed rame wih a matress and nex o he bed rame were some

empy shelves In a corner here was a small able wih some icons

on i including one o he Virgin Mary ha sood ou making he

ohers invisible he sub o a candle and hen spiders Spiders and

cobwebs in every hole and in every corner o he room Finally a

he oo o he bed rame here was a runk covered in green pain

peeling in some spos and asened wih wo huge brass-coloredpadlocks

My mind li up

Who knew wha could be in here Perhaps he secres o old Ya-

cobrsquos lie I didnrsquo know much abou him While drinking coffee

ogeher he women had never said anyhing abou him And how

could hey Te hree elders were always presen and as ofen hap-

pens people didnrsquo alk abou hose who were presen Only a ewimes in he evening a home when he hree elders had reired o

heir rooms downsairs I had heard a ew commens My moher

and my Uncle Mesfin said ha he hree elders especially old Yacob

had been valian warriors grea arbegna bu so my aher said old

Yacob had only ough or wo years and hen he had been orced

o reurn because o he birh o Rosa my moherrsquos second cousin

My aherrsquos observaion was like he signal rom a conducor o his

orchesra Immediaely one o my uncles began o ell he sory o

my avorie elder Unorunaely afer he firs ew commens my

moher said ha i was geting lae or us children and sen me o

bed on ldquoempy earsrdquo

Wih my imaginaion capured by he runk my mind had sared

o spin moving rom one anasy o he nex In he background I

could hear he fukera he war songs coloring my imaginaion He-

roic deeds by he hree elders paraded hrough my mind as i I were

waching an Indian movie like he ones hey showed a he cinema

in Debre Zei Tose corny movies wih heroes galore



CHAPTER ONE 5

ldquoHave you finished your reconnaissancerdquo asked old Yacob bring-

ing me back o realiy Biing my lip I urned my head oward he

runkldquoWoi gud anchi lijrdquo he said wih an air o saisacion

He pu his hands under his shemma rummaged in his pans pock-

es pulled ou a se o keys and handed hem o me As i hey were

on fire I insincively hid my hands behind my back and I began o

shake my head in a sign o denial

I wasnrsquo going o ake hem

Old Yacob go up wen oward he runk and opened i ldquoComeon come over hererdquo he said I go off he bed wen up close o him

and sa on my heels jus like him ldquoI you wan o know wharsquos inside

yoursquoll have o sick your hands inrdquo

ldquoIn your runkrdquo

ldquoCerainlyrdquo he answered I looked a him incredulously

Somehing unbelievable was happening An adul an elder in ac

was encouraging me o openly break one o he mos imporan rulesmy moher and aher had augh me donrsquo pu your nose in grown-

upsrsquo business each person o his own place

ldquoCome onrdquo he coninued ldquopu your litle girl rsquos hands in he runk

and show me where your curiosiy akes yourdquo

I glanced a he runk ickled by my inner curiosiy ha waned

o know wha was in here I resised he impulse

Perhaps i was a rick I I gave in o my inner empaion someone

would punish me i no old Yacob hen cerainly God who was

looking a me along wih he sains rom he icons on he able He

would punish me hrough he spiders I had already been biten on

my oo by one o hose litle beass I hadnrsquo been pleasan My

moher had o ake me o he herbalis because i had swollen up and

I wasnrsquo able o walk

ldquoSo Wharsquos going on yoursquore no ineresed in my runkrdquo eased

old Yacob

I was ineresed and how I perused he runk and hen locked

eyes wih him ldquoTere arenrsquo any spiders in he runk are hererdquo



The Promise 6

He undersood ldquoI swear by he Virgin Mary on my alar ha noh-

ing and no one will punish you neiher I nor he spiders no even

God Tis will remain a secre beween us Come on show me wha you can findrdquo

I ook a deep breah and ocused on ha inner ich ha was begin-

ning o an ino blazing flames o curiosiy Following heir cue I

sreched ou my arm and suck a hand ino he open runk

My fingers ouched he sof abric o a shemma I ran my hand

over he wavy olds hen slipped my hand ino he nex layer and

explored every inch o iTere was nohing here

I moved on o he nex layer

Again waves o sof coton woven by he Dorze people rom Chen-

cha and nohing else

I sifed hrough all he layers o he firs shemma hen o he sec-

ond and finally o he hird Tere was nohing here

I pulled my hand ou o he runk undecided wheher o coninueor no and I urned oward old Yacob ldquoGo on Go onrdquo he said

I ook a breah

ldquoGo on Keep lookingrdquo he repeaed

Once again I sreched ou my arm and pu my hand in he runk

under he hird shemma I ound a coarser abric coton used or

shirs I fingered collars pockes butons he hin hread o he

siching he paching and nohing else I pushed my hand urher

in and ound some pans wo wih bels ohers wihou and again

side pockes back pockes closed wih a buton siching mending

and under he pans in a corner a small recangular cardboard

box I opened i and pulled ou he conens I was a box o candles

One was missing probably he sump ha was on he alar

Ta was i or he conens o he runk

ldquoAbba Yacob your runk is empyrdquo

ldquoEmpy Bu irsquos ull o clohes and shemmardquo

ldquoAll he same irsquos sill empyrdquo

ldquoWha do you meanrdquo His eyes were shining



CHAPTER ONE 7

ldquoI mean ha in your locked runk here is nohing bu your

clohesrdquo

ldquoAnd wha did you expec o find in hererdquo Wih a whisper as i someone else could hear and scold me I wen

up close o him and said ldquoSories rdquo

ldquoWha kind o soriesrdquo

I was so flusered ha he words couldnrsquo come ou o my mouh

ldquoGo on ry harder and explain o me wha kind o sories you

expeced o find in my runkrdquo

ldquoSories ha rdquoldquoTardquo

ldquoTa alked abou you Abou your secresrdquo I said all a once

ldquoBu perhaps I have no secresrdquo

ldquoTarsquos no rue All aduls have secres And I know ha you mus

have some as wellrdquo I said hinking o hose fleeing commens I had

heard every now and hen a nigh

ldquoWoi gud anchi lij Herersquos wha wersquoll do Irsquoll ell you one litle se-cre My runk holds somehing ha you havenrsquo been able o find

yerdquo

His words sounded like a challenge Wihou saying anyhing I

urned oward he runk and suck my hand back in I wen hrough

i careully inch by inch shemma shirs and pans Back and orh

over and under

Tere didnrsquo seem o be anyhing here

I sared all over again i somehing was here I was going o find

i Te hird ime I heard a crinkly sound coming rom one o he

shir pockes I undid he buton pu my hand in and deep down

rolled up I ound an envelope

I el riumphan I pulled i ou and laughing I waved i under

old Yacobrsquos nose

ldquoWoi gud anchi lijrdquo He was saisfied ldquoCome lersquos si on he bed

Irsquoll show you wharsquos insiderdquo

Old Yacob ook he envelope opened i and pulled ou a small

yellowish shee o paper wih ragged edges He shook i and he litle



The Promise 8

shee unrolled filling he air wih dus ha ickled our noses making

boh o us sneeze Sreching orward I craned my neck o ge a peek

a he conens I was ull o samps and wriings no in AmharicldquoIrsquos writen in Ialianrdquo old Yacob old me and he flatened i ou

wih his hands and laid i down on my dress Te samps and he

wriings danced beore my eyes I lifed he shee and sniffed i I

sneezed again I urned i over in my hands ldquoW ha is irdquo I asked

ldquoIrsquos called a Submission Paper when our counry was occupied

by he Ialians you always had o have i wih you You had o show

i o he Ialian soldiers whenever hey asked you or i I you didno have i you could even be killed We used o go around carrying

a very long cane wih he paper suck hrough he poin so ha he

soldiers could see irdquo While he was speaking he jumped off he bed

o ac ou he scene He sreched his arm ou in ron o him wih

he shee beween his fingers ldquoWe used o hold i his way You see

like hisrdquo he said ldquoand when hey passed by we used o do his rdquo

He lowered his head and sared speaking in ha srange languageha sounded unny

I burs ino laugher and he coninued o hop up and down on hose

litle bird legs ha suck ou o his shemma speaking ha srange

language I kep on laughing and he looked a me wih saisacion

Afer a while he sa back down and laid he orm back on my dress

ldquoI did no ge his orm righ awaymdasha firs I was a rebel an arbegna

I ough agains hem you knowrdquo

ldquoI know someimes a nigh when you are asleep Mama and Papa

alk abou you rdquo

ldquoTey do Tarsquos why earlier you were so sure I was harboring

secresrdquo I remained silen and he wen on almos chuckling ldquoAnd

wha do hey sayrdquo

ldquoMama says ha you were a valian warrior and Papa says you only

ough or wo years and hen you reurned Because Rosa was bornrdquo

ldquoYour moher is righ and so is your aher bu I had no oher

choicerdquo he said alking more o himsel han o me ldquoAnd hen wha

else do hey sayrdquo



CHAPTER ONE 9

ldquoI donrsquo knowmdashwhen hey sar elling your sory a litle afer ha

Mama sends me o bedrdquo

ldquoI you wan o hear i Irsquoll ell yourdquoI waned o hear i and how I nodded

ldquoBu i is a long sorymdashare you sure you wan o hear irdquo

I cerainly did I nodded again

ldquoOkay Irsquol l ell you bu you mus lisen very careully because one

day you will have o ell irdquo

ldquoMerdquo I asked surprisedly opening my eyes wide

He chuckled making his bony shoulders shake ldquoWoi gud anchilij Yes yourdquo

ldquoBu Mama and Papa do no wan me o ell hings abou grown-

upsrdquo I lowered my gaze ldquoAcually hey donrsquo even wan me o lisen

o he adulsrsquo conversaionsrdquo

He laughed again shaking his bird-like shoulders ldquoDonrsquo worry

he sory I am going o ell you oday will remain a secre beween

us and as ar as elling i is concerned you wonrsquo have o do ha nowLaer when you are a grown-uprdquo

ldquoSo i harsquos how i is hen irsquos all righrdquo I said coninuing o lower

my eyes ldquoWhen I am grown up no one will be able o scold me be-

cause I alk abou adulsrsquo businessrdquo

He laughed again and his ime I laughed a litle oo

ldquoNow my dear child make yoursel comorable Do you wan

o lean agains he wall Irsquoll give you my pillow ake irdquo I ook he

pillow propped i agains he wall and slid back o lean agains i I

fixed my dress and urned my head oward old Yacob

ldquoAre you readyrdquo he asked me I nodded

ldquoSo dear child open up your hear Tis all happened a long ime

ago I was only weny years old We had los he war agains he Ial-

ians and I like many ohers had joined he Resisance We had been

hiding or some ime in a place called Mengesha A ores wih huge

ancien rees over our hundred years old I was almos a magic

ores ha proeced us Te rees had been planed by our grea

Zeri Yacob Te rays o sunshine played among heir emerald green



The Promise 10

leaves and on heir branches sa litle groups o gurezas he grea

black-and-whie flying monkeys I was a sae hideou We had been

aken here by our leader Haile eklai afer our hideou near hesource o he Awash River had been discovered He had grown up

on land near he ores and as a child he used o play here He knew

every hole every secre o he ores Tere were many o usmdashmen

women even children sons and daughers o he rebels some don-

keys some mules and a herd o sheep In he ores here was a rock

ace wih wo caves Tarsquos where we slep Tey were like houses we

had pu everyhing we needed in here and a nigh hey shelered usrom he cold mounain windrdquo

While old Yacob was speaking I began o eel a bi resless I ried

o ignore his eeling bu i had already spread o he muscles o

my legs which began o wich Old Yacob inerruped his sory

ldquoWharsquos he mater child Are you uncomorablerdquo

ldquoNo Abba Irsquos my legs ha donrsquo wan o say sillrdquo I said

ldquoTen ry o res your ee on he floormdashperhaps ha will relax your legsrdquo I slid orward on he bed I resed my ee on he floor I

fixed my dress and moioned o old Yacob o go on

ldquoAs I old you we had creaed real homes in he caves where a

nigh we ound sheler rom he cold mounain wind even hough

we men spen many nighs away rom he hideou because i was

when darkness ell ha we atacked he Ialian soldiers Tey didnrsquo

know how o orien hemselves a nigh like guess who canno

move around in he dark in a house hey donrsquo know So we pro-

ceeded and as quick as leopards we atacked hem and hen ran

back o he oresrdquo

I became increasingly uncomorable

Tere was somehing in he way old Yacob was elling his sory

ha I didnrsquo like and ha made he sory oally unineresing My

whole body was wiching in discomor o calm mysel down I

began o le my eyes roam round he room He became aware o i

and immediaely sopped recouning his sory ldquoWharsquos he mater

childrdquo he asked me



C O N T E N T S

Translatorsrsquo Note

Note on Amharic Pronunciation

List of Amharic Words and Expressions

THE PROMISE

Chapter 1

Yacobrsquos Story

Chapter 2

Te Passage Adolescence

Te Advice

Te Flower of the Month

Te Saturday Market

Te Consent

Te First Day of Work

At Legessersquos Shop

Te West Announcement Announcement

Arada Sefer

Te Move

Te First Celebration of imket

in the Capital

Te Chaos before the Calm

Return to Debre Zeit

Te Departure

THE RETURN

Chapter 3

Te Story of the Stupid Lion

and the Monkey

Chapter 4

Te Story of Abbaba Igirsa Salo

Chapter 5

Farisa Alula the Great

Chapter 6

Te urtle Ladyrsquos Story

Kebedech Seyoum

Chapter 7

Te Story of Woizero Bekelech

and Signor Antonio

Chapter 8

Chapter 9



983113983150 983121983157983141983141983150 983151983142 983110983148983151983159983141983154983155 983137983150983140 983120983141983137983154 983148983155 983156983144983141 983113983156983137983148983145 983137983150-983109983156983144983145983151983152983145983137 983150














NOT E ON A MHA RIC


983124983144983141 983142983151983148983148983151983159983145983150983143 983145983155 983137 983148983145983155983156 983151983142 983156983144983141 983149983137983145983150 983154983141983139983157983154983154983145983150983143















figher(s)






1048625983096983096983097ndash10486259830979830921048625



banda Scous


mos Ehiopian dishes



he Aar



chicken






gebi Palace




yogur

getoch Maser boss

gibir Feas


hemselves


rom teff flour




kebele Neighborhood

commitee









sring violin





Sepember 983089983089 or 983089983090 Te



pepper

nech Whie




only by women





senence




Emperor

sefer Neighborhood


as a greeing





flour and spices




(soldier)








(Ialian)







honey wine







tri A communal dish

tukul A hut

woi gud My goodness


dismay






Resistance





W 983144983141983150 983113 983159983137983155 983137 983148983145983156983156983148 983141 983143983145983154 983148 983113 983159983137983155 983139983151983150983155983156983137983150983156983148983161 983138983141983145983150983143

























chapter one



The Promise 2


































CHAPTER ONE 3








able or he occasion










everyhingrdquo










curiosiyrdquo






The Promise 4










My mind li up
























CHAPTER ONE 5





























old Yacob





The Promise 6












cha and nohing else




I ook a breah


















CHAPTER ONE 7


clohesrdquo














yerdquo




over and under














The Promise 8























alk abou you rdquo



wha do hey sayrdquo








CHAPTER ONE 9


































The Promise 10
























back o he oresrdquo










983113983150 983121983157983141983141983150 983151983142 983110983148983151983159983141983154983155 983137983150983140 983120983141983137983154 983148983155 983156983144983141 983113983156983137983148983145 983137983150-983109983156983144983145983151983152983145983137 983150














NOT E ON A MHA RIC


983124983144983141 983142983151983148983148983151983159983145983150983143 983145983155 983137 983148983145983155983156 983151983142 983156983144983141 983149983137983145983150 983154983141983139983157983154983154983145983150983143















figher(s)






1048625983096983096983097ndash10486259830979830921048625



banda Scous


mos Ehiopian dishes



he Aar



chicken






gebi Palace




yogur

getoch Maser boss

gibir Feas


hemselves


rom teff flour




kebele Neighborhood

commitee









sring violin





Sepember 983089983089 or 983089983090 Te



pepper

nech Whie




only by women





senence




Emperor

sefer Neighborhood


as a greeing





flour and spices




(soldier)








(Ialian)







honey wine







tri A communal dish

tukul A hut

woi gud My goodness


dismay






Resistance





W 983144983141983150 983113 983159983137983155 983137 983148983145983156983156983148 983141 983143983145983154 983148 983113 983159983137983155 983139983151983150983155983156983137983150983156983148983161 983138983141983145983150983143

























chapter one



The Promise 2


































CHAPTER ONE 3








able or he occasion










everyhingrdquo










curiosiyrdquo






The Promise 4










My mind li up
























CHAPTER ONE 5





























old Yacob





The Promise 6












cha and nohing else




I ook a breah


















CHAPTER ONE 7


clohesrdquo














yerdquo




over and under














The Promise 8























alk abou you rdquo



wha do hey sayrdquo








CHAPTER ONE 9


































The Promise 10
























back o he oresrdquo










NOT E ON A MHA RIC


983124983144983141 983142983151983148983148983151983159983145983150983143 983145983155 983137 983148983145983155983156 983151983142 983156983144983141 983149983137983145983150 983154983141983139983157983154983154983145983150983143















figher(s)






1048625983096983096983097ndash10486259830979830921048625



banda Scous


mos Ehiopian dishes



he Aar



chicken






gebi Palace




yogur

getoch Maser boss

gibir Feas


hemselves


rom teff flour




kebele Neighborhood

commitee









sring violin





Sepember 983089983089 or 983089983090 Te



pepper

nech Whie




only by women





senence




Emperor

sefer Neighborhood


as a greeing





flour and spices




(soldier)








(Ialian)







honey wine







tri A communal dish

tukul A hut

woi gud My goodness


dismay






Resistance





W 983144983141983150 983113 983159983137983155 983137 983148983145983156983156983148 983141 983143983145983154 983148 983113 983159983137983155 983139983151983150983155983156983137983150983156983148983161 983138983141983145983150983143

























chapter one



The Promise 2


































CHAPTER ONE 3








able or he occasion










everyhingrdquo










curiosiyrdquo






The Promise 4










My mind li up
























CHAPTER ONE 5





























old Yacob





The Promise 6












cha and nohing else




I ook a breah


















CHAPTER ONE 7


clohesrdquo














yerdquo




over and under














The Promise 8























alk abou you rdquo



wha do hey sayrdquo








CHAPTER ONE 9


































The Promise 10
























back o he oresrdquo















figher(s)






1048625983096983096983097ndash10486259830979830921048625



banda Scous


mos Ehiopian dishes



he Aar



chicken






gebi Palace




yogur

getoch Maser boss

gibir Feas


hemselves


rom teff flour




kebele Neighborhood

commitee









sring violin





Sepember 983089983089 or 983089983090 Te



pepper

nech Whie




only by women





senence




Emperor

sefer Neighborhood


as a greeing





flour and spices




(soldier)








(Ialian)







honey wine







tri A communal dish

tukul A hut

woi gud My goodness


dismay






Resistance





W 983144983141983150 983113 983159983137983155 983137 983148983145983156983156983148 983141 983143983145983154 983148 983113 983159983137983155 983139983151983150983155983156983137983150983156983148983161 983138983141983145983150983143

























chapter one



The Promise 2


































CHAPTER ONE 3








able or he occasion










everyhingrdquo










curiosiyrdquo






The Promise 4










My mind li up
























CHAPTER ONE 5





























old Yacob





The Promise 6












cha and nohing else




I ook a breah


















CHAPTER ONE 7


clohesrdquo














yerdquo




over and under














The Promise 8























alk abou you rdquo



wha do hey sayrdquo








CHAPTER ONE 9


































The Promise 10
























back o he oresrdquo
















sring violin





Sepember 983089983089 or 983089983090 Te



pepper

nech Whie




only by women





senence




Emperor

sefer Neighborhood


as a greeing





flour and spices




(soldier)








(Ialian)







honey wine







tri A communal dish

tukul A hut

woi gud My goodness


dismay






Resistance





W 983144983141983150 983113 983159983137983155 983137 983148983145983156983156983148 983141 983143983145983154 983148 983113 983159983137983155 983139983151983150983155983156983137983150983156983148983161 983138983141983145983150983143

























chapter one



The Promise 2


































CHAPTER ONE 3








able or he occasion










everyhingrdquo










curiosiyrdquo






The Promise 4










My mind li up
























CHAPTER ONE 5





























old Yacob





The Promise 6












cha and nohing else




I ook a breah


















CHAPTER ONE 7


clohesrdquo














yerdquo




over and under














The Promise 8























alk abou you rdquo



wha do hey sayrdquo








CHAPTER ONE 9


































The Promise 10
























back o he oresrdquo












honey wine







tri A communal dish

tukul A hut

woi gud My goodness


dismay






Resistance





W 983144983141983150 983113 983159983137983155 983137 983148983145983156983156983148 983141 983143983145983154 983148 983113 983159983137983155 983139983151983150983155983156983137983150983156983148983161 983138983141983145983150983143

























chapter one



The Promise 2


































CHAPTER ONE 3








able or he occasion










everyhingrdquo










curiosiyrdquo






The Promise 4










My mind li up
























CHAPTER ONE 5





























old Yacob





The Promise 6












cha and nohing else




I ook a breah


















CHAPTER ONE 7


clohesrdquo














yerdquo




over and under














The Promise 8























alk abou you rdquo



wha do hey sayrdquo








CHAPTER ONE 9


































The Promise 10
























back o he oresrdquo










W 983144983141983150 983113 983159983137983155 983137 983148983145983156983156983148 983141 983143983145983154 983148 983113 983159983137983155 983139983151983150983155983156983137983150983156983148983161 983138983141983145983150983143

























chapter one



The Promise 2


































CHAPTER ONE 3








able or he occasion










everyhingrdquo










curiosiyrdquo






The Promise 4










My mind li up
























CHAPTER ONE 5





























old Yacob





The Promise 6












cha and nohing else




I ook a breah


















CHAPTER ONE 7


clohesrdquo














yerdquo




over and under














The Promise 8























alk abou you rdquo



wha do hey sayrdquo








CHAPTER ONE 9


































The Promise 10
























back o he oresrdquo










The Promise 2


































CHAPTER ONE 3








able or he occasion










everyhingrdquo










curiosiyrdquo






The Promise 4










My mind li up
























CHAPTER ONE 5





























old Yacob





The Promise 6












cha and nohing else




I ook a breah


















CHAPTER ONE 7


clohesrdquo














yerdquo




over and under














The Promise 8























alk abou you rdquo



wha do hey sayrdquo








CHAPTER ONE 9


































The Promise 10
























back o he oresrdquo










CHAPTER ONE 3








able or he occasion










everyhingrdquo










curiosiyrdquo






The Promise 4










My mind li up
























CHAPTER ONE 5





























old Yacob





The Promise 6












cha and nohing else




I ook a breah


















CHAPTER ONE 7


clohesrdquo














yerdquo




over and under














The Promise 8























alk abou you rdquo



wha do hey sayrdquo








CHAPTER ONE 9


































The Promise 10
























back o he oresrdquo










The Promise 4










My mind li up
























CHAPTER ONE 5





























old Yacob





The Promise 6












cha and nohing else




I ook a breah


















CHAPTER ONE 7


clohesrdquo














yerdquo




over and under














The Promise 8























alk abou you rdquo



wha do hey sayrdquo








CHAPTER ONE 9


































The Promise 10
























back o he oresrdquo










CHAPTER ONE 5





























old Yacob





The Promise 6












cha and nohing else




I ook a breah


















CHAPTER ONE 7


clohesrdquo














yerdquo




over and under














The Promise 8























alk abou you rdquo



wha do hey sayrdquo








CHAPTER ONE 9


































The Promise 10
























back o he oresrdquo










The Promise 6












cha and nohing else




I ook a breah


















CHAPTER ONE 7


clohesrdquo














yerdquo




over and under














The Promise 8























alk abou you rdquo



wha do hey sayrdquo








CHAPTER ONE 9


































The Promise 10
























back o he oresrdquo










CHAPTER ONE 7


clohesrdquo














yerdquo




over and under














The Promise 8























alk abou you rdquo



wha do hey sayrdquo








CHAPTER ONE 9


































The Promise 10
























back o he oresrdquo










The Promise 8























alk abou you rdquo



wha do hey sayrdquo








CHAPTER ONE 9


































The Promise 10
























back o he oresrdquo










CHAPTER ONE 9


































The Promise 10
























back o he oresrdquo










The Promise 10
























back o he oresrdquo








Documents

Queen of Flowers and Pearls (excerpt)