Abstract:
This thesis explores the history of handicrafts and craftsmanship in Agäw Mider Awurajja
during the twentieth century. Handicraft has played a major role in economic, social, political,
and cultural changes and also the main livelihood for artisan communities in the study area in
particular and in the country in general. On the contrary, this economic sector was a highly
neglected and marginalized activity gaining only less attention from non-artisan communities,
government bodies, and scholarly studies, particularly during the Imperial era. Under the Därg,
it secured some degree of attention and patronage from the government during which some
changes in the life of handicraftsmen and positive attitudes towards the craft were witnessed by
the non-artisan communities. However, it isn't easy to obtain a relatively well-organized and
detailed study of handicraft activities in the study area during the twentieth century. Therefore,
the study is intended to reconstruct a history of handicrafts in the region and contribute to filling
research gaps in the sector. This study may serve as a reference to disciplinary investigations;
encourage further study on related issues and a noteworthy contribution to the development of
Ethiopian historiography at large. The study tried to discuss various styles and products of
handicraft, typology, and ups and downs of handicraft throughout the twentieth century in the
region and measures and policies taken by different governments in the country at large and in
the study area specifically. In this study, a variety of sources were utilized to provide a
comprehensive understanding of the history of handicrafts in Agäw Mider Awurajja. Both
published and unpublished historical documents, along with oral sources, were employed to
gather relevant information. The primary written sources were collected from several key
institutions. These included the Däbrä Markos University Archive Center (DMUAC), the Agäw
Mider (current Awi Zone) Cultural and Tourism Office, the Agäw Gimjabèt General Primary
School Record Office, and the Ankäśa Guagussa Wäräda Cultural and Tourism Office.
Additionally, materials from Assaye Aniteneh‟s Private Library in Dangila and various MA
theses and PhD dissertations provided valuable insights. Oral sources were also integral to the
study. Systematic and critical interviews were conducted with residents of the present-day Awi
administrative zone, including both artisans and non-artisans who knew the history of
handicrafts and artisans during the period under investigation. All these sources were
meticulously investigated and interpreted to reconstruct a detailed history of handicrafts in the
region. Primary and secondary historical evidence used were cross-checked to substantiate their
validity and reliability. Scanty of historical sources, shortage of budget and the current political
instability (civil war between Fano and the central Ethiopian government) were the major
problems that I have encountered during my study. Yet, I have been overcome these and other
challenges by using all my bests throughout the paper to give a general picture of the different
arguments of the thesis. Economic and social role, marginalization and social stigma, impact of
government reforms, decline of handicrafts, and cultural resilience are the major findings of this
investigation