Oromo Diaspora Narratives
Lovedale [South Africa], a Presbyterian
Lovedale [South Africa], a Presbyterian mission station, was also a site for emancipated slaves in the Eastern Cape, but the journey of the Oromo slaves who ended up at Lovedale followed a different trajectory. Some fifty years after the period of apprenticeship was over, Lovedale became the site for “prize” slaves emancipated by a British cruiser stationed on the East African coast in 1888. The British warship confiscated the slave cargo of an Arab dhow laden with slaves from Abyssinia. By the time they reached Lovedale, the former slaves numbered sixty four, most of the others having died from various illnesses. At Lovedale, they were incorporated into the Christian community and given educational instruction and training so that they could find suitable employment. Thus, some decades after emancipation in the British colonies, when the British turned their antislaving efforts to the eradication of slaving on the East African coast, the Eastern Cape became a site for the landing of emancipated “prize” slaves from the villages of highland Ethiopia.
Source: Cory Library, PIC/M 1093 “Oromos at Lovedale (rescued from slavery in the Red Sea)”
Source:
Cory Library, PIC/A 1319,
Oromo slave portraits
Source: Cory Library, PIC/A 1320 “Oromo slaves at Shaik
Ottoman” near Aden
The Oromo slaves are amongst the most photographed slaves in the world with group photographs taken at Sheikh ‘Othman, showing the lattice walls constructed by Keith- Falconer, the full group at Lovedale, as well as individual portraits all now housed in the Cory Library at Rhodes University.
In September, 1888, the British warship H. M. S. Osprey was cruising in the Red Sea. Private information came to the captain that certain Arab dhows laden with slaves were expected to leave the African coast bound for Mocha, of coffee celebrity, where there was an immediate market for slaves. One evening, the dhows set out for Tajurrah, made good progress in the night, but in morning were becalmed. Soon they were espied by the man-o’-war, and, after an attempt to escape, were captured though not without the
loss of some lives, both of slave[r]s and their victims. Thirty-three Arab slavers were found on the dhows with 213 victims, the latter from Oromoland, near Abyssinia. With the exception of four men, all the slaves were women and children, and all in pitiable condition, particularly the young boys. Nearly all had to be lifted on board the Osprey, their limbs having been so cramped by confinement that they could not function. In addition, the children were terror-stricken, as their Arab masters had said that if they fell
into the hands of white men they would be eaten. The dhows were towed into Aden harbor and children landed and housed by the Government authorities there. The Keith Falconer Mission of the Free Church of Scotland, situated near Aden, was communicated with and asked to take part or all of them. Sixty-two young people, thirty nine boys and twenty-three girls, were subsequently brought to the mission. In 1888 Aden was the capital of Aden Colony which, as southern Yemen, had been under the jurisdiction of Muslim Arabs from the sixth to the sixteenth centuries and the Ottoman Turks from 1538. It was captured by the British East India Company in 1839 and became a separate crown colony in 1935. In 1967 Southern Yemen became independent with Aden as its capital.
Aden is situated on the volcanic Aden peninsula and consists of five urban nucleii viz. Crater (old historic Aden proper), Tawahi, Maala, Khormaksar and Steamer Point. The Keith Falconer Mission was a Scottish
medical mission situated at Sheikh ‘Othman, the largest Arab village in Aden. Sheikh ‘Othman is in an oasis, seven miles north-north west from Crater on the mainland. It nurtures one of only two agricultural areas in the region and its wells provide Aden with its water supply.
Shepherd’s narrative of the Oromo slaves continues:Soon after their arrival, sickness broke out among them and fully one-fifth of the number died. In the summer of 1889 the roll was augmented by others who were rescued in small parties. By this time it had become necessary to seek a new and more healthy home for them, and some time later Lovedale in South Africa was decided upon. When the party sailed out of Aden for the south, it numbered sixty-four, twenty-two girls and forty-two boys. The party was in [the] charge of Dr. Alexander Paterson (later of Hebron fame) and a teacher colleague. They arrived at East London on the ship Conway Castle on 20th August, 1890 and were accommodated for the night in the spacious woolsheds of Mr. James Coutts, a sympathetic merchant. While they were at East London they were the guests of the children of the Presbyterian Sunday School (European), who made all provision for them. Next morning they had the adventure of traveling to King William’s Town by train, and were fed and accommodated for some hours by Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Weir, devoted friends of the African people.
Finally, they left in three wagons for Lovedale, spent the night at Green River, and reached their destination the next afternoon. Thus there came a new and interesting element into the life of Lovedale. The Oromos were all young, none of them over eighteen, and most of them much younger, down to eight or nine. Almost all were small, though they looked intelligent. Many of them had been bought and sold eight or ten times. With a single doubtful exception, no one among all the sixty-four was brother or sister to any of the others. They were “ poor little, lonely atoms of humanity “ cast into a strange land. Lovedale had run up two houses specially for them, one of them in the boys’ section, and one at the Girls’ School.
The children quickly settled into Lovedale ways. A happy discovery was that in their own land they bad been accustomed to eat maize and millet and to drink amasi. [soured milk]. Health and fitness greatly improved when these articles of diet were given. The boarding-master who had charge of them, Mr. Alexander Geddes, they significantly called in their own tongue, Abba (Father)—the same word as is quoted in the Authorised version of the English Bible. “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee” (Mark 14 : 36). They made progress also in schooling. Dr Paterson remained for a year in order to help in their education and to give medical assistance in the Institution. In 1891 no fewer than thirty were, at their own request, received into the Church by baptism. By 1895 fifty-one had been so received.
What became of the Oromos ultimately? Between the years 1892 and 1899 ten of the boys and three of the girls died. The Lovedale magazine, in June 1900, published brief biographies of the fifty-one others. They showed that almost all the girls entered domestic service in European homes in various parts of Cape Province. The majority of the boys, after training at Lovedale, became tradesmen or were employed as store-men in various forms of business. A few were in Kimberley and Ladysmith while these towns were besieged in the Anglo-Boer war.
LIBAN BULTUM
(Age about 13 years)
Son of Bultum and Shumbure
His father was the owner of a large piece of land in the Ilu country, possessing a number of oxen sheep and goats, and also two horses. A brother and sister were alive when he left his home. The Amhara came to collect tribute money from his father but for some reason or other he refused to give it. The Amhara thereupon laid hold of Liban and carried him to a slave market one day’s journey from his home. His purchaser took him to a market another day’s journey off, and sold him to Nagadi merchants who took him to Dappo.
From Dappo he was taken to Leka and again sold, and from Leka to Gudru where he was bought by a Gudru merchant.
Lovedale recorded the progress of both Berille and Liban. James Stewart, the Principal of Lovedale wrote in a circular letter dated 15 January 1898:
Of the six girls, four are in the Work Department receiving a practical training in sewing, washing, ironing, etc. These are Bisho Jarsa, Berille Grant, Wakine Ugga, and Asho Sayo.
In the same document, Stewart also recorded Liban’s progress:
Thirteen still remain at Lovedale - seven boys and six girls.... Liban Bultum. Attending the normal classes. And in his “Final Statement to supporters of the rescued Oromos at Lovedale, South Africa. Lovedale, March 1900", Stewart continued to chronicle both Berille and Liban’s lives:
Grant, Berille, still at Lovedale; in Girls’ Work Department. Baptised, December, 1891; admitted to the Church, June, 1897. Bultum, Liban, went to Port Elizabeth and got employment in the Office of Mr D McLaren Brown, Main Street, Port Elizabeth. Baptised, June, 1891; admitted to the Church, June, 1898.
In 1903, Lovedale decided to offer the former Oromo slaves the option of returning home to Ethiopia and circulated questionnaires to as many of them as could be traced. Both Berille and Liban replied. Berille Boko Grant’s reply was dated 15.9.1903 and there is an annotation in red pen after her name: “married L. Bultum”. Her address was Butler Street, Port Elizabeth and she was not employed at that time, writing that she was “not at work being unwell”. To the question of whether or not she wished to return to Abyssinia, she replied “Yes I am willing to go”. The questionnaire was signed by her on 15.9.1903.
Liban Bultum’s reply gave his address as: c/o D.M. Brown & Co., Port Elizabeth and his occupation as “Clerk at the firm of Messrs D.M. Brown & Co.”. Asked if he wished to return to Abyssinia he replied “I have no desire to remain in South Africa and so if opportunity permits I shall return home.” Signed by Liban S. Bultum, 13.9.1903. A series of correspondence relating to the proposed repatriation between Bultum and the staff of Lovedale follows:
My Dear Sir,
I have just received a letter from the British Legation in Abyssinia in reply to mine of 21st November1906.
We were informed by Dr Young of Aden that Tolassa Wayessa was dead and I am pleased to find that he is still alive and working in Addis Ababa under Capt R Brian England as interpreter. In order for you to see the contents of this letter and also to kindly refer to the responsible party which I think is Mr Henderson as principal and ask him to kindly reply to the letter which the British Legation still awaits reply. I enclose herewith for your information and Mr Henderson as well the Copy of the letter I received today from the British Legation. I am glad to say that we are all quite well and enjoying ourselves and hope to hear the
same from you.
I remain
Yours in haste,
L S Bultum
There is no further correspondence on the matter until an unsigned letter from Lovedale to “H.B.M. Charge d’Affairs [sic], British Legation, Addis Ababa, Abyssinia, via Aden”, dated 29 May1908. This letter enclosed a list of the “Gallas” trained at Lovedale wishing to return to Abyssinia (Ethiopia) with the assistance of Emperor Menelik. There were “16 men, 9 wives (of whom 2 are Cape coloured women and one is a “Kafir”), 12 children, and one single Oromo woman”. The writer of the letter anticipated receiving further requests from Oromos whose addresses were then still unknown and stated that the exact budget estimate was therefore impossible.
The letter continues “If the Emperor is willing to entrust this Institution with the £500 he offered, it would be carefully administered, and such portion (if any) as remained over, after paying passages and other necessary expenditure, would be remitted either to Addis Ababa, Jibuti or Aden as may be directed”. The cost of a 3rd class ticket from Port Elizabeth to Aden would be about £15. The “Gallas” were anxious to know if the Emperor would make them refund the money on their return. Up to this point, negotiations for their repatriation had been between the British at the Cape and Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia. Towards the end of the letter, a third power is evident:
It has come to my knowledge quite recently that enquiries are being made through the German Consul in Port Elizabeth regarding these Oromos. So far as I can gather an impression has been implanted in the mind of the Negus that the Oromos here in South Africa are not allowed to dispose of any property they own, not to leave the country, and that, therefore, it is necessary to bring pressure to bear through another Power to have these restrictions removed. Such, of course, is not the case; and it seems a pity that these young people on whom much British money and effort has been spent, should go back under German auspices, and thereby acquire and spread the idea that they owe their repatriation to German influence and effort.
I hope that in view of this threatened interposition it may be possible to send an early reply which will be so definite as to necessitate no further delay.
The “List of Oromos desiring to be repatriated with the assistance of the Emperor
Menelik” appended to the letter is headed by Liban Bultum:
LIBAN BULTUM:
Trained as Teacher at Lovedale, has since worked for ten years in lawyer’s office at Port Elizabeth, where he is still employed. Married to an Oromo girl and has one child.
Desires to return and can pay own affair.
Liban wrote to D.A. Hunter of Lovedale on 7 May 1908:
Dear Sir,
I am taking an early opportunity of letting you know that I have just been informed by the German Consul here to the effect of our leaving for home. They want everyone to leave together on the 22nd May which I told them it was impossible to do so, at that date because I have to notify everyone and it takes time for a reply. So I cannot tell you the exact time of starting yet but will let you know later on. They a re willing to take everyone back and wish those who could contribute something towards their fares to do so.
Now I shall close with kind regards to you & family from us all.
Yours faithfully
L. Bultum18
Liban wrote again to D.A. Hunter, Lovedale on 30 June 1908:
Dear Sir,
I intended write you ere this but being very busy I was unable to do so until now.
First of all it is my duty to express our thanks to you as well as many of the members
of the Lovedale Staff for having entertained us in a very desirable manner, knowing very
well that we were strangers to some of them. Will you kindly let me know when you receive
a reply from the British Legation. I am sending you 5/- postal note being desirous of becoming
a subscriber to the Christian Express. Kindly forward me same from May 1908.
Kindly send me full particulars re that Book “‘Twixt Sirdar & Menelik” as I lost the
note I had from you & cannot manage to order unless I know the publisher.
You read to us a letter you had from Dr Young re Abyssinia and you mentioned as to
the proper and best time of the year to be there which I am anxious to know for future
reference to advise others leaving for home.
Kindly remember us to your family and any friends you meet and especially to Mr
Henderson.
I am yours faithfully
L. Bultum19
An unsigned letter from Lovedale, probably written by James Henderson in response to
Bultum’s letter above, was sent to the German Consulate in Port Elizabeth on 13 May
1909:
Sir,
I beg to address you with reference to certain Natives of Oromoland at present resident
in South Africa, who I understand have recently been in communication with you with a
view to your assistance in their repatriation. These Oromos were as children rescued by a
British gun-boat from slave dhows in the Red Sea in 1888 and were handed over by the
British government to this Institution for their education and training, where they
continued under instruction for periods varying from 7 to 10 years. After which they
went into various employments in South Africa pending arrangements being made for
their restoration to their own country. It is therefore my duty as representative of the
Institution to which these rescued slaves were entrusted to inform you that I have been
and am present in correspondence with the British Government in regard to the future of
these rescued slaves, and if any arrangements are being made under your auspices for
having them transported to their own country at an early date, I would respectfully
request you to delay.
I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
[James Henderson?]
The reply from the German Consul General in Cape Town was mailed on 5 July 1909:
J.Nr. 3236
Sir,
Referring to the letter addressed by you, on the 13th May last, to the Imperial German
Consul at Port Elizabeth on the subject of certain Abyssinians in the Cape Colony I have
the honour to inform you that it is at the request of their own Government that this
Consulate General has taken in hand to arrange for the repatriation of certain Abyssinian
subjects who are residing in this Colony and are in a destitute condition. Upon enquiries
made several of the people concerned have declared that since a series of years they
are no more in connection with the Lovedale Mission Station, that they have earned their
living quite independently and not received any support from the Station. One part of the
Abyssinians concerned had made all their preparations for leaving this Colony, and had
sold their things, given up their abode etc., so that, for this reason already it would have
been impractical to delay their departure. They have left Port Elizabeth on the 3rd inst. on
board the S.S. “Kronprins”.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
your obedient servant,
E Schnoster