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DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND HERITAGE MANAGEMENT

AHistory Of Debre Elias TOwen from it's foundation to present.

A Senior essay submitted to Bonga University the department of history and heritage management in
the partial fulfillment for their requirement bachelor’s degree of Art (BA) in History and heritage
management

By;
 Amanuel yitayal

Advisor;Instructer N M

BONGA UNIVERSITY,SOUTH WEST, Ethiopia

December 22, 2023

BONGA UNIVERSITY University

I undersigned declare that this senior essay is my original work that has not been presented by
any institutional and that all its sources are dually acknowledged

Name-------------------------------------

Signature---------------------------------

Date--------------------------------------

ABSTRACT

1
 Acknowledgment

This senior essay has been completed with the help of different individuals and institution.
First and foremost, I would like to thanks to God, Secondly, I would like to thank my adviser
Biruk for his critical comments that help to me to shape the senior essay in the way it appears
now. Thirdly I am obliged to thank my family for their financial and material support. In addition
to that great thanks for my brother and for my sisters. Finally, thanks my informants who gave
me valuable information and spent their precious time for interview.

2
Preface

This paper is designed to reconstruct the History of Debre Elias its foundation to 2012 E.C. It
has five chapters. The first chapter deals with the general background of urbanization in the
world, Africa, Ethiopia, Amhara region, and East Gojjam zone focused on the foundation and
development of Debre Elias tawn,third chapter deals with the economic history of the town. The
fourth chapter deals with traditional socio - economic institutions. The last chapter deals with the
infrastructural development of town.

Different informants, unpublished sources have been consulted to produce this paper. The
research is, however, highly dependent on oral information. In spite of the interesting condition, I
faced many challenges in writing this paper. For instance, lack of published sources, lack of
primary sources, lack of interested informants and lack of experience. Besides, there is also poor
language command and lack of flow of idea. As the result of the problems already maintained, I
don’t claim that this paper is exhaustive. But it can serve as a resource for those who interested
to undertake research on the same and related issues.

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Table of Contents
Declaration........................................................................................................................................i
Acknowledgment..............................................................................................................................ii
Preface............................................................................................................................................iii
CHAPTER ONE...............................................................................................................................1
1 INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................1
1. Background of the urbanization................................................................................................1
1.2 Urbanization in Africa................................................................................................................1
1.3 Urbanization in Ethiopia.............................................................................................................2
1.4 Urbanization in Amhara region...................................................................................................3
1.5 Urbanization in...........................................................................................................................4
Chapter two.......................................................................................................................................7
2. Historical development of the Debre Elias town.........................................................................7
2.1 Geographical setting of Debre Elias town..................................................................................7
2.3 Early history of Debre Elias town...............................................................................................7
2.4 Debre Elias town from 1961 up 1984.........................................................................................8
2.5 debre elias town from 1984 up to 1992.......................................................................................8
2.6 Debre elias town from 1991 up to 2010......................................................................................8
CHAPTER THREE.............................................................................................................................13
3. ECONOMIC HISTORY OF THE TOWN...........................................................................................13
3.1 agriculture.................................................................................................................................13
3.2. TRADE....................................................................................................................................14
3.3 Hand craft works.......................................................................................................................14
3.4 TOURISM................................................................................................................................15
Chapter four....................................................................................................................................17
4. Traditional socio economic Institution and religious institutions of Debre Elias town..............17
4.1Iqub............................................................................................................................................18
4.2 Iddir..........................................................................................................................................18
4.3 Mahebar....................................................................................................................................18
4.4 Religious Institution of Debre Elias Town................................................................................19
4.5.1 Saint Selase Church...............................................................................................................19
Chapter five....................................................................................................................................21

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5.The Development of social services............................................................................................21
5.1 Transportation...........................................................................................................................21
5.2 Education..................................................................................................................................22
5.3HealthService.............................................................................................................................22
5.4 Telecommunication...................................................................................................................22
5.5 Postal Service............................................................................................................................23
5.6 Electricity Service.....................................................................................................................23
5.7 Water Supply.............................................................................................................................23
5.9 hotels.........................................................................................................................................23
5.10 Bank........................................................................................................................................24
Conclusion......................................................................................................................................26
List of informants...........................................................................................................................29

5
CHAPTER ONE

1 INTRODUCTION

1. Background of the urbanization

Urbanization refers to the growth of towns and cities, often at the expense of rural areas, as
people move to urban centers in search of jobs and that they hope will be a better life. 1

1.1. Urbanization in the world

The first city was emerged in the world around 3500 B.C in the fertile crescent particularly
around the Mesopotamia. Later, some cities flourished around the Nile valley and Mesopotamia.
Those cities were served a significant place of trade and administrative activities. Later, around
2000 B.c cities were also flourished around the Yellow River area of China , Greece and Indea
valley.2In south America the mayan - Aztec urban settlements date back to the first millennium
A.D. Cities such as Newyork were cities of migrant peoples attracted by the new land
opportunities and pushed by famine, war and poverty.3

The new cities were the results of a combination of technological change and the creation of a
new economic system based on industrialization. The 19th century saw the development of new
form of urbanization that related with industrial revolution. Some of these cities were manchester
and chicago.4

1.2 Urbanization in Africa

The earliest known cities of Africa flourished around the Nile valley. The most famous of these
were Alexandria in Egypt. Meroe (present day Sudan)which was capital city of Kush kingdom
was flourished around the 2000B.C. Meroe and other Kushite cities were well known in the
world by their stone building, irrigation, iron technology and others. 5 The Trans Saharan trade
played a crucial role for the foundation of cities in south African savanna, and the well known
were kumbisaleh, Timbuktu, Djenne, and Gao which were mainly known by their gold trade. 6

6
 1.3 Urbanization in Ethiopia

The development of urbanization in Ethiopia was date back to the pre-Aksumite period. One of
the pre - Aksumite state in Ethiopia was Damat. 7Aksum was the first major historical capital city
in Ethiopia. It had been the capital city of Aksumite kingdom probably from the middle of the
second century up to seventh century A.D. During the climax period of Aksumite kingdom, a
number of towns and sea ports existed and become commercial center. 8 Urban life flourished in
the towns such as Aksum, Lalibela and Gonder in ancient and medieval period, and this makes
Ethiopia a country which is known for its ancient urban development in the Africa.9

The early medieval Ethiopian emperors were characterized by the absence of a fixed capital. This
is due to the fact that most of the emperor spent their time in the marches from one part of
country to the other.10The 18th and 19th centuries urban development was characterized by the
number of ups and downs in response to historical factors. Mainly the mobile nature of political
centers of Ethiopia before the 20th century, which mad Ethiopia to have four periods of
urbanization until the end of 19th century. The first three phases of urban civilization were those
of the rise and decline of urban centers of Aksum, Lalibela and Gonder, when they were the seat
of the emperors and the centers of socio - economic developments. The last one was a recent
phenomenon (20th century) urbanization during the period of menelik 2nd.11

During the period of zemene mesafint or era of war Lords (1769 - 1855) there were also some
development of urbanization since each regional lords had their own administrative centers.
Hence Ankober fore seat of Shawan rulers and Debra marqos from Gojjam.12

Many towns were flourished too wards the end of 19th century. The most notable among these
was Addis Ababa which was flourished in 1886 by Empress Tayitu Bitul. The establishment of
Addis Ababa, facilitated by the introduction of Ethio - Djibouti rail way. It facilitated the birth of
some towns in the Ethiopia, such as natheret , Dire Dawa, Dabrezeit, Akaki, and etc.13

During the Italian occupation of the 1936 - 1941 there was a significant change in urban
development in different part of the Ethiopia. During this time , there was an introduction of new
technology and colonial economy. Thus, the new urban centers were existed as the military

7
camp.14

1.4 Urbanization in Amhara region

Emergence of urbanization in the Amhara region was began after the dawn fall of Aksumite
kingdom by the Zagwe dynasty. Adafa was the capital city of Zagwe dynasty, and later renamed
to Lalibela.15During the medieval period there was no fixed capital in Ethiopia. The emperors
used temporary camps as the political center and they move one parts of the country to the other
to control rebellion and to collect taxes. 16Gonder was founded by kig Fasiladas around 1636 and
served as a capital of Christian high-land kingdom for two centuries. Gonder was strategically
located on the long distance trade route that linked south western region with Massawa on the
red Sea and Mattema on the Ethio- Sudans border.17

During the period of Zemene mesafint (1769 - 1855) there was a development of urbanization in
the Amhara region. Each regional war lords established their own seat of the government.
Ankober was founded as a seat of the shawan rulers, Dabre marqos for the seat Gojjam and
Dabratabor as a seat Dajjazmach Kasa Hailu (later Emperor Tewodros 2nd) than he changed his
seat to the maqdala too wards the end of his reign. 18During the Italian occupation of Ethiopia in
1936 up to 1941, there was a significant urban development. The new urban centers were existed
as a military camp. For instance Azezo in Gonder, kombolcha in Wollo and others.19

1.5 Urbanization in East Gojjam Zone

East Gojjam Debre Markos is the earliest town in the East Gojjam. One of the earliest mention
of Debre Markos was when the s.t Markos by passed through the town in1620. As late as the
1930, Debre Markos was an important center of the trade. During the 1930sDebre Markos was
administrated by the Negus Teklehymanot, who archived a successful measures in librating
slaves against the slave traders of fitawrari Zelleqe of Gojjame.20

The British maintained a consulate in Dangila in the 1920s and 1930s, manned by R.E Cheesman
who spent a considerable amount of energy mapping of Agew meder and near by Gojjam.
Debremarkos has played role in Ethiopia literature, such as young man Haddis Alemayewhu who
become the for most Amharic fiction write and served for two years as a customs clerk at

8
Dangila in 1930s.21

Chagni is another earliest town in the East Gojjam. The British explorer Charles Beke visited
chagni on its market day in 17, march 1842 and found the town inhabited mostly by "shankalas"
who fled at his appearance out of fear. 22Debre Markos is the administrative capital of East
Gojjam zone, which is situated in Dembecha predominantly mountainous location. In 1863 ,
emperor Tewodros marched against Tedla Gwalu, who had revolted against emperor Tewodros in
Gojjam and Tedla was defeated, but he escaped to pursue his revolt against Emperor Tewodros.23

Chapter one end notes

1. www.//http//:urbanization.com

2. David,2002,urban theory and urban life, palgrave.p.2.

3. Ibid, p.3-4

4. Ibid, p.4

5. www.//http//:urbanization in africa.com

6. Ibid

7. Eshetu Biru.2006.Introduction Of Modern Education.Addis Ababa .p.102.

8. Mengistu Gobeze.2008. heritage and tourism in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa university ,p.91

9, Bahru zewde.1992. history of modern Ethiopia,1855-1991,Addis Ababa university ,p.8

10, Rechard Pankhurst.1961 .introduction to Economic history of Ethiopia from early time to
1800, Landon, p.137

11, Masfin w/mariam. 2006.an introduction to Ethiopian Geography, Addis Ababa, p.185

9
12, Eshetu Biru, p.191

13, www.//http//: history of urbanization in ethiopoa.com

14, Ibid

15, Eshetu Biru, p.106

16, Ibid, p.171

17, Ibid, p.190

18, John Markkis. 2006.Ethiopian anatomy of traditional polity, Addis Ababa university, p.197

19, www.//http//: urban history in ethiopia.com

20, Dameke Bitaw.2008. A history of Debre Elias town since 1957 - 2007, Jimma university,
(MA)( thesis) .pp.5

21, Ibid, p.7

22, Ibid

23. Ibid

10
 Chapter two

2. Historical development of the Debre Elias town

2.1 Geographical setting of Debre Elias town

Debre Elias is the capital of Debre Elias woreda in East Gojjam zone of Amhara regional state.
The town situated 375 kilometers away from the Addis Ababa. The town has sexteen kabeles.
The town is bordered in the north by machakel , on the south and West by the Abay River which
separate it from the Oromiya Region, in the North West by the mirab Gojjam zone, and on the
east by Guzamn .1

The total area of Debre Elias town is 601.10 hectares and the altitude range from 1800 to 2950
mete above sea level. The soil type of the town and surrounding are 56% red 31% black and 7%
brown soil. These different type of soils are comfortable for the agricultural productivity and
pasture. The climate condition of the town is characterized by wayna dega town receives 2371
millimeter average rain fall and average temperature rat is 22 0c.2Based on the 1987 E.c national

11
census conducted by the central tactical agency of the Ethiopia (CSE) Debre Elias town has a
total population of 8,8347 peoples 44,264 are males and 44,053 are females and in 2002 E.c
census 2892 males and 4,044 females from the total population of the 6,931.3

The people of Debre Elias are followers orthodox tawhedo Christianity 99.85%and Islamic
0.03% . The majority of the peoples are followers of the orthodox Christianity followed by the
Islam.4The people of Debre Elias town are practitionates of different cultural practices. Wedding
ceremonies, the celebration of different holiday, unique hours riding, wearing styles are some of
the cultures found in the town and surrounding.4

2.3 Early history of Debre Elias town

In the earliest period Debre Elias town was under the Gojjam province in machakel Awraja,
Debre Markos district until the period of 1936 to 1987 E.c. In 1987 E.c Debre Elias town was
merged in to East Gojjam and became the center of Debre Elias woreda. In the early period the
Debre Elias peoples were said to have given the name "chra gedam" which means ( ytsadk
Hager), after the beginning of the church the name of the town was "Debre Elias."In the earlist
period Debre Elias town was well knowen in wheat product and its the origion of famous
individuals like kegnegeta Yoftahe Negusse, Haddis Alemayehu and Abune Tewoflos."5

2.4 Debre Elias town from 1961 up 1984

After 1936 E.c merchants sought Debre Elias for economic actively and built house and sold
local alcohols like Tela, Araki and Taj. Among the prominent traders who participated in the
trade was Negadras Workneh who changed the town from hut to roof steel house . The settlement
gradually became dense and the town got some service like pure water for the peoples of town
and transportation for the peoples of the town and education is started in 1938 E.c.6

2.5 Debre Elias town from 1984 up to 1992

After the fall of the imperial government, the military government came to power in 1974 E.c.
During the period of Durg the some developments taken place like , modern transportation in
1980 E.c was started in Debre Elias. Transport service became available in the woreda. Some

12
heritage site established like Debre Genet Elias church, Debre Genet Abo Church, YeAba Faki
Mekabir Bota and sillasse monsteries. Other developments like introduction of education in 1987
E.c grad (1 - 8), availability of electric service in 1984 E.c with 24 hours to use for all town
peoples and telecommunication in 1987 and other infrastructure services up to the 1991 E.c. 7

2.6 Debre Elias town from 1991 up to 2010

During the transitional period Debre Elias was administered by the elected committee from the
different kebele of this woreda. After the fall of the Derg regime, EPRDF government attempted
to modernized and structured the service. 8The development of Debre Elias town significantly
observed in 1994 E.c when the question of the municipality . It was the first time that the town
got a master plan. In the recent time there has been a rapid development of the town, since the
introduction of the master plan reform. Than after the roads were constructed in the town like
Debre Elias to Amanuel , Amanuel to Debre Elias and Dealkes to Debre Elias feeding roads were
constructed. As a result, the urban rural interaction increased and some people began to settle in
the town permanently. The different service expanded like education in 1998 E.c grade (1-10),
health center in 2002 telecommunication after the 1998 E.c and the town use digital automatic
telecom.9

Many governmental sectors established recently like cultural and tourism organization , women
affairs, trade, industry bureau and municipality. 10 The establishment of municipality in the Debre
Elias was in long period of time. It was established the proclamation number 91/1996 E.c based
in 1988 regional state plus national administration was accepted to established in 1989 and also
change the master plan of the town and their own legal for property ownership with in
agreement.11

The municipality is led by nominated person who came from woreda cabinets. it also encircled
the surrounding area of the town , one male and female including the chairman of kebele were
observant. During the market day, Wednesday change in to Saturday the service of the
municipality collected taxes comfortable different sellers, from animals, small coffee traders,
vegetable sellers and other small traders who have not trade license at these time. 12

13
 Chapter two end notes

1, Debre Elias woreda municipality office, "the geographical setting of Debre Elias plan of
working process manual prepared on Debre Elias town, "2005, pp. 5 - 7.

2,Ibid

3, Debre Elias administrative office , " total population of Debre Elias woreda based on national
population census, " 2007 , p. 4.

4, Informant : Ato Edmealem Yitayal.

5, Informant :weyzero medanit Asratie.

6, Informant : Ato Belachew Agde.

7, Pamphlet from Debre Elias woreda cultural and tourism bureau office , " early historica
development of the Debre Elias town 2001". Pp.1 - 3.

8, Ibid

9 ,Ibid

10, Informant : AtoAbeje yitayal.

11, Ibid

14
12, pamphlet from Debre Eliasworeda cultural and tourism bureau office , " early historical
development of the Debre Elias town 2001 " .pp .7.

15
16
 CHAPTER THREE

3. ECONOMIC HISTORY OF THE TOWN

3.1 agriculture

Feudalism which is used to define the social structure of Europe in the medival period was
the predominant social, political and economic order of Ethiopia for many years. In the
feudal system, society was structured according wealth, especially land holding, when land
lords and church owns the large amounts of land. As result it created land tenants relations,
which later developed in to master and servant relations.1

During the period of imperial regime the land of Debre Elias town and surrounding was owned
by afew balabats and church. Balabat was the a major form of ownership of land and a type of
communal system known as rist. According to this system all system all descendents on an
individual founders had the right to use a plot of family land. Rist was a hereditary, in alienable
and inviolable. Balabats have their own tenant farmers. Tenants were have no right to own land,
but they work on the church land and lords land, and they pay tribute to the church and balabats.
the balabats have pay tribute to the bale gult. The gult owner acquired right from the monarch
( provincial ruler ).2

The Derge introduced the land reform,which was on of main agenda of the 1960s students
movement with the slogan of " land to tiller". During the period of dergue there was
nationalization of all rural land and abolished the tenancy, but not all. 3 After the dawn fall of
dergue regime in 1991, continued as public property. Post 1991 land has become a fundamental
right and freedom of all Ethiopian people.4 Economic activity of Debre Elias town and its
surrounding rural area peoples are engaged in different agricultural activities. Agricultural
activists of the town is less than its surrounding rural areas. 5According their significance order
the major agricultural products are maize, wheat, nug, dagusa, teff, onion, barley and different
types of vegetables and livestock's animals like been cows sheeps donky etc.and also The
farming system in the area was sedentary farming system from the time of people who settle in
the area of town. This agricultural activity in the town is the most important economic actively
comparing from its foundation to present.6
17
 3.2. TRADE

In the earlier period trade was monopolized by the Muslim merchants, many of the whom
traveled widely. The trade of the north west long centered on the capital of Gondar
sometimes.7Gondar is the most important trade routes led via. Adowa to massaw, thus longing
Begamder and Gojjam ,and to a lesser extent Amhara and the Sudan ,with tigray and coast .This
route was used for both local and import export trade . thus salt found iron being taken to tigre
from walqayt and sennar, while combos and cloth, horses, mules, goats, cows, hides, shine,
coffee in return for salt, cloth and important especially silks swords and guns.8

In Debre Elias the concentration for trade and commerce was recent phenomenon. According
to the informant the market of Debre Elias was existed long after 1950 E.C the establishment of
the town itself. Before the foundation of the town Debre Elias jhjwas rural village with scattered
houses. The market existed in the area was not known for peoples of the other place and not well
developed befor the foundation of the town.9

The establishement of market become an important factors the growth of the towns long
distance traders. In the observation wetnessed that the town has been changing from agriculture
dominated economy to trade dominating sectors. The trade activities of the town has started its
highest peak with neighboring such as Amanuel,Dembecha, Debre Markos and Bahirdar.10

3.3 Hand craft works

The Ethiopians has long carried one a wide variety of hand craft work. They span and wove
both cotton and wool, producing excellent and often beautiful clothing. Hand crafts were also
developed in the main religious centers where the church required certain type of goods such as
crosses and bells.11

The division of labor was further more strengthened and stratified by the traditional attitudes
to manual labor particularly to that of the black Smith, Tanner and Weaver which largely
restricted these occupation to the particular classes of the population, in Manny case,as we have
seen minority group or submerged classes.12

18
 Starting from its establishment of Debre Elias town hand craft works had gradually settled in
the Debre Elias . In addition to their agricultural activities their livelihood depends on pottery
and Iron works. In the town hand craft works had contributed a lot in materials and masonry
activities.13

3.4 TOURISM

There are different tourism attraction site around the town. Where Debre Genet Elias
church ,Aba Faki Ye Mekabr bota, zurik, mountain and catenhsa forest But they are not fully
used because there is lack of road and hotel seduce in and around the tourist attraction area.14

19
 Chapter three end notes

1, www.//http//: the rise of feudalism in ethiopia .com

2, Informant: Ayenew Amara.

3, Ibid

4, Ibid

5, " Debre Elias woreda agriculture office, 2008 - 2010 ". pp.13.

6, Ibid

7, Richard Pankhurst.1968.economic history of Ethiopia from 1800 - 1935, Addis Ababa, Haile
selassie university press, p. 185.

8, Ibid

9, Informant : Ato Yayeu Mengest.

10, Ibid

11, Richard pankhurst. p. 256.

12, Ibid

13, Informant : Ato Meserat Dagnew.

14, Debre Elias cultiral and tourism office, " natiral features in Debre Elias woreda ", p.6.

20
 Chapter four

4. Traditional socio economic Institution and religious institutions of Debre Elias town

Traditional socio economic associations are common in every parts of Debre Elias town.
These associations includes Iqub, Idder, mahebar and wabary.1

21
 4.1Iqub

Iqub is an informal financial institution established by a certain group of people who are
voluntary to pay equal amount of money daily ,weekly, monthly. according to the rules and
regulations of Iqub the total amount of money collected in one term will be given for one person
of the group. The following amount collected will be given to the next person of the group
receive the amount collected.2 The major objective of equb are to save money and avoid
extravagance and to strengthened the societies among the town people and with the surrunding
areas.3

4.2 Iddir

Iddir is the other informal financial institution of the saving,where the peoples of the same
geographical area grouped together and collected afixed amount of money monthly to solve
emergency problems such as death of family,theft and property losses from fire with in there
groups. The main objective of the Iddir are to assist their members financially and
psychologically at the emergency and to strength and the relationship between the inhabitants of
the town.4 Moreover, Iddir is a long term association, which has no end. But it might be
improved from time to time according to the will of the members. Today, Iddir is prevalent both
in urban and rural areas of Addis kidam district.5

4.3 Mahebar

Mahebar is another informal institution of saving where people of the same religion
particularly the followers of Ethiopians orthodox Christians, who grouped together and collected
a certain amount of money monthly. The place of mahebar is either in the church or in the house
of the mahebar monthly.6

The major objectives of the mahebar are to strength in the followers of orthodox Christianity
spiritually, to support poor members economically, to visit the person who stay on his bad
because of different diseases, to give moral and psychological support for their members who
lost their family because of death and to strengthen social relations among themselves. 7

22
 What makes mahebar different from Iqub and Iddir is that in mahebar and Iddir there is a
preparation of foods and drinks and mahebar mainly focused on the religious issues, but Iqub and
Iddir are mainly focused on the socio economic issues.

4.5 Religious Institutions in Debre Elias Town

Most of Debre Elias people are followrs orthodoxs chirstianity and the second are

muslims.in this town more than three churches and one mosques.Those are Debre

Genet Elias church .seint marry church, saint mikael church and sait Gebrael

Church.

4.5.1Debre Genet Elias Church

Debre Genet Elias Church was established in During the rigion of Emperor Zera Yakob in
1466 E.c. The church is located in the center of the town . 8 Thise Church was earliast befor the
introduction of modern school Debre Elias peoples are studied in these cherch means "ye Abnet

temhirt."

4.5.2 Saint Marrey church

Saint marrey church was established in 2008. The church is located in eastern direction of
the town having the distance of approximately 2kilometres from the centers of the town.9

Before the establishment of those new churches, the peoples of the town and rural
surrounding peoples worshiped in the saint mikael church, which is located in the south western
direction of the town, having the distance of 3km from the town. Because of the distance of the
church from the town the peoples did not want to worship in it, and rather they want to establish
their own church in the town. Than the town peoples collected money from students, merchants,
civil servants, teachers, farmers and others who support the establishment of the new church in

23
the town.10

chapter four end notes

1, Informant :Ato Endalew zegey.

2, Ibid

3, Ibid

4, Informant : Ato Meqonen Tedessa.

5, Ibid

6, Informant : Ato Dessalew Getahun.

7, Ibid

8, Ibid

9, Informant : Atenkut Endalew.

10, Informant :Ato Mentesnot Agde.

24
 Chapter five

5. The Development of social services

5.1 Transportation

In Debre Elias town the main road is constructed from Addis Ababa to Debre Markos and
Debre Markos to Debre Elias constructed during the period of Emperor Haile selassie by the
Italians. This road played great role in the social and economic development of the town When
we see transportation system during the Durg period in Debre Elias town there was not seen any
improvements. Due to the presence of the political instability war, terrorism and other reason

25
following down fall of Durg the transportation in Debre Elias town.1

The modern transportation was started in Debre Elias in 1980 E.c. there had been occurred in
transport service and road in the woredas some heritage sites like Emaba maryam, medhanialem
church and holy water.2

5.2 Education

Before the introduction of modern education, traditional education based on religion was
given in the town. It is also continued after the beginning of modern education. Local priests give
church education is small huts found in the church compound and in the house of clergy. 3
Modern education began in the Debre Elias town in 1952 with the establishment 1up to
4,tiglefire elementary school and 5 up to 8 in 1987 and after that in 1998 the secondary school
opened and in 2002 E.c preparatory school was opened in the town.4

5.3HealthService

In Debre Elias water borne and communicable disease claimed the life of many people. until
the establishment of modern clinic in the town and surrounding rural dweller peoples resorted to
traditional medical facilities.5

Health facilities in Debre Elias town are extremely poor. The first government clinic is
established in the town in 1968.the clinic offered medical treatment to the in habitants of the
town and rural areas. In addition to government clinic there are about three private clinics in the
town.6

5.4 Telecommunication

Telecommunication is one among the important communication tools in Debre Elias town in
the process of development.it stimulates healthy and efficient relationship among the various
sectors of development. The introduction of technology to the commenced in 1987 E.c its history
of telecommunication and communication makes the town little bit among its neighboring towns
like Amanuuel, Debre Markos and lumame towns. After the in 1998 E.c the town was used

26
digital automatic telecom.7

5.5 Postal Service

Before the foundation of postal house ,in the Debre Elias town the peoples of the town and
surrounding rural peoples have used the postal service traditionally by using traders and sending
messenger in order to exchange their messages from the town to the another place or area and
from the other area to the town.8' Despite the using traditional way of postal service in the Debre
Elias town, one postal house was founded in 1987 E.c. than the town and surrounding peoples
began to use modern postal service.9

5.6 Electricity Service

Before 1976 the town did not have electric supply. Instead, theresidents of the town used
traditional lights such as candle,hurase, fanose and others. In 1976 Debre Elias electric project
had been completed and the town is provided with 24 hours electric light service.10

5.7 Water Supply

water is one of the industrial needs for life of human beings. according to some evidence
water supply has began during the regime of Haile sellassie. In 19 72 Debre Elias town was
construction of modern water pump 1.5 kilometer from the town and it have 9 water canal.11

12

5.8 hotels

There are about 10 hotels and two Bar and restaurants in the town with some better service.
These are yaya hotel, Ahadu hotel, nebrat hotel, Banchalem hotel, Abera hotel, Dahalk bar and
restaurant and Alganesh bar and restaurant. most of these hotels are located on the main road and
center of the town.13

27
 5.10 Bank

Before the establishment of modern financial institution, the inhabitants of the town used the
traditional financial institutions such as Iqub and Iddir, and they want to Debre Elias towns to get
the bank service. This exposed the towns peoples to different problems such as trans port cost,
robber and others.14

Modern financial institution is a recent phenomenon in Debre Elias town it is started in 2004,
when first commercial banks is established in the town by the government. After that there are
private banks like Abby Bank, Abyssinia Bank and ABKT Bank have new giving the full service
to the town.15

28
 Chapter five end notes

1. Informant: Ato Hailu Tarekgn

2.Ibid

3.Informant :Asrat kebede

4.Ibid

5.Informant:Ato mentesnot Aged

6.Ibid

7.municipality office in Debre Elias town. Telecommunication and communication in Debre

8.Informant:Ato Achanef Ertibu

9.Ibid

10.Ibid

11.Ibid

12.Informant:Senshew Desu

13.debreelias woreda municipality office .2005. "the social service in the Debre Elias town;
",pp.5-10.

14.Ibid

15.Ibid

29
 Conclusion

Debre Elias town is the capital of Debre Elias woreda in East Gojjam zone of Amhara
regional state, is situated 375 kilometer away from Addis Ababa.The peoples who live in the
town are East and Amhara and religion which believed in the town is orthodox Christianity and
Islamic . The economic activities of the town is depend on farming (agriculture), trade and hand
craft. The traditional socio economic associations are common in the every parts of Debre Elias
town. Those includes Iqub, Iddir and Mahebar .

The social services like transportation, education ,health service, telecommunication, postal
service, electric city, water supply ,hotels and banks which gives full social services for the
inhabitant of the town and surrounding peoples.

30
31
 Bibliography

A. unpublished source

Debre Elias woreda administrative office.2006-2008. " socio - economic information of Debre
Elias 2 " .

Debre Elias woreda municipality office , " the geographical setting of plan of working process
manual prepared on Debre Elias town ".

Debre Elias woreda administrative office, " the total population of Debre Elias woreda based on
natinal population census ".

Debre Elias woreda municipality office.2001." early history and development of Debre Elias
town . ".

Debre Elias woreda agriculture office, " 2008 - 2010 ".

Debre Elias cultural and tourism office, " natural features in Debre Elias woreda ".

B. Thesis

Dameka bitaw.1935-2007 .A History of Debre Elias town. Jimma University.(MA)

C. Published source

David.2002. Urban Theory and Urban life. paligrave.

Eshatu Biru. 2006. Itroduction of modern Education.Addis Ababa.

Mengistu Gobeze.2008. Heritage and Tourism in Ethiopia. Addis Ababa university .

Bahru Zewda. 1992. history of modern Ethiopia, 1855 - 1991. Addis Ababa university.

Rechard pankhurst. 1961. introduction to economic history of Ethiopia from early time to 1800.
landon.

32
 List of informants

N0 Name of informant
age title date Place of interview
remark

1 Melaku Gene67 Ato Debre Elias Achirman ofDebre Elias town, he give information about
relion.

2 Shembel Ejigu
70 Ato Debre Elias He is house holder in the Debre Elias town and he give
information about cultural practice.

3 Mentesnot Agid
82 Ato Debre Elias House holder in Debre Elias town and he give
information about early history of Debre Elias town

4 Alemeyhu Baly
78 Ato Debre Elias He is house holder in Debre Elias and he .

5 Aba Alene 65 Ato Debre Elias He is trader and hegive information about infrastructural
development in the town.

6 Endalew Zagey
73 Ato Debre Elias He is trader and he give information about establishment

33
 of muncipality in the town.

7 Ayenew Amara
75 Ato Debre Elias He is house holder in the town and he give information
about land use and reforem.

8 Yeyeu Mengist
57 Ato Debre Elias He is trader and he give information about the
establishment of Debre Elias asmarket center.

9 Mesret Dagnew
60 Ato Debre Elias He is hande craft worker, he give information about hand
crafts the town.

10 Meqonet Tedessa
50 Ato Debre Elias He is house holder, he give information about the Idder
institution.

11 Dessalew Getahun
70 Ato Debre Elias He is trader, he give information about the Mahebar
institution.

12 Atenkut Endalew
43 Ato Debre Elias He is shop kiper, he give information about the wabary
institution.

13 Hailu Tarekgn
50 Ato Debre Elias He is transportation officer, hee give information about
the road construction.

14 Aserat kebede
74 Priest He is prist, he gives information about the education
service.

15 Achanef Ertibu
56 Ato Debre Elias He is muncipality officer, he give information about the
developmet of social service.

16 Senshew DEgu
71 Ato Debre Elias He is house holder, he give information about the mills in
the town and there service.

34
35