Sidama and Ethiopian: The emergence of the Mekane Yesus Church in Sidama

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Abstract [en]

The present work belongs to local African church history and international mission history.The author shows why and how the Sidama people in south Ethiopia became part of theevangelical movement. During the last hundred years this group has experienced a lot ofchanges, incorporated in the greater Ethiopia, being influenced by the internationalmissionary movement, occupied by an European power and becoming a part of themodernising movement.

As a result of all the changes and impulses the people faced, the Sidama to a great extendturned away from their traditional worldview and practices including their religion andaccepted the Christian Evangelical faith.

The origin and the development that led to the foundation of the Ethiopian EvangelicalChurch Mekane Yesus in Sidama are described, as part of the local church history. Theauthor wants to underline how political, social and cultural presuppositions paved the wayfor the church. On the other hand the Christian message through the evangelical movement had an impact on the political, social and cultural development in Sidamaland. Obviously the Sidamas used the missionary movement as a vehicle for progress.

On the basis of literature, archive studies and field research the author describes how theSidama people, in spite of strong opposition from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and locallandlords, welcomed and shaped an Ethiopian evangelism including education as well ashealth programmes.

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