Shewa Ber Mosque (Dessie)

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  Lakomelza Dessie (guest)

  The Historic Shewa Ber Mosque.... Owing to the dominant political discourse of the time Muslims of Dessie were not allowed to build even a single mosque until about 1932.The Arab Genda mosque was the first mosque to be established in Dessie.The second mosque in the history Dessie was the Shewa Ber mosque which is located in southern Dessie on the way to Addis Ababa.Its early origins are hidden in the dim past where legend and tradition are interweaven with history.According to available primary sources the construction of the mosque started in 1940 with money obtained through public subscription and workforce provided by the Italians who were encouraging Islam for political reasons. The construction was disrupted following liberation.There was also a financial problem.Thus,elders approached the wealthy Eritrean businessman Uthman Kikiya to finance the completion of the construction.Kikiya agreed to do so. However,there was a division among Muslims on the issue of allowing Kikiya to finance the construction.Kikiya was a Tigre from Eritrea.Thus,some Wolloyes did not want to see their mosque constructed by a Tigre.Others argued that all Muslims were brothers,thus,whether a Tigre or an Amhara constructed the mosque was not important.Finally,a meeting was held in 1942 which approved the completion of the construction by Kikiya.Consequently,the construction of the mosque was completed in 1943. The Shewa Ber Mosque occupies a unique place in the life of the Muslim community in Dessie. Its significance and position for the Muslim community has been such that even today it takes a leading role in all the religious activities of the community. The decisions made by the Mosque committee on various religious issues based on the consensus, deliberations and agreement of the various Imams of the many mosques in Dessie, and the Ulema, held regularly within its auspices and premises have, generally, been accepted by most of the Muslims in the whole region.

  17 years ago | reply | hide comment
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  Ali (guest)

  It is amazing, even if I am from dessie I didn't have any information like this. so, we have to disclose available informations like this.

  14 years ago | reply | hide comment
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  Nas (guest)

  ...the location of the Shewaber Mosque is exactly the same spot where Aragaw Belew hanged and Shiekh Oumar got chopped his right hand through the commands of 'Ras Michael'!

  8 years ago | reply | hide comment