Dadar, the Colorful Town in East Hararge

by Afendi Muteki

The first hospital of the Hararge province (out of Dire Dawa and Harar) was opened here.The first high school of Hararge region was also opened here. It had mothered distinguished personalities like Abubakar Muussaa, Abdii Qophee, Xaahaa Alii and many others. Famous people like Dr. Haile Fida once lived here. Professor Mohammed Hassen had worked here for about a year.

Many notable guests had visited Dadar including Emperor Haile Silasie and Colonel Mengistu Hailemariam. Colonel Atnafu Abate, the vice chairman of the Dergue council, had passed here couple of nights when he came to inaugurate the first people's militia of Ethiopia on a historical ceremony which was held at "Calanqoo" in 1977.  

For a long time (until 1991), Dadar was the capital of Oborraa "awraajjaa" (sub-province) of the Hararge province. After the fall of the Dergue regime, for one year (1991-1992), it was the administrative center of the Eastern Oromia sub-region which comprised West Hararge, East Hararge, Dire Dawa and Eastern Arsi provinces.

Among many of its other stories, it was a center of Islamic education for a long time. Famous scholars like Sheikh Muhammad Abdullii and Sheikh Abdurahman Hussien Muusaa (Muudaa) was educating the people in the vicinity of this town for many years. 

Its aesthetic virtues are uncountable. Artists had song for this beautiful town eloquently. In Oromo folk literature, it had special place. The men of arts and media like Adam Haaruun, Wegayehu Deginetu, Paulos Ngongo, Million Lemma, Jafar Ali, Alfiyaa Abduwahab, Maftuuhaa Abbaas, Qamar Yusuf, Milion Lemmaa etc were either born here or passed a significant portion of their life here. Abdulwasie Mendida, the author of many books and the founder of many important institutions like Ethiopian Muslim Professionals Association and Nur-Salam College, was the native of this town.

Dadar was also a center of trade. Since its establishment, many Arabian and European entrepreneurs started their business fortunes here. In addition, many Ethiopians were doing their business in this town. Still now, the town is one of the chief suppliers of the top quality variety of “Harar coffee” (which is a type of "Coffee Arabica") to the Markets of Dire Dawa and Addis Ababa. This coffee is brought in mainly by the farmers of the surrounding areas of Jaajaa, Jarjartuu, Soqaa, Harawaaca, etc.

Geographically, Dadar lays in the mid of the Hararge region. It is surrounded by the sections of "Fugug Mountains" from the northern and north western directions. It has a good rainfall throughout the year. Although it exhibits strong cold in few months, its climate is very favorable for mankind.

In ethnographic terms, it is basically attached to the Obbora clan of the Afran Qallo Oromo. However, it is also very near to the Ittu Oromos who occupied the western part of the Hararge region, the Alla Oromos who dominate the upper part of Gara Mul’ataa sub-province, and the Anniyya Oromoo who settled in the southern lowlands of Harerghe. As a result, Dadar had gained a status of being a melting pot of all Oromo tribes in the region. As it homed many Oromos who came from other parts of Oromia under different circumstances (i.e. some as students of the great sheikhs, and others as workers), it can be referred also as a symbol of Oromo unity.

Furthermore, as it have homed many people of other nations mainly the Amharas, Somalis and Arabs for about a century, we can deduce that also that Dadar is a center of humanity. These nations lived in a deep harmony with the native Oromos of the town and who usually consider them as their own half. Most of them perfectly speak Afaan Oromoo and they had deep respect for Oromo culture and tradition.

Dadar is one of the few towns for which I give equal place in my heart with Galamso, my home town. Unfortunately, this colorful and historical town is declining from time to time. It is not growing while the nearby small towns are expanding at an amazing speed. Please let us join hands together and revive it. Let us keep this beautiful town shining over Fugug mountains as it was doing for about a century.

I love you Dadar.

I love you "Dadariinoo" (the natives of Dadar)

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May 25, 2013
Harar