Ethiopia III Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

"Return to Ethiopia" Trip

September 22 - October 7, 2012

50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps in Ethiopia

 


October 2 - Tuesday

Wolieka (Falasha Village) - Gondar

About one kilometre (half a mile) north of the Gondar limits and just just off the main road, lies the tiny village of Wolleka, which was formerly in habited by Falashas, or Judaic Ethiopians.

The Falashas call themselves Bete Isra'el and practiced Judaism, which was the dominant religion of north-western Ethiopia for hundreds of years.. After the coming of Christianity and its adoption as the state religion, leaders from the northeast gradually penetrated and converted most of the Bete Isra'el.

The penalty for not accepting conversion was loss of land. The remaining Bete Isra'el communities had to subsist on marginal land, and pottery, blacksmithing, and weaving became important parts of their economy. Recent research has shown that it was probably the Bete Isra'el artisans who actiually built the Gondar castles and provided many of the other artifacts that supported the Gondar culture.

After a mass evacuation to Israel in 1991, only a few individuals still live in Ethiopia. Examples of their curious artifacts, earthenware pots, and figurines, made by their Christian neighbors who have remained behind, may, however, be purchased at the village, as well as in Gondar itself. The Falasha figurines, made of black or red pottery, are unique and in great demand.

(Important note: All photographs, except where mentioned,  are copyrighted as of October 8, 2012, by Darrel and Betty Hagberg. Please request permission to use and please credit them).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click below for more Photos of the trip

September 22 Ethiopian Embassy Reception
September 23 Dulles Airport
September 24 Addis Ababa Airport Reception
September 24 Addis Ababa City Views
September 24 Hebir Restaurant Dinner Show - Addis Ababa
September 25 Addis Ababa City Views
September 25 Ethiopian President Welcome
September 25 Kotebe College for Teachers - Addis Ababa
September 25 US Embassy Reception
September 26 Ethnological Museum - Addis Ababa
September 26 Saint George Cathedral - Addis Ababa
September 26 Mercato Market Place - Addis Ababa
September 26 Meskel Celebrations - Addis Ababa
September 27 National Museum - Addis Ababa
September 27 Mount Entoto Overlook - Addis Ababa
September 27 Trinity Cathedral - Addis Ababa
September 27 Debre Berhan
September 28 Debre Berhan
September 28 Ankober
September 29 Lalibella and Market
September 29 Yemrehanna Kristos Church, Bilbilla
September 30 Churches of Lalibella
October 01 Stelae Field - Axum
October 01 Tombs of Kaleb and Gebre Meskel - Axum
October 01 The Enzana Stone - Axum
October 01 Queen of Sheba's Palace - Axum
October 01 Monastic Complex of Saint Mary of Zion - Axum
October 02 Mai Shum (Queen of Sheba's Swimming Pool - Axum
October 02 Fasilo Ghebbi (Royal Enclosure) - Gondar
October 02 Debre Birhan Selassie Church - Gondar
October 02 Wolieka (Falasha Village) - Gondar
October 03 Fasilidas's Pool - Gondar
October 03 Barhar Dar
October  04 Blue Nile Falls - Barhar Dar
October  04 Lake Tana - Barhar Dar
October  04 Church of Ura Kidane Mihret - Barhar Dar
October  05 Dire Dawa - Harar
October 06 Red Terror Museum - Addis Ababa
October 06 Babile - Harar - Dire Dawa
October 07 Dire Dawa
October 07 Farewell Dinner at Crown Hotel - Addis Ababa

 

Click below for more Ethiopia Web Site features

Map of Ethiopia and Eritrea (circa 1964)
Ethiopia III Trainees Book
In Country Assignments, 1964-1966
Photo Memories of Ethiopia
Ethiopian Art and Culture
Ethiopia III's Attending the 50th Reunion
Books on Ethiopia
Ethiopian Artifact Exhibition
Return to Home Page

 

Click here to contact the Ethiopia III RPCV Committee by E-mail with up date information:

bluejuly@aol.com


Ethiopia III Official Web Site

Copyrighted 2011, All Rights Reserved.

Betty McLaughlin Hagberg, Web Master

Updated on 9 November 2012