As a utopian experience challenging Ethiopian traditions – before becoming a subject of study for local, national and international authorities – Awra Amba first had to face the hostility of neighbors and authorities.
At the beginning of our history and for many years we had to face the hostility of our neighbors. Today, if not in the last ten years, relations with our neighbors have calmed down, hostility has almost disappeared, and the neighboring communities have developed as a result of their contact with us.
Relations with neighbours in the past
Awra Amba was, and probably still is, largely an island in the midst of a very conservative, even religiously fanatical, Amhara society.
The virtual absence of religion in Awra Amba, or at least the absence of any religious rite, seems to be the main obstacle to relations with our neighbors.
Indeed, in northern Ethiopia, although freedom of religion is guaranteed by the constitution, not belonging to one of the two orthodox or Muslim religions relegates one to the margins of society. This is no doubt compounded by the overly discreet burials that shock neighbors.
At the same time, the members of the Awra Amba community, at least the natives of the village, are shocked by the marginalization and discrimination of women in the surrounding society.
We believe in no-violence
Always — throughout our tribulated history — Awra Amba has always been able to respond to violence with non-violence, as Zumra testifies here:
«One day our neighbors crossed into our territory and came to attack us, fully armed and determined to reduce our small village to dust.
We did not know exactly how to respond to their attacks, but we did know that their threats of violence should not be met with violence. No! We said no! Violence only breeds violence, and it is only through love that the “truth” might one day have a chance to be revealed.
So I thought for a moment and decided to do something that was a bit funny: I went to the store and bought a ball! Then we all got together — girls, boys, men, women — and began to play soccer…
To be honest, we had never played soccer before, but that was the only thing that came to mind when we were faced with this grave threat.
The people who came to attack us were confused by our action, and they seemed to think, “We are coming to attack them, and how dare they play soccer!
Then they became suspicious that there must be something or someone behind our confidence, and so the man aged to watch us without doing anything.
This went on for three consecutive days until they became hopelessly confused and, being suspicious, decided to let us do what we had been doing for three days.»
Relations with neighbours in the present
Neighbors, especially the younger ones, appreciate the honesty, hard work, and even equality of community members. They also appreciate the services the community provides.
The community organizes training for people from neighboring communities. Contacts between children, especially through the school, are becoming more numerous and friendly. This brings the community into contact with the entire school recruitment pool of more than 30,000 people.
The media promotes Awra Amba through its broadcasts on the community’s economic successes and by explaining its values, goals and way of life.
Awra Amba is held up as an example by the regional and national authorities, which can only improve its image in the long run and cause reservations to disappear.
Awra Amba’s fame in Ethiopia and abroad and the very high number of visitors for such a small village undoubtedly impresses its closest neighbors.
Relations with the local and national authorities
In the early years of the community, relations with the local and regional authorities were deplorable: from 1985 until the community’s flight to the south in 1988, relations were very tense, even conflictual, Zumra was thrown in prison without trial, and the authorities used the neighbors against Awra Amba.
A few years after the fall of the Derg and the return of the community to Awra Amba, the Ethiopian press “discovered” Awra Amba and popularized its name and experience.
Following their articles, the authorities and intellectuals became interested in Awra Amba because of its values and principles and its violent relations with its neighbors, which brought a considerable number of Ethiopian visitors (political leaders, associations, religious leaders, teachers, pupils, students, etc).
The Amhara government then tries to protect Awra Amba, to make it known and, if possible, to duplicate its principles in other communities. The regional and national authorities are funding bus tours of farmers, officials and students to Awra Amba.
A visit to Awra Amba can even be part of university programs, for example for tourism students at the University of Gondar. Several ministers, both Ethiopian and foreign, have also visited Awra Amba.
Press articles, reports and these numerous visits have had the effect of popularizing this community, with schools changing their names to “Awra Amba” or “addis mieraf”, the name of the community’s email address, which means “new idea” in Amharic.
The university has been interested in this community since the early 2000s, multiplying the research done mainly by master’s students. The regional authorities therefore rely on Awra Amba to transform society. In addition to the visits, the cooperative also trains outsiders.
The recognition of Awra Amba and its notoriety has also translated into aid: at first it was imposed by ten, without having been developed and requested by the community, which led to failure.
Then, external aid sought to support and facilitate community projects, which, among other things, has led to the current rather enviable situation.
The Amhara region
The Amhara region is divided into 11 zones, one of which is South Gondar. South Gondar zone is divided into 12 woredas (districts).
Decision-making power has recently been decentralized to the woredas and thus the woredas are responsible for all development activities in their areas.
Fogera is one of the woredas of South Gondar Zone. The geographical coordinates of Fogera are 11° 57’ North, 37° 35’ East. The administrative center of Fogera Woreda is Woreta.
Fogera Woreda is further divided into kebeles (the smallest administrative units), one of which is Woji Awra Amba Kebele. Thus, Awra Amba Township is located in the South Gondar Administrative Zone of the Amhara National Regional State of Ethiopia. Awra Amba is located within Woji-Awra Amba Kebele, which is within Fogera Woreda (District).
