Yejju

The Yejju people were originally a sub clan of the Barento branch of Oromo people. They were one of the northernmost communities of Oromo people residing in Ethiopia.[1]

The Yejju, more specifically, the Warra Sheik, or descendant of Sheikh Omar, ruled much of the Ethiopian Empire during the latter part of the Zemene Mesafint or "Era of the Princes", changing the language in the court of Gondar to the Oromo language.[2] Sheikh Omar was a Yemeni Islamic religious leader who married Woyzero Rajiya, a daughter of a noble man of the Yajju district. The descendants of Sheikh Omar were, thus, most commonly refer to as Wara Sheh, meaning "Sons of the Sheikh," Throughout the era, different ethnic groups, clans, and communities made short-term alliances to acquire economic advantage and political power.

As early as 1890, under the reign of Menelik II, the homeland of the Yejju was organized into an Ethiopian province (awrajja) named after them. It was bordered by the Alewuha River to the north, separating it from Raya Qobbo awrajja, the Mille River to the south, separating it from Were Babu district, the Afar Depression to the east, and the highlands of Ambassel to the west. Woldiya served as its capital city. With the adoption of ethnic federalism in 1994 and the abolishment of the awrajja administrative structure, Yejju was divided between the districts of Habru, Woldiya town, and the mid-altitude portion of Guba Lafto. Due to the assimilation of Yejju Oromos into the dominant Habesha culture during the 20th century, the Yejju, presently found in the Amhara Region, identify as Amharas.[3]