Woizero Shawaragad Gadle: Ethiopia’s “Joan of Arc”

An Interview with Wayzaro Shawaragad

By Richard Pankhurst (Source Addis Tribune) 

On 16 November 1941, a little over half a year after Addis Ababa was liberated from Fascist rule, the British-run newspaper “The Ethiopia Star” printed in Addis Ababa, published the first of three installments of an interview with one of Ethiopia’s leading women Patriots. She was Wayzaro Shawaragad Gadle, then a name, as they say, to conjure with. 

This today little-known interview with Ethiopia’s “Joan of Arc”, as the paper calls her, was written anonymously. The author, using his or her individual, and at times idiosyncratic method of transliteration, reports: 

“Wayzaro Shoaregued is a strongly-built woman of about 43 years of age, the daughter of Bejerond Guedelay, who was Grand Chamberlain of the Emperor Menelik. Her home is at Addis Alem, where she owns extensive and well-cultivated lands. At the outbreak of the Italo-Ethiopian war she was President of the Ethiopian Woman’s Association and worked at the Red Cross.”

“My Adventures” 

“I will try to tell you of my adventures during the Italian occupation of my country [she said], but it is a great pity that I have not got my diary. A fortnight after the Italians entered Addis Ababa in May, 1936, until February the next year, I kept it regularly and

it has the most interesting things. But as I was arrested twelve times before the Graziani murders and each time was searched, I confided the diary to an Ethiopian friend who hid part of the diary in a bottle and the rest in a sweet-box. Unfortunately he was killed by the Italians, and I have no idea where he has hidden it.” 

“Yes, it is true that I was condemned to death, while General Badoglio was in command. I was accused of doing propaganda… against the Italians; also of receiving letters from the exiled Emperor, Haile Selassie. Degiazmatch Aba Woucau and a number of priest intervened on my behalf and I was eventually released…” 

Organizing “Hidden Resistance” 

“Almost from the moment that the Italians entered Addis Ababa I began to organize hidden resistance. From inside the town I collected information as to the weakest points to be attacked and managed to smuggle through information to the Patriot leaders, who were collecting their forces in the country outside. In order to avoid suspicion I used to dress up in dirty clothes…, take a basket of eggs for sale and go to the edge of the town’s defenses to give letters secretly to the Chiefs. I was not a very good walker, but I got better; nor was I good sales-woman. The first time I was asked the price of my eggs, I had not the least idea what to say, and in case I should have given myself away by naming an absurd price, I pretended I could not understand the prospective buyer.” 

“There were about 15,000 Italian soldiers in the town at that period; but later there were considerable reinforcements; they were rather short of food and they were very nervous at the presence of large forces of patriot Ethiopians in the vicinity. The plan which we devised was as follows: Degiazmatch Balcha was to attack the town from the direction of the aerodrome. 

Degiazmatch Aberra Kassa, son of Ras Kassa, was to attack the camp of Ras Ayulu [Hailu}, who was pro-Italian, and encamped on the Addis Alem road; Degiazmatch Fikra Mariam was to attack from the direction of the British Legation. In the town I had thirty armed men under my command, who were to attack the Italians when the moment came, joining with the forces coming from Entoto direction to attack Ras Ayulu." 

Date of Attack Fixed 

"After the various information were co-coordinated they fixed upon the date of attack. I had messengers sent out to announce the date. Owing to a mistake the forces of Degiazmatch Aberra from the north did not receive the order to attack on the specified date in time, and the attack was not properly concerted. 

Degiazmatch Balcha and Fikra Mariam, however, attacked at the right time together. The latter occupied Brigadier Sandford's house, and the hill near it for three days, while Balcha attacked in the direction of the airfield and entered the industrial zone, where he also remained three days. Their attack was very well carried out. The rendez-vous in the town for all the forces was the square of 5 Maggio [known today as Arat Kilo], and I was waiting there by a Church [perhaps that of Sellase] to see the result. The forces of Degiazmatch Aberra finally heard that the attack was started and pushed on hard from the Entoto direction. The[ir] forces, however, were not well controlled and while the advance guards reached the outskirts of the town, the main body was too far behind and reinforcements were not brought up in time. They also lacked ammunition and food.” 

“Degiazmatch Balcha’s forces had originally been about 10,000 men, but they were being constantly attacked by planes and many of them were dispersed. Fikra Mariam had originally about 8,000 men, but only about 400 advanced into the Addis Ababa area. A lot of propaganda had been done among his Patriots through Tekla Marcos (formerly Secretary to Emperor Haile Sellassie), who was in touch with the Italian, de Martini. The latter did considerable propaganda with the Patriots, arguing that it was no good putting their trust in the Emperor, Haile Selassie, and nogood attacking the Italians in Addis Ababa. 

Degiazmatch Aberra had 20,00 men under his command, but only a small proportion could be employed in the attack.” 

“No Mean Achievement” 

“Although the attack did not achieve its objective, the three forces failing to make the rendez-vous in the centre of the capital, many Italians were killed in the attack. The fact that Degiazmatch Fikra Mariam and Degiazmatch Balcha remained three days within the area of Addis Ababa, and then retreated in order, was no mean achievement considering how strong were the Italian defences”. 

The Second Article 

In the second article, which appeared in “The Ethiopia Star” on 23 November 1941, Wayzaro Shawaragad tells of the Graziani massacre of February 1937. She is quoted as follows: 

The Plotting of Two Young Men 

“The attempt on Graziani’s life was due to the plotting of two young men, Abraha Debotch and Mogos. The former was used by General Graziani [the Italian Viceroy] for Intelligence work, and by many he was regarded as being almost in the position of a son to the general. But Abraha had seen a lot of things which he did not like and decided to avenge himself. He conspired with his friend Mogos to make an attempt on Graziani’s life on Friday, February 19, 1937, during the celebrations of the birth of the Prince of Naples.

I was not there because I never went to the Italian ceremonies.” 

“The two young men threw the bombs and Graziani was wounded. The Italians then lost their heads and turned machine-guns on to the crowds, killing indiscriminately. Several thousand people had been invited to the ceremony which was held at the Palace [now Addis Ababa University]… It is difficult to say how many were killed, but there were very many. 

Machine-guns were turned on the crowd as they trued to force their way through the gate-way to leave. For the next three days an organized massacre began of Ethiopians in Addis Ababa, and elsewhere throughout the country. Leading Ethiopians, especially the young ones, were taken out of their houses, stood up against a wall and shot. The Italians tried systematically to eliminate all Ethiopians whom they considered were the elite… I estimate that about 3,000 Ethiopians were killed during this period, which was like a second Bartholomew. The Blackshirts were the worst; they were so blood-thirsty that the Italian soldiers and carabineers often tried to stop them killing…” 

“Third Degree” 

“I was arrested on the Saturday, February 20, and subjected to third degree. The Italian authorities put a rubber band round my neck and tied my wrists through which they ran an electric current. They argued that I had distributed bombs and had a part in the attempt on Graziani. I had nothing to do with it and told them so. The electric shocks made my nose bleed and I eventually lost consciousness. I was allowed free, but eight days later I was arrested again. I was in a concentration camp for eight days; during that time the Italians, generally with a doctor, used to come in and take out numerous young Ethiopian patriots, returning alone. having shot them. I went on a hunger strike and was eventually taken to my private house, still under guard. A few days afterwards I was taken by plane to Asmara. There were altogether 13 planes for 87 prisoners. After being shut up some time without food or water we were taken to Massawa, where we were kept for nine days, men, women and children crowded together in cells in the most terrible heat. We were then taken by ship, battened down in the holds, to the island of Asinara, north of Sardinia.”  

Wayzaro Shawaragad Returns to Ethiopia:

“The Lion Prefers the Forest to the House” 

“A Hard Life in Asinara”

“It was a hard life in Asinara, and a grandson of the Emperor died while I was there. After a time we were taken from there to Mercagliano, about 40 miles east of Naples, at the foot of Mount Vergine. About 60 women and children were put in the Orpheniat and there were about 30 more in a monastery near the village. It was a very hard life and the food was very bad, made of maize and bad potatoes. I was in exile about a year and six months, and was finally released when the Italians began a new policy of “appeasement” towards the Ethiopians”. 

There are still about 13 Ethiopian prisoners in Italy, including a former Ethiopian Minister to Rome; the son of Dr. Martin, Minister in London; Ras Imru, who fought the Italians in the north and invaded Eritrea, Degiazmatch Mangashia Wobie and others”

These prisoners were eventually released, after the Fascist collapse in Italy itself.

Continuing her own story, Wayzaro Shawaragad is quoted as saying: 

“Watched All the Time” 

“When I returned [to Ethiopia] I was watched all the  time, but managed to get in touch with the Ethiopian Consul in Djibouti [i.e. Lij Andargachaw Massay] who sent me paper, headed with the Lion of Juda crest. On this paper I wrote messages to all the Patriot chiefs saying that they came from the Emperor who was then in England. Occasionally letters did get through from His Majesty and these were copied and sent round. The general idea of the propaganda was; “Britain is helping, but you must be patient”. 

[This part of the story evidently refers to a somewhat period after Mussolini's entry into the European War on 10 June 1940]

“At this time one of the chiefs, Kebbede Bonsonish  [?], attacked the gate of Oletter [Holota], 25 miles from Addis Ababa, and fought well during 31 days. Finally the Italians brought large reinforcements and he had to retreat. I managed to buy an attractive cape, which I sent to Kebbede saying that it was a gift from the French Minister in recognition of his valour. There was great excitement when the cape  reached him and in three days he got 700 volunteers. 

He then attacked the post of Goro, 70 miles from Addis Ababa. He succeeded in capturing two machine-guns, a lot of ammunition, bombs and provisions. After that he collected still more volunteers. I began to buy arms for the Patriots and I arranged with a number of them to enlist with the Italians so that we might know what was happening. I equipped 500 Patriots near Medja, about 20 miles to the north. We found many hidden arms which I bought and sent them off by mules with provisions.” 

Bringing Ammunition

“I also sent an agent into Addis Ababa called Balai  Bogala, who took over a coffee shop so as to get in touch with agents who could bring in ammunition. The capital was surrounded by barbed wire but he often managed to get through at night to give the cartridges to those who came to receive them. Sometimes he took part in the attacks upon the Italians, returning in the daytime with his permit. He was my propaganda representative in Addis Ababa and had a lot of adherents in the town.”

“Wait… and Not Lose Life Unnecessarily” 

“When I saw that a European war was approaching I began to advise Patriots to wait and not lose life unnecessarily. One of my messengers was a woman, who was a good rider and a good shot and on one occasion killed an Italian sergeant. When the Emperor began his advance from the Sudan, we attacked Addis Alem and  killed 114 Italians, taking 80 prisoners. We intended attacking Addis Ababa, but decided that it was still too early. I joined Scuaka Bakala and fought at Makki in the south near Arussi. I was mounted and always armed. I carried a revolver even when I went to see the [Italian] Resident at Addis Alem when occasion arose. I went through the region of Sodu doing propaganda; whenever planes came over I always announced that they were English, even if they were

Italian. When Italian mines exploded in the distance, we used to say that the British were bombing Addis Ababa. It kept up everyone’s spirits, and many joined us. We continued towards Amarun on the Jimma road to join Fitawrari Galasu [i.e. Garasu] . He had been holding out against the Italians for two months , being attacked almost every day. A large number of his troops had been killed, and Galasu had gone to find reinforcements. There were only 80 of us left and while thus reduced the Italians attacked from above while we were in a valley. We were taken by surprise but fought for four hours. I fired as long as I could but was finally taken prisoner. My woman assistant was killed in front of me. I was taken to the Dibella fortress near the Jimma road. They tied my hand behind my back very tightly with wet cords so that I could not stand comfortably and began questioning me, I said I wanted to speak to an officer. I think they thought I was going to give way an important secret and an officer was brought. I said: “You say you are a civilised people but you treat prisoners in a barbarous way”. He was very angry and told them to take off the cords and put on manacles and anklets. 

With these I was attacked to the wall and they had them screwed up so tight that circulation was stopped, and the blood came out of my finger-nails. I was kept25 hours. While there one of the Italian shifta said: 

“The Ethiopian flag will be flying over Addis Ababa in  a month”. There was an Italian officer there called Colonel Lokki who asked what the man had said, When I told him he came and tightened my manacles.” 

Questioning Every Morning and Afternoon 

“The next morning I was sent off to the capital, to  prison. and every morning and afternoon they came to question me to try to find out who had been my partisans, I always refused to say anything. They asked me why I had gone as a rebel, and I replied:

“The lion prefers the forest to the house”. I stayed 32 days in prison without eating and became so weak that I could not be questioned any more. When the BrX-Mozilla-Status: 0009I was released”. 

This ends the story of Wayzaro Shawaragad as reported in “The Ethiopia Star”.