Key historical events in Gedeo from the Italian Period to the Michelle Peasant Uprising (1935-1960)

This study reveals that the Gedeo people experienced greater freedom during the brief Italian occupation (1935–1941) compared to Ethiopia's long imperial rule, challenging traditional historical narratives. It also documents a previously unrecorded airplane incident linked to Italy's war efforts in Gedeo, using eyewitness accounts and remnants of the aircraft. The research highlights socio-political disruptions caused by Menelik II’s conquest (1895) and northern domination, which weakened resistance against Italian control and later fueled the 1960s Michelle Peasant Uprising. By integrating archival sources, oral histories, and grassroots perspectives, this work expands Ethiopian historiography beyond centralized accounts, emphasizing peripheral regions' agency in shaping local history.

Legesse Gemeda, G., & Tesema Ta’a. (2025). Key historical events in Gedeo from the Italian Period to the Michelle Peasant Uprising (1935-1960). HISTORICAL: Journal of History and Social Sciences, 4(3), 362–388. https://doi.org/10.58355/historical.v4i3.203