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• Ato_Mersha_Nahusenay abstract "Ato Mersha Nahusenay (c.1850 – c.1937) was one of the closest advisors to Emperor Menilek II and made important contributions to the modernization and independence of Ethiopia. A pioneer of change, he went on to become the founder and first governor of Dire Dawa (1902-1905), the second largest city in Ethiopia. Prior to that he was governor of the strategic and frontier town of Jaldessa (Gildessa) where he also held the position of chief of customs. He played a critical role in the construction of the first railway. Mersha belongs to a generation of Ethiopians who took advantage of the stability created in the late 19th – early 20th century to implement a series of wide-ranging political, economic and social reforms the impact of which continues to be felt a century later. His public career lasted over three decades from the time of Menilek II until the reign of Haile Sellassie. Mersha was one of the educated and most recognized individuals of his time whose knowledge of French language and European ways of life earned him recognition both domestically and internationally.EARLY LIFEMersha Nanusenay’s early life was centered around the town of Ankober in central Ethiopia where he was born and grew up. Although he received church education as a child, he went on to gain secular knowledge by traveling and interacting with a wide array of people, including foreign nationals. Mersha's formative and early adulthood experiences helped him prepare for the long and illustrious public career.Childhood and Formative YearsAto (Mr.) Mersha Nahusenay (አቶ መርሻ ናሁሠናይ) was born around 1850 near Ankober, in central Ethiopia. Today Ankober is one of many districts (woredas) of Ethiopia. Back then, it was the capital of Shewa, one of the several kingdoms located in the southern part of what was then known internationally as Abyssinia. According to oral history, Mersha came from a family of Christian priests. His parents were devout adherents of the Orthodox faith and religion played a central role in their life. As a result, Mersha’s childhood was largely shaped by events taking place at the local church where he was also baptized. Whether or not he had any siblings, it is unknown. He probably had a few that survived to become adults. However, the name Mersha in the Amharic language of Ethiopia suggests that his parents were trying to forget the loss of a previous child.Family lore also suggests that Mersha’s father owned a land given to him in return for the service he rendered to the church. This was common at the time. In addition to holding lands, churches also received considerable assistance from the royal palace which they used to offer various services, including the education of children. Due to his family background, Mersha had access to church education and learned reading and writing at an early age.Growing up, Mersha was required to spend a great deal of time on the farm supporting his parents. He probably traveled to various places within Shewa and beyond during which he interacted with a diverse group of Ethiopians as well as foreigners. His parents would have wanted him to follow the family tradition and become a priest, but he chose a different path. This is not surprising as times were changing and the future looked bright for non-religious careers. Mersha probably took advantage of the many opportunities that were available for acquiring secular knowledge and skills. The expansion of trade and agriculture had already increased public interest in foreign languages, medicine, geography, history as well as how various objects were made. Under Menilek, the last ruler of Shewa or Shoa (1865-1889), Ankober rapidly evolved into a vibrant political and trade center. Trade was booming in multiple directions and was tied to the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea coast via Harar. The following quote encapsulates the vitality of the Ankober area at the time:“The early nineteenth-century Shawan royal capital of Ankober was a spectacular sight, ‘perched at 2400 meters atop a volcanic cone above the steep escarpment of the eastern highlands’. It commanded a prosperous, cosmopolitan and culturally diverse polity. Founded as a frontier outpost in the late-eighteenth century, fifty years later Ankober stood amidst a rich agricultural area and controlled the Red Sea trade through regional markets such as Aliyu Amba. Visited by Muslim merchants and traders from the Mediterranean, and a busy ecclesiastical base of Orthodox theology, Ankober was a lively commercial and intellectual center.”Beyond these few details, little is known about Mersha’s early life at this point. It is unclear, for example, if he had any royal blood, although the fact that he was later married to the daughter of one of Menilek’s trusted public servants, prior to his relocation to Harar, indicates that the family had strong connections with the royal palace. When one examines his long pioneering and distinguished public service from the time Menilek II became Emperor of Ethiopia (1889) until the eve of Italian occupation (1936), however, it is not difficult to conclude that Mersha’s formative and early adulthood years were strongly influenced by historical events unfolding at the time. Indeed Mersha was born and grew up in one of the most significant periods in the nation’s history. The period from the 1850s to the 1890s was a turning point in the sense that it finally brought to an end an era of deep divisions between provinces in the northern part of modern-day Ethiopia known as the Era of Princes of Zemene Mesafint (1769-1855). Emperor Tewodros was the first ruler (1855-1868) to try to unify the region. His success was limited, however, due to strong resistance and external battles. Included in Tewodros’s vision was also introduction of European-style civilization. However that goal did not go far enough either. Emperor Yohannes pursued the unification efforts further during his reign (1872-1889), but made little progress as well. He hardly had the time to advance the development agenda. Emperor Menilek II (1844-1913) finally succeeded in achieving the dream of his predecessors and beyond. He managed to bring northern and southern territories under a central authority paving the way for the appearance of the Ethiopia we know today. His unique achievements, including his decisive victory over Italy at Adwa, in 1896, enabled him to put his nation on the path to stability and modernization.According to the prominent Ethiopian historian Tekle-Tsadiq Mekuria , Menilek’s top priorities were: negotiating Ethiopia’s borders with the three European colonial powers (i.e., France, Britain and Italy) who controlled much of Eastern Africa; securing access to the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea as a way of improving trade relations with Europe and beyond; maintaining security across the vast empire and stabilizing the newly incorporated territories; implementing wide-ranging political, economic and social reforms; and building Ethiopia’s image abroad. Mersha was at the forefront of most, if not all of these undertakings. Tekle-Tsadiq wrote that Mersha answered, on numerous occasions, Menilek's calls for service by taking difficult tasks. He was also one of the emperor's closest advisors:“ስለዚህ ዐፄ ምኒልክ የነዚህንና የውጭ አገር ተወላጅ አማካሪዎች ምክር በመስማት እውጭ አገር ደርሰው መጠነኛ እውቀት እየቀሰሙ የተመለሱትን የነግራዝማች ዬሴፍን፤ የነነጋድራስ ዘውገን፤ የእነ አቶ አጥሜን፤ የነ አቶ መርሻ ናሁ ሠናይን፤ የነ ብላታ ገብረ እግዚአብሔርን፤ የነ ከንቲባ ገብሩን፤ የነአለቃ ታየን፤ የነነጋድራስ ገብረ ሕይወት ባይክዳኝን፤ የነአቶ ኃይለማርያም ስራብዮንን፤ አስተያየት በማዳመጥ በአገራቸው የአውሮፓን ሥልጣኔ ለማስገባት ታጥቀው ተነሡ”English translation: “Thus, after listening to the advice of these and other personal foreign advisors and taking into account the views of those who had travelled abroad and returned with limited knowledge such as Grazmach Yosef, Negaddras Zewge, Ato Atsme, Ato Mersha Nahusenay, Blata Gebre Egziabher, Kentiba Gebru, Aleqa Taye, Negadras Gebre Hiwot Baykedagn and Ato Hailemariam Serabyo, Atse Menilek decided to introduce European civilization to his country.”LATER LIFEWhether or not Ato Mersha Nahusenay held any government position before Menilek II became Emperor of Ethiopia in 1889 remains unclear at this point. What is certain is sometime in the early 1890s, at the age of about 40, he left his birthplace and settled in the Harar province, in Eastern Ethiopia. By then, Ankober had already declined in part due to the rise of the new capital Addis Abeba founded in 1886 by Menilek and his powerful wife Empress Taitu Betul (1851-1918).Governor of Jaldessa and Head of CustomsMersha’s relocation to Harar marked the beginning of his long and outstanding service to his country. Possibly as early as 1892, but certainly by 1895, he was appointed governor of Jaldessa (Gildessa, Jildessa, Jeldesa, Guildessa, Gheldessa), a small historic and strategic town, near the present city of Harar, where he was also director of customs. Jaldessa was the first Ethiopian town after crossing the border from the British and French Somalilands. Because it was located at the junction of the Zeila-Harar and Djibouti-Harar roads, it was also a key customs post along an important caravan route connecting Ethiopia with the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea coast. "At Gildessa the expedition came to the first armed post in Abyssinian territory, and before this could be passed permission had to be obtained from the capital."Although Mersha was governor of Jaldessa, in reality however, he administered and kept secure a vast area between Ethiopia's borders and the Awash where traditionally Somalis, Oromos, Afars and other ethnic groups lived. He served under Ras Mekonnen Woldemichael, governor of the Harar Province, but he also took orders directly from Menilek. Previous governors of Jaldessa included the Armenian Serkis Terzian (1868-1915), another notable figure during that eventful period of Ethiopian history.The economic value of the Gildessa customs post increased dramatically after the port of Djibouti became operational in the late 1880s - early 1890s. As chief of customs, Mersha oversaw the import of goods as well as other important items such as machinery and fire-arms. Merchandise were required to undergo inspection and pay duty generating revenue for Menilek and his empire. All caravans were stopped and checked. Camels and mules obtained outside the border were replaced by those rented locally. Mersha travelled to Djibouti on several occasions, including at the request of Menilek. His knowledge of the French and Arabic languages helped during his international trips. As governor and chief of customs, Mersha was actively involved in the negotiations as well as enforcement of the signed diplomatic treaties. According to Cyrille Macaire, envoy of Pope Leo XIII, who was welcomed by Mersha on behalf of Menilek, in 1896, Jaldessa had 6,000 inhabitants compared to 8,000 in the port city of Djibouti and 30,000 in Harar.Jaldessa continued to function as the principal customs post of the region until Dire Dawa was founded in 1902. It is worth mentioning that due to its strategic location, Jaldessa was at the center of border discussions and treaties between Menilek and the three European powers. Article 3 of the 1897 treaty between Britain and Ethiopia, for example, stated that the trade route between Zeyla and Harar by way of Gildessa (Jaldessa) should remain open for the commercial interests of both countries.Promoting the progressive image of EthiopiaFollowing the victory at Adwa (1896), there was a heightened global interest in strengthening diplomatic and trade relations with Ethiopia. A large number of foreign guests, including diplomats, journalists, writers, scientists and explorers visited the country. Many were fascinated by Menilek II and his extraordinary accomplishments. Realizing the significance of the moment for the future of his country, Menilek was determined to create a positive image of himself and his empire. What better place to create a good first impression than the frontier town of Gildessa? Lord Edward Gleichen, the British courtier and author who visited Jaldessa, in 1897, commented:“Next day we made a long march of twenty-four miles over stony country to Garasle, a pretty little river, three inches deep, running between high banks, and a three hours' march on the following morning brought us to Gildessa. Here we were received in great state by the governor, one Aito Merzha (i.e., Ato Mersha), who, to impress on us that we were now on Abyssinian territory, had turned out a guard of about a dozen men, all armed with rifles and carrying the Abyssinian flag. The latter, I fear, did not impress us much, as it only consisted of triangular yellow, red, and green pennons nailed on a thin and crooked stick; but the guard of honour was very beautiful.” Most international visitors coming via the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea camped at Jaldessa for at least a day before traveling further to Addis Abeba, Harar or other parts of the country. Both Menilek and Ras Mekonnen took personal interest in the travel arrangements of foreign dignitaries. They made sure that guests were treated properly and given safe passage to their destinations. Mersha was responsible for providing them with logistical and other forms of assistance. Because of his unique position, he met with a wide range of people from all countries. Whether through his official dealings and interactions or personal connections, Mersha helped advance the modern image of Ethiopia. In an article published in Le Figaro (April 1901), the French journalist and author Hughes Le Roux observed the following about him after a conversation the two had about Fetha Negast.“Je ne sais si ce sage a lu Candide, mais depuis les années déjà longues que le Roi des rois lui a confié la clef de la première poterne de l'empire, il a vu défiler beaucoup d'hommes de toutes couleurs, de tous pays, de toutes langues.”English translation: “I do not know if this wise man read Candide, but since for many years the King of Kings has given him the key to the first gate of the empire, he had seen people from all colors, all countries, and all languages.” The following is a partial list of foreign notables hosted by Mersha:-Le duc d’Orléans (1867-1901): French Prince; -Harald George Carlos Swayne (1860–1940): British army officer and author; -Vicomte Edmond de Poncins (1866-1937): explorer, naturalist and author; -Lord Albert Edward Wilfred Gleichen (1863-1937): British diplomat and author; -Jean-Baptiste Marchand (1863-1934): French army officer and explorer; -Robert Peet Skinner (1866-1960): American diplomat; -Lucien Heudebert (1860-1949): French writer; -Jean-François-Albert du Pouget, Marquis de Nadaillac (1818-1904): French anthropologist and palentologist; -Hugues Le Roux (1860-1925): French journalist, author and senator; -Pierre Marie Robert, vicomte du Bourg de Bozas (1871-1902): French explorer; -Peter Nikolaevic Krasnov (1869-1947). Russian diplomat and military officer; -Victor Félix Edmond Marie Goedorp (1874-1963): French publicist and author; -Benito Sylvain (1868-1915): Haitian lawyer and anti-slavery activist; -Friedrich or Felix Rosen (1856-1935): German diplomat, orientalist, author and politician; -Mgr Kyrillos Makarios or Cyrille Macaire (1867-1921): Egyptian Coptic leader, patriarch of Alexandria, special envoy of Pope Leo XIII to Menilek II; -William Fitzhugh Whitehouse (1846-1909): American explorer; -Casimir Mondon-Vidailhet (1847-1910): French journalist and writer; -Rennell Rodd (1858-1941): British diplomat, politician and poet.Despite robust efforts by Menilek II and his advisors to show that Ethiopia was ready to embrace modernization, there was a great deal of skepticism among many Europeans at first. In an article titled The Menelik Myth, published in 1899, for example, vicomte Edmond de Poncins, the wealthy French naturalist and explorer, concluded:“The history of Ethiopia, then, may be summed up thus: a country in which communications are difficult, peopled by a multiplicity of races; its internal life presents ever the same cycle of wars, victories, defeats, its external life the same blank. A real civilization is impossible in that black chaos, and the products of civilization, such as agriculture, invention, commerce, do not exist.”In contrast, there were some who offered unwavering support for Ethiopia’s pursuit of independence and modernization. A few of those made a historical contribution. Menilek’s closest European advisors such as the Swiss engineer Alfred Ilg and the French businessman Leon Chefneux (“Menilek’s chief commerce advisor”) were incontestably at the top of the list. Mersha worked closely with both of them on various projects. But there were others well. Mondon-Vidailhet, the French journalist and contributor to the Le Temps, was another important figure who played a major role in Ethio-French relations. According to one source, Mersha introduced him to Ras Mekonnen while giving him a tour of Harar. Vidailhet also helped build a progressive image of Menilek in Europe and the United States through his speeches and writings. In an interview that he gave to The New York Times, in 1898, he argued:“The country lends itself easily to civilization, and its organization, still encumbered by feudal relations, tends more and more to become modelled on the lines of European constitutional monarchies. Menelek, powerful and respected, an enlightened reformer and administrator, who abolished slavery in his dominions, and dislikes fanatics to whatever sect they belong, has revealed himself as a really great sovereign, worthy of admiration by his conduct, as well as by the dignity of his character.”The First RailwayUltimately, Menilek succeeded in persuading European governments and businessmen to start investing in Ethiopia’s economy. By far the most shining example of that triumph was the construction of Ethiopia’s first railway. The renowned historian Richard Pankhurst called it “the country’s greatest technological achievement of the period.” Mersha was instrumental in the negotiations, construction and security of the railway, particularly during the initial phase of the project (1897-1911). He was asked by emperor Menilek to oversee the construction in close consultation with the railway company.When the Djibouti railroad reached the Ethiopian border town of Dewele (or Dawale), in July of 1900, covering a distance of over 100 km, Mersha was chosen to represent the emperor at the inaugural ceremony attended by a delegation of the French government, representatives of the shareholders as well as diplomats and other local officials. The French government, Menilek’s strongest ally at the time, supported and encouraged the financing of the railway, but British investors were also involved especially in the events leading to the completion of the Djibouti-Dire Dawa railroad. The railroad lastly gave Ethiopia direct access to the sea thereby solving a long-standing challenge against trade ties with other countries.English translation of letter: “Dear Ato Mersha. How do you do. I am doing well, thank God. Since the French railway companies informed me that they will resume construction, I would like you to direct the work in consultation with Negadras Yigezu. Tahsas 2, 1901, Eth. Calendar. Written in Debre Libanos.”The extension of the railroad to the capital Addis Abeba was completed in 1917, under emperor Haile Selassie. The Djibouti-Addis railway played a crucial role in the economic development of Ethiopia during the first half of the 20th century. By cutting the amount of travel time from Harar to the coast in half, the rail transportation dramatically increased the trade of important items such as coffee, civet, ivory, cotton, wax, cattle and hides. Trade also gradually shifted to the new port of Djibouti whereas prior to the railway, almost all trade went through the British Somaliland ports of Zeila, Bulhar and Berbera. The railway connected different parts of the empire and led to the establishment of new communities and settlements, especially along the line. It increased public transportation and promoted the movement of people. In short, it made life better for millions of Ethiopians. It also helped the growth of other towns, including Addis Abeba.First governor of Dire DawaThe conclusion of the Djibouti-Dire Dawa railway, in 1902, marked the birth of Dire Dawa, the second largest city in Ethiopia. Shortly after, Mersha was ordered to move the Jaldessa custom house and his residence to the location of the new terminus, thus making him the first governor of the railway city.“Before the foundation of the town, the whole frontier region up to Dawale including the great environ of Dire Dawa used to be administered by a governor whose seat normally was at Jeldessa, a few km to the east of Dire Dawa. In 1902 the Governor was one Mersha Nahusenay, an educated and also French speaking personality, who took a considerable part in the foundation of the station and eventually of the town.”Residential quarters, office buildings, workshops, roads as well as other facilities were quickly built to facilitate further extension of the railroad to the capital Addis Abeba, under the direction of Leon Chefneux and Ato Mersha. The end result was the emergence of two distinct quarters separated by the Dechatu River: Kezira or Gezira (European quarter) and Megala (Native quarter). Thus, in the first several years of its founding, residents of Dire Dawa and employees of the Franco-Ethiopian railway company were able to lay the foundation for what later became a French-style, cosmopolitan city. Pankhurst once called Dire Dawa “Ethiopia’s first modern town.” “The earliest town quarters of Käzira and Mägala, which sprang up following the establishment by the railway company of a station and its main workshop, soon evolved into the two most important nodes of economic, social and administrative activities of the new town. Käzira was built according to a regular plan and well provided with modern amenities. In the meantime, Ato Märsha Nahusänay, the first governor, and his followers, cleared and settled an area of land across from Käzira on the opposite side of the Dächatu that was largely covered with dense brush and cacti then. Growing out of this nucleus the larger quarter of Mägala took shape by degrees. In fact, the present quarter of Dächatu used to be known as Gändä-Märsha in the past in honor of its illustrious resident and founder.”In this position, he served until 1906 when he was succeeded by Ato Negatu Gugsa who administered the city until the municipality was formed sometime between 1915 and 1920. Mersha was about fifty-five years old when he decided to retire from his governorship. Not only Dire Dawa was built differently and in a manner consistent with a European city, but its administration was also somewhat exceptional in the country’s history. Based on analysis of the earliest public officials of Dire Dawa, historian Shiferaw Bekele remarked: “The officials shared certain important characteristics which sharply set them apart from the general run of Ethiopian officialdom at the time… Firstly, they spoke one or more European languages; many of them were men who had some modern education. But some were highly trained intellectuals…Almost in every province, one would meet one or two men who belonged to this category. However, in no other much concentration as in Dire Dawa.”Shiferaw went on to say: “The Dire Dawan officialdom invariably spoke at least one European language. Even the earliest, Mersha, spoke French. A good number of them were highly educated. Afework Gebre Yesus and Gebre Hiwot Baykedagn who were the directors of Customs had had long years of stay in Europe where they had attained a tertiary level education. Beshah Wured was educated in the United States. The rest had gone to Mission schools.”Chief of Railway SecurityBetween 1906 and early 1920s, Mersha was busy maintaining the security of the railway. Ethiopia was responsible for safeguarding the line according to the initial agreement between Menilek and Alfred Ilg. The task was later given to the railway company, but Mersha continued to lead the force until he retired during the reign of Haile Sellasie, with the exception of his brief dismissal in 1916. Mersha's prior experience as chief of Harar police must have helped him successfully fulfill the duties of the head of railway police.Securing the railway was a very dangerous mission to everyone involved due to hostilities from some local groups. Some local communities resisted the construction of the railroad because they perceived it to be harmful to their way of life. Others simply did not appreciate the presence of foreigners in their lands. Thus, the safety and well-being of the track as well as employees of the company required the deployment of a police force. It also needed the support of local chiefs and spiritual leaders.“As the governor of the province through with the line passed, he (i.e. Ato Mersha) was responsible for the peace and security of the line. He posted detachments of troops all along the line. He carried out negotiations with all the important chiefs of the Afar and Somali tribes in the region. He received orders from Ras Mekonnen and from Menilek.”After the founding of Dire Dawa, the railway police that Mersha led also maintained order and security of the city essentially making him chief of Dire Dawa police as well. Part of his responsibility included to ease ethnic tensions and bring criminals to justice. Mersha was once again up to the challenge. When he was governor, he was in charge of judicial matters and even held courts under a tree during his first year as governor of Dire Dawa. Modernization under MenilekThe late 19th- early 20th century was the golden age in Ethiopian history. Under Menilek, the country took important practical steps towards modernization. Transport and communication were a top priority as they were critical for improving both internal and external trade. The first railway finally linked Ethiopia directly with the Red Sea. The first telephone and telegraph were introduced, following the railway track. Major roads were built and bicycles and automobiles appeared for the first time. The tax system was restructured. A modern monetary system was created. The first bank (Bank of Abyssinia) was established. A national currency was introduced. The governance system underwent reorganization. The justice system was restructured. Each of the six districts of the country had two judges appointed by Menilek himself. The position of a supreme judge was created. The first cabinet of ministers was formed. The first public schools emerged. The first newspaper, hotel, hospital, post office appeared. It is fair to conclude that much of the modernization that we see in Ethiopia today began with the reforms of the late nineteenth – early twentieth century. Mersha was one of numerous Ethiopians who contributed to the much needed change that transformed the country.Reforms of Ledj IyassuWhen Menilek II died in 1913, after a long illness, Iyassu, Menilek’s grandson, became the successor. Mersha was about sixty years of age and was still in charge of the railway security between the border and the Awash. During his brief reign (1913-1916), Iyassu made a series of controversial reforms that led to a coup and his removal from power in 1916. Internally, Iyassu made some unpopular appointments. In 1915, for example, he appointed Hasib Ydlibi (Idlibi), a Turkish familiar to scholars of Ethiopian history, as a key official in Harar. The decision was made without the knowledge of Dedjach Teferi (Tafari) Mekonnen, son of Ras Mekonnen and governor of Harar Province at the time. Tensions mounted between Iyassu and Teferi despite the fact that they were cousins when the former threatened to dismiss the latter from his post resulting in anger and frustration among Teferi’s supporters. Externally, Iyassu sought to strengthen relations with Germany and Turkey and distance himself from traditional allies such as France and Great Britain.In 1916, the same year Iyassu was deposed, he took additional provocative measures. He removed Teferi Mekonnen from his post. He then replaced Mersha with Naggadras Muhammad Abubbakar (an Afar), another important figure in Ethiopian history. Despite Abubbakkar’s remarkable service to Menilek and the country, including his contributions to the construction of the Djibouti-Dire Dawa railway, Mersha’s substitution was a huge loss to the company as commented by its administrator, Mr. De Mazérieux:“Avec Ato Marcha, qui était au courant des usages et des méthodes de la Cie, et qui lui était surtout absolumment dévoué, les difficultés etaient rapidement aplanies. Abou-Baker est trop connu en Abyssinie et à la Cie, pour qu’on puisse espérer, qu’il en sera de même avec lui.” English translation: “With Ato Marcha, who was very knowledgeable of the practice and methods of Cie (i.e., Compagnie Imperiale d’Ethiopie), and to which who was especially absolutely devoted, difficulties were quickly resolved. Abu-Baker is very well known in Abyssinia and Cie, so we can hope it will be the same with him.”Ironically, just months before their replacement, both Teferi and Mersha had accompanied Iyassu during his trip to the area, along with a number of other notables, including Mikael Berru and Tesemma Eshete. After the successful coup, Mersha was restored to his position which he continued to hold until his retirement in the early 20s. Dedjach Teferi of course became regent to the throne (1916 until 1930) and subsequently emperor of Ethiopia (1930 to 1974). Empress Zewditu, the daughter of Menilek II, ruled Ethiopia from 1916 until 1930.A prominent Catholic Ato Mersha was a notable Catholic who played an important role in the spread of the faith. Most likely he was converted to Catholicism after he moved to Harar. Given his family background, his conversion was a surprisingly bold move. Oral history indicates that his parents did not approve his conversion, but Mersha went on to become an influential Catholic and encouraged the rest of his extended family to follow his direction. Benito Sylvain, the Haitian lawyer, author and anti-slavery activist who visited Ethiopia a number of times during the late 19th - early 20th century wrote the following about his encounter with Mersha and his family:“En l'absence de Ras Makonnen, retenu par l'Empereur à Addis-Abeba, pour la conclusion du traité de paix avec l'Italie, était le Ghérazmatch Banti qui remplissait les délicates fonctions de gouverneur. Il manifesté de cordiale faҫon sa joie de me voir et après avoir vidé le tedj ou hydromel de l'amitié, il me fit donner l'hospitalité chez Ato Marcha, chef des douanes de Guieldessa, dont tous les enfants sont élevés à la Mission catholique française que dirige actuellement le sympathique Mgr André, récemment promu Evèque.” English translation: “In the absence of Ras Mekonnen, kept by the Emperor in Addis Ababa, for the conclusion of the peace treaty with Italy was the Gherazmatch Banti who filled the delicate functions of governor. He expressed in a cordial way his joy to see me and after emptying the tedj or mead of friendship, he offered me hospitality at the residence of Ato Marcha, Chief Customs Guieldessa, with all the children raised in the Catholic Mission French currently headed by the friendly Mgr André, who was recently promoted Bishop.”Mersha encouraged mission schools. Many young Ethiopians were educated in the schools founded by French missionaries such as Mgr Andre Jarosseau (Abba Endryas). Recent biographies (e.g. Ras Emru Haile Selassie) shed light on the type of education provided by the Catholic schools and the role played by Ato Mersha. In his recent autobiography, Captain Alemayehu Abebe, the first black African pilot of a commercial jet airliner, wrote the following:“አቶ መርሻ ከነቤተሰቦቻቸው በሐረር ከተማ የታወቁና የተከበሩ የካቶሊክ ሃይማኖት ተከታይ ስለነበሩ ምንሴኘር አንድሬ ዣሩሶ በሚያስተዳድሩት የካቶሊክ ሚሲዮን ገብቼ በአዳሪነት እንድማር ተደረገ።” English translation: “Since Ato Mersha, along with his family, was a well-known and respected follower of the Catholic faith in the city Harar, I was allowed to attend the Catholic mission school headed by Mgr Andre Jarousseau.”Another recent biography by Mickael Bethe Selassié describes in detail the historic contributions of Catholic Ethiopians during the first half of the 20th century. Many of them, including Mersha Nahusenay and the author’s uncle Berhane-Marqos Welde-Tsadiq, were notable individuals in the modernization projects of Emperors Menilek and Haile Sellasié. The biograher argued that these Catholics form a distinct group within the larger community of educated men of the time. Mickael as well as Pankhurst also stressed the similarities and historical links between the Orthodox and Catholic Christian groups:“The Ethiopian Roman Catholic community, the first of whose members were converted in the late 19th century by Italian or French missionaries, such as Guglielmo Massaia and André Jarosseau, included Zäwgä Haylu, who attended the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1900, and Märsha Nahu Sänay, who represented Menilek at the ceremony marking the completion of the Jibuti railway as far as the Ethiopian frontier in 1902. The community thus came into existence at the very same time as the emergence of the Young Ethiopians as a whole. The Catholic community was moreover influenced by the same factors - missionary education, travel to France or Italy, employment by foreigners, service on the railway, etc. -which gave birth, as we have seen, more generally to Young Ethiopianism.”Death & Legacy Mersha retired from public service sometime in the 1920s. During his retirement, he found time to focus on personal matters, but he was also in touch with friends and colleagues. He later became seriously ill and was confined to bed for almost a decade. Mersha Nahusenay died in the mid-1930s during the Italian occupation and was buried in the city of Harar. He was in his mid-eighties.A proud father and husband, Mersha encouraged his children to embrace modern education and learn foreign languages. His eldest son Beyene Mersha travelled to France and Italy and was fluent in French . One of Mersha’s daughters read a greeting in French to Jean-Baptiste Marchand (1863–1934), the French explorer and officer, during his visit to Harar in 1899 on his way home via the port of Djibouti. Ato Mersha enjoyed taking his family to important public events such as the inaugural ceremony of the railway in 1900. All of Mersha’s children have passed away. His wife Tedeneqyalesh Mekbeb (Ato Mekev in G. Massaja's works; Makeb, Makbeb)was the daughter of a trusted Menilek advisor and public servant and an influential Catholic converted by the French missionary Guglielmo Massaja in the late 1860s. The couple had eleven children: Beyene, Zewditu, Worqie, Alemu, Desta, Marqos, Yosef, Negatu, Negest, Zegeye, and Medemdemyash. Beyene Mersha was undoubtedly the most notable. He travelled to France and Italy with the French missionary André Jarosseau. In 1903, Beyene met with R. P. Skinner, the American diplomat in Dire Dawa on behalf of his father who visited Ethiopia to sign a trade treaty with Menilek at the request of President Theodore Roosevelt. This was the first US official mission to Menilek, although the agreement was never followed through. Beyene went on to become balambaras. He was active in many areas of public service and was an influential resident of Dire Dawa. A large number of descendants of Mersha Nahusenay lives in Ethiopia and around the world. They have made and are still making important contributions in various fields, both public and private. Ato Abinet Gebremeskel, the most notable descendant today, is a successful businessman and philanthropist in Ethiopia.Ato Mersha Nahusenay made key contributions to his country in at least four areas of public service: border and railway security, public administration, economic development and diplomacy. He helped stabilize Ethiopia’s borders and frontier towns. He was among the first public officials in the modern sense. He helped built a railway that transformed the nation and became a powerful source of economic expansion and a major contributor to better living standards. And finally on the diplomatic front, he assisted the efforts to project the image that trade and investment were welcome.Mersha Nahusenay was one of the educated and most recognized public figures of his generation. He is fortunate to have an enduring legacy. A street named after him in Dire Dawa, during emperor Haile Selassie, in honor of his role in the founding and early development of the city still stands. Residents of Dire Dawa used to call the area now called Dechatu ገንደ መርሻ or Mersha’s village. He was remembered and his contributions recognized when the railway city celebrated its 105th anniversary in 2007. However, Ato Mersha is still very much a forgotten hero, like many in his generation. His biography remains unwritten. His distinguished service is still poorly understood by many scholars and students of Ethiopian history. Although it does not mention Mersha Nahusenay, a recent book on pioneers of change in Ethiopia, by the notable historian Professor Bahru Zewde (2005), discusses in detail the historic contributions of many reformist intellectuals of the early twentieth century. Some of these intellectuals held the positions and offices Mersha once held and pioneered to help establish. Negadras Gebrehiwot Baykedagn, one of the foremost intellectuals of the time, for example, was head of the Dire Dawa customs administration.".
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• Ato_Mersha_Nahusenay wikiPageID "42213060".
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• Ato_Mersha_Nahusenay date "May 2014".
• Ato_Mersha_Nahusenay reason "formatting prob lems, wikilinks, cats, you name it, it needs it.".
• Ato_Mersha_Nahusenay comment "Ato Mersha Nahusenay (c.1850 – c.1937) was one of the closest advisors to Emperor Menilek II and made important contributions to the modernization and independence of Ethiopia. A pioneer of change, he went on to become the founder and first governor of Dire Dawa (1902-1905), the second largest city in Ethiopia. Prior to that he was governor of the strategic and frontier town of Jaldessa (Gildessa) where he also held the position of chief of customs.".
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