Yemeni families in the early history of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ca. 1900-1950: a revisionist approach in diasporic historiography

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Periodical article

Title:	Yemeni families in the early history of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ca. 1900-1950: a revisionist approach in diasporic historiography
Author:	Bezabeh, Samson A.
Year:	2011
Periodical:	Cahiers d'études africaines (ISSN 0008-0055)
Volume:	51
Issue:	204
Pages:	893-919
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Ethiopia Yemen
Subjects:	immigrants traders Arabs historical sources
Abstract:	This study aims to bring to attention the hitherto undocumented history of Yemeni migration to Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. Taking into account a period which amounts to the first half of the 20th century, the article describes how the status of Arab migrants changed within the Ethiopian State structure. More specifically, it traces how the framework for migration and settlement of Yemenis in Addis Ababa has changed over a period of time. It also shows how the Yemenis have progressively integrated into the economic and social life of the Ethiopian State. The study relies on family history as well as documents held by members of the Yemeni diaspora community, not just Western sources. It also argues for the necessity of employing the methodological strategy the paper has followed in order to explain not only the history of Yemeni migrants but also of other diasporic families. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. in English and French. [Journal abstract]