Balcha Safo

Dejazmach Balcha Safo (; 1863 – 6 November 1936), popularly referred to by his horse-name Abba Nefso, was an Ethiopian military commander and lord protector of the crown, who served in both the First and Second Italo-Ethiopian Wars.

He made his reputation, according to oral tradition, at the Battle of Adwa (March 1, 1896), and was rewarded with elevation to the aristocratic status of Dejazmach. Later Balcha was appointed a provincial Governor (Shum). He was later a key member of the conservative provincial elite who, in the 1920s, were often at odds with the modernising reforms and rising power of the Regent, Ras Tafari Makonnen. Tafari Makonnen would later force Dejazmach Balcha into retirement, albeit an honourable one, in 1928, from which he would emerge in 1935 to fight against the Fascist invasion, resulting in his death in 1936.

Biography

Early career Originally of humble birth, Balcha Safo, along with Habte Giyorgis Dinagde, was one of many castrated prisoners of war taken during Menelik II's expansions into the Hadiya state under Hassan Enjamo between 1875 and 1889. His ethnicity is disputed with some sources claiming he was an ethnic Gurage, and others claiming he was an ethnic Oromo. . Balcha came to the notice of Emperor Menelik II who brought him back to Addis Ababa where he was educated. After the war he was rewarded with elevation to the aristocratic status of dejazmach. Ras Tafari was nervous in private. Zewditu begged Balcha in the name of her late father, Emperor Menelik II.

Meanwhile, the regent sent Ras Kassa Haile Darge to Balcha's camp, where he lied to the troops, stating that Balcha and Tafari were in agreement, and then paid the soldiers Balcha had left there. This led to Balcha's army exchanging their weapons for gold and other monetary or valuable gifts and dispersing. At the same time, the regent quietly appointed Dejazmach Birru Wolde Gabriel to replace Balcha as governor of Sidamo. These simultaneous acts deprived Balcha of his ability to resist, a loss he discovered only after he returned to the camp. Balcha promised a peaceful transition to the empress and laid down his sword, which was the traditional way of giving up his power in respect to the Empress.

Death

During the Second Italo-Abyssinian War, Balcha Safo came out of retirement to fight against the Italians. |