Kenfu Hailu

Kenfu Hailu

Kenfu in letters In 1838, French traveller Antoine Thomson d'Abbadie carried two letters from Emperor Sahle Dengel to Queen Victoria of Britain, and Louis Philippe of France. Kenfu Hailu is mentioned in the letters as one of the three most powerful lords of Ethiopia, the two others being Ras Ali, and Wube Haile Maryam (with a notable absence of the strongman of Shewa, Negus Sahle Selassie).

While with Kenfu, he was also taught the techniques of Ethiopian warfare. Kassa barely escaped with his life, when he joined in the battle against the Ottomans. Kenfu emerged the victor, and this must have left a lasting imprint on the mind of the teenager Kassa.

A Qene celebrating Kenfu was documented in the chronicle of Emperor Tewodros II.