Naga Tuma wrote: ↑23 Oct 2020, 08:48
DefendTheTruth,
ጉዲን ፉለኤ ጄቹ ኬቲ? I didn't say good full. I am just doing my hobby of playing with the similarity of words (ጉድ፣ ጉዲ፣ good and ፈላ፣ ፉለኤ፣ full) in the three languages that I think I can speak. ጉዲ ሰዲ።
In addition to its marvelous scenery, I remember the lake for an oral story that I had heard, which sounds almost like one in the Bible.
In short, it goes that communities used to live in the area of the lakes of both Wonchi and Dandi. Two sisters used to live there, one in each area. At some point, a family in the community in the area of Lake Dandi did incest. Upon hearing the story, the sister who used to live in the area of Lake Wonchi prayed ያዋቅ አነ በራር, which roughly means ዋቀ be my saviour. The oral story goes that because of that, ዋቀ punished the communities in both areas by creating the lakes and submerging them but saved the sister who prayed by making where she used to live an island.
I am not sure if በራር and በራራ in Addis Ababa have the same origin as words. But I can't help wondering where the similarity comes from when I notice them. በራር፣ በራራ፣ በረራ sound very similar. Add to that the ancient understanding that ዋቀ lives in up high and the only way to have saved her from punishment might have been by በረራ, ያዋቅ አነ በራር makes sense.
Speaking of the similarity of words, I just can't help it. Just a few days ago, while watching TV, I saw the names Bharara and Barrett side by side and couldn't help asking why they sound alike and why they sound like በራር. These could be pure coincidences.
Also speaking of Lake Dandi, I am not sure it is as scenic as Lake Wonchi. But they are like twin lakes, similar to Lakes Abaya and Chamo near Arba Minch. If I remember correctly, there is a place in the vicinity of Bodda where you can see both lakes from the same location, which is like the location of the famous Bekele Molla Hotel in Arba Minch where you can see both lakes Abaya and Chamo. I could be wrong about the spot, whether you could see both lakes from the same spot or may have to walk a short distance to see one after seeing the other. That place is relatively remote and cold. Bodda is the actual birthplace of the late Laureate Tsegaye Ghebremedhin.
Naga Tuma,
I don't know what a volcanologist would say about the oral story you shared with us but interesting.
I think to have heard Dr. Abey Ahmed's parliamentary address before few days and he too raised about the vicinity of these two lakes (Dandi and Wonchi). He said they are about 21 Kms apart and if we connect them then they can be a half-marathon distance from each other, possibly to make the area a long running avenue for athletes around the world, or so.
What I am sure is that of his raising the two lakes' names and said the distance between them.
What I am more fascinated about is the history that has been kept within the wumb of this tiny unsuspectable place. I heard before people talking monasteries are the storage place of Ethiopian history and this is just a minute testimony to this saying I think.
I am not a historian or even not a social science student but the field keeps me more interested everytime I come in touch with it, at least lately.
Wonchi is not a far place from the center but none of us gave it an attention before the current government proposal to develop it and the media started to get there and talk to the people on the streets.
If the people on the streets know that much then I just wonder what those more closer to the monastery (like the Monks and other religious care takers of the institution) may know.
It is not only the churches and other similar religious sites but there are many more sites where our history is being kept underneath and waiting to be digged out (caves and other similar sites which present relics of the past and distributed all over the country).
We might have been gone any time soon but our relics, provided that we have one, will be kept for much much longer, it is only because we are not trying to get to them and read into them and gain knowledge, I think.