Wollo
I am diaspora born and raised in the states. I’ve done a bit of background research, but would like to see if anyone has any input on my specific questions.
My father was born and raised in the Wollo region in the mountains east of lake Hayk. He was born Muslim, but after his father died, his mother for reasons unknown to me was forced to leave him. He grew up under his grandmother, his dads mom, who was generally very abusive. She had him working in the fields of his own land from a young age. Like literally a 5 year old child working in the fields. His aunt who was Christian took him in and fed him Christian meat (I have heard there’s a difference?). He learned to read the bible and I believe may have begun to convert to Christianity. Later on, he took a job with the government when the derg came into power. He managed to defect after they threatened him and left the country, but has never been a religious man.
I know that orthodox Christianity was introduced to the region thousands of years ago. Does being from a Muslim family in Wollo suggest any likely historical connection to Yemen or Arabia, or is Wollo Islam generally local/indigenous Ethiopian in origin? I did 23andme and am almost entirely Ethiopian but with a small percentage Somali. My dad also said we were Amhara.
Do people generally convert regularly between Christianity and Islam? How much of an impact did the Derg have on religion? He says that when they took over, he dropped any religious beliefs whatsoever and has stayed that way. But many Ethiopians I know today are very religious (my dad seems to be an outlier), and I wonder how that that regime affected people’s right to worship in the area considering it mandated atheism. I don’t mean to stir any discontent or act with ignorance. I am genuinely curious.