Professor Hussen Ahmed Fuli: A Pioneer In Ethiopian Islamic History

Professor Hussen Ahmed Fuli, born on September 22, 1954, in Gadam Ancharo (Kalu, South Wollo), spent his early years in the small villages of Ancharo and Gedam, nestled east of the industrial town of Kombolcha. These villages, surrounded by the scenic vistas of Afar to the east and Tossa mountain to the north, became the backdrop of his early religious education. Hussen’s younger sister, Weyzero Ferida Ahmed Fuli, recalls that he received his foundational religious studies in these villages before the family relocated to Mugad, Desse.

Their father, Ahmed Fuli, was a trader, conducting business between Desse and the Tigray region, exchanging goods like leather, butter, and honey. Ferida reflects on her brother’s early years, recalling how he began his Quranic lessons in Ancharo and later continued his education at King Michael School in Desse. Hussen excelled in his studies, eventually attending Weyzero Sihin high school before winning a local scholarship to complete his 12th grade at Prince Beide Mariam Lab School. After excelling in the Ethiopian High School Leaving Certificate Examination, he joined Addis Ababa University to study history under esteemed professors Meried Wolde Argai and Tadesse Tamrat.

During his time at Addis Ababa University, Hussen’s interest in Islamic history took root. His passion for the subject led him to present a paper on Ibn Khaldun, which was met with high praise from Professor Meried Wolde Araghai, setting the course for his future academic pursuits. Despite his enthusiasm for Islamic history, the bureaucracy at the time restricted him from pursuing his undergraduate research in the field. As a result, Hussen redirected his focus and wrote about Emperor Menelik’s secretary, Tsefafi Tiezaz GebreSelase. Nevertheless, he remained determined to explore the history of Islam in Ethiopia.

In 1980, Hussen pursued a master’s degree in history at the University of Birmingham. There, although he initially intended to research Islamic history in Africa, he ultimately focused on the Chronicle of Menelik II for his thesis. His return to Ethiopia marked the beginning of his unwavering commitment to Ethiopian Islamic studies, culminating in his groundbreaking publication on Ethiopian Islam in 1982.

From then on, Hussen dedicated himself to illuminating the rich history of Islam in Ethiopia. His decision to specialize in this area was both courageous and pioneering, given that Ethiopian Islamic history was largely marginalized in academic circles. Prior to his work, scholars like Enrico Cerulli and Ewald Wagner had made notable contributions, but their research primarily focused on specific regions such as Harar, Oromo, and Somali areas, leaving much of Ethiopia’s Islamic history understudied.

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At the time, the dominant scholarly narrative centered on Christian Ethiopia, with Islam often regarded as a peripheral or even threatening influence. Undeterred, Hussen worked tirelessly to change this perception, advocating for the inclusion of Islamic studies within the broader framework of Ethiopian history. His efforts eventually led to the establishment of a dedicated department within Ethiopian studies at Addis Ababa University.

One of Professor Hussen’s most significant contributions was his fieldwork in Wollo during 1982/83. He visited madrassas and Muslim communities, collecting Arabic texts, manuscripts, legends, and traditions that had long been neglected. His research culminated in his PhD thesis, *19th Century Islamic History in Wollo (Ethiopia)*, which he completed at the University of Birmingham in 1985. The thesis received widespread acclaim and marked a turning point in the study of Ethiopian Islamic history.

Throughout his career, Hussen continued to publish extensively, review the works of his peers, and participate in academic conferences across Ethiopia and abroad. His contributions to the “Encyclopaedia Aethiopica”, where he served as an author and expert on Islam, further cemented his legacy as a pioneer in the field.

A Scholarly Legacy: Professor Hussen Ahmed Fuli’s Lasting Impact

Professor Hussen Ahmed Fuli’s research was rich in depth and significance, particularly regarding his homeland of Wollo and the city of Harar. Through his work, he demonstrated that Islamic culture in Ethiopia was not inferior to others but equally significant, filling a gap in historical understanding. His studies on Wollo provide invaluable information that remains relevant for those researching Harar and beyond. Even after the fall of the Derg regime, Hussen closely followed the evolving landscape of Ethiopian Islam, paying special attention to the revival of Islamic literary traditions and the emergence of a vibrant Muslim press. His writings consistently reflected the concerns, aspirations, and experiences of Ethiopian Muslim communities, while also tracing their historical connections to the wider Islamic world.

As a historian, Hussen remained dedicated to scholarly rigor. Even when discussing contemporary issues, he avoided superficial analysis, grounding his insights in primary sources such as manuscripts, books, periodicals, and oral accounts. This meticulous approach to source evaluation became a cornerstone of his scholarly practice, one that future researchers will continue to draw upon. His extensive body of work serves as a foundation for further studies on Islam in Ethiopia, setting an example for younger scholars to follow in his footsteps.

Over his 32 years as an educator, Hussen was promoted to full professor in February 2002. His intellectual contributions, particularly in Islamic studies, continue to inspire and guide future generations of researchers.

In the Words of His Colleagues

Professor Ahmed Zakaria, who knew Hussen well, described him as a scholar with exceptional linguistic abilities, fluent in English, French, and Italian—languages that significantly expanded his academic reach. “He had remarkable writing skills, comparable to those of Professor Pankhurst,” Zakaria noted. “Both were able to document historical events with great accuracy and breadth, writing on diverse topics. Of Professor Hussen’s many works, around 30 articles are widely known. In my view, he played a pivotal role in establishing Ethiopian Islamic history as an independent field of study, refuting the notion held by some European historians that Ethiopian Islam could simply be subsumed under general Ethiopian history. Instead, he argued that it had its own distinct identity.”

Zakaria also highlighted Hussen’s selflessness: “Unlike some of his contemporaries, Hussen didn’t seek personal gain from his work. His focus was on scholarship and mentoring students who have since carried on his legacy. It would be fitting if his works were collected and published for wider readership in the future.”

Professor Adam Kamil shared similar sentiments, recalling their last meeting just a week before Hussen’s death. “He was in good health when we met, and we had planned to discuss ways to preserve Ethiopian Muslim manuscripts for future generations. We were particularly concerned with safeguarding irreplaceable works written by Ethiopian Ulemas and in *Ajamiy*, texts written in Arabic script but in Amharic or other Ethiopian languages. We had intended to identify, categorize, and publish these works, ensuring they would not be lost to time. Tragically, Hussen passed away before we could continue our collaboration. His death is a great loss, but his legacy lives on through the scholars and students he mentored.”

Dr.NuddinAmanJarso, a lecturer at Addis Ababa University, reflected on the lasting impact of Hussen’s works, despite having only read them after his passing. “His writings serve as guiding principles for anyone studying Islamic history in Ethiopia today. They’ve paved the way for ongoing research and are essential resources for scholars in the field.”

Hasan Mohammed Kao, a historian and lecturer in Arabic literature at Addis Ababa University, further underscored Hussen’s global reputation. “He was recognized internationally as the leading scholar of Islamic studies in Ethiopia. His work was thorough, meticulous, and always up-to-date. It’s heartbreaking that we lost him at a time when he still had so much more to contribute. Unlike many university professors, Hussen was constantly engaged in research. Even during casual outings for tea, he would discuss Ethiopian Islamic issues, placing them under his research lens and dissecting them in detail.”

Hasan also remarked on Hussen’s humility and dedication to his craft. “He lived simply, relying only on his university salary and a modest research fund. He never sought personal profit. His command of English was so strong that his academic papers could have easily been mistaken for the work of a native speaker. His mind was always active, even during breaks—constantly studying, constantly thinking. The loss of Professor Hussen is immeasurable, not only because of his past contributions but because of all that he could have still achieved.”

The Legacy of Professor Hussen Ahmed: A Final Reflection

Dr. Idris Muhammad reflected on the profound impact of Professor Hussen Ahmed as a historian and writer. His mastery of the English language, paired with his extensive reading, gave his works prominence in both academic and cultural circles. Hussen’s ability to present a balanced analysis, avoiding emotional bias while conveying deep insights, made his contributions stand out. However, Dr. Idris noted with sadness that Hussen passed away before realizing his ambition to craft a national narrative from his local studies of Islam and Ethiopian Muslims. “It seems the study of Islamic history at Addis Ababa University began and ended with him,” Dr. Idris remarked, emphasizing the responsibility of Hussen’s students to translate his works into native languages and continue his scholarly tradition.

Ustaz Muhammad Saeed Abdullah, the founder of the Arabic Department at Addis Ababa University, echoed these sentiments. “He was a landmark figure for those engaged in Ethiopian history and culture, both within the country and abroad. His work brought to light forgotten Arabic writings by Ethiopian intellectuals, ensuring they received the attention they deserved.” Ustaz Muhammad noted that Hussen was not only a leading figure in the study of Ethiopian Muslims and Islamic traditions but also a trusted expert on contemporary issues affecting Ethiopia’s Muslim community. He highlighted Hussen’s international contributions, such as his lectures at the University of Yemen and presentations at conferences in Paris and Norway.

Despite his significant contributions, Ustaz Muhammad pointed out that Hussen’s premature death at the age of 56 left a void. “He laid the foundation for Islamic studies, but his work was cut short before he could produce a successor to carry it forward with the same momentum.”

Selected Works of Professor Hussen Ahmed

Professor Hussen Ahmed’s scholarly contributions span a wide range of topics, making his body of work a cornerstone for Ethiopian and Islamic studies. His research touched on various aspects of Ethiopian history, including “The Chronicle of Shawa”, his partial translation and annotation of significant historical texts, and his work on “Traditional Muslim Education in Wallo”. He introduced forgotten Arabic hagiographies from Wällo and documented the evolution of Ethiopia’s Islamic discourse, as seen in “Islam and Islamic Discourse in Ethiopia (1973–1993)” and “Islamic Literature and Religious Revival in Ethiopia (1991–1994)”. His keen interest in Ethiopian Islamic literature and history is further exemplified in his studies on Ethiopian Muslim elites, the Muslim diaspora, and Yemeni Arabs in urban Ethiopia. Notably, Hussen examined the life and legacy of Al-ḤajjBushra Ay Muhammad, a 19th-century Muslim reformer from Wallo. In his later works, such as “The Coming of Age of Islamic Studies in Ethiopia”, he reflected on the current state of research and publications in his field. His research extended beyond Ethiopia’s borders, offering insights into broader Islamic influences, yet always remained rooted in his mission to shed light on Ethiopia’s rich but underexplored Islamic heritage.

A Legacy Unfulfilled, But Enduring

In 2021, at the Bilalul Habeshi Development and Assistance event, Professor Hussen was posthumously honored alongside other distinguished individuals for their contributions to Ethiopian culture and scholarship. Plans are underway for Harun Media to produce a documentary chronicling his life and achievements, with discussions to establish a foundation in his name, ensuring that his legacy continues to inspire future generations.

Professor Hussen belonged to an era of intellectual awakening in Ethiopia, standing alongside scholars such as Professor Mered, Professor Yusuf Ahmed, and Professor Mesfin Woldemariam. Like them, his work transformed Ethiopian studies, carving a lasting impact on the country’s academic and cultural history. His untimely death at the age of 56—following a heart attack and treatment at Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa—was a profound loss. His younger sister, Weyzero Ferida Ahmed, poignantly recalled that he was the youngest professor at Addis Ababa University, a testament to his remarkable academic achievements at a young age.

Despite his death, Professor Hussen left behind an extensive collection of unpublished research articles and manuscripts, which continue to serve as invaluable resources for scholars today. His legacy is not just in the works he completed but in the foundations he laid for future generations. His life remains a shining example of intellectual dedication, and his scholarly contributions will undoubtedly endure as essential pillars in the study of Ethiopian and Islamic history.

Contributed by Teshome Birhanu Kemal