An Intriguing Spin in the Narrative of Armenians & Ottomans in Ethiopia: A story of “Arba Lijoch”

The Ottoman systematic extermination of its minority Armenian subjects inside their historic homeland is what led Raphael Lemkin to coin the word genocide and defined it as a systematic and premeditated extermination within legal parameters. The Ottoman period spanned more than 600 years and came to an end only in 1922, when it was replaced by the Turkish Republic and various successor states in south-eastern Europe and the Middle East. The Ottoman activities in Ethiopia proper preceded their invasion, supporting the campaign of Imam Ahmad Gragn (1527) and following the Imam's reverse after the Battle of Jarta in 1542 they had sent him badly needed aid at a time when firearms in the region were rare. The Ottomans invaded the Kingdom of Medri Bahri in Northern Ethiopia in 1557 and then Mitswa and Hirgigo and finally Debarwa. Emperors Sarsa Dengel and Susenyos battled until the Ottomans were defeated.
On the other hand, while the Armenians had traded with Ethiopia from the first century AD and notwithstanding the historic Ethiopian and Armenian Church affiliations, there is also the story of the Arba Lijoch (coming to Ethiopia after the Ottoman Genocide), which led to a wave of transformation in arts. The Armenian community later brought forth the pharmaceutical and medical institutions, introduced the first modern astronomical observatory and built new houses and institutions that incorporated traditional architecture aesthetic motifs to create unique structures. For the Arba Lijoch, Ethiopia not only became a refuge from extermination, but a place to flourish inventively and skillfully, in the mold of their forefathers in search of esoteric likings, unremorseful about their own craving for sanctioned chefs-d'oeuvre in fashioning Ethiopian Jazz. These conscientious and trustworthy Armenians continue to leave their permanent legacy on Ethiopia’s communities and its rich art, music and culture as master managers and crafts persons who built great edifices.
See lecture here or http://www.academia.edu/15397635/An_Intriguing_Spin_in_Narrative_of_the_Armenians_and_Ottomans_in_Ethiopia_-_a_story_of_Arba_Lijoch_