Mika’el Abiy is a tabia or municipality in the Dogu’a Tembien district of the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. The tabia centre is in Megesta village, located approx. 7 km to the southeast of the woreda town Hagere Selam.
Geography
The tabia stretches down south of the main road towards Rubaksa, which is a wider area with several springs and traditional irrigation. The highest peak is Gumawta on the Tsatsen plateau and the lowest place Rubaksa.
Geology and soils
Geological formations
From the higher to the lower locations, the following geological formations are present:
** Deep dark cracking clays with very good natural fertility, waterlogged during the wet season
** Brown to dark sands and silt loams on alluvium and colluvium
Springs
As there are no permanent rivers, the presence of springs is of utmost importance for the local people. The following are the main springs in the tabia:
May Zahla in Dingilet
May Ayni in Rubaksa
Livelihood
The population lives essentially from crop farming, supplemented with off-season work in nearby towns. The land is dominated by farmlands which are clearly demarcated and are cropped every year. Hence the agricultural system is a permanent upland farming system, and the population are not nomads.
Population
The tabia centre Megesta holds a few administrative offices and some small shops. The villages close to Hagere Selam have established a new settlement, at the margin of Hagere Selam, where the inhabitants benefit from the proximity of the town. The main other populated places in the tabia are:
Religion and churches
Most inhabitants are Orthodox Christians. The following churches are located in the tabia:
Legends and myths
In Megesta, there is a strong story about the Queen of Sheba who was transformed in a snake; the track of the snake is represented by a line of trees up to now. In the northern part of Harena, called Argak'a, there is a large rock of more than 50 m² - the story goes that a certain Ilias transported it up to there.
History
The history of the tabia is strongly confounded with the history of Tembien.
Roads and communication
The main road Mekelle – Hagere Selam – Abiy Addi runs at the north and west of the tabia. Inhabitants mostly move on foot to Hagere Selam from where they can travel further. A rural access road links Hagere Selam to the main villages of Mika’el Abiy.
Schools
Almost all children of the tabia are schooled, though in some schools there is lack of classrooms, directly related to the large intake in primary schools over the last decades. Schools in the tabia include Selam Seret school.
Tourism
Its mountainous nature and proximity to Mekelle makes the tabia fit for tourism.
Touristic attractions
Dingilet waterfall
Rubaksa irrigated gardens
Gumawta peak
Geotouristic sites
The high variability of geological formations and the rugged topography invites for geological and geographic tourism or “geotourism”. Geosites in the tabia include:
Trekking routes
Trekking routes have been established in this tabia. The tracks are not marked on the ground but can be followed using downloaded.GPX files.
Route 10, from Haddush Addi, through T’eshi to Rubaksa
Route 11, from Megesta, through Harena to Hagere Selam
In the main villages, there are traditional beer houses, often in unique settings, which are a good place for resting and chatting with the local people. Most renown in the tabia are
Letesillasie Gebrecherkos in Megesta village
Amit Gebregziabher in Megesta village
Tsehaynesh Tesfay in Megesta village
Accommodation and facilities
The facilities are very basic. One may be invited to spend the night in a rural homestead or ask permission to pitch a tent. Hotels are available in Hagere Selam and Mekelle.
More detailed information
For more details on environment, agriculture, rural sociology, hydrology, ecology, culture, etc., see the overall page on the Dogu’a Tembien district.
