North Shewa: Menhirs, Caves, and Rituals

In North Shewa, menhirs, ritual sites, caves, and the history of the Battle of Segale give a trip a clear cultural and historical focus. When looking for a holiday apartment, you can first consider whether you are especially interested in religious practices, cave spaces, or historical events.

Stones and Living Rituals

Dhaga Dhaba Stele 2 stands in Daga Daba Kebele in the Kimbibit District of the North Shewa Zone. The rectangular menhir is 2.65 metres high, was erected by the roadside, and is still used by local people for religious purposes. Its distinctive shape and dimensions make it possible to picture it as a monument; at the same time, its religious use is part of its significance.

The Kawo Korma Tumulus is also a ritual site. It is located in Tuku Kora Kebele in the Kimbibit District. Local people use it for rituals and celebrate there twice a year, in October and May, including by preparing coffee. The recurring months and the preparation of coffee give the local practice described a concrete framework.

A religious significance has also been recorded for the Standing Stones in the Kimbibit District: they were used as Adbar. Informants reported that ritual ceremonies and performances were continuing at the time of the study. This time reference is part of the statement; it describes the observations made during the study.

Caves and Historical Context

Segale Cave is located in Segale Kebele in the Kimbibit District of the North Shewa Zone. It has a wide entrance and a single large interior space, 2 to 3 metres high. According to the description, the space can accommodate more than 200 people. Thus, the cave’s form and the stated size of its interior are as much a focus as its location.

The Battle of Segale offers another way into the area’s history. It is located in Segale Kebele in the Kimbibit District and was a civil war in Ethiopia between the supporters of Empress Regent Zewditu and Lij Iyasu. The battle took place on 27 October 1916 and ended with Zewditu’s victory. The precise date places this one-time historical event in its historical context.

A 2024 thesis reports considerable damage to Ontu Cave Church and Segale Cave, along with a decline in their economic and spiritual value. The thesis gives a 20-minute drive from Sheno to Ontu Cave Church via a paved road. For Segale Cave, it gives both an approximate distance of 26 kilometres from Sheno and a location 27 kilometres northwest of Sheno. Check the current route and access locally before travelling.

Another Landscape in Oromia

If you would like to explore other parts of the broader destination of Oromia beyond North Shewa, the Bale-Arsi Massif offers a different natural focus. Its landscape includes volcanic peaks and ridges, steep slopes, broad valleys, glacial lakes, lush forests, deep gorges, and numerous waterfalls. Above 3,000 metres above sea level, the protected area in Bale Mountains National Park encompasses Africa’s largest area of afroalpine habitat, with numerous glacial lakes, wetlands, and moorlands.

The southern slopes of the Bale Mountains descend to Harenna Forest, which includes areas of cloud forest and is Ethiopia’s second-largest moist tropical forest. The Bale-Arsi Massif is home to endemic mountain nyala and Bale monkeys; it also supports the largest remaining population of the Ethiopian wolf. These landscape and nature themes are part of Oromia and form a separate focus alongside the cultural sites in North Shewa.

Check current travel and access information before planning a visit.

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