Dejazmach Balcha Safo

Balcha Safo (Known as "Balcha Abba Nefso")

Artillery Commander, Hero of Adwa, Governor of Sidamo, Patriot Martyr

Born 1863-01-01

Shewa, Ethiopia

Passed Away 1936-11-06 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Lifespan 73 years old

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"I was born free, I fought for free Ethiopia at Adwa, and an old lion shall not end his days bowing to Roman invaders."

Archival Overview

Legendary artillery commander known as Balcha Abba Nefso, who turned the Hotchkiss mountain guns against the Italian invaders at Adwa and died fighting fascist occupation in 1936.

Biographical Record

Balcha Safo was born in 1863 into an Oromo family. Taken into the service of Ras Mekonnen and Emperor Menelik II, he displayed an exceptional technical aptitude for artillery warfare, commanding the imperial quick-firing mountain guns.

At the Battle of Adwa on March 1, 1896, when Italian columns advanced, Balcha personally aimed and discharged his cannons with devastating precision, shattering the Italian formations. Appointed Governor of Sidamo, he ruled with austere authority. In 1936, when Mussolini invaded Ethiopia, the aging Dejazmach Balcha took up his rifle, leading patriot guerrillas (Arbegnoch) against Italian fascist troops, refusing to surrender and dying on the battlefield in November 1936.

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial

Patriots Memorial Cemetery
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

                         GPS: 9.0300, 38.7400                    

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