A Biography of Shekota Gumma (1865-1937)

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the life history of Shekota Gumma, his teaching career and the contribution of Shekota Gumma for the spread of Islam in Gumma and its areas.  Methodologically, the research as historical study attempted to examine both primary and secondary sources. The primary sources are exclusively depends on archives and oral interviews with important informants in the former territories of Gumma presently the districts of Toba, Sigmo, Dhiddeessa, Gatera and Bunnoo Bedele town.   The collected oral data are analyzed.  Different types of secondary sources such as books, journals, theses, are also scrutinized and relevant materials extracted for checking and counter checking. The finding of the study shows that, in his teaching Shekota Gumma never touched politics. Shekota was able to cultivate a number of Quranic students. His effort to teach his student in their mother tongue Afaan Oromo paved the way to create   solidarity among the Gumma people. He also wrote down a number of religious manuscripts in Afaan Oromo using Arabic scripts.

Keywords: shekota Gumma; Gumma; Islam; religious manuscripts

DOI: 10.7176/JCSD/72-02

Publication date: January 31^st 2024