Negash

History

Negash is considered to be the earliest Muslim settlement in Africa. The Futuh al-Habasha records Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi visited the tomb of Ashama ibn Abjar in Negash during his invasion of the province of Tigray (around 1537). Negash is also known for having one of Africa's oldest mosques, that is the Al Nejashi Mosque.

In 2020 during Tigray War, the Al Nejashi Mosque was heavily damaged from shelling and looting.

Demographics

In the statistical tables of the 2007 census published by the Central Statistical Agency, the kebele Negash is located in is reported to have a total population of 7,753 of whom 3,607 are men and 4,146 women; they are distributed amongst 1,689 households in 1,626 housing units. Although it is known for its particular relationship with Islam, 98.2% of the population follows the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the 1.1% of the population is Protestant, and the remaining 0.7% is Muslim.

Climate

Negash, located in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, experiences a semi-arid climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. The rainy season spans from June to September, with July and August receiving the heaviest rainfall. Temperatures in Negash are generally warm throughout the year, with cooler nights and occasional variability depending on elevation and rainfall. The dry season, from October to May, sees minimal precipitation, and the landscape remains arid.

References

References

1. Sihab ad-Din Ahmad bin 'Abd al-Qader, ''Futuh al-Habasa: The conquest of Ethiopia'', translated by Paul Lester Stenhouse with annotations by Richard Pankhurst (Hollywood: Tsehai, 2003), pp. 350f
2. (2014-06-15). "Liste des premières mosquées au monde prophètique, rashidun et omeyyade selon les écris historique et les traces archéologiques". Histoire Islamique.
3. (January 5, 2021). "Tigray crisis: Ethiopia to repair al-Nejashi mosque".
4. [http://www.csa.gov.et/index.php?option=com_rubberdoc&view=doc&id=275&format=raw&Itemid=521 "Tigray Statistical Table"], Annex Table 1B CSA website (accessed 27 August 2010)