Arda Anajina – Stories from Dire Sheik Hussien

Faces of Dire Sheik Hussein

Dire Sheik Hussein and the mystic legacy of Arda Anajina

Anajina is a name that holds mystery and folklore. As per local legend, it originates from the Arabic word “Jin” meaning genie or spirit. In the old days, many genies were said to roam the area – some were good, and others bloodthirsty. When the revered Sheik Hussein arrived, he performed exorcisms to cleanse people purportedly possessed by genies. During one such act, a man cried out “Ana Jinun!” meaning “I am the genie!” in Arabic. From this experience, the name Anajina came about, referring to the land where genies and spirits dwell. This incident seem as if the land itself was speaking to the people around. That is why it’s called Arda Anajina. Arada means compound in Afaan Oromo.

The name of the place is usually called Dire Sheik Hussien. It is believed the name is a combination of two wordings and two definitions. One is Dire, which means a big open field in Afaan Oromo, and you have Sheik Hussien, the founder. Which makes it an open big field of Sheik Hussein. The second one is Dire a person’s name, a man who used to live around here before Sheik Hussein’s family came. Sheik Hussien was born here and taught Islam throughout his life. Even though Sheik Hussein has done marvelous things, to keep the original Oromo name, it’s now called Dire Sheik Hussein. A remembrance of the two important people of the area, and hence the use of combined name.

The white shrine, which is usally associated with Sheik Hussein is built by Sheik Mohammed Tilmatilmo. The history originated around 1,000 years ago, but the shrine has been around for 400 years. Sheik Hussein settled here way before the white shrines you see today were built. The shrine was built exactly around Noorhussien mosque and his graveyard. Most of the structures built here were built during Imam Sheik Mohamed Tilmatilmo era. Tilmatilmo is an Arabic word and can be loosely translated to “a strong wise man” he was the one who built the structure you see today by organizing the community around it.

The shrine you see here doesn’t have a proper architectural design, no steel reinforcement, or cement is used. It is completely indigenous knowledge, and it’s made up of locally found materials. Every year, the community around here gets together to renovate it. Why do you think people come together for this kind of labor endeavor? It’s the teaching of “መደመር” or coming together. This lesson has never been so relevant to our current reality, we need to come together and help one another for a good cause. This is the Sheik Hussein mindset/attitude that is still relevant today at Dire Sheik Hussein.

The shrine stays like this because every year people flock to the mountains to make the white paints. It’s a three or four-month process of burning sandstones and wood in a giant furnace pit. It starts with collecting wood, a dry “Dodoti” tree, and a sandstone called “Hash”. We bring the dodoti wood from the back of Dedela mountain, around 10Km far from this, we collect the wood and transport it by hand. In the same way, we break down the sandstone and carry it in our bags to the shrine site. This all is done by hand, mobilizing the people who live here and we have been doing this for 400 years now.

People claim Sheik Hussein comes from Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and so on. However, we say he is one of us, who was born and raised among us here in Ethiopia. His father and Mother come from the east, east of Dire, and Hussein was born here. The subsequent Imams of the mosque and the shrine were also Oromo’s to this day, not Arabs. It’s only a son or blood family that can build a tomb and shrine when you die, that is why Sheik Mohamed Tilmatilmo took the responsibility and built this marvelous shrine in their name. Sheik Mohmood Tilmatilmo is an Oromo, from Arsi, Jida Wachale tirbe.

The exact date of when Sheik Hussein came here is not clear, but it’s estimated between the 10th and 11th centuries. His father Sheik Ibrahim and his mother Makida came from the east and settled here, you can see their tomb here. Sheik Hussein was born and raised here, he teaches Islam and many other social skills and lifestyle without any prejudice. He lived for 280 years, and for 160 years he used to travel around a lot and wherever he goes to a new place, he introduces himself as a man of God and teaches Islam. For another 50 years, he lived in Arsi, Amigna Sekina area while teaching the Quran. And finally, he settled here and lived for 70 more years until he left this earth. There is also a story of him traveling to Syria, Egypt, France, and Italy to spread Islam and teach. There are only two mosques built by Sheik Noorhussen. There is Bala Mosque, around 10km from here. It is now in ruins because it was neglected for so long. The other is found here, behind the shrine.

Stories from the Sacred Shrine

What most visitors and outside people mix up is, that they think the big white shrine is a mosque, but it’s not. It’s simply a graveyard and shrine. The graves and tombs are a reminder of death. When you come here, remember your death, and what you are taking to the judgment day. It also helps to keep the names of the great people who lived here and where their legacy stays true to this day.