An Analytical Overview of the Articles on Historical Issues in Selefia Islamic Newspaper, from 2003 to 2008

Abstract

Islam did not get the official recognition of the Ethiopian state for a long time until 1991. Particularly in the northern part of the country, Islam had not freely been exercised. Islamic religion holidays were not officially recognized. These restrictions on Islam ended when religious equality was declared in Ethiopia and the freedom of the press was declared in 1991. As a result religious literatures like Newspapers, Magazines, Books and others began to be published in local languages. Selefia is one of the Islamic Newspapers that has been written in Amharic language which is the official tongue of Ethiopia. As a paper written in Amharic language which large number people speak in the country, the Selefia Islamic Newspaper is important in expanding historical Islamic knowledge. Before the publication of religious literatures using local languages, Muslims were not in opposition to know Islam that had only found written in Arabic.  This paper is an analytical overview of   the articles having historical issues on the Selefia Islamic Newspaper from 2003 to 2008. An emphasis is given to the summary, the strength and weakness of the articles having historical issues of the newspaper.