The region contains mostly
Amhara and a small
Agew community, some speaking the nearly extinct
Qemant language, and was formerly inhabited by a substantial number of
Qwaragna people, who spoke the
Qwara language, and the
Beta Israel. Qwara had political importance at least as early as the reign of
Iyoas I, when the Dowager Queen
Mentewab relied on her supporters in Qwara to support her against her rival
Wubit, the wife of her son the late Emperor
Iyasu II. More importantly, it formed part of the territories of the warlord
Dejazmach Meru, who had inherited the office of governor of Qwara from his uncle,
Qeñazmach Kebte; these territories, known as
Ye Meru Qemas (literally, "The mouth of Meru", or "What Meru eats") were inherited by Dejazmach
Kinfu. In Qwara, was born Kinfu's relation, Kassa Hailu, who later used Kinfu's relationships in Qwara to build a power base there in his successful effort that made him Emperor "Tewodros the Quaregna" who was born in Qwara. II. The future Emperor made Qwara his base from the
Battle of Koso Bar until his victory at the
Battle of Gur Amba (27 September 1852), sometimes as a
shifta, or
outlaw. ==Notes==