Mota, Ethiopia

Due to the presence of Sebara Dildiy, one of only two bridges across the Abay River until the late 19th century, Mota became a major commercial center. Described by at least one group of European travellers as "the most considerable market" in Gojjam; it attracted merchants from as far away as Begemder, Gondar and Tigray. To reinstate the commerce prior to the bridge being broken, an organization named Bridges to Prosperity is building a 100-meter suspended pedestrian bridge to provide safe access^[4] Those crossing the river are able to obtain cotton cloth, cattle, and horses.^[5] Likewise, Mota was the seat of an important royal fiefdom during the Gondarine period,^[6] and a notable place for asylum in the early 19th century.^[7]

The artist AleqaElyas Hailu, believed to be Ethiopia's first foreign-trained artist, was born in Mota around 1861. He worked mostly in Shewa where he decorated manuscripts and many churches, although he also decorated one in his native town. His son Aleqa Gebre Ezgziabher Elyas was a man of literature, writing the Royal Chronicle of Lij Iyasu and the Empress Zewditu.^[8]

1930年代には、木曜日が市場の日だった。東アフリカ戦線では、ギデオン部隊がイタリア軍駐屯部隊を欺いて1941年4月24日に降伏させた。^{[ 7 ]}戦後、モタはモタ・アウラジャ（地区）の行政中心地であり、1968年のゴジャム農民反乱のホットスポットの一つとなった。^{[ 9 ]}

2009年10月、地域当局は、モタとディグア・ツィオンを結ぶ47キロの道路の建設が開始され、予算は1億4700万ブル以上で、2010年9月までに完成予定であると発表した。 ^{[ 10 ]}