His father was a small local chief, and his relative (possibly uncle) Dejazmach Kinfu was governor of the provinces of Dembiya, Qwara and Chelga between Lake Tana and the northwestern frontier.
Hans fader var en lille lokal høvding, og hans slægtning, muligvis en onkel, var Dejazmach Kinfu, guvernør af provinserne Dembiya, Qwara og Chelga mellem Tanasøen og den nordvestlige grænse.