[1] Richard Pankhurst credits him with the creation of the church located in a cave a half-day's journey from the town of Lalibela.

[2] According to a manuscript Pedro Páez and Manuel de Almeida saw at Axum, Na'akueto La'ab ruled for 40 years, a suspiciously round number.

[3] A Gadla or hagiography of Na'akueto La'ab exists, in a manuscript written in the 17th century.

According to Huntingford, it documents that Zagwe power had extended into Gojjam, and credits the king with building two churches: one at Sewa'a "which is said to have been called Wagra Sehin ('mountain of incense') 'among Celestrial', and Ashetan or Asheten 'among Terrestrials'", which Huntingford identifies with an existing church named Ashetan Maryam, a monolithic structure located a few kilometers east of Lalibela; the other in the land of Qoqhena, which was given a tabot from a desecrated church dedicated to Istifanos.

He argues that this tradition masks a brief period when Na'akueto La'ab "was no doubt a rallying point for disaffected elements in the country, and although kept under close watch managed to usurp the throne for a brief period until Yetbarak managed to take his father's throne.