IDENTITY IN ETHIOPIA:THE OROMOFROM THE 16TH TO THE 19THCENTURY, When the GadaaDemocracy Rules in a FederalState, OROMO PEOPLEHOOD: HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL OVERVIEW. The system regulates political, economic, social and religious activities of the community. ;.En!PHI Following the rite of passage, therefore, the junior gamme assume responsibilities such as looking after sheep and other simple duties. Asmarom (1973) is one of the scholars who studied the structure of Borana Oromo's Gada system. }}vk.p-!)Kzp5U`kU }rnJ^eV>U59#UKXs/Vr*Y%=:1E&eGFP*9yfpOiU*?h U01|G})\_ $ hiM.^{& zDgA(_-S30`s/ar:Q`To{22L1_'=ak$yxrj}s2b7Q*O)`dkRRB5%L+LNkTbBBZ*JagM:MbgumA*EhQ6 4 0 obj Riley outlines their two options: They can either kill themselves or wait it out and savor whatever time they have left . Hence, among the Borana, late-born sons of a man should be introduced to the same Gadaa grade as his brothers despite the difference in their age. (LogOut/ Lastly, they remain as an informal group of friends and kinsmen rather than as members of a Gadaa class until they reach the third Gadaa grade. Defining the term generation is not an easy task especially in a relation to its socio-political relevance for peoples responsibilities and rights characterization. ]OYQP"Turc/"vw@kO80;:qcGx$aAcR!C:yawD$'em -S+|$vwxpAF$>KI]fOX=Vm5 Wu "QP4,CRs(Jq In the state of Oromia under the Federal system of Ethiopia, the Gadaa system started a renaissance across Oromia. Gada system, an indigenous democratic socio-politicalEthiopia Representative List 2016 EN: Guyo Goba, the seventieth Abaa Gada of the Borana Oromo, ties 'kallacha' headgear on his forehead which is a symbol of power, and bearing a staff known as Hororo and a whiplash (Litcho) in his hand and wearing shorts (Hida) division 3 college athletic director salary. However, among the Boran,it is commonly known as gogessa (Gadaa-cycles) and they are named as the first , the second , the third , the fourth and the fifth Gadaa cycles (gogeessa tokkoffa , gogeessa lammaffa, gogeessa sadaffa , gogeessa afraffa and gogeessa shanaffa). A few of them are pulling at their scraggly white and ochre beards while nodding in agreement. Every transition ritual at different levels has its own unique character, name, and procedure. The Karrayyu clan has one Adula Hayyu in Gada Harboora. Accordingly, all semi-retired members belonging to all yuuba grades will attend the Gadaa General Assembly. The class forms its own internal officials (adula hayyus) and its own assembly (yaaaa). The Gadaa system as a whole provided the machinery for democratic rule and enjoyment of maximum liberty for the people. It is a brick that most indigenous peoples of East Africa use to organize and structure their society (based on age relatedness). They ensured that the laws made in the higher levels of authority reached the people. Each of the semi-retired Gadaa grades bears eight years period and in sum covers thirty-two years (i.e. Despite the emergence of various autonomous Gadaa systems, the central principles of the system remained intact. [27] Siinqee feminist represent women in the gadaa system.[28]. The election process is known as lallaba (proclamation). However, to be initiated to the Gadaa system, in principle, they have to be always five Gadaa grades apart from their father. Abagadha is anointed at an early age of 1-8 years. in the fourth year of Abba Gadaas term office). Both types of social groups are formed every eight years. As discussed elsewhere, a son born to a man at the fifth Gadaa grade (raba) will be introduced to the first Gadaa grade and such children are commonly named as daballe. However, before traveling to different houses, they had to notify in advance the mothers of age-mates so that they will arrange the trip and feast for them. He takes a seat at one end of the council as he has done at the beginning of his rule, eight years in total. It was the central institution of the Oromo people that contain complex and extraordinary features. Herds of cattle or camels were not allowed to go there unless there was an extremely severe drought. @ gad&Cv7pc[D.~"= vadR,sH!~(lS=5nTy %MtaZ,q'I32#N+ ~t6>Es){6?9d(HDx&Axdy[?T ` L(M? |+x#nADbiCg_ SC^Y|s+WR?bry06NRIQ#kE>MOwVMIVui0CjWP!]z+*UrP% 6iy^?haM?S*p]vo+SRX'u?0TRp4r";o_YJ9PXEL' H+wdXp+AuH>NrKIz8}OcN;vcXpg e$ age and initiation only) the more it gets easier and the more recruitment elements increase (e.g. Third, it is also part of the ceremony to plant a flag made from white and red colored garment called a (baqqalaa faajjii) (a white flag). [14] It is the system with which the Oromo people have been governing themselves in a democratic way for centuries. rules are determined by Abba Gada (the leader of Oromo democratic institution named Gada in which Borana is one of the branches) together with council of elders or messengers of Abba Gada. Despite the Gadaa system being an egalitarian social system, women were excluded from passing through age-sets and generation-sets. However, what initiation, interval, and genealogical generations constitute is not clear. HWn6C! Occasionally, the Gadaa leaders come from the Ethiopian . This begins when sons join the system as members of Gadaa class (generation class or set) forty years after their fathers and continue passing from one Gadaa grade to the next every eight years. For example, in case of US once a president finishes his or her two-term office there is no chance to serve as a member of the Congress again or as an administrative member of a newly elected president. They were the Gada class or the Warra Bora. The purpose of these activities is to first make the members of the grade be aware of their class and peer group. In this regard, due to the rigidity of the Gadaa principle, the moment a member of the family fails to stick to the rules of timing for legitimate procreation, the whole generational chain is brought out of step. 216 0 obj <>stream Age is one of the basic elements for age-group formation. It is through a formal rite of passage that previously semi-retired assemblymen enter into the final Gadaa grade. According to the Oromo worldview, all are established by divine will. Put it differently, where Dulo Gadaa class is known for military leadership and defending the territory; Birmaji was, perhaps, notorious for rendering justice to the people. And the possession of the defining institutions of Qaallu (the spiritual leader) and the common Gadaa government seems to have been the special mark of the Oromo people. In 2015, the Gadaa Center at Odaa Bultum was inaugurated and in 2018, the Gadaa Center at Odaa Hullee reinstalled after two centuries of interruption. Economically, from those time immemorial up to date Borana have laws that are passed in the Gumi Gayo covering Borana traditional land and natural resources. Like modern parliaments today this Borana parliament would summon sittings to make, repeal or ensure that the laws were being followed. 0000001731 00000 n Corporal punishment of dabballe is strictly prohibited. stream The council men bow in reverence. For example, according to Boran diction, the term Dulo dule signifies that the Gadaa class of Dulo (waging war and it was one of the five Gadaa classes) had conducted military expedition. It is, therefore, wrong to conceive the idea of retirement or leaving the office here as in the west where a person is relieved from his or her official duties and s/he cannot come back to leadership positions. the former is horizontal and refers to the collective, the latter is vertical and defines the responsibilities assumed successively throughout their careers. However, the Boran did adopt a practical solution to the gap created due to late born sons, commonly known as sons of elders (ilmaan jaarsaa); It refers to sons born to a man that has passed the stage of fatherhood, the Raba grade). The president was called the Abba boku. The Borana traditional religion is monotheistic; they worship Waaq (or Waaq, Waaqa or Wak). Boranas also have special warriors that defend the community from any enemies. [7][8][9] Whenever an Abbaa Gadaa dies while exercising his functions, the bokkuu (the symbol of power) passes to his wife and she keeps the bokkuu and proclaims the laws. [1] It is also practiced by the Konso and Gedeo people of southern Ethiopia. 0000001244 00000 n Participatory impact assessment of ticks on Borana cattle milk production was conducted from January 2010 to July 2010. Only those between 32-40 years are allowed to be part of this special Borana Defense Forces. 0000012974 00000 n the former is horizontal and refers to the collective, the latter is vertical and defines the responsibilities assumed successively throughout their careers. 2 (Summer, 1956), pages 171-190, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume IV: Distribution of Population by Socio-Economic Characteristics", https://www.peoplegroups.org/Explore/groupdetails.aspx?peid=14769, 2007 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia, "The Genetic Structure and History of Africans and African Americans", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Boorana&oldid=1152099502, This page was last edited on 28 April 2023, at 05:55. The Abbaa Boku and his two colleagues are chosen from the oldest or most distinguished families, which are known as `families of Hayu. The principal function of the Abbaa Boku is to preside over the parliament to proclaim the laws, and to act when necessary as a ritual expert in the Gadaa-ceremonies. Then they had to build a traditional hut known as galma especially on a free and fresh area. 0000025742 00000 n The second in command who is also the supreme leader of the whole Borana community is referred to as Abagadha. Today we seem to have forgotten these important rules, and cattle invade and damage forests every dry season. In this respect, Gadaa is a holistic (social, economic, political and religious) system in essence and perhaps this fact made it difficult to define unanimously the Gadaa system by simple and clear terms. Whereas Gadaa grades are the phases of development through which the members pass. of the abba gada - can be held by either moiety. Marra Grass or pasture Muru Cutting, making a judgment or decision Nagaa Peace/cosmic harmony Nagaa Booranaa Peace of Borana The Borana is one of the two major subgroups of the Oromo people.They live in the Borena Zone of the Oromia Region and Liben Zone of the Somali Region of Ethiopia, former Northern Frontier District of Northern Kenya,Tana River in the former coast province of Kenya and also in central Somalia.Boranas living in Kenya and Ethiopia speak a dialect of Oromo and those living in central Somalia share . In his comparative analysis of East African age-sets system. Between the third and fourth Gadaa grades, boys become adolescent and initiated into taking serious social responsibilities. That is a son gets introduced to a specific Gadaa grade, which correlates to the Gadaa class of his father, and subsequently changes his grade every eight years as a member of his cohort.

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