FOLKLORE: AN INSTRUMENT OF CONFLICT PREVENTION, TRANSFORMATION AND RESOLUTION IN THE ETHIOPIAN CONTEXT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/1016-8427/1615Abstract
The article assesses the role of folklore in the form of verbal, ritual and material objects as a means of customary dispute prevention, transformation and resolution in selected ethnic groups in Ethiopia. Samples of oral narratives in the form of proverbs, myths and legends from the Amhara, Tigray, Oromo and Issa linguistic groups are found to have cohesive functions that reiterate harmony among the respective communities and individuals prior to conflicts; conciliatory and mediatory functions during inter-ethnic and intra-ethnic or personal conflicts; and lastly, compensatory functions after conflicts. The familiarity of the content in the narratives and the beauty of the language of the mediators, usually the elders, transform the state of enmity into the state of tolerance and recompense. The pre-reconciliation, reconciliation and post-reconciliation rituals usually accompanied by animal sacrifice, as well as the venues of the rituals (usually river banks and under trees), create a local colour that foreground a feeling of exoneration, absolution, communalism as well as commitment to discontinue blood feuds. The material objects mostly used during the reconciliation rituals, such as Tabots, crosses and other relics of the Orthodox Church, Kalacha, boku, Chachu, Siniqee and Hanfala of the Oromo have a frightening effect on the people who want to redress damages by force. The widest usage of folkloric elements for conflict prevention, resolution and transformation is found to have a consoling and therapeutic effect on the material and psychological dimensions of conflict. On the other hand, it is suggested that concerned bodies should preserve and make use of such rich folkloric heritage that conform with the constitution of the country and international human right conventions.
References
Alemu, K. 2011. Blood feud reconciliation ritual in Salo Mama Midr District, Northern Shewa (translation mine). In
Gebre, Y. ,Fekade, A. and Assefa, F. (eds) 2011. Customary dispute resolution mechanisms in Ethiopia. Addis Ababa:@Eclipse, pp. 134–156.
Bamlaku T., Yeneneh T. & Fekadu B. 2010. Women in conflict and indigenous conflict resolution among the Issa and Gurgura clans of Somali in Eastern Ethiopia. African Journal on Conflict Resolution, 10(1): 85–110.
Bascom, W.R. 1953. Folklore and anthropology. The Journal of American Folklore, 66(262) (Oct-Dec): 283–290. Available: http://www.jstor.org/stable/536722 [Accessed: 10/09/2013]
Bascom, W.R. 1954. Four functions of folklore. The Journal of American Folklore, 67(266) (Oct-Dec): 333–349. Available: Uhttp://www.jstor.org/stable/536411. [Accessed: 10/09/2013]
Birhan, A. 2011. Amare‟s justice forum in Wegdi and Borona districts of Wello Zone (translation mine). In Gebre, Y. ,Fekade, A., & Assefa, F. (eds). 2011. Customary dispute resolution mechanisms in Ethiopia. Addis Ababa:@Eclipse, pp.157–180.
Daniel, D. 2002. Continuity and changes in the status of women: The case of Arsi Oromo living adjacent to upper Wabe Valley (Dodola): MA Thesis. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University.
Debebe, Z. 2011. Conflict Resolution among the Issa Community (translation mine). In Gebre,Y.,Fekade,A. & Assefa F. 2011.ed. Customary dispute resolution mechanisms in Ethiopia. Addis Ababa:@Eclipse, pp. 181–201.
Diakparomre, A.M. 2009. Artefacts as social conflict resolution mechanism in traditional Urhobo society of Nigeria's Niger. Delta Ufahamu: A Journal of African Studies (UCLA) 35(2) (1-19). Available: escholarship.ucop.edu/uc/item/80v732qx. [Accessed: 16/09/2013]
Dorson, R. (ed.). 1972. Folklore and folk life: An introduction. Chicago: The University of Chicago.
Dundes, A. (ed.) 1965. The study of folklore. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.
Gebre, Y., Fekade, A. & Assefa, F. (eds). 2011. Customary dispute resolution mechanisms in Ethiopia. Addis Ababa:@Eclipse.
Hoebel, E.A.1966. Anthropology: The study of man. New York, McGraw-Hill.
Leach, M. (ed.). 1949. Standard dictionary of folklore: Mythology and legend. New York: Funk and Wagnalls.
Lewellen, T.C. 2003. Political Anthropology: An Introduction. 3rd ed. Westport, Praeger.
Malinowski, B. 1926. Myth in primitive psychology. London: University of North Carolina Press.
Mesfin, G. 2006. Ethnicity and ethnic-conflict in post-federal Ethiopia: A case of Mai‟so district conflict between Oromos and Somalis. In Ronald, H., Tuschl, (ed.) Research Papers ethnic and religious conflicts in the southern hemisphere. Stadtschlaining, European University Center for Peace Studies. Issue 03/06. Available: epu.ac.at/fileadmin/downloads/research/rp_0306.pdf . [Accessed: 18/08/2013]
Mulugeta, N. 2011. Sereaguma: A conflict resolution the Oromo community in Adea Liben Zone (translation mine). In Gebre, Y., Fekade, A. & Assefa, F. (eds). 2011. Customary dispute resolution mechanisms in Ethiopia. Addis Ababa,@Eclipse, pp. 181–201.
Tadesse, J. 2004. A contextual study of Guji-Oromo proverbs: Functions in focus. MA Thesis. Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa University.
Temesgen, M. 2011. Conflict resolution among Shakoch community. In Gebre, Y., Fekade, A. & Assefa, F. (eds). 2011. Customary dispute resolution mechanisms in Ethiopia. Addis Ababa: @Eclipse, pp. 181–201.
Tolosa, M. 2011. Women‟s institution for conflict resolution in Arsi. In Gebre, Y., Fekade, A. & Assefa, F. (eds). 2011. Customary dispute resolution mechanisms in Ethiopia. Addis Ababa:@Eclipse, pp. 279–298.
Utley, F.L. 1965. Folk literature: An operational definition. In A. Dundes The Study of Folklore. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. pp. 7 – 24.
Yilma, T. 2011. Conflict resolution among Wolaita ethnic group. In Gebre, Y., Fekade, A. & Assefa, F. (eds) 2011. Customary dispute resolution mechanisms in Ethiopia. Addis Ababa:@Eclipse, pp.181–201.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright will be vested in Unisa Press. However, as long as you do not use the article in ways which would directly conflict with the publisher's business interests, you retain the right to use your own article (provided you acknowledge the published version of the article) as follows:
- to make further copies of all or part of the published article for your use in classroom teaching;
- to make copies of the final accepted version of the article for internal distribution within your institution, or to place it on your own or your institution's website or repository, or on a site that does not charge for access to the article, but you must arrange not to make the final accepted version of the article available to the public until 18 months after the date of acceptance;
- to reuse all or part of this material in a compilation of your own works or in a textbook of which you are the author, or as the basis for a conference presentation.