All activities and life of each and every member of the Oromo was guided by an egalitarian socio-economic and political structure of the society called the Gada system. The Gada system is a class system that succeeds each other every eight years in assuming political-military administration, economic management, and other social activities. It was the central institution of […]
Many of the treatments of religion in Ethiopia focus on the Abrahamic systems of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. These have all had a major impact on Ethiopian identity, yet their expression in Ethiopia is distinct. This overview of some of the basic concepts of non-Abrahamic religion in Ethiopia will provide important background for better understanding […]
Three terms that should be defined before proceeding: power, identity, and religion. Power must be defined not only as a standalone term but in context. For instance, there is a difference between political power and the power to change. Political power is defined as the power to exert influence and affect change in political systems. […]
Oromo society like any society has been conscious of its cultural identity, its relation to nature, and the existence of a powerful force that regulates the connection between nature and society. The Oromo knowledge of society and the world can be classified into two: a) cultural and customary knowledge, known as bekumssa aada, and b) […]
The Oromo people is the largest of the Cushitic speaking groups of people in Africa and also the largest ethnic group of Ethiopia. The Region has a common border with all Regional States of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, except Tigray National Regional State. The Oromo people, like the other peoples and nationalities of […]
Gadaa is an indigenous socio-political democratic system of the Oromo people that regulated Political stability, economic development, social activities, cultural obligations, moral responsibility, and the philosophy of religious order of the society. The political philosophy of Gadaa is based on three main values: terms of eight years, balanced opposition between parties, and power-sharing between higher […]
The Gadaa System is a system of generation segments or Gadaa classes that succeeded each other every eight years in assuming political, military, judicial, legislative and ritual responsibilities. Each Gadaa class remains in power during a specific term (Gadaa ) which begins and ends with a formal transfer ceremony. Each active Gadaa class—beyond the first […]
Despite Gadaa being an egalitarian social system, women were excluded from passing through age-sets and generation-sets. Gada effectively enforced a gender-based division of labor in Oromo society, although it allowed two equally important separate and interdependent economic domains. Explaining how the Gadaa system brought these two domains together by establishing mechanisms of balancing, regulating and […]
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