Browsing by Author "Gellebo, Kansite"

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    Moora Astudy of the Public Place and its Multiple Purposes Among the Konso people of Southern Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2011-07) Gellebo, Kansite; Epple (Phd), Susanne
    This etllflographic fieldwork was carried alii from 2 jS'JaIllIGlY lip 10 } (/" March 201 J amollg fhe KOllso people of Southern Ethiopia. The main objective of the slll«(v ~vas [0 etplore fhe origin, meaning alld fUllctiolls of the A100ra 0/ the KOllso people of southern Ethiopia as well as fhe changes it is presentl), facing. With fhis aim, the study e.xamines the elemellls, usage al/{I [unctioll of Maara in different cullllral domains of KOl1so people alld change alld COl/IiI/II it)' wilh regard (0 the AloOl"a. The methods used 10 condllct the study inel"de: parliciplllll ohsen'atioll, III-depth if/ten'jew and fOCIIS group discussion. Although I encouIIlered some challenges 111l1i11(}1 with regard to difficulty to talk CO farmers as the fieldwork was conducted during an important agricIIlllIral rime, shortage o/time andfillancial constraints. !tried Ill) best to gathernecess{Jf)' ill/ormatioll I was interested m. The findings 0/ this study reveal that regan/fess 0/ the prevalent changes. the Moora retains a central role in the social, political and religiOUS life of the KOl1so people ill the P(lst (111(1 presem. Moora COlllalll sel'eral elements sllch as 'he hfg thatched house. 'he open free space. the generation poles. the flat stones. the stones of manhood. the circular stones. the tree for shade and the allimal compar/melll. Each a/these elemell/s has its OWII symbolic meaning. Since the stl'l{C{l(re, form alld filllCIIOII of Moora c(m val)" the elemellfs /ound all them also WII)'. For l1Istallce, none of the DIlls/de town Moora has a tharched house, flat stones alld all alllmal compartment. while the generation pole and circular stones are commonly found on el'e,), Moora, whether inside or olltside the 10WII The data shaH'S that there exisl different types of Moora serving different purposes. Moora are pllblic assembly places for the resolwioll of displlle. !vroom are a place of informal learning and the dissemination of informarion. They (Ire public sleeping places for male members of the community. They are experience sharing places for males from childhood 10 old age. Together with this. Moora is a place where different types of Konso dances and plays are performed. Moora are places where remembrances for the past generalioll are staged. Aloora is 0 traditiollol guest-house alld a shelter for refugees ill times 0/ crisis. Christian churches also lise open field on the "'foora as conference rooms. Modern health officials lise A100ra as a place for VlICCiluuion. Trainings all the Transmission of certain diseases and prevention mechanisms are also thought there. State's political election process IS held 01/ tlte Aloora. The study shows that the spread of Christianity (Orthodox and Proteslllnflsm) challellged the indigenous culture of Moora: traditional religiolls practices are considerell as works oj el'iI spIrits and ,he swearing MaDras wirhill which cursing alld swearing take place are meaningless Jar Christians. Expansion of modern school system has much bee" cOlllribttted to the \veak"ess of the indigenous culture of Moora as children spend much of their lillie at these schools. As a result. the role of Iv/oora as a cemer of informal learning through which they leam social l'lIlues and norms hm'e undergone Significant change. The indigenous role of ~foora as a cellter of Konso political activity has been undermined by the modern legal court system as people prefer 10 rake their cases to modem j udiclOl institutions. The deterioratlol/ of ecological condition of the area has a great impacI on rhe c/tllllre of Moora (IS it is challenging 10 get woods alld grass of lthich thatched hOllses are built. Filially. despite momentous challenges it is currently facing. the l\lloora. however. is still maintained and gh'es multiple purposes for the people.
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    Moora: A Study of the Public Place and its Multiple Purposes Among the Konso People of Southern Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2011-07) Gellebo, Kansite; Epple, Susanne(PhD)
    This ethnographic fieldwork was carried out from 21stJanuary up to 10thMarch 2011 among the Konso people of Southern Ethiopia. The main objective of the study was to explore the origin, meaning and functions of the Moora of the Konso people of southern Ethiopia as well as the changes it is presently facing. With this aim, the study examines the elements, usage and function of Moora in different cultural domains of Konso people and change and continuity with regard to the Moora. The methods used to conduct the study include: participant observation, in-depth interview and focus group discussion. Although I encountered some challenges mainly with regard to difficulty to talk to farmers as the fieldwork was conducted during an important agricultural time, shortage of time and financial constraints, I tried my best to gather necessary information I was interested in. The findings of this study reveal that regardless of the prevalent changes, the Moora retains a central role in the social, political and religious life of the Konso people in the past and present. Moora contain several elements such as the big thatched house, the open free space, the generation poles, the flat stones, the stones of manhood, the circular stones, the tree for shade and the animal compartment. Each of these elements has its own symbolic meaning. Since the structure, form and function of Moora can vary, the elements found on them also vary. For instance, none of the outside town Moora has a thatched house, flat stones and an animal compartment, while the generation pole and circular stones are commonly found on every Moora, whether inside or outside the town The data shows that there exist different types of Moora serving different purposes. Moora are public assembly places for the resolution of dispute. Moora are a place of informal learning and the dissemination of information. They are public sleeping places for male members of the community. They are experience sharing places for males from childhood to old age. Together with this, Moora is a place where different types of Konso dances and plays are performed. Moora are places where remembrances for the past generation are staged. Moora is a traditional guest-house and a shelter for refugees in times of crisis. Christian churches also use open field on the Moora as conference rooms. Modern health officials use Moora as a place for vaccination. Trainings on the transmission of certain diseases and prevention mechanisms are also thought there. State’s political election process is held on the Moora. The study shows that the spread of Christianity (Orthodox and Protestantism) challenged the indigenous culture of Moora: traditional religious practices are considered as works of evil spirits and the swearing Mooras within which cursing and swearing take place are meaningless for Christians. Expansion of modern school system has much been contributed to the weakness of the indigenous culture of Moora as children spend much of their time at these schools. As a result, the role of Moora as a center of informal learning through which they learn social values and norms have undergone significant change. The indigenous role of Moora as a center of Konso political activity has been undermined by the modern legal court system as people prefer to take their cases to modern judicial institutions. The deterioration of ecological condition of the area has a great impact on the culture of Moora as it is challenging to get woods and grass of which thatched houses are built. Finally, despite momentous challenges it is currently facing, the Moora, however, is still maintained and gives multiple purposes for the people.