Guddifachaa an Indigenous Childcare Practice of Oromo Society: Perspectives and Mechanisms of Revitalization in Tulama Oromo
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2017-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Guddifachaa is an ingenious, indigenous and endogenous childcare practice, which has been practiced and is practiced in a ritual way by the Oromo society. Guddifachaa is a voluntary system of customary adoption in which birth families and adoptive parents have an arrangement of bringing up an adoptee based on Safuu in general and cultural norms, values, rituals, and obligations in particular. Previous studies showed that guddifachaa as customary adoption should be supported rather than replaced by formal adoption; and despite its indigenity, it has been facing various challenges. The purpose of this study is to describe guddifachaa and what it means to serve “the best interests of the child” from perspectives of triad parties i.e., adopters, adoptees and birth families and identifying mechanisms of its revitalization. The study was descriptive qualitative case study at cross sectional design. Out of non-probability sampling, purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used respectively. The participants of the study included adoptive families, adoptees, birth families, Abbaa Gadaa, elders and experts. Twenty sample sizes were selected from the target population in the study site of Metta of Tulama Oromo. Data collection methods were in-depth interview, observation and document review. The collected data was analyzed by using thematic analysis. The data quality assurance was employed trustworthiness criteria to maximize credibility, dependability, transferability and confirmability. The current study found out that guddifachaa is driven from Afan Oromo term and is common cultural practice of Oromo society in which infertile individuals or families have been seeking to adopt children from other families according to its ritual purpose since time immemorial. Guddifachaa is viewed positively because it is an indigenous cultural institution in which childless families have their own children to get social protection and social security in turn. The registration of Gadaa system into United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organization and the use of guddifachaa term in national and regional legal instruments can be considered as prospects; and breaking down of social, economic and system of Oromo society; and oppressive system of past regimes may be taken as challenges of guddifachaa. In order to revitalize guddifachaa, Gadaa System should be in place because it is a symbol umbrella of the Oromo’s identity. The study demands implications from education, research, policies, social workers, other concerned bodies and practice to maintain this best practice for childcare.
Keywords: Guddifachaa as indigenous childcare practice, perspectives, triad parties, mechanisms of revitalization, best interests of the child, Oromo society
Description
Keywords
Guddifachaa as Indigenous Childcare Practice; Perspectives; Triad Parties; Mechanisms of Revitalization; best Interests of the Child; Oromo society