Moora Astudy of the Public Place and its Multiple Purposes Among the Konso people of Southern Ethiopia
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Date
2011-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
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 slllĀ«(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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Keywords
konso people of Southerl ethiopia