Guddifachaa: Adoption Practice in Oromo Society with Particular Reference to the Borana Oromo
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Date
2002-06
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
The evolution of adoption institution as aspect of social structure in the society can hardly be traced
back to specific time and place with precision. But anthropological and historical accounts reveal that
adoption was commonly practiced by many ancient societies. Guddifachaa the indigenous adoption
practice has been known in Oromo society. However, adoption practices in African societies in general
and that of Oromo people in particular were not scholarly studied and well documented. This thesis
contribute to ethnographic works on adoption among the Oromo society.
The emergency of adoption practices are mainly associated with evolution of individualized family life,
private property distinctive religion and social institutions such as kinship in the society. It is
considered as a means by which fictive kinship is formed. In theoretical debates the development of
these social institutions motivated the need to insure continuity of lineage, to get heir to property,
successor to ancestral worships and support in social life. (Goody 1990, O’ shaughnessy 1994)
Adoption of child is also connected with biological desire of human species to replace himself or
perpetuate his genes. In other word adoption of child provides a social progeny to infertile or childless
couples in the society (Goody 1969).
Primarily Guddifachaa, the traditional adoption practice aims at securing family line getting heir to
property and economic support during oldage or ill-health. Guddifachaa provides social progeny to
childless couples in the same way adoption function in other societies. Besides these domestic
functions, guddifachaa has been used at community and politico-Jural levels among Oromo society. It
has been important social mechanism by which social integrations among Oromo and non-Oromo
ethnic groups was achieved. This thesis, illuminates this important and salient feature of adoption
practiced by Oromo society and the Borana in particular. The significance of guddifachaa in providing
labor force in economic activities at household and community levels were highlighted. In this process
the traditional social mechanism of wealth distribution by means of child adoption, system of mutual
support in child rearing and orphans fosterage were elaborated. Traditionally, there have been different
institutions with full power and authority in ratifying, monitoring, controlling and following
enforcement of adoptions in Oromo society. The belief and value system of the society also provided
moral and ideological base for effective implementation of guddifachaa practices. The aada seera
Oromo has been customary legal base of adoption practices.
This thesis highlights that there has been different types of adoption institution among the Oromo
people since ancient time. The institution has been used as an essential social strategy to resolve
problems of foundlings or abandoned children, orphans and biologically infertile families.
Guddifachaa practice contribute valuable institutional and value base in modern child adoption
fostering and placement policy formulation, planning and implementations in the country
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Social Anthropology