Socio-Cultural Integration: the Case of Kuti Resettlement Site in Kaffa Zone
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2011-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study investigates the socio-cultural integration of resettler and host communities in Kuti
resettlement site in Gimbo woreda one of the resettlement sites selected for the 1985/86
resettlement program. The study was conducted with 20 participants selected from the resettled
and host communities. The premise for the selection of the mentioned study site is the absence of
prior research in the site and to add some additional knowledge on few researches done in sociocultural
integration aspect of resettlers in general. The research follows the procedures of an
exploratory case study design in examining the experiences of socio-cultural integration between
the host and resettler communities. Unstructured interview guide and two FGD sessions were
used as the data collection instruments. Content analysis technique was applied in this study.
This technique used to analyze their socio-cultural experiences and the perceptions towards each
other. Three key findings are emerged from this study. The first is that both the resettler and host
communities generally have positive regard towards each other. The second finding showed that
different strategies of socio-cultural integration are used by the communities such as:
intermarriage, sharecropping and adoption of cultural practices. The third major finding showed
that the two greatest challenges to integration are lack of equal political participation and
stereotyping by both communities. In conclusion, the study findings showed that there are
aspects of socio-cultural integration which were manifested socially and culturally. The social
manifestations included: intermarriage, God parenting, friendship, sharecropping, borrowing and
lending. The cultural manifestation pertained to the adoption of different cultural practices by
both communities. The challenges of integration were also perceived by the participants as
resolvable in the long run and not severe to threaten future prospects for further integration.
Keywords: acculturation, host, integration, resettlement, resettler, socio-cultural
Description
Keywords
Acculturation; Host;Integration; Resettlement; Resettler; Socio Cultural