For the South American sub-language, see, Borana Gadaa system- a form of government that is in existence for the last 567 years, The Oromo of East Africa, Southwestern Journal of Anthropology, Vol. The other council-men bow in reverence. 0000025790 00000 n These were the Abbaa Cha a, the chair of the assembly, Abbaa Dubbi, the speaker, Abbaa Seera, the Memorizer of laws Abbaa Alanga the judge, Abbaa Duula, the army commander, Abbaa saa in charge of the economy. 0000006983 00000 n However, its use of genealogical generations as its organizing elements makes it different and unique. Since they were semi-nomadic, their population growth did not match with those of their neighbors both in Kenya and Ethiopia, this put them at risk to lose much of their territories. Broadly speaking, the age-set system of social organization is common to east African indigenous peoples. Each active Gadaa classbeyond the first three gradeshas its own internal leadership (Adula) and its own assembly (yaaaa), but the leaders of the class become the leaders of the nation when their class comes to power in the middle of the life cyclea stage of life called Gadaa among the Boran or Luba among the central Oromo. The Borana people are notable for practicing Gadaa system without interruption especially those residing in the Oromia region of Ethiopia, a larger percentage of Boranas in Liban Zone of Somali region and those in central Somalia were Muslims, where as those living in Borena Zone of Ethiopia and those in Kenya majorly practicing Christian and Islamic religion, but few still hold purely to their culture especially those in Sakhu Constituency of Marsabit County. Alaska (None live there). There was no taxation under this system except that Gadaaleaders and their families were provided with necessary materials, such as food, cloth, and house. Accordingly, the Jalab appoints Qae (village) in charge of villages under him. No revealer today - the theme spells itself out in the clues. As a result, we will have early born and late-born sons. Due to this Borana lost much of their top grazing land far from their central area where they used to take their animals during the drought. The Abbaa Duulaa (the defense minister) was also one of the leading figures in the Gadaa government. In the Borana community, where many elements of the Gadaa system still exist, the assembly known as Gumi Gayyo (the assembly of multitudes) brings together every type of important living leaders, such as living Abba Gaddas, the qaallus, age-set councilors, clan leaders and Gadaa councilors, and other concerned individuals to make or amend or change laws and rules every eight years. The council men bow in reverence. Moreover, they may be required to be assistants to the Gadaa Council in power. The Gadaa councilors must pass through rigorous training for years about the laws and the customs of Borana, and the wisdom of leading a society before they take the position of authority in Gadaa. One of the peculiar features of senior gamme is their tendency to be organized as responsible friends hariyya and mobilize themselves for a continuous five years, especially during summer time. In 2015, the Gadaa Center at Odaa Bultum was inaugurated and in 2018, the Gadaa Center at Odaa Hullee reinstalled after two centuries of interruption. The result was that Oromo absorbed of the Christian and Islam religions. That is, in principle, a son always enters the system exactly forty years (i.e. The Gada assembly to which the Abba Gada Liiban Jaldeessa belongs is called Gada Harboora. [2] [3] [4] Since Jaldessa Liban (the thende facto Abba Gadaa) kept the outgoing class waiting for three months the Borna consider this a most reprehensible failure of Gadaa leadership. Borana Zone administrator's view on the arrest of Abba Gada The Boranas age-sets are organized in two ways: through a system where the member of each class are recruited strictly based on. Each of the semi-retired Gadaa grades bears eight years period and in sum covers thirty-two years (i.e. Councils like these have sat down under similar circumstances in the gentle late afternoon sun, for the last five hundred years. [8] Another estimate in 2019 suggests 874,000 Boranas in Ethiopia, 210,000 in Kenya and 10,000 in Somalia.[9]. The other point of exclusion was from attaining all Gada grades and age sets like males (Tesema, 2016). Each one of the eleven Gadaa grades equally bears eight-year periods and they are based on genealogical generations. Abba Gadas is an egalitarian socio-economic and political system of the Oromo people, in which power rotates between five Gadaa classes every eight years. The more the elements decrease (e.g. However, in the case of the Gadaa political system, as long as they (semi-retired men) are not declared individually incapable due to factors such as incapacity (physical or mental) and not fully retired (traditionally known as yuubomu that is after completing the four yuuba period); they have duty to serve as legal experts and advisers to Gadaa council in power. The Gadaa men and Yubas duties also include transferring knowledge and skills associated with the functions of the democratic Gadaa System to the members of succeeding grades. The second meeting is after four years. The Borana are known by a generation set Organization, which is believed to guide every aspect of their life, called off the Gadaa system and Borana people are notable for their historic Gadda political system. The Gadaa system as a whole provided the machinery for democratic rule and enjoyment of maximum liberty for the people. But the OLA accused the Abba Gada, who are elders in the Oromo culture, of being hand-picked by the government. The five Gadaa parties have different names among Boorana, Maccaa-Tuulama, Arsii, Gujii and Ituu-Humbannaa.[22][23]. The laws, norms, values, and ideals of the Gadaa System are compatible with existing international human rights instruments. Considering the symbolic significance of Gadaa for the Oromo, as well as its structural innovations, researchers in law, indigenous studies, and pan-Africanism are exploring how the system could be utilized in the 21st century. [30] Both types of social groups are formed every eight years. Indigenous democratic system of governance used by Oromo people, Asmarom Legesse, "Gadaa: Three Approaches to the Study of African Society", 1973, Asmarom Legesse, "Oromo Democracy: an Indigenous African Political System", 2006, Donald Levine, "Greater Ethiopia: The Evolution of a Multiethnic Society", 1974, Z. Sirna, "Ethiopia: When the Gadaa Democracy Rules in a Federal State", 2012, "Gada system, an indigenous democratic socio-political system of the Oromo", "Sustaining generations of Indigenous voices: Reclaiming language and integrating multimedia technology", "The Gadaa System and Some of Its Institutions among the Booranaa: A Historical Perspective", "A heroic send-off for Aliyi Cirri, a pioneer Oromo freedom fighter whose courage and bravery inspired generations", "The Gada sysytem; full Dimocratical politics of Oromo;71stBorana BalliHand overing Day Febrawary 2009/20017:The Gada of Kura Jarso", "Gada System inscribed in UNESCO as Intangible World Heritage", "The 2015 Commemoration of Odaa-Bultum (One of the Major Oromo Gadaa System's Administrative Centers)", "A Journey to Revitalizing Gadaa at Odaa Hullee: Tracing Jimma University's Unwavering Commitment", "A Future Gaze: Gadaa Oriented Constitutional Structure for Oromia", "Waa'ee Gadaa wantoota beekuu qabdan shan", "BitGadaa | Futuristic African Democracy", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gadaa&oldid=1131025659, Articles with dead external links from December 2022, Articles with permanently dead external links, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. The system covers political, social, economical and spiritual ways of life. Tenna Dewo. For example, a thesis by Z. Sirna[29] entitled "Ethiopia: When the Gadaa Democracy Rules in a Federal State" explores how the system could be integrated with the contemporary federal structure of Ethiopia, serving as a governance mechanism for the Oromia Regional National State. Socially, Boranas were known to be very kind people especially to the visitors, a weakness that all these three colonial governments used to strip off them most of their ancestral heritages not limited to land, water sources, natural resources and top grazing areas. Dm7#E`{03A)]9\zzRuAS6y&0=> rcf>xO"32g|5qbmWg1K:n03{NL?eLg7f9B3M[6r|_ N!y"|wyWU}Iv)qmb?hQn4s?{y. Russ Heltman. The parliament, called Gumi Gayo, functions just like a present day senate with the same roles. The Borana is one of the two major subgroups of the Oromo people.They live in the Borena Zone of the Oromia Region and Liben Zone of the Somali Region of Ethiopia, former Northern Frontier District of Northern Kenya,Tana River in the former coast province of Kenya and also in central Somalia.Boranas living in Kenya and Ethiopia speak a dialect of Oromo and those living in central Somalia share . Another feature of senior gamme is their elevation to the Gada class. Like modern parliaments today this Borana parliament would summon sittings to make, repel or ensure that the laws were being followed. The second in command who is also the supreme leader of the whole Borana community is referred to as Abagadha. Perhaps, the Age-set system might have imitated the natural course of human physical development to the structure the society. The end of a discussion on issues was accepted without question and the Abba Muriti, the Father of Resolution, was present to make sure that those present in the discussion adhered to this requirement. Across the dusty plains, under the shade of the acacia, six old men regard one another. 0000025131 00000 n Despite the Gadaa system being an egalitarian social system, women were excluded from passing through age-sets and generation-sets. The transition rituals by which the genealogical social group (the sons) passes from one grade to the next is performed every eight years during the life cycle. IDENTITY IN ETHIOPIA:THE OROMOFROM THE 16TH TO THE 19THCENTURY, When the GadaaDemocracy Rules in a FederalState, OROMO PEOPLEHOOD: HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL OVERVIEW, Ethiopian Culture, Gadaa (The Orormo Democarcy), How Perfect Is Ethiopian Calander? of the abba gada - can be held by either moiety. In this respect, Gadaa is a holistic (social, economic, political and religious) system in essence and perhaps this fact made it difficult to define unanimously the Gadaa system by simple and clear terms. Gada Harboora is considered to be the senior of the three assemblies and it is also the Gada assembly for all of the Borana society. A few of them are pulling at their scraggly white and ochre beards while nodding in agreement. This was a very unusual moment in the Boran history of power transfer ceremonies. Marra Grass or pasture Muru Cutting, making a judgment or decision Nagaa Peace/cosmic harmony Nagaa Booranaa Peace of Borana The status being a councilor in Gada Harboora is quite different from being a councilor in Gada Hawattu or Konniitu.The Gada system is not a system where authority is simply passed from fathers to sons. A few of them are pulling at their scraggly. However, the Boran did adopt a practical solution to the gap created due to late born sons, commonly known as sons of elders (ilmaan jaarsaa); It refers to sons born to a man that has passed the stage of fatherhood, the Raba grade). The Gada system is a class system that succeeds each other every eight years in assuming political-military administration, economic management, and other social activities. Most Borana men do stick to the principle of not raising children before the permitting stage. This is the peak of the social and political career of Gadaa and the optimum age of having maturity skill and capacity of holding and practically showing societal responsibilities. Old and wise as his years, he trudges along, stick in hand. The other Gada assemblies, Gada Hawattu and Gada Konnitu, are the assembly of leaders from Hawattu and Konnitu clan of Goona moiety of the Borana society. It was purely invented by the Oromo and it is one of the most remarkable political systems which was highly democratic with effective legislative and judicial institutions. [27] Siinqee feminist represent women in the gadaa system.[28]. Third, it is also part of the ceremony to plant a flag made from white and red colored garment called a (baqqalaa faajjii) (a white flag). 0000012528 00000 n Since then their system remains full tradition. Once they are elected freely and fairly, they will remain de facto councilors of their Gadaa class for two consecutive Gadaa grades (i.e. They were the Gada class or the Warra Bora. Legesse[24] has written that Gadaa is "one of the most astonishing and instructive turns the evolution of human society has taken". It is through a formal rite of passage that previously semi-retired assemblymen enter into the final Gadaa grade. Councils like these have sat together under similar circumstances, for the past five hundred years. A futuristic, governance 2.0 project called BitGadaa[31] draws inspiration from the principles and structure of Gadaa. However, before traveling to different houses, they had to notify in advance the mothers of age-mates so that they will arrange the trip and feast for them. age and initiation only) the more it gets easier and the more recruitment elements increase (e.g. This is the Adula council; they have come to debate as to who should manage the wells. Years ago Boranas became Muslims, three time of three consecutive Abagadhas and goes back to fully to their tradition three consecutive Abagadhas after this. 29-1 Introduction Ethiopia is said to have abundant potential water resources, all emanating within its territory. division 3 college athletic director salary. 71ST Borana Oromo Tribe Abba Gada - medianorthkenya Kurraa Jarsso Diddo is the next Abba Gada in Borana Oromo Gada System of leadership,Kurraa will be in power for the period of 2017-2025. Participatory impact assessment of ticks on Borana cattle milk production was conducted from January 2010 to July 2010. Fathers of the dabballes move from all the principal regions of the Boran to the area of the shrine. These parties have different names in different parts of Oromia as the result of Oromo expansion and the establishment of different autonomous administrative systems. 3 0 obj [12][13] Oromo people regarded the system as their common heritage and as a major part of their cultural identity. stream 2008. As of today the nine wells of Borana (Tulla Saglan), traditional settlements and their traditional grazing land are scattered across these colonial boundaries and others are inaccessible to the larger Boranas. Second, in Boran Gadaa System there are five Gadaa classes that are basically cyclic (i.e. A few of them are pulling at their scraggly white and ochre beards while nodding in agreement. >3 w%Q2]H==\SZHSC3HJx{ e#ggm RvPuE2@+1oB2\$kWvctwF~EhJ6p,? On the other hand, it also ends some of the privileges they used to enjoy and it brings minor social duties to them. Therefore, on one hand, the tradition of electing future leaders allows the de facto leaders become more skillful and prepared for public responsibilities. LIST OF ABBA GADA BORANA 1GADAYO GALGALO dambituu wargusaa fullaasa 2 YAYA FULELE YAYA galantu bareentu mardiida 3JARSO BABO GANO galantu luku. "I feel very weird announcing this, but tomorrow I begin a new journey hosting mornings on [610 WTVN]. Abba Gadas: The Ancient Borana Leadership System. 0000012327 00000 n endstream endobj 186 0 obj <> endobj 187 0 obj <>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageC]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 270/Type/Page>> endobj 188 0 obj <> endobj 189 0 obj <> endobj 190 0 obj <> endobj 191 0 obj <> endobj 192 0 obj [/ICCBased 198 0 R] endobj 193 0 obj [/ICCBased 197 0 R] endobj 194 0 obj [/ICCBased 196 0 R] endobj 195 0 obj <>stream He Seldom did division occur even among the council men because they were of the same age set like the ones who ruled before them. Borana are polygamous, with a husband being the head of the family. There were four senior councilors in this assembly. The second has little to do with age. Hence the coming to power of each Gadaa class once within forty years (i.e. Each luba consists of all of the sons in another particular class. The distribution of genealogical generations (G). Another peculiar activity at the Raba (especially at its early stage), is the appointment of two auxiliary groups known as jaldhaba (executive officers) and torbie (conscripts). 0000002248 00000 n Elementary age-sets are the basic sets not tied to other variables such as initiations, the interval between father and son and other elements discussed hereinabove. The Borana and Guji groups near the Ethiopian-Kenyan border were able to practice Gadaa without interruption. @F% The election of the Gadaa councilors takes place at the time when the rite of passage of the senior gamme to Kusa Gadaa grade takes place. The Eleven Regular Gadaa cycle among the Boran Among the Boran people the Gadaa System embraces eleven basic Gadaa grades: five active, five passive and one liminal (full retirement) stage. Education and enculturation occur through music. The Eleven Regular Gadaa cycle among the Boran Among the Boran people the Gadaa System embraces eleven basic Gadaa grades: five active, five passive and one liminal (full retirement) stage. Abba Gadas: The Ancient Borana Leadership System Across the dusty plains, under the shade of acacia trees six old men can be seen sitting together. Boranas harmoniously lived with their neighbors through sharing and helping during hard times like prolonged drought seasons, till colonial powers set in and instigated colonial wars and redrew the African territories into colonial boundaries. 00:00. [1] It is also practiced by the Konso and Gedeo people of southern Ethiopia. The Borana have bee ruled by 43 abba gada since then, which may be 540 years ago (1449), and this is also confirmed by Borbor Bule (Golloo Huqqa, 1996). Regarding persons with special responsibilities, the Abba Gadaa, the elected chairman of the class leadership presides over the assembly. Furthermore, a de facto or de jure councilor may be removed from the office, because of lack of competence, though not limited to, through a procedure known as uprooting (buqqisuu) (The principle of uprooting is discussed in detail under chapter six of this thesis). At each level of the development or Gada grade, the classes hold corporate responsibilities. 0000002285 00000 n trailer Thus transition to Kusa is accompanied with a formal ceremony. Old and wise as his years, he trudges along, stick in hand. In this regard, due to the rigidity of the Gadaa principle, the moment a member of the family fails to stick to the rules of timing for legitimate procreation, the whole generational chain is brought out of step. That is, unlike the case of junior gamme the senior gamme will be constituted into two institutions: age sets and Gada class. Hence, there would not be direct competition among the five Gadaa parties, rather the competition would be among individuals within a party. Through Gadha system, Boranas believed to have conquered and protected their territory named, Dirre, Dirr Liban, Golbo, Wajer, Dibayu, Torban Jia (all original name) till the second world war where they were overpowered by the colonial politics. Each Gadaa class remains in power during a specific term (Gadaa ) which begins and ends with a formal transfer ceremony. Today we seem to have forgotten these important rules, and cattle invade and damage forests every dry season. Young men are also trained to become junior warriors by taking part in war campaigns and hunting large animals; they learn the practical skills of warfare, military organization, and fighting so that they can engage in battle to defend their country and economic resources. Men who married could also participate or send representatives to the assembly. until they reach the sixth Gadaa grade). Gada institution has three Gada assemblies each with its own Abba Gada. They were the Gada class or the Warra Bora. These elements pop up due to the fact that recruitment to an age-set requires, in systems like Gadaa, generational relationship and in connection with that issues like the time when a son may be initiated to the system and the interval between the father and son are inevitable. Where Is Bill O'Reilly Today? Lastly, they remain as an informal group of friends and kinsmen rather than as members of a Gadaa class until they reach the third Gadaa grade. Where a rightly born son perfectly fits into the principle, the late-born sons cannot, and the option they have is to run behind their elder brothers. Nobody is above the rule of law in Oromo democracy. Borana have their own form of an overhaul system for the last 567 years that is recognized by UNESCO as a heritage that needs to be protected. While in the case of the former there will be the exchange of scepter (symbol of authority); in case of the later, however, they exchange incense which is the symbol of sacredness. He takes a seat at one end of the council as he has done at the beginning of his rule, eight years in total. Besides being a supreme spirituality in charge of prayer in all Borana gatherings, including the Borana parliament, he is also in charge of administration, who appoints other Qalu, putting them in charge of smaller administration units, which can be equated to a present state president, a Qalu who in turn appoints other smaller administrators in his jurisdiction called Jalab (governor) who are respectively in charge of smaller administration, meaning one Qalu is in charge of many Jalab under his state. As discussed elsewhere, the two groups are cross-cutting structural units that operate as complementary institutions as long as both are represented by living members. [1] It is also practiced by the Konso and Gedeo people of southern Ethiopia. There may be no refuge left for them in severe droughts. The Borana Oromo has a very prominent traditional system of governance-the Gada System. By Ibrahim A. Elemo (M.D., MPH) The Borana Oromo has a very prominent traditional system of governance-the Gada System. The second is a system in which the members are recruited on the bases of genealogical generation. Though the nomenclature of each five cyclic Gadaa classes varies across the Oromo land, in essence, all are the same. Old and wise as his years, he trudges along, stick in hand. They also learn songs, parables, proverbs, cultural and historical maps, and other social skills that they can use in public speech to praise the living and dead heroes or to criticize and ridicule cowardice and traitors. Hence, it is customary to move from home o home to find their age-mates. The Borana Gada council of Ethiopia has been involved in Kenyan democratic elections for a long time to achieve the desired political goals. Hence the rightful son (ilma kormaa), elite children that are born during fatherhood stage, is the one born when his father is at fifth Gadaa grade, the Raba grade. For example, certain areas, such as forests, were set aside as drought refuge. The nomenclature of the ceremony of passage to Gadamoojjii itself is known as the rite of incense exchange (qumbi wallraf udachu not balli walirrafuchu). The end of a discussion to issues was accepted without question and the Abba Muriti, the father of resolution was there to make sure of that. For example, in case of US once a president finishes his or her two-term office there is no chance to serve as a member of the Congress again or as an administrative member of a newly elected president. The second has little to do with age. endobj Following the rite of passage, therefore, the junior gamme assume responsibilities such as looking after sheep and other simple duties. They believe that they are defenders of Borana identity symbolized by the guutu, a braided tuft of hair on the top of the head. Abagadha is anointed at an early age of 1-8 years. Boranas living in Kenya and Ethiopia speak a dialect of Oromo and those living in central Somalia share a dialect with Dirr communities of Somalia, a language that is closely related to both Borana Language and Somali Language. How Perfect Is Ethiopian Calander? However, what initiation, interval, and genealogical generations constitute is not clear. The Gadaa grades are recruited on the basis of genealogical generations. All newly born males enter a Gadaa -set at birth, which they will belong to along with other boys of the same age, and for the next forty years they will go through five eight-year initiation periods; the Gadaa-grade is entered on the basis of generation, and boys enter their luba forty years after their fathers. Following this ceremony the election (lallaba) process takes place. The Boran did manage this problem due to two reasons: the adoption of a pragmatic solution for late-born sons; and early born sons are small in number as compared to the late-born sons which enabled Gadaa to sustain among them. The system regulates political, economic, social and religious activities of the community. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. what is ward 4 altnagelvin hospital. 0000013937 00000 n Defining the term generation is not an easy task especially in a relation to its socio-political relevance for peoples responsibilities and rights characterization. They ensured that the laws made in the higher levels of authority reached the people. Gk#3Sg 1 Moreover, the passage of time has no subjective meaning unless it is punctuated with a transitional phenomenon, whether it is the climbing of the dock, periodic saturnalias, rites of passage, or graduation ceremonies. The ruling group has the responsibility to assign senior leaders and experts to instruct and counsel these young men in the importance of leadership, organization, and warfare. Furthermore, Abba Gadaa (the president) belonging to the outgoing Gadaa Council has to appoint (before handing over the power to the incoming Gadaa class) six men from among the ex-members of the Gadaa Council that are now in the semi-retired (yuuba) Gadaa grade. micro wedding packages dfw; pygmy goats for sale in central illinois; My Cart However, the Boran did adopt a practical solution to the gap created due to late born sons, commonly known as sons of elders (ilmaan jaarsaa); It refers to sons born to a man that has passed the stage of fatherhood, the Raba grade). As a result problem in a relation to incorporation of late or early born children often arises. He takes a seat at one end of the council as he has done at the beginning of his rule, eight years in total. In the state of Oromia under the Federal system of Ethiopia, the Gadaa system started a renaissance across Oromia. xref The class in power is headed by Abba Gadaa in Borana, Abba Bokku elsewhere. These were the Abbaa Chaffa, the chair of the assembly, Abbaa Dubbi, the speaker, Abbaa Seera, ,the Memorizer of laws Abbaa Alanga the judge, Abbaa Duula, the army commander, Abbaa saa in charge of the economy. To be nominated as a candidate as well as to be possibly elected the Borana consider the following criteria: personal qualities (skills such as courage, patience, open-mindedness, reconciliatory and orator); competence of the candidate among his peers and his knowledge (commitment for) of cultural values; antecedents such as betrayal, fraudulent, untruthfulness and others prohibits him from competing; historical achievements of his forefathers (the more his forefathers had accomplished positive deeds to the Boran and to the Gada System; the more the candidate owes high probability to be elected); the candidate has to have a positive image before his own clan and other clans; and recommendation from religious (Qallu) institution.