The Relevancy of Harari Values in Self Regulation
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THE RELEVANCY OF HARARI VALUES IN SELF REGULATION AND AS A MECHANISM OF BEHAVIORAL CONTROL: HISTORICAL ASPECTS by ABDULMALIK ABUBAKER NORMAN SINGER, CHAIR WILLIAM ANDREEN AHMED ZEKARIA STEVEN HOBBS GRACE LEE A DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Anthropology in the Graduate School of The University of Alabama TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA 2016 Copyright Abdulmalik Abubaker 2016 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ABSTRACT The subject under consideration in this dissertation is various values of a particular society who refer to themselves as gey usu (people of the city). To expound how they utilize values to regulate their members’ behaviors and the relations they have with other people four entities are identified: Family, educational, trade and social institutions. Family as the basic institution is discussed to expound how birth and marriage ceremonies are perceived by Hararis. How these events are surrounded by various symbols with the values enshrined in them, which are expressed through rituals, actions, words and gestures, are as well expounded. The mechanisms how these symbols are used to regulate individual and social behaviors are also discussed. Education as one of the vital instruments to develop the individuals and the society which should enjoy continuous sufficiency and prosperity is also discussed. How successful the society is in achieving these goals is dependent on the values the education system is promoting. Trade, which is much related with Harar and Hararis history, how it is used as a means of securing and maintaining peace through concessions to other people is discussed. This dissertation suggests the underlying ideas of peaceful trade are values such as righteousness, honesty, sincerity, diligence, trust, non-discrimination and fairness in the relations among traders. The Harari social institutions are used to control the behaviors of their members and the relations the community should have with other communities. They are used as a device to ii exclude from or to include others to Harari. The underlying values they apply to that end are thoroughly discussed in this dissertation. The qualitative research method presented here is based upon fieldwork conducted in Harar for more than two and half years. Empirical and conceptual literatures review, regarding Harar and the concept and theories of values (a concept that is common to different disciplines), are undertaken. Finally conclusions are made. Key words: Harar, Hararis, values, family, education, trade, social institutions. iii DEDICATION To my late mother, Fatima Muhammad and Harari ayach, the custodian of Harari values. iv LIST OF TERMS List of Terms1 Aada-custom Abba-elder brother, form of address to the father or to an older brother, or to a male person that is older than the speaker, any young man acting as ‘brother’ Abbay-elder sister, form of address to the mother or to an older sister, or to a female person that is older than the speaker, any young woman acting as ‘sister’ Absum- circumcision Adre-the reference given to Hararis by the Oromos or Amharas. Afocha-association of neighbors participating in various social activities (such as wedding, funeral) Aflaal-black jar serving to store small objects of women Afar-clay, soil, earth Agbari-herd, domestic animals, cattle Agri-shield Ahli-relative Ai-mother Aala-cane (of durra, sorghum) when it is still fresh, stem of sorghum when it has sweet taste Alawada-kitchen Alef-lower in scholastic degree in relation to laqi 1 To avoid unnecessary controversies the Etymological Dictionary of Harari by Wolf Leslau (1963; 1983) is used. Latin Scripts are used to write Harari words, songs, idioms, etc. v Alfi-thousand Alim-learned, erudite Amashna-a makeup class or illiteracy campaign for gey indochach Amir-sovereign, king Amuta-mourning, lamentation Amuta gar-the deceased home Anna-paternal aunt Anqar-stomach Anqar mehtab-washing stomach Ardawij-disciple Arafa-religious feast Aruz-bridegroom Aruz gar-bridal house Aruzit-bride Ashiday-classmate Ashir gar-higher religious education taken in the evening either at the house of the teacher or in the nearby mosque Asri-time of prayer at four o’clock in the afternoon Asri subat-afternoon snack Atlas-a kind of black dress made of silk women wear over the ordinary dress on festivals Aw-father Awach-elderly people, saint, holy shrine Ay-mother vi Azab-hell Azan-the call to prayer Bab-grandfather Baha- women’s voluntary rotating credit association formed by young wives or it is a system for saving and for receiving money at the time of need. Baqal-mule Barasa-kind of white earth used to whitewash the luh Bari (Bariyach, plural form)-entrance or door leading either to the compound or the house, gate of the city; Bari goyta-a person who is in charge of the gate of the city Bari makhada- pillow of a gate. Belachu-wedding feast, wedding festivities, feast; Challas-raw Chat-a flowering plant native to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula Dad ahli-relatives by friendship Damin-tribal chief Darara-grain boiled in water (made especially for gatherings) Delaw-nomadic life Dera-storage room near the secluded women’s room Dera soman-eating in the dera during the Ramadan so that no one can see. Derbi inchi-thin tree trunks stripped of their bark Derga- the pastoralist life Dildila taqet-another name for Amir Nadaba Dumaal-the young male relatives and friends of the husband in relation to the wife vii Duwa-blessing Edil Adaha or Arafa-a holyday celebrated on the 70th day after Edil Fitr. Edil Fitr-the holy day after Ramadan. Eih-younger brother Eihit-younger sister Ekhesta-maternal aunt Eqed taqet-front niches Eraz mu-die-a traditionnel laquage Ezair-paternal uncle Fard-an obligation that one cannot do away, for example 5 times daily praying. Ferengi-European Firmach-the signatories who established an organization to resist Haile Selassie’s oppression Gab- cave Gabti-door Gabti eher nadaba-raised seat behind the door panel Gambari-entrance or door of the house Ganan-cooked dough Gangora-leopard Gar-house, room Gara abaat-house and yard Garad-tribal chief (lower than damin) Gara ganbriyach-many families within many compounds Gel-companion (girl), friend (girl) Gelnat-friendship between girls viii Gey- the city of Harar, city Gey fagay- rural Gey sinan- the language spoken by Hararis Gey usu- the inhabitants of Harar, Hararis Gey gar- house built in the Harari style Gey lamad- a person assimilated to the way of life of the Harari Gidir gar-the main house Gufta-net for hair dress of married women Guguba-a kind of yellow earth used for the roof to prevent water from seeping through Hadar-stale Halawa-a kind of sweet Hamaachi-male relatives on the husband’s or the wife’s side Hamat-mother-in-law Hamburti-naval Hamil-pillar Haras-woman in childbed Haras mowta ziara-visitation to Ai Abida or Aw Abadir on the 40th day after the birth of a child Harfi menqal-master the alphabet Hashi un-a kind of light, white stone used for building Hatam-a bride up to the end of the first year, newly married until she gives birth to her first child Hinna gel-bridesmaid Hul-a kind of cabbage Hulla-a kind of silk cloth ix Ilma gosa-become adoptee through adopting ritual according to Oromo culture Imam-prayer leader Imamat-turban Inay gabata-special food sent by the bride’s mother to the bride on the third day of the wedding In-eye Indoch-woman Ingir gey ahli-relatives on the mother’s side Isha-time of evening prayer between seven and eight Jamaa-men or women coming together to help each other in weeding and mourning. Jin-spirit Jinam-mad Jugal – the wall surrounding the old city of Harar Juma Salat- Friday midday pray Kabal-one type of wood to construct the ceiling of gey gar Kabir-religious teacher Kaka-maternal uncle Kirtet-secluded room for women Kuru-measurement that equals an elbow. Kurumbay-elbow Kusha chat-chat for engagement Laqi-senior in scholastic degree in relation to alif Lazim-caller to prayer Lihdi-niche in the grave to lay the corpse x Luh-plank, board, wooden writing tablet Maddi-ink Madrasa-school Mahalaq-coins, money Mahri-real property or cash assigned by the bridegroom to the bride Makhmakha-proverb Makhrib Salat-prayer at about six o’clock in the evening Makhazu-pillar of a house Malaq- official who is responsible for the welfare of each locality connected with one of the five gates of the city of Harar Marign- a friend (boy) Mawlid-festival related with the birth of Prophet Muhammad Miri-taxes, dues, custom duties Mistijab-time of evening when incense is put into the censer placed at the door for the saint, dead or Prophet Moya- person hired for fieldwork for one day service Murid-a person who is in charge of awach Muazin-caller to prayer Mugaad-association of young boys and girls of the same age Marabraba- a kind of inward balcony made with wood to place luggage Mutt nadaba-a seat for dying Muz-banana Nabi-prophet Nadaba-raised seat xi Nikah-marriage contract Qabila-nationality Qadi-judge dealing with civil law Qachine nadaba-narrow nadaba Qahat-female Qama basar ahli-blood relatives Qahwah-drink made either from the beans, leaves or husk of the coffee tree or from the tea leaves Qala- upstairs, up story Qara-cane of sorghum when cut and dried out Qeh afar-a kind of red earth serving to paint the floor Qulfi goyta-chief of a key Qutti qala-small room in the upper story where goods are stored Quran gey-traditional school where students learn the Quran Saar gar-house made from grass Sadaqah- alms Sahaba-companion of the Prophet Salat-prayer Sati baqla-a kind of shawl given to the bridegroom by the bride’s father Shengi mesqaya-a piece of wood to hang seeds on to be planted next year.