Addis Ababa University School of Graduate Studies College of Social Sciences Department of Social Anthropology
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ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY CUSTOMARY CONFLICT RESOLUTION AMONG THE HARO LIMMU OROMO OF NORTHWEST WALLAGA: THE CASE OF QAALLUU INSTITUTION BY GONFA EBSA JUNE 2014 ADDIS ABABA ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY Customary Conflict Resolution among the Haro Limmu Oromo of Northwest Wallaga: The Case of Qaalluu Institution BY: Gonfa Ebsa Hika Advisor: Fekadu Adugna (PhD) A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Addis Ababa University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Social Anthropology JUNE 2014 ADDIS ABABA ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY Customary Conflict Resolution among the Haro Limmu Oromo of Northwest Wallaga: The Case of Qaalluu Institution BY: Gonfa Ebsa Hika Approved by Board of Examiners ______________________ _______________ ______________ Advisor Signature Date ______________________ _______________ ______________ Examiner Signature Date ______________________ ____________ _________________ Examiner Signature Date Customary Conflict Resolution among the Haro Limmu Oromo of Northwest Wallaga: The Case of Qaalluu Institution BY: Gonfa Ebsa Hika A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Addis Ababa University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Social Anthropology JUNE 2014 ADDIS ABABA ACKNOWLEDGEMENT It is my pleasure to express my heartfelt thanks to a number of people and institutions for their help and support in the process of producing this thesis. First of all, I would like to express my deepest gratitude and heartfelt thanks to my thesis advisor, Fikadu Adugna (PhD), for his constructive comments, criticisms and corrections he made to the draft versions of the thesis. His timely and scholarly contributions were very decisive in shaping this thesis. I would also like to express my sincere thanks to Ato Melaku Abera and Ato Girma Hundessa, PhD candidates at the Department of Social Anthropology, Addis Ababa University who have devoted much of their time in reading and commenting the first half and the second half of the thesis respectively. It is my pleasure to acknowledge my friend, Fekadu Ragassa for his extraordinary help and support during my study in Addis Ababa University. I would also extend great indebtedness to all my informants who unreservedly provided me with valuable inputs, without whom this thesis would not be accomplished. My deepest gratitude also goes to my dear parents, Obbo Ebsa Hika and Aadde Yeshi Terfa, who believing in me and helped me keep fighting for my dreams. I also owe special thanks to my beloved younger brother Lamesa Ebsa for his astonishing support and encouragement throughout my study. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the School of Graduate Program of Addis Ababa University for the provision of partial financial support to carry out the study. i TABLE OF CONTENTS Content Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................................... i List of Maps, Tables, Diagrams and Case Studies......................................................................... vi List of Pictures .............................................................................................................................. vii ACRONYMS............................................................................................................................... viii GLOSSARY .................................................................................................................................. ix ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................................. xii CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background of the Study ...................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem...................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Objective of the Study .......................................................................................................... 5 1.4.1 General Objective .......................................................................................................... 5 1.4.2 Specific Objectives ........................................................................................................ 5 1.5 Research Methodology ......................................................................................................... 5 1.5.1 Data Sources .................................................................................................................. 5 1.5.2 Methods of Primary Data Collection ............................................................................. 6 1.5.2.1 Interview ................................................................................................................. 6 1.5.2.2 Observation............................................................................................................. 7 1.5.2.3 Focus Group Discussion (FGD) ............................................................................. 8 1.5.2.4 Case Study .............................................................................................................. 8 1.6 Methods of Data Analysis..................................................................................................... 9 1.7 Significance of the Study.................................................................................................... 10 1.8 Scope of the Study .............................................................................................................. 10 1.9 Limitations of the Study...................................................................................................... 10 1.10 Ethical Consideration........................................................................................................ 11 1.11 Field experience ................................................................................................................ 12 ii 1.12 Organization of the Thesis ................................................................................................ 14 CHAPTER TWO Review of Related Literature ........................................................................................................ 15 2.1 Defining Terms and Concepts: Conflict and Dispute ......................................................... 15 2.2 Forms and Methods of Conflict Resolution........................................................................ 17 2.2.1 Forms and Approaches of Dealing with Conflict ........................................................ 17 2.2.2 Methods of Conflict Resolution................................................................................... 20 2.3 A Critical Review of the Theoretical Approaches on Conflicts in Social Anthropology... 22 2.3.1 First Group: Evolutionist and Structuro-Functionalist Perspectives ........................... 23 2.3.2 Second Group: Defining Conflicts along Socio-Historical Dynamics ........................ 25 2.4 Customary Justice and Legal Pluralism: An Overview of the Theoretical Debates on Conflict Resolution in Africa............................................................................................ 26 2.5 Empirical Studies on Customary Institutions of Conflict Resolution in Africa ................. 29 2.6 The Role of Indigenous Religious Institutions and Rituals in Conflict Resolution............ 32 CHAPTER THREE DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA AND THE PEOPLE ................................................. 35 3.1 Brief Overview of the Oromo in General ........................................................................... 35 3.1.1 The Maccaa Oromo...................................................................................................... 36 3.2 Socioeconomic and Demographic Backgrounds of the Haro Limmu Oromo .................... 37 3.2.1 Geographical Location, Topography and Climate....................................................... 37 3.2.2 Population .................................................................................................................... 39 3.2.3 Economic Activities and Means of Subsistence .......................................................... 39 3.2.4 Descent, Kinship Structure and Settlement Patterns.................................................... 40 3.2.5 Marriage Practices and Gender Relation ..................................................................... 42 3.2.6 Community Based Social and Labor Organization ..................................................... 43 3.3 Oromo Indigenous Religion: Oromo Conception of Waaqaa and Ayyaana ...................... 45 3.3.1 The Concept of Waaqa ................................................................................................ 45 3.3.2 The Concept of Ayyaana.............................................................................................. 45 iii 3.3.3 Decline of the Gada System and Increasing Power of Qaalluu Institution among Maccaa Oromo ....................................................................................................................