The struggle for recognition: a critical ethnographic study of the Zay Vinson, M.A. Citation Vinson, M. A. (2012). The struggle for recognition: a critical ethnographic study of the Zay. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/1887/24136 Version: Not Applicable (or Unknown) License: Downloaded from: https://hdl.handle.net/1887/24136 Note: To cite this publication please use the final published version (if applicable). THE STRUGGLE FOR RECOGNITION A CRITICAL ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF THE ZAY Michael A. Vinson African Studies Centre Universiteit Leiden Supervisors: J. Abbink & S. Luning Table of Contents List of Zay Terms ............................................................................................................... iv List of Tables ....................................................................................................................... v List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... v Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ vi 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 7 1.1 Background and Rationale ........................................................................................ 8 1.2 Problem Statement and Research Questions ......................................................... 11 1.3 Methods ................................................................................................................... 12 1.4 Innovative Aspects .................................................................................................. 16 1.5 Social Relevance ....................................................................................................... 16 2 Theoretical Background ..................................................................................... 18 2.1 Approaches to Ethnicity .......................................................................................... 18 2.1.1 Primordialism ................................................................................................................ 18 2.1.2 Instrumentalism ............................................................................................................ 19 2.1.3 Constructivism .............................................................................................................. 20 2.2 Identity .................................................................................................................... 22 2.3 Other Considerations .............................................................................................. 25 3 The Zay: Historical and Oral Traditions ............................................................ 27 3.1 The Etymology of “Zay” .......................................................................................... 28 3.2 Lake Zway ................................................................................................................ 29 3.3 Zay Origins .............................................................................................................. 31 3.4 The Four Migratory Waves ..................................................................................... 33 3.4.1 Religious Refugees From Aksum ................................................................................ 34 3.4.2 The Incursion of Azmach Sebhat ............................................................................... 37 3.4.3 The Incursion of Zara Yaqob ...................................................................................... 40 3.4.4 Religious Refugees Due to Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi ....................................... 42 3.5 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 48 4 Historical Events Related to Lake Zway and the Zay ......................................... 49 4.1 Lake Zway as a Place of Exile ................................................................................... 49 4.2 The Defeat of the Oromo Near Lake Zway ............................................................. 50 4.3 The 19th and 20th Centuries ................................................................................... 51 4.3.1 Sahle Selassie Attempts to Reconnect with Lake Zway ............................................ 51 4.3.2 Menilek and The Zay .................................................................................................... 53 4.4 Recent History ......................................................................................................... 56 4.5 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 61 5 Culture, Customs, and Socio Economic Setting of the Zay ............................... 62 5.1 Current Interpretations .......................................................................................... 62 5.1.1 The Zay Gosas ............................................................................................................... 63 5.1.2 Contact: The Zay and The Other ................................................................................ 65 5.2 Socio-Economic Practices ....................................................................................... 67 5.2.1 Food Culture .................................................................................................................. 72 - ii - 5.3 Cultural Events ........................................................................................................ 74 5.3.1 The “Traditional” Wedding Process .......................................................................... 75 5.3.2 Funerals .......................................................................................................................... 79 5.4 Religion and Religious Festivals ............................................................................. 81 5.5 Zay Sentiments ........................................................................................................ 87 5.6 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 88 6 Political Trajectories ........................................................................................... 90 6.1 Ethnic-Federalism ................................................................................................... 90 6.1.1 The Perceived Need for Ethnic-Federalism .............................................................. 91 6.1.2 An Overview of Ethnic-Federalism ............................................................................ 92 6.1.3 Minorities and Ethnic-Federalism .............................................................................. 94 6.1.4 Critiques of Ethnic-Federalism ................................................................................... 95 6.2 The State vis-a-vis The Zay ...................................................................................... 95 6.2.1 The Oromia Regional State and the Zay .................................................................... 96 6.3 A History of Conflict and Dealing with “Oromoization” .................................... 100 6.4 Zay Political Traditions ........................................................................................ 102 6.5 Attempts at Political Participation ....................................................................... 106 6.6 Recognition ........................................................................................................... 109 6.7 Internal Skirmishes ............................................................................................... 110 6.8 Language Use and the Quest to Develop Zay ....................................................... 111 6.9 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 114 Bibliography ................................................................................................................... 117 Appendix I – Tables from Zerihun 2009 ........................................................................ 125 Appendix II – Tabulation of Zay Identity ..................................................................... 126 Appendix III – Letter from the House of Federation to the Oromia Regional State ... 135 - iii - List of Zay Terms Arasho - Men’s cultural playing Atemachit - Old man used for bride inquires Atomoqu - Thick beer made from sorghum Aydery - Thick beer made from gešo plant Barano - Bridegroom Bärbäri - Pepper and spices Birr - Ethiopian Currency (1 USD ≈ 18 Birr) Chim - Sweet honey wine Digis - Ceremony Fetasho - Women’s cultural playing Gešo - Leaves used to make Aydery Huthutu - Flour boiled in water with spices and butter, a thick porridge Iseechi - Butter Mäsūb - Low wicker basket used for eating Mäsūbwerk - Lacework used to decorate a Mäsūb Mušru - Bride Wasteña - A judge for each partner in a married couple to help solve marital disputes Tabeta - Ethiopian sour pancake made from millet flour Tafi - Millet used to make tabeta Wachit - Clay pot - iv - List of Tables Table 1 – Zay Gosas .....................................................................................................................................................