The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content. Among the Boran, however, similar (age wise) male generations will undergo a variety of rites of passage together as they approach each new phase every eight years. Post author: Post published: December 1, 2021 Post category: usmc drill instructor speech Post comments: family tree vincent tan first wife family tree vincent tan first wife Qae is answerable to Jalab, Jalab is answerable to Qalu, and Qalu is answerable to Fite Qalu. The Borana Oromo has a very prominent traditional system of governance-the Gada System. A few of them are pulling at their scraggly. Nevertheless, they continue to gather as many age-mates as they can during this period too. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. .Married men could also participate or send representatives to the assembly. At each level of the development or Gada grade, the classes hold corporate responsibilities. This is the Adula council; they have come to debate as to who should manage the wells. 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. Old and wise as his years, he trudges along, stick in hand. Among such concepts the following are notorious: age-sets, generation, generation-sets (also known as Gadaa classes or cohorts) and others. The purpose of these activities is to first make the members of the grade be aware of their class and peer group. 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). However, the Sakuye herd camels primarily, whereas the Borana are mostly a cattle people. Men who married could also participate or send representatives to the assembly. This is the Adula council; they have come to debate as to who should manage the communitys wells. It is still able to preserve its structural values though various external challenges tested it to abolish or decline it through time. 0000013416 00000 n Like modern parliaments today this Borana parliament would summon sittings to make, repeal or ensure that the laws were being followed. Change). 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. Amongst the Borana, the people would hold elections to elect a new crop of leaders every eight years according to tradition. 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. 'n[o7?N 0000009484 00000 n It is, therefore, wrong to conceive the idea of retirement or leaving the office here as in the west where a person is relieved from his or her official duties and s/he cannot come back to leadership positions. [2][3][4], Under Gadaa, every eight years, the Oromo would choose by consensus nine leaders known as Salgan yaii Borana (the nine Borana assemblies). exists for that purpose. 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. The Borana Oromo has a very prominent traditional system of governance-the Gada System. Each one of the Gadaa class has diversity and unity. 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. First and foremost, the term generation does not mean age-peers as understood in the West. Gadaa Grade is the stage of full political maturity and became the ruling party for the following eight years. 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. They ensured that the laws made in the higher levels of authority reached the people. Each one of the Gadaa class has diversity and unity. For five hundred years, the Borana have religiously followed this system of ruling themselves because it has kept them together, in unity. First and foremost, one has to be clear that Gadaa class refers to the group of people who share the same status and who perform their rites of passage together. In nutshell senior gamme had to undergo three main collective social activities (as part of Gadaa development): age-sets formation (hariyya), rendezvous (Walargi), and feast (nyachisa) ceremonies covering the entire eight-year period. % Political Participation is open to all Borana, decisions are taken under the guidance of the ritual leaders, the Abba Gadaa and the councilors. The Boranas age-sets are organized in two ways: through a system where the member of each class are recruited strictly based on. the former is horizontal and refers to the collective, the latter is vertical and defines the responsibilities assumed successively throughout their careers. Since the principle of five intervals stated hereinabove, in most cases, are not observed among the Boran people, children continue to be born (before the father reaches fifth Gadaa grade or after the father passed this stage). 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. what is ward 4 altnagelvin hospital. Asafa Jalata, Gadaa (Oromo Democracy): An Example of Classical African Civilization, Journal of Pan-African Studies (2012). Age grouping is combined with a generational mode of recruitment, in that a son gets introduced to a specific set correlated to the set of his father, and subsequently changes his status every eight years a member of his generation-set. (LogOut/ Bonus information The decisions made by the traditional councils also affected the use of natural resources. Boranas also have special warriors that defend the community from any enemies. For five hundred years, the Borana have kept their unity intact by following this system of ruling themselves. Herds of cattle or camels were not allowed to go there unless there was an extremely severe drought. 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. However, given the length of the waiting years (to become de jure leader) factors such as natural (health) and human (wars) may contribute to the death of some of the councilors. Each one of the eleven Gadaa grades equally bears eight-year periods and they are based on genealogical generations. 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. Those in Kenya and Ethiopia speak Borana language that is closely related to Oromo, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the large Afro-Asiatic language family. <<51B1CC5AE372B54BB6E33B35BC5182B1>]/Prev 120898>> The objectives of this study were to assess the status of tick infestation in relation to climate change, teats blinding and milk production and to estimate the economic losses caused as a result of the effect It is reasonable to question the reason why do most indigenous peoples of East Africa including the Oromo did organize social structure based on continuous age-groupings and periodic rituals? However, for the purpose of this study, it refers to the intergenerational relationship but quite different from its common understandings. Major Oromo clans have established the centers of their Gadaa at several places based on their territorial settlement. Education and enculturation occur through music. [30] The Karrayyu clan has one Adula Hayyu in Gada Harboora. . Therefore, Gadaa is a lifetime lesson and a carrier for the members where the three pillars (lifetimehistory) are unified. The Gadaa system as a whole provided the machinery for democratic rule and enjoyment of maximum liberty for the people. 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. They are in the last stage to the Gadaa stage and are in one part of stages of Borana system. 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 0000009706 00000 n 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. In particular, it takes place in the month of February (Gurandhala). Joseph Van de Loo, "Guji Oromo Culture in Southern Ethiopia." The Gumi Gayyo assembly has the highest degree of authority than the Gadaa and other assemblies, and other assemblies cannot reverse its decisions. Between the third and fourth Gadaa grades, boys become adolescent and initiated into taking serious social responsibilities. 0000002248 00000 n A party come to power once every forty years. Second, generational relationship and generation-set are mutually interdependent, due to likened lives and interlocking trajectories across the generations. . 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. The Gadaa system embodies five elements and that is why it is regarded as a complex system as compared to other age-sets among other ethnic groups of East Africa. This . Legesse[24] has written that Gadaa is "one of the most astonishing and instructive turns the evolution of human society has taken". Herds of cattle or camels were not allowed to go there unless there was an extremely severe drought. Accordingly, the appointed individuals will become junior councilors for the incoming senior Gadaa councilors. Therefore, the Boran did arrange a pragmatic system for the sons of elders by allowing them to be treated as equals despite differences in their ages. Corporal punishment of dabballe is strictly prohibited. These parties follow the five world views of the Oromo people. 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. Among other Gadaa businesses conducted at this level, the following are the most striking ones: First, it is at this grade where the Gadaa class and age-sets come into play as formal corporate groups. He A few of them are pulling at their scraggly white and ochre beards while nodding in agreement. Abba Gada, jaarsaa dheeda, jaarsaa reera, jaarsaa ardaa and abba olla. Despite the Gadaa system being an egalitarian social system, women were excluded from passing through age-sets and generation-sets. The system regulates political, economic, social and religious activities of the community. Any age-sets to be an institution and be functional shall have two, at least, invariants; that is, age plus the interval of initiation or any other elements. They were the Gada class or the Warra Bora. 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. Every aspect of their culture is captured in song and handed down from one generation to the next. His eyes still shine with the rigor of his long past youth. In Boran, the junior gamme are called the sons of Guyyo and the senior gamme are called the sons of Liban. That is, they are named after the two Abba Gadaas, Abba Gadaa Guyyo Gobba (incumbent) and Abba Gada Liban Jaldessa (ex-Abba Gadaa). Gadaa Council) remains intact. cyclic but neither in a sense of reincarnation nor is it a closed cycle. They are economically affected and politically caught between these colonial governments and many struggles between them. Across the dusty plains, under the shade of the acacia, six old men regard one another. In principle, every member of a Gadaa class has to attend the rite of transition. The Borana and Guji groups near the Ethiopian-Kenyan border were able to practice Gadaa without interruption. Maakkala Abba Gada's assistants - messengers who help the hayyu to implement their tasks, particularly through keeping communications with the local communities, scattered throughout Borana land. The Gada assembly to which the Abba Gada Liiban Jaldeessa belongs is called Gada Harboora. 0000006983 00000 n 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. 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). One is a system in which the members of each class are recruited strictly on the basis of chronological age. The Oromo society was structured in accordance with this Gada system. 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. There are five Gadaa parties known as shanan Gadaa Oromoo. Second, it is at this grade that future Gadaa councilors have to be elected. In nutshell, at the Raba Gadaa grade the following Gadaa executive bodies have to be constituted: The Executive officers (jaldhaba)comprising not less than six members; and. 4 0 obj 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. Since the principle of five intervals stated hereinabove, in most cases, are not observed among the Boran people, children continue to be born (before the father reaches fifth Gadaa grade or after the father passed this stage). 0000001244 00000 n The name of the most senior man in each group becomes the name of the group as a whole. Abba Gadas: The Ancient Borana Leadership System. 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 . Married Borana men look in their direction them from afar, as they water the camels. Though the nomenclature of each five cyclic Gadaa classes varies across the Oromo land, in essence, all are the same. Spiritually, Boranas have a supreme spiritual leader known as Fite Qalu. According to Asmerom Legesse's book entitled "Gada Three Approaches to the Study of African Society", the Gada system is a system of classes (luba) that succeed each other every eight years in assuming military, economic, political, and ritual responsibilities. Riley outlines their two options: They can either kill themselves or wait it out and savor whatever time they have left . It is an indigenous system of government where leaders are elected to position of authority through the will and active participation of the people they represent.For people who have studied the system and worked with the Gada Councilors, it is absolutely clear that Gada is a functioning democracy. Sirna has analysed the Gadaa system in relation to deliberative forms of political participation used in Western contexts. 0000004275 00000 n All Gadaa officials were elected for eight years by universal adult male suffrage. The late Donald Levine has said[26] that Gadaa is "one of the most complex systems of social organization ever devised by the human imagination". Credits: StoryResearch field work was undertaken in Samburu and Marsabit (for Gabbra, Samburu, Rendille, Saakuye, Dasanach, Elmolo, Waayu a.k.a Waata, and Burji superheroes/heroines), Embu and Tharaka (for Aembu, Tharaka, Ameru and Mbeere superheroes/heroines), Mombasa ( for Boni, Swahili, Pokomo, Segeju and Bajuni superheroes/heroines)and Taita-Taveta/Voi (for Taveta superheroes/heroines) capturing all information about the heroes from the 30 selected ethnic groups/communities by Museums research team.National Museums of Kenya - ContributorsMzalendo Kibunjia (PhD) - Director GeneralPurity Kiura (PhD) - Director Antiquities, Sites & MonumentsJulias Juma Ogega - Senior Curator/Research ScientistNjuguna Gichere - Research ScientistLydia Gatundu - Art CuratorEmmanuel Kariuki - Exhibit DesignerPhilemon Nyamanga - Curator/Research ScientistMercy Gakii - Curator/Research ScientistImelda Muoti - Curator/ArchivistInnocent Nyaga - Marketing OfficerSuzanne Wanjaria - Exhibits DesignerRay Balongo Khaemba - Senior Collection ManagerRaphael Igombo - Education OfficerNature Kenya - Other ContributorsThe East Africa Natural History Society (EANHS)EditingDaisy Okoti - Shujaa Stories LtdShani Mutarura - Shujaa Stories LtdJeff Muchina- Shujaa Stories LtdBrian Kiraga - Shujaa Stories LtdIllustrationsMasidza Sande Galavu - Shujaa Stories LtdMartha Shavuya Galavu - Shujaa Stories LtdPhotographyEddy Ochieng - National Museums of KenyaLinda Tambo - Shujaa Stories LtdJuelz Laval - Shujaa Stories Ltd, Abba Gadas: The Ancient Borana Leadership System. Dabballe is the initial Gadaa grade roughly ranging from birth to eight years. The Abbaa Boku and his two colleagues are chosen from the oldest or most distinguished families, which are known as `families of Hayu. The principal function of the Abbaa Boku is to preside over the parliament to proclaim the laws, and to act when necessary as a ritual expert in the Gadaa-ceremonies. At the stage of grade four, the Gadaa classes and the age set come into being as a formal corporate group: Leaders are elected for both groups. 0000012974 00000 n Regarding persons with special responsibilities, the Abba Gadaa, the elected chairman of the class leadership presides over the assembly. Only Fite Qalu and Qalu have an authority to make a prayer in all gatherings, Jalab and Qae are deprived of that role. 0000009729 00000 n Like modern parliaments today this Borana parliament would summon sittings to make, repel or ensure that the laws were being followed. Portuguese products available Online we mail to all lower 48 states. Another feature of senior gamme is their elevation to the Gada class. This begins when sons join the system as members of Gadaa class (generation class or set) forty years after their fathers and continue passing from one Gadaa grade to the next every eight years. 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 second meeting is after four years. However, to be initiated to the Gadaa system, in principle, they have to be always five Gadaa grades apart from their father. Gadamojjii (full retirement) is the terminal and sacred stage of the Gadaa grade refers to that are entering into or going out of the gadamojji Gadaa grade. These forms of government have its own leader called Abba Gada, and Abba . The class in power is headed by Abba Gadaa in Borana, Abba Bokku elsewhere. The council men bow in reverence. The Borana age-set (hariyya) is an institution or organized on age and generational relationships. Ibrahim A. Elemo (M.D., MPH)* Book The role of traditional institutions among Borana Oromo, [] communities. However, what initiation, interval, and genealogical generations constitute is not clear. 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. That of a lion which represents strength and domination (4); and. Gadaa [1] ( Oromo: Gadaa; literally: era) is the indigenous democratic system of governance used by the Oromos in Ethiopia and northern Kenya. The scope of gatherings ranges from socio-economic to cultural/entertainment activities. Friday 28 April, 2023 Horn Affairs News Articles Interviews 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. Berlin: Reimer, 1991. Accordingly, the Jalab appoints Qae (village) in charge of villages under him. After a few minutes, the head of the council arrives, the Abba Gada or father of Gada as he is known in the Borana language. of the abba gada - can be held by either moiety. That is, all the four semi-assemblymen serve as legal experts to the Gadaa General Assembly (gumigayo) which takes place in the mid of every eight years (i.e. However, among the Boran,it is commonly known as gogessa (Gadaa-cycles) and they are named as the first , the second , the third , the fourth and the fifth Gadaa cycles (gogeessa tokkoffa , gogeessa lammaffa, gogeessa sadaffa , gogeessa afraffa and gogeessa shanaffa). The Liiban Borana often refers to themselves as Sarkamtu. Put it differently, where Dulo Gadaa class is known for military leadership and defending the territory; Birmaji was, perhaps, notorious for rendering justice to the people. .Married men could also participate or send representatives to the assembly. For example, according to Boran diction, the term Dulo dule signifies that the Gadaa class of Dulo (waging war and it was one of the five Gadaa classes) had conducted military expedition. [7][8][9] Whenever an Abbaa Gadaa dies while exercising his functions, the bokkuu (the symbol of power) passes to his wife and she keeps the bokkuu and proclaims the laws. In the interpretation (conception) of the Gadaa system, there are several concepts that are understood differently by different scholars.
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