Harnessing Gadaa System as a Black Covenant in Modern Constitutional Administration: Appraisal of Prospects and Challenges (original) (raw)
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Unique Features of Oromo Gada Governance System
The Gada system is a very huge and complex social institution in which the traditional Oromo people manage their socio political and religious practices. It is a well-developed age-based grouping up on which the religious, political, economic and social life of the people were formed. It is an indigenous socio-political democratic system of the Oromo people that regulated Political stability, economic development, social activities, cultural obligations, moral responsibility, and the philosophy of religious order of the society. The political philosophy of Gadaa is based on three main values: terms of eight years, balanced opposition between parties, and power sharing between higher and lower levels. It is difficult and beyond the scope this short paper to discuss the Gada system in its fullness. Rather, we had tried to describe it shortly and show briefly the overall picture of the indigenous Oromo Gada Democracy. Accordingly in the following sections, we have included the brief definition given to the Gada democracy, conceptual overview, and unique features with its some observed weakness, lesson learned and with some ways forwarded by the group.
Analyzing the democratic principles embodied in the Oromo's Gadaa System of Governance
Throughout my studies in Political Science, I have been fascinated by the area of democratic structures and ways to reconceptualize and reform our traditional systems. I have been drawn to the theories of deliberative democracy (a system that seeks to mend direct democracy by allowing all citizens to participate, but with the requirement of active participation in a reason-based deliberation) and to recent discussions of how to best utilize digital technologies to allow for greater participation of the citizens. When I first heard about gadaa in a lecture in our course on Ethiopian history, I was immediately struck by a curiosity to delve deeper into this fascinating system. The more I researched, the more I was astounded by how an indigenous society could develop such a robust and complex democratic government hundreds of years ago. I was drawn to gadaa with the realization that – in our search for new concepts and structures of democracy – one need not only look forward to the future. By studying the past, specifically the so-called ‘fringes’ - societies overlooked by most political scientists and Western scholars – we can find different and exciting systems that can challenge our understandings of democracy and inspire us to think of different ways to conceptualize our governments.
A Future Gaze: Gadaa Oriented Constitutional Structure for Oromia
2018
The Gadaa System has been studied by several scholars, both by domestic and expatriates. This is undeniably a great opportunity. However, up until today, there is not a great deal of studies conducted from the perspective of how the Gadaa system could be used across Oromia ́s modern political order. Thus, the general objective of this paper, considering the socio-political order Oromia is in, critically analyses how the Gadaa oriented constitutional structure can be adopted in Oromia. The scope of the analysis is limited to the Gadaa structures such as: the five Gadaa parties (Gogeessa), the Gadaa council (Adula), the Gadaa grades (gulantaa Gadaa), the Gadaa assemblies, and the Gadaa confederacies. Therefore, the mission of this article is to pave the way and kindle discussion on how Gadaa could be implemented across Oromia future. This paper approaches this issue from the concept of neo-Gadaa. By neo-Gadaa, the author mean the revitalization of secular Gadaa values, principles and ...
Modernity, Culture And Democracy: Changes And Continuities Of The Oromo Gadaa System
Modernity, Culture And Democracy: Changes And Continuities Of The Oromo Gadaa System, 2019
The primary aim of this work is to analyze concept of modernity, culture and democracy; changes and continuities of the Oromo gadaa system in changing social and political paradigm. Gadaa system of the Oromo administers all aspects of Oromo life and activities including social, political, economic, cultural, environmental and religious issues. Gadaa system has major role in keeping social and political order of the Oromo nation. It has also a major role in keeping social and political order of the Oromo nation. For centuries Oromo nation were governing their affairs with the principles and values of the gadaa system. However, change is inevitable phenomenon. Indeed Gadaa system due to both internal and external factors declined structurally in most parts of Oromia regional state of Ethiopia.The role of gadaa as social institution is also undeniable in promoting peace and harmonious coexistence. It helps to analyze the past events and situations, understand the present and shape the future destiny for the common wellbeing.
Oromo Indigenous Philosophy (Gadaa System): The Case of 74 th Gujii Oromo Gadaa Power Transition
The main purpose of this paper is to investigate Gadaa power transfer, which is performed every eight years among the Oromo society in general and Gujii Oromo in particular. In this study the researcher employed boththe primary and secondary sources. Secondary data sources were collected by assessing published and unpublished materials. The primary data were collected through observation,discussion and interview.Furthermore, these data were described qualitatively. Finally, all data were analyzed and interpreted carefully according to social science disciplines. As revealed by the study, power (baallii) transfer is a ritual celebration passing through different steps and concluded by sacrificial activities from giving and taking Abbaa Gadaa's peacefully. The findings of this paper indicated that in Gadaa Democracy power transferred peacefully through fair, free and periodic election. It has real significance in intercommunity peace-building and sustaining social solidarity and integration. Finally, the paper explored how theOromo nationdeveloped this amazing and exemplary philosophyfor self-rule, self-determination and sustainable development.It also illustrates how it had functioned as a socio-political institution by preventing oppression and exploitation and promoting relative peace, security, sustainable development, and political sovereignty.
This study revealed participatory governance rooted in Gadaa system by focusing on manbadha general assembly of the Arsii Oromo. The concept 'manbadha' (literally meaning wide house) is used by the Arsii Oromo to mean Gadaa general assembly. To this effect, interview, focus group discussion (FGD) and observation were used to procure data. The finding of this research revealed that Gadaa system is participatory when analyzed from the perspective of roles of age grades, decentralization approach, gender issues and openness for the mass. Based on this fact, it is logical enough to conclude that the way age grades and political parties are designed, the means by which people are involved in the process of governance and opposing views are all integrated, and also validate the fact that Gadaa system of the Arsii Oromo is participatory. Therefore, current polity of the country shall utilize Gadaa system of the Oromo to boost the democratization process of the country and enhance peoples' engagement in decision making.
Full Length Research Paper , 2020
Constitution and government are the different faces of the same coin in any political ideology; since a constitution is an instrument through which a government governs its citizens. However, a constitution may be either a democratic one; or an undemocratic one. Accordingly, the legitimacy of a constitution is based on its making process, contents, and practices in a certain state. Thus, if its making process is participatory; if it consists of fundamental human rights and democratic principles in its contents; as well as, if it is implemented practically by the government; a constitution is a legitimate constitution, if not it is an illegitimate one. Consequently, this paper seeks to reexamine the extent of constitutionalism in the Gadaa Republic of the Oromo people. Its main objective is to assess the prevailing opportunities and challenges in the constitution-making process, contents, and practices of the Gadaa Constitution to ensure constitutionalism. To achieve its purpose, this study has employed a qualitative methodology which includes a review of related literature, and analyses of legal documents. The findings of this study have pointed out that in the Gadaa Republic of the Oromo, the sovereign political power vests in the hands of the people, and the rule of law is well respected in the Gadaa Republic of the Oromo people. Consequently, the principles of constitutionalism are well recognized in the Gadaa Republic. Hence, this paper has recommended that it is better to mold these Gadaa oriented principles to the status of the modern constitutional principles in Ethiopia.
Getu Gonfa, 2023
This study attempts to emphasis the Social and Political Functions of the Oromo Gadaa System with particular reference to the Guji Oromo. In this study, I utilized secondary sources, selfexperience and different manuscript in order to gather the data. The collected data was organized and analyzed using qualitative research methods. The function of gadaa in politics were largely studied by different scholars in different parts of Oromia but study that deal Social and Political function of Guji oromo is scanty. Thus this paper used to fill the gap. The Gadaa system was the innovation of the Oromo society through which the society administered, defended their territory, maintained and developed their economy. In the Oromo social life, Gadaa system gave rights and responsibilities to all the males in the society. Gadaa is the quit egalitarian that stand for all person and nation without any prejudice. In Guji oromo there are five parties such as Muudaana, Halchiisa, Dhallaana, Harmufa and Roobalee parties. This parts are transfer the baallii (power) by smooth succession without any conflict. The political view of Gadaa is based on the indispensable values like, terms of eight years, balanced opposition between parties, and power sharing between higher and lower levels. There is no collusion among the parties in gadaa system. Henceforth Gadaa is an indigenous social and political development of the Oromo. It is a development in self-governance, egalitarianism, social organization, management of incomes and globalization.
Constitution and government are the different faces of the same coin in any political ideology; since a constitution is an instrument through which a government governs its citizens. However, a constitution may be either a democratic one; or an undemocratic one. Accordingly, the legitimacy of a constitution is based on its making process, contents, and practices in a certain state. Thus, if its making process is participatory; if it consists of fundamental human rights and democratic principles in its contents; as well as, if it is implemented practically by the government; a constitution is a legitimate constitution, if not it is an illegitimate one. Consequently, this paper seeks to re-examine the extent of constitutionalism in the Gadaa Republic of the Oromo people. Its main objective is to assess the prevailing opportunities and challenges in the constitution-making process, contents, and practices of the Gadaa Constitution to ensure constitutionalism. To achieve its purpose, this study has employed a qualitative methodology which includes a review of related literature, and analyses of legal documents. The findings of this study have pointed out that in the Gadaa Republic of the Oromo, the sovereign political power vests in the hands of the people, and the rule of law is well respected in the Gadaa Republic of the Oromo people. Consequently, the principles of constitutionalism are well recognized in the Gadaa Republic. Hence, this paper has recommended that it is better to mold these Gadaa oriented principles to the status of the modern constitutional principles in Ethiopia.
"Gadaa Across Domains. A Long-Term Study of an African Democratic Institution" by Marco Bassi
Gadaa Across Domains. A Long-Term Study of an African Democratic Institution, 2024
Ethiopia is a multi-ethnic and multi-national state with historically complex and often contentious internal relations. This book explores the history of the gadaa system, hailed in the post-colonial context as a paradigmatic example of African democratic institutions and a powerful symbol of Oromo political emancipation. This customary institution has undergone a revival independent of international indigenous rights frameworks and now holds significant potential as a mechanism for protecting the common resources of communities and peoples in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. The first part of this volume is devoted to describing the gadaa institution among the Oromo-Borana, where it continued to operate throughout the nineteenth century, a period in which it almost disappeared in other Oromo areas. The second part outlines the history of top-down interactions with customary institutions in Oromo-Borana areas, addressing national and international development, biodiversity conservation, and especially politics and inter-ethnic conflict. The third part broadens the focus from the Borana to the wider Oromo and Ethiopian contexts.