BY KFLEEYESUS ABEBE –
Of the things we are proud; the battles won, the history, manuscripts, monuments, religious relics among others. Ethiopian humility was grandeur and unifying. Ethiopians use to give exceptional value to manner, decency and cultural practices as well.
Every Ethiopian tries his/ her level best to be hospitable. They are strict in respecting guests. In early times it was a common feature for someone to take shelter in every house near and make his journey. Specially, in northern part of the nation, it is common to wash guests’ feet, slaught their sheep and present their best meal, and leave their beds to the guest too. If the guest makes his journey alone, the host will assign his servant to escort him. In southern part too when someone asks for water they give him a jug of milk.
They are also welcoming to someone who would like to make living with them. They do have a long tradition of harmonies coexistence regardless of religion, ethnicity or language differences. They embrace new people as themselves, the southern Ethiopia, particularly the Oromo culture is a textbook example in this regard. With “mogasa” and “gudifecha” they embrace people as their own.
Inparticular, respecting elders is an integral part of Ethiopian culture. People show greater respect for elders and superiors by listening their advice, obeying their order and letting them get service first.
Moreover, Ethiopians are also ardent to their faiths. They regularly go to churches or mosques. They incorporate faith related commands to their social values and norms and compete to uphold all them. They have also progressive outlook when it comes to recognizing and respecting beliefs of others. Some who made a journey to Wollo would find people with different religion even getting married. In the marketplace people who speak three and more languages gets easily communicated and do business.
Hence, these values and norms helped Ethiopians to preserve and stregthen unity and togetherness among themselves. I believe if it was not for this Ethiopia could be conquered, there may not be a proud, independent Ethiopia. If it wasn’t for this, there wouldn’t be the Ethiopia we have now, one from many.
Unfortunately, there has been a test to this invaluable asset. Some dare to say there is nothing that unite Ethiopia. The displacement, the abuse and attacks on some groups are a pain to me. I was asking myself repeatedly the very question: what has changed?
In a discussion with a fellow journalist, I gained some insights. He told me he grew up in very tolerant society. He grew up with friends from different ethnic groups and religion harmoniously. The society in itself does not have any problem. The society hasn’t even changed now, he stressed. But one cannot deny there is a moral decline.
What caused this to happen?
Beginning from the Marxist Leninist time, there was no inward looking to develop and transform Ethiopia. Development, modernization and political change in general are being seen from outside to inside. The youth has been struggling to import everything. The secrets of Ethiopian wisdom started to be forgotten. There is no appreciating of one’s own history. Everything of the outside is modern and progressive. Everything of ours started to be seen backward.
Bad to worse, our politics became divisive. The struggle of ‘freedom fighters’ creates division among the ethnic groups and people in general. They praise what they think theirs, based on ethnicity, and alienate the rest. These groups have been sowing hate for decades. Children grew up listening more on our differences than what binds us together. Hence, some Ethiopian youth seem to develop or narrowed their rationanliy. They have developed ethno-centered view rather than promtin Ethiopian culture. But, Ethiopian humility which promotes humanity has been a target for decades. It is even a target.
The media has not done enough work to challenge this. It used to talk more on diversity of people giving less attention to the commonality, bonds and unity of Ethiopians. The education system is the same. Ethiopian humility and good manners are left from being incorporated in the education system.
What could be done now?
The first thing is to bring back Ethiopians morale, dignity and confidence in themselves. There must be a cultural revolution that appreciate Ethiopia, Ethiopian culture and its values. Historians, artists and other stakes should scale up their work that promote patriotism and Ethiopian values. Government and nongovernmental organizations should line up in assisting this initiative.
As the politics seems to be changing, from division to synergy, there should also be practical steps in place to avert the wrong path Ethiopia has been taking. Among this, coherent ideology should be a foundation to Ethiopian politics, not blood linkage, ethnicity or religion. Promotion of one’s ethnicity, religion and language should be left to civic organization not to political parties. Politicians should have better understanding of their country before running to serve it.
The media should aggressively work on promoting Ethiopian values that binds everyone together. The youth should be helped in knowing Ethiopian values and norms that made Ethiopia unique and strong. They should know their history, their cultural assets and wisdom. Hence, the media has irreplaceable role to play.
Prominently, educating the youth to have good manners, discipline and humility should be given due emphasis. The educational institutions should promote researches on Ethiopian culture and intangible assets thereby the education system incorporate Ethiopian values.
Moreover, religious fathers, the elderly and public figures can easliy convince the youth to turn to appreciating Ethiopia values. Churches and Mosques should give extra emphasis on teaching of tolerance among diversified people. They can refer from their respective doctrine or teachings and preach tolerance and unity. They should narrate stories that show Ethiopians solidarity in good and hard times. Respecting others beliefs, customs and religion should be appreciated and seen as civilty. They can also help the work of instilling these values on the minds of posterity.
Accordingly, Ethiopia can restore the intangible asset from fading away. Not only restoring this invaluable asset Ethiopia could exploit Ethiopian humility in the efforts of realizing durable peace and stability, democracy and prosperity of the nation.
The Ethiopian Herald June 19/2021
