In this contemporary world, there are innumerable social services and social advocacy groups that are playing a significant role in bringing about changes to benefit a particular community in particular and the greater society in general and everyone might well belong to one of these groups in their respective district, residence, community or society at the vicinity of their residential areas. The cumulative effect of the scattered practices makes a big picture in the country and helps the generation nurture strengths and do away with irrelevant and detrimental acts.
A number of societal practices exercised among groups or community members in the past, present, and future can be confidently taken as vehicles for social reform and social change, or moves at least have the potential for becoming such vehicles.
Entrenched social rehearses among all Ethiopians have never paved the wrong boulevard and opened leeway for social bankruptcy in Ethiopia. Instead they have been consolidated time after time and get furnished as they started providing members with support in cash and in kind beyond their major objective—accomplishing funerals and consoling families of the deceased. This is technically called a voluntarily set up social association, (Iddir in Amharic local language).
There are a number of merits to which this social tie is attributable. For instance, if one of the members of the Idir gets sick, gives birth or gets married, the committee in charge of facilitating conditions contributes money and the concerned will be given in cash; or else materials such as baby clothes will be bought for members who gave birth. Moreover, since we live in the same neighborhood we share each other’s materials.
The role of civil society organizations in mobilizing the community to participate in developmental activities has been reasoned to have comparative advantages as compared to other approaches such as state intervention in many ways. In the past, development policies and strategies of developing countries such as Ethiopia have been dominated by, either the private sector led market or state led development strategy for health, economic growth and poverty eradication. However, these states generally lack such modern organizations, which can provide the necessary services to the beneficiaries at the local level. ‘Iddir’ and a willingly organized social connection peculiarly targeting financial contributions called Equb are among the most important financial institutions in Ethiopia. The former is an informal financial and social institution that is almost ubiquitous throughout. Basically, the original purpose of iddir was the burial of the dead. Today, it provides a much wider range of services including financial and material assistance and consolations for a member at the time of difficulties as well as entertainment as the case may be.
This writer recently talked to Gobena Aredo, an iddir Chairperson around Hayat residence. He said, “Iddirs are the workable bases in the creation of social linkage which play crucial role in providing solutions to social and economic challenges people are encountering.”
As to him, there are of course various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Ethiopia among which the ‘Iddir’ is a social and financial institution widespread both in urban and rural areas of the country. Without a shadow of doubt, Ethiopia is a unique country with all its entrenched habits and well mounted social fabrics. Apart from its ordinary and ancient resources, the social chattels created by people to help each other in good and bad times make the country a land of love, solidarity, togetherness and coexistence of people with a sense of family.
“Frankly speaking, Iddir and Equb, the well-established social values aimed at helping one another at good and bad times as well as to be valued by communities regardless of differences, have to be well consolidated and passed down to generations.”
He said, the role of Indigenous knowledge, traditional practices and informal associations like the aforesaid ones have been playing an indispensable social, economic, cultural and coexistence role among the society; it is really worth citing. They can contribute a lot to the effort geared towards improving their lives and living conditions of the society. Yes, Iddir is an association of neighbors or workers to collect donations to be used in emergencies such as death within these groups and their families. The fashion has now been changed and the role Iddirs play has been well promoted to meaningful social, developmental and economic trajectories.
Obviously, he further elaborated that Equb and Iddir can be described as traditional financial associations, and Iddir is a long term association, Equb can be temporary or permanent depending on the needs of the members.
As to Gobena, these two socio-economic traditions are informal, bottom-up, and widespread among Ethiopians across the nation. It can also be argued that these are national phenomena adopted by Ethiopians with a linguistic, religious or ethnic background. Indeed, Iddir is becoming a critical source of social steadiness at a time when deaths from many diseases are increasing at an alarming rate.
As studied indicate, these dynamic, people-oriented associations are often ignored or not adequately taken into account by the state or the educated elite with regard to social or economic development. Indeed, because of such traditional associations, our society remains stable and coherent as they serve the needs of society in a sustainable way and are based on available human or material resources.
All the social assets have to be considered indispensable and taken as Ethiopia-centered development plans or activities since they are notable associations based on local knowledge and practices among the entire society.
Gobena further elucidated that the functions of the traditional institutions are combined to create a new system. Besides, when people say that Ethiopia is a unique country, it is not out of the blue as there are a number of reasons that are confidently cited along this line.
He said, “Undeniably, Ethiopia is a land of inestimable benedictions. It is the origin of the people and an ancient cradle of civilizations with its magnificent scenery and diverse scene, its idiosyncratic flora and fauna, incredible and captivating history, traditional and cultural values, unique alphabets and calendars, diverse manifestations. Besides, the cultural foods and drinks, including the world famous number one coffee with its mesmerizing aroma, are among the unique national assets that can never be found anywhere in the universe. All these possessions were, have been and will be the archetypal manifestations of this great nation—Ethiopia. ”
In a nutshell, as Ethiopia is a special nation with all its endowments, it has to be well eyed and nurtured to be a more independent and self-sufficient state of the world. Though individuals can certainly make a difference, it would be by far better to make a synergy and move in unison to make a real difference. Drawing important lessons from all sorts of social cohesions, citizens of the country are expected to push Ethiopia to the ladder of success in all aspects. Undeniably, there are a number of common aspects people can well buttress and make change together. Yes, it is very clear that working together helps individuals, groups, associations and even the nation at a greater to bring about real difference and get foes ashamed of. Many of the rights and freedoms Ethiopians enjoy today were the result of committed efforts by social reform groups and social associations of the past. Hence, all citizens of Ethiopia can declare economic, social and political independence together using the amicable social ties as a ladder.
BY MENGESHA AMARE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 22 MAY 2022
