It is clear that common traditional values, customs, beliefs and stories that passed from generation to generation through word of mouth or in written form have always been linked to nation formation and connected directly with the discourse and development of the nation.
These social resources describe the identity and life events of that specific community, its behavioral aspect and psychological makeups, history and norms, the social, historic, political and economic and the like progresses. Among these wisdoms which passed from generation, folklore is the one.
As studies indicate, folklore is an asset that demonstrates the manners, customs, beliefs, superstitions, gallantry and the like makings of a given society. As the community expresses its beliefs, customs, manners and the like activities through various symbolic discourses, including myths, parables, ballads, fables, riddles, proverbs, folklore is seen as an essential way of expression and a tactic that is used to transmit history, teach morality, stimulate the feeling of gallantry and nationalism and to entertain. For some countries, primarily in northern and central Europe, the idea of folklore was directly linked to nation formation, studies stated.
Various documents indicate that though there is no consensus among folklorists on how to define folklore or how to explain the issues with the meaning and the function of it, folklore generally refers to cultural expressions, such as narratives, jokes, beliefs, proverbs, legends, myths, music, songs, dances, costumes, food, and festivals through which individuals and groups shape and disseminate a shared identity.
Ethiopia, as one of the oldest country and the most diverse nations in the world where over 80 ethnic groups inhabited peacefully, is rich with its uniqueliterary wisdoms and shared values that pass from one generation to the next; and have influential effect.
These valuable assets, even these days, are used widely for various purposes such as to settle conflicts, build social consensus and sustain peace.
With this same end, of late, Culture and Language Research Institute of ArbaMinch University, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Sport, had organized a national symposium under the theme “Folklore for national consensus” at Arba Minch town.
Speaking on the occasion, Culture and Sport Minister Kejela Merdassa said that in Ethiopia, each and every community has thousands of narratives and sayings that are of critical importance in settling conflicts and nation building. At various times and occurrences, these wisdoms have been used for long to nurturing good behavior, resolve conflicts and nation building. However, these days unless it is in the rural part of the country, these valuable assets are diminishing in the urban areas. Thus, it is important to conduct research in various languages, collect and analyze the wisdoms so as to preserve the wisdoms and pass to the coming generation because they have tremendous constructive impacts in the nation building.According to him, the concept of national identity is inescapably connected with folklore
Dr. MulugetaDebele, Dean of College of Social sciences and Humanities said that folklore has been used in a multitude of ways since the beginning of civilization as it provides mankind explanation for natural occurrences: harvest time, natural disasters like earthquakes and storms, as well as life events: birth and death, apart from teaching moral values and was also used to entertainments.
According to DrMulugeta, he is also Chamo Campus Head,in Ethiopiawe do have a number of received wisdoms. Unfortunately, the past regimes used them just to propagate local ethnic based understanding in ways undermining the national issues and concerns of the country.This had hurt us and created undesirable insecurity matters.
Mentioning that folklores have both constructive and destructive outcomes, he said what matters most are the ways we use the assets. As to him, academicians and pertinent stakeholders should search ways to capitalize the efforts to collect the folklores,how to disseminate the resources to the respective ethnical groups and learn from each other.
Of the deliberators LemaNigatu (PhD) from College of Social Sciences and Humanities,Jimma University for his part noted that countries like Island and Finland have taught their posterity the oral literatures and the mythologies of the past generations and let them know and practice the wisdom of love, peace building and other similar common values in a manner the knowledge help them ensure peace and prosperity in constructive way.
““Though we are rich in oral literature, we are not using it accordingly.Some are trying to manipulate them and promote their own political agenda denying the big picture of humanity that all humans are connected to one another,” he underlined.
According to him, it is high time to retune and correct the wrong practice in the conventional usage of the oral literature and myths to nation and peace building.
Aster Lema (PhD)Bahir Dar University Cultural Center Head and Instructor at Folklore Department also said that there are a number of values we should impart from the previous generation and let the present and the coming posterity learn from the values of his forefathers’ history.
According to Aster, the major reason for the crisis that the country is in now is the false narratives that have been created by some entities and have been propagated for long within the communities. Folklores have substantial role to play in peace building.Thus, in order to withdraw false rhetoric, sustain peace and survive as a country, works should be done. In this regard, collecting and incorporating folklores in the curriculum is prudent.
To make this a reality,concerned bodies and pertinent stakeholders should act on the dot before some communities’ valuable oral literatures and folklore become extinct.
The workshop was attended by senior government officials and participants drawn from higher education institutes, members of ArbaMinich University Council, instructors and students as well as elders from Gamo Zone and invited scholars.
BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 26 MAY 2022
