BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
There are a number of motives that drive to the establishment of cultural and social research associations. Some of these may include when there is a need to explore the historic, social and cultural values of a certain group through conducting researches, to transform the fragmented and weakened social, traditional, economic and political treasures of the larger society, to creating a forum where diverse civil society organizations can meet.
It is also an important venue to exchanging knowledge and experience and jointly devising solutions to plaguing challenges as well as to preserve the wisdoms of a certain community, to heighten publics’ understanding about the matter thereby to capacitate the generation about his/her cultural values, and wisdom. Equally, it is an important mechanism to maximizing resources.
Regardless of the specific motives, the goals behind the establishment of national associations are likely to include advancing citizen participation and opening up spaces for scholars’ engagement. This method, as documents indicate, is also carried to strengthen people to people relations and enhance overall ties, create a sense of community, to give opportunities to learn and appreciate others’ social and cultural treasures they adore most through capitalizing the rich values of the communities.
Needless to say that the Oromo people have varied valuable indigenous knowledge and wisdoms that are not well explored; and practiced at the desired level. For instance, the Geda System, an indigenous egalitarian democratic socio-political system practiced among the people of Oromo and helps to regulate political, economic, social and religious activities of the community is the one.
The System, by entertaining community’s issues practically such as conflicts that may arise between and among the Oromo people and even beyond, seeking resolution and imposing reparation on wrongdoers for the damages done- be it property or moral, it has served for long being the best mechanism to sustain peace, enforce moral conduct, build social cohesion.
Likewise, the ‘Siinqee’, women’s customary law, that promotes and protect the rights of women is the other important culture of Oromo people. In recognition of the social, economic, political values and religious affairs of the people recently, an Oromo Research Association that conducts researches and documents the history, culture, and social issues of Oromo people was established.
Speaking on the occasion, Oromia State Government Chief Administrator Shimelis Abdissa said that the establishment of the Oromo Research Association plays an important role in nurturing the well-established values of the people to the people in order to create reasonable generation.
According to him, the Association is expected to work on transferring knowledge to the next generation by conducting researches on the history, culture, language, and Geda System of the Oromo people. Shimelis said that regional government is working persistently on developing the human mind in addition to infrastructural development.
“Considering the current world situation, we need to raise a generation that can think better than we do,” he stated, adding that the research association will play an important role in this respect. The Chief Administrator also said that the Association will help to solve the problem of generating knowledge, utilizing expertise and research.
Announcing that the regional government has donated 50 million Birr to the Association, he expressed his office’s readiness and commitment to stand by the side of the Association by all available means to enable it run the tasks it is entitled to – to carry out unlimited research activities.
One of the founding board members of the Association, Tabor Wami on his part stressed the aim of the Association. As to him, the Association works unwaveringly to transmit knowledge to the next generation by researching and documenting Oromo history, culture, and social issues.
A member of the House of People’s Representatives and Advisor to the Office of Oromia President, Mohammed Ahmed also said that such research societies help to strengthen solidarity and build the next generation through revealing hidden good values.
Roba Petros, Peace and Law Lecturer at Dire Dawa University also underlined the role of research associations in highlighting common values that should be brought out to the fore in order to build the country and strengthen solidarity.
According to Oromo Culture Center Senior Researcher Alemayehu Hailu, the establishment of the Association is a great stride in terms of promoting the unidentified values of Oromo people. Community associations, public offices, partners and knowledgeable individuals should support the Association and work in partnership to achieve the desired outcome.
The Oromo society is a united community interwoven through various shared values and wisdoms that have been practiced for thousands of years. The Geda System, egalitarianism, respect for the liberty and dignity of the individuals, commitment to the rule of law, and the Irreechaa Festival can be mentioned as the best instances in this regard. The two among others are the most important features of Oromo society. Undeniably, these values have irreplaceable roles in terms of averting conflicts, ensuring lasting peace and cementing fraternity and solidarity between and among the people, and building national unity.
In this regard, the Association should work hard to capitalize the culture and the rich values of the Oromo people in many ways. This is especially true from the sides of higher education institutions which have number of academicians; and better opportunity to research activities.
The Ethiopian Herald October 2/2022
