ADDIS ABABA- The way the question of identity has been addressed with too much focus on few manifestations of identity like linguistic background is among the major contributing factors that challenge the co-existence of socio- linguistic communities in the current Ethiopia, stressed a forum.
Addis Weg, a forum the Office of the Prime Minister (PMO) hosts on a single and selected topic held here yesterday with panel discussion on a theme: ‘Identity in Ethiopia’.
Dr. Dawit Wondimagegen, Chief Executive Director of College of Health Sciences of Addis Ababa University said human beings develop layers of identities since childhood.
To him, both individual and group identities are the results of interaction of man with time, environment and other similar factors; hence, it is healthy to recognize and respect the identities of individuals and groups.
Another panelist, Dr. Abdi Zenebe, a political science scholar, also highlighted that the question of identity and the way it has been handled tend to be divisive. As to him, two extreme ends are visible since the imperial time, with one a “proponent of a unity” and the other “perceiving ‘Ethiopia’ as an exclusionary concept”.
Governments, fearing disintegration, were responding brutally to the question which however ended up further aggravating the problem that led to [armed] struggle, according to him. As both are Ethiopian socio-political fabric, academicians and political elites must find a grey line of both, devising political structure and system that could accommodate the elements.
The country has several other faces like social, economic and political and overblowing the issue of identity taking a single manifestation would not help the current spirit of reform, he added. He also hailed the reform describing as this time the changes are not coming from a barrel of a gun.
Musa Adem, also a panelist, and a political science lecturer at Jigjiga University said the kind of identity overblown currently by different interest groups has roots in a wrongly interpreted narrative.
He said so far political elites presented past political systems as they favored one group over the other. Sadly, however, the lifestyle of the peasant is the same across the length and breadth of the country.
Commenting as prejudice upheld among various communities were undeniable, but the political elites have used it to their advantages. “But the country and its people could gain in immense if we refocus on elements that bring us together.”
Taking socio- linguistic diversity as blessing, government, academic institutions and other stake holders ought to protect and utilize the wisdoms that can take the country forward, he commented. At the event, participants raised various questions and comments that further sparked discussions.
Speaking on the rationale of the forum, Head of PMO Press Secretariat Nigussu Tilahun also said as government evaluated as there is a gap in balancing the issue of identity and citizenship in the political sphere.
Despite the healthy nature of mainstreaming the quest for identity, investing unbalanced focus on it has jeopardize the country, Nigussu indicated mentioning the mass displacement witnessed so far.
As well, scholars who attended the discussion had not shied away from criticizing the higher education curriculum, which they said “failed from incubating a generation that upholds the required knowledge and ethics.” Universities are literally origins of informed citizens and hotbed of debates, they said, noting the current news of killing as indication of failure.
The Ethiopian Herald, June 15/2019
BY WORKU BELACHEW
Photo:- Dagne Abera
