Page 1 of 15

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

e‐ISSN: 2395‐0463

Volume 01 Issue 07

August 2015

Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ Page | 463

Dararo Ritual Practices: Its Importance and

Historical Genesis Among Gedeos, Ethiopia

Mr. Tewodros Abuhay Meretu

Lecturer, Department of Civics and Ethical Studies, University of Gondar, P.O.Box 196, Gondar,

Ethiopia

abtedi@gmail.com

Abstract: The major objective of this study is to discover importance of Dararo in the Gedeo

belief system, and associated practices in the study area, how Dararo is related to Magano and

other superhuman bodies and the interconnectedness between Dararo and Gada system of Gedeo

and its practices. For this study, both primary and secondary data were used in the study. Primary

data included Focused Group Discussion, Interviews and field observation. While published and

unpublished data were used as secondary data. The study discovered the following findings from

the analyzed data: Dararo holiday celebration has been given a special attention among Gedeo

societies not only because it serves as an occasion for the smooth transfer of Gada power from one

individual to another but also a time when the societies provide praise to their God for the

harvesting of their farm products For the Gedeo society, Dararo is a holiday which marks the

beginning of their new year in their local calendar. During this holiday the Gedeo worship their

God and never do such activities as agriculture, build new houses and were banned from sexual

intercourse. According to the various written resources research results, Dararo has got many

meanings although it generally stands to mean a holiday, it also means generation, flowers e.t.c

Key words: Dararo, Mageno, ritual practices, Deresso, Fego, clan organization, cultural resources

Introduction

Dilla town, the seat of Gedeo zone, is situated at

about 165 kilometers south of Addis Ababa in the

Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples

Regional State (SNNPRS). SNNPRS is one of the

nine states of the Federal Democratic Republic of

Ethiopia by the 1995 constitution. Historically,

before the end of the 19th century the people of

Gedeo was an independent entity having their own

Page 2 of 15

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

e‐ISSN: 2395‐0463

Volume 01 Issue 07

August 2015

Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ Page | 464

social, cultural and political system. The social and

political system of the Gedeo was mainly depends

of the land which plays a pivotal role. Just like other

southern parts of Ethiopia, land in this area was

owned communally. The land has been used as

centre of religious practices under the Gedeo

hayicha (literally means elders/ wise person). The

place used for the practice of cultural and social

practices was known as Songo (Tadesse K., 2002).

There were and still are several Songo where people

gather to thank their Magano (equivalent to God).

This is similar to the Waqa of the Oromo.

According to sources, the traditional religious

beliefs of the Gedeo are centered on a supernatural

being referred to by the Gedeo as Maganno, which

literally means Sky God. According to sources, all

creations, best qualities and abilities and limitless

powers are attributed to the Magano whom all

Gedeo by instinct invariably believe to exist. Hence,

the entire body of Gedeo oral traditions, their

proverbs, maxims, folk tales, and myths reflect their

beliefs and convictions in Magana. Besides

Magana, natural objects and geographic features

such as trees, rivers, and hills which are thought to

possess superhuman powers are also adored. On the

whole, the religious devotion of the Gedeo revolves

around their desire to be protected against

calamities and misfortunes with all the adverse

situations prevented, to live in peace, good health,

happiness and wealth. Ritual practices used to carry

out at places where such superhuman believed to

exist. Some of the rituals are still alive. Just after the

harvest season every year in the month of January,

the Gedeo have a prayer ceremony (thanksgiving

festival) called Dararo. In Gedeuffa Dararo

literally means flower. Dararo has started to revive

especially after the Derg regime, that is, 1974 and

onwards. This paper is about this particular

ceremony called Dararo which is practiced by

Gedeo in Gedeo Zone of SNNPR. The change and

continuities in this ritual practices will be presented

in logical and historical manner by analyzing its

elements (Tadesse K., 2002).

In reality there are no ritual practices which are

incorrect and unworthy. All are true in their own

fashion; like religion, all answer, though in different

ways, questions about conditions of human

existence. Every ritual practices is made up of

intellectual conceptions and religious practices.

Thus, the beliefs and rites, which compose them,

must be dealt with successively for ritual practices

is something one is devoted or committed too.

2. Aims of the study

Nowadays, Dararo rituals and ceremonies or their

procedures are understood only by the elders,

although is well practiced at some districts of the

Page 3 of 15

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

e‐ISSN: 2395‐0463

Volume 01 Issue 07

August 2015

Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ Page | 465

zone. Therefore, its practices and significances is

not well studied, and as a result not well known.

Thus, it is important to document and analyze the

ritual practices and importance of the society.

The study tried to reveal what is Dararo, its

meaning, practices and procedures in the area under

study there by disclosing the importance of this

event in maintain cultural and natural heritages in

the area under study. This in turn, hopefully, show

how indigenous practices play their respective role

in the making the society under unity and keep

together under the same areas of influences.

Therefore, this research came up with the

indigenous ritual practices and procedures in the

study area. Equally, it showed how this practice

contributes to the natural environment protection in

the hidden respect of the natural law. Last, but not

least, it can be also served as a bridge for other

researchers who are interested to carry out research

on similar area. The study generally looks at d the

following major points: (1) The importance of

Dararo in the Gedeo belief system, and associated

practices in the study area. (2) How Dararo is

related to Magano and other superhuman bodies

among the Gedeo people through the passage of

time (3)How these indigenous belief systems

survived to present day despite the influence of

modern religions (book religion) (4) The

interconnectedness between Dararo and Gada

system of Gedeo and its practices will be also

assessed systematically.

Materials and Methods

For writing this paper both primary and secondary

sources were used. The primary data was collected

through extensive interview and discussion with

people who are expert in the areas. Semi-structured

questionarre was developed and provided so as to

get insight of the people about Dararo in the area

and the sector in the woreda under study prticularly

culture and tourism both at wereda and zone level.

This helped to get and keep the accuracy of the

information in logical way. Data was also collected

from groups of an elders in the area. An elders in the

local area who play great role during Dararo ritual

practices was identified with the recommendation

of concerned bodies. They were targeted so as to get

common idea that prevail among elders. This

system was trangulated with historical case studies

for reliability. The secondary data was collected

from books, journals, magazines, research papers

and other documents. Then these secondary data

was used in the body of the paper so as to make the

primary oral sources more scientific and justifiable.

Results and discussions

Gedeo, its traditional religion and ritual

practices

Gedeo myth of origin