Page 1 of 15

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP

e-ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 01 Issue 07

3. August 2015

Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 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:

This paper discusses the importance and

historical genesis of Dararo ritual practices

among Gedeos. To explore this research topic,

it examines the following key concepts: The

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. To

attain the research objectives, the research

used Focus Group Discussions, interviews,

document analysis, and field observation as

data gathering instruments. Based on the

findings obtained from multiple methods,

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 Dararo has

also huge tourism potential which is not

executed and prompted effectively.

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

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Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

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e-ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 01 Issue 07

1. August 2015

Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 464

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 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

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e-ISSN: 2395-0463

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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

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. Specifically, the study generally

examined 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