Abstract
The Nuers are among the diverse ethnic groups of Ethiopia who live in its southwestern periphery. But there was limitation in recording historical experiences of the Nuers. Thus, this research attempts to record an economic and political history of Ethiopian Nuers. Methodologically, it tended to use narrative history. It has arranged chronologically and attempted to explain how and why events occurred. A qualitative interpretation and analysis of primary sources collected from interviews and archives were undertaken. In addition, critical cross checking of books, journals, reports, and other relevant documents supplemented primary sources. Accordingly, the Nuers had indigenous political tradition. They practiced egalitarian form of political structure. Economically, they were predominantly pastoralists. However, political and economic changes commenced after the arrival of Ethiopian state representatives to the region. Politically leaders with newly introduced political titles had emerged among the Nuers. Those political leaders served as intermediaries between the government and the people. An average degree of diversified economic activities also introduced. Human induced and natural factors eroded reliability of cattle herding. As a result, they began to cultivate crop in some areas of the Baro Salient. Besides, the 1974 Ethiopian revolution brought political reorganization. Some Nuer elites nominated as real government functionaries.
Highlights
The Nuers are among the Nilotic people of expansion they were divided in to Jikany (Eastern) Africa
The amount of cereal collected by the Nuer using a hoe and a small land in two seasons was comparable with highland Ethiopian farmers who used oxen and plow relatively larger plot
More profound changes observed in the political tradition of Nuer than their economic activities
Summary
Email address: To cite this article: Shimels Ayele Yalew. A Political and Economic History of Ethiopian Nuer from the 1890s - 1991.
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