Protestant Led Transformation on Religion, Culture and Economy on People’s Life: Case of Wolita Community in Ethiopia (1928-1991)

Abstract

This study is aspired at narrating Protestantism led religious, cultural and economic transformation in Wolaita from 1928-1991. Objective of this is to assess religious, cultural and economic condition of Wolaita before Protestantism, discuss contributing factors for the institutionalization of Protestantism, examine how Protestant missionaries approached to indigenous religions and culture and evaluate religious, cultural and economic changes in Wolaita after Protestantism. Qualitative research approach is employed to accomplish this study. The study findings showed that since long ago up to early 20 th C the Wolitas communities worshiped on various indigenous religions at the expense of their material assets. The worshipping was based on the accumulation of material wealth as required by the leaders of the indigenous religions. From 1894 up to 1974, cultural and economic condition of Wolaita was gravely dominated by the northern settlers. But Protestantism which launched in Wolaita from 1928-1991 played its own vital role in driving religious, cultural and economic transformations in the study area. In the process of Protestantism, foreign missionaries and local converts employed some elements to institutionalize Protestantism in the study area. Keywords : Protestantism, Indigenous Religion, Transformation, Culture, Economy, people’s life. DOI: 10.7176/IAGS/94-02 Publication date: April 30 th 2022