Abstract
The study focuses on the Socio-Cultural History and the Econo- Political Development of the Minority Society: The Case of Benishangul Gumuz(1991-2018).The Gumuz of Matakal are renowned for their traditional socio-cultural history, economic and political developments since their arrival to Matakal. They have developed wonderful conflict management strategies and institutions that play important role in harmonizing their relations with the neighboring “ethnic” group, such as the Shinasha, Amhara, Agaw and Oromo. The conflicts differ in their causes, nature, intensity, frequency; yet the peculiarities are often glossed over and depicted as typical inter-ethnic conflicts between the highlanders or “settlers” on one side and the “indigenous “people on the other. Nonetheless, this approach not only risks a presupposition of ethnic groups as cohesive and binding entities but fails to explore the role of Gumuz initiation rituals, rite of passage, discourses of violence and other major socio-cultural events in inspiring and articulating them. So far, there exists no single comprehensive study, in its own right, that tries to map out the nexus between Gumuz perceptions, symbolism, representation and discourses of violence and outbreak of intermittent conflict in the region in time and space (1991-2018). The related literature will be systematically reviewed and relevant information gathered. Furthermore, in-depth interviews will be conducted, with elders from the highlanders, particularly from Amhara, Agaw, Shinasha, Oromo ethnic groups and the Gumuz. The data collected through these methods will be carefully examined, cross-checked, interpreted and analyzed to determine whether there will be any correlation or connection between the Gumuz, discourses of violence and outbreak of conflicts in the study area.
Highlights
1.1 Geographical Setting The Mätäkäl Region of Western Ethiopia is a vast territory located in the north western Ethiopia, bordering the Republic of Sudan to the north of Blue Nile
Before the advent of the Ethiopian Federal Democratic Revolution, the minority society was ignored from Social, Economic and Political aspects
The Gumuz are one of the Koman branches of the Ethiopian Nilo-Saharan language speaking people located along the Blue Nile River Valley and its tributaries .Originally, they used to live in the region of Mätäkäl up to the shores of Lake Tana, as far as the low land areas of Awi Zone, in the Amhara National Regional State
Summary
1.1 Geographical Setting The Mätäkäl Region of Western Ethiopia is a vast territory located in the north western Ethiopia, bordering the Republic of Sudan to the north of Blue Nile. It is bounded in the north by Gondar, in the south by Wälläga and Asossa, in the east by the former province of Gojjam, and the Sudan along the west( Berihun Mebratie ,1999;73). Before the Federal State structure, the region was bounded by Begi-Meder and Semen, in the north, Qolla Dägä Damot in the north east, Sudan in the West, and Wälläga in the south/ Bogala Aligaz,2013;1/. The minimum daily temperature, depending on season and altitude, ranges from 120 c to 200 c(Beniŝangul-Gumuz Region Food Security Strategy,2004;5-6)
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