6.05 Susanne Epple; Fabienne Braukmann
From periphery to mainstream? Recent observations on status changes of so-called minority groups in Ethiopia
In many parts of Ethiopia, among stratified but also among rather egalitarian societies, minorities (despised clans or occupational groups) can be found that are excluded, or at least not allowed to fully participate in the life of the mainstream society. While the efforts of previous governments have not been very successful in bringing about any sustainable change for minorities, recent researches have shown how inherited social categories are being reshaped and renegotiated “through interactions with novel information and changing political–economic circumstances”. Religious conversion, the introduction of market economy, increasing tourism, introduction of modern education are factors that seem to contribute to more mobility and change of relationships between the status groups. To our panel we invite recent studies on excluded minorities with the hope to achieve new insights into this topic. Papers are invited from all parts of Ethiopia and can include all varieties of hereditary status groups (hunters, craft workers, slave-descendants, ritual experts). The analytical focus should be on the blurring or redefinition of boundaries between minority and mainstream society, for example through cultural and linguistic adaptation or assimilation, the abolishing of former taboos (such as allowing previously prohibited intermarriage), innovative economic cooperation or others. Papers should discuss the conditions under which such changes have taken place, i.e. changing socio-cultural environment, religious conversion, exposure to new ideas and values and the like.
ACCEPTED PAPERS
| Prof. | AMBORN Hermann | The Relation of Artisans and Farmers in Southern Ethiopia |
| Mr | BEZA DESSALEGN | Between Sub-national Autonomy and Managing Ethno-linguistic Diversity: Why Territorial Federalism is not enough for Minorities in Ethiopia |
| Mr | BOSHA BOMBE | Slavery and Status Transformation in Ganta, Southern Ethiopia |
| Ms. | BRAUKMANN Fabienne | Situating changing practices and status changes of a minority group at Lake Abaya, Ethiopia |
| Mr | ENDASHAW WOLDEMICHAEL JIMA | Hegemony and Negotiation in Pluralist Ethiopia: The Case of ‘Linguistic Minorities’ Living among Majorities (Haro in Focus) |
| Dr. | EPPLE Susanne | Overcoming Layers of Marginalization: The adaptive strategies of the Bayso people of Lake Abaya, Southern Ethiopia |
| Ms. | KIYA GEZAHEGNE | The Undesirables: Living on the Margins of Rayya Qobbo Highlands |
| Dr. | LEIKOLA Kirsi | Talking Manjo, Linguistic repertoires as means of negotiating marginalization |
| Mr | MECKELBURG Alexander | From “subject to citizen”? Preliminary notes on social mobility in western Ethiopia |
| Mr | SAMUEL TIBEBE | The Implications of Conversion to Evangelical Christianity in the Stratified Society of Dawro, Southern Ethiopia |
| Dr. | SAVÀ Graziano | Amharic codeswitching in Bayso and its social and gender correlations |
| Dr. | TEMESGEN BURKA | Unsympathetic Artisans: The marginal position of smiths among the Mainstream Oromo in Wollega, western Ethiopia |
| Dr. | YOSHIDA Sayuri | From Differentiation to “Social Discrimination”: Changing Relationship between the Kafa and the Manjo in Southwest Ethiopia |