Journals Information
Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 5(1), pp. 52 - 62
DOI: 10.13189/sa.2017.050106
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Harnessing Gadaa System as a Black Covenant in Modern Constitutional Administration: Appraisal of Prospects and Challenges
Solomon Emiru Gutema *
Wollega University, Nekemte, Oromia, Ethiopia
ABSTRACT
Gadaa system is a well comprehensively guided, crafted and nurtured system of traditional administration under the unbelievable wisdom of the ancient Oromo people in the horn of Africa. It is difficult to recall exactly when and where Gadaa system had started. However, it is determined beyond any reasonable doubt that the Oromo people have been utilizing Gadaa system as a traditional mechanism to ensure social justice for centuries. It is possible to consider Gadaa system as an unwritten form of the nation's covenant or constitution in modern sense. It is developed and evolved from the cumulative experiences gained from experiments, practices, customs, and lessons of many generations of the Oromo society in a very long period. Accordingly, Gadaa system is extremely broad and comprises of all aspects life like religion, Politics and culture of the Oromo people. Nevertheless, this paper puts its emphasis on exploring the prevailing prospects and challenges in harnessing Gadaa system as constitutional administration in modern democratic governance. Hence, to achieve its goal, the researcher employs qualitative method which includes reviewing the existing and relevant literatures, assessing legal documents like FDRE Constitution of 1995, and evaluating the Gadaa tradition in comparison with the modern principles of Constitutional administration. Therefore, the findings of this research claim that Gadaa system is a covenant for the Oromo people. Since all Oromo, in all age groups will give their consent to select or elect their representatives/leaders. Since the people puts limitations on the powers of elected representatives through the principles of Gadaa administration and furthermore, as the nation have Gadaa system as guarantees to make their leaders accountable and transparent both legally and politically in their day to day official decisions. For this reason, the researcher recommended that all the concerned party in general and all the Oromo scholars and peoples in particular must strive a lot in harnessing the principles of Gadaa system in their modern administration at national and international level.
KEYWORDS
Gadaa System, Oromo, Administration
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Solomon Emiru Gutema , "Harnessing Gadaa System as a Black Covenant in Modern Constitutional Administration: Appraisal of Prospects and Challenges," Sociology and Anthropology, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 52 - 62, 2017. DOI: 10.13189/sa.2017.050106.
(b). APA Format:
Solomon Emiru Gutema (2017). Harnessing Gadaa System as a Black Covenant in Modern Constitutional Administration: Appraisal of Prospects and Challenges. Sociology and Anthropology, 5(1), 52 - 62. DOI: 10.13189/sa.2017.050106.