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People Profile
The Gawwada of Ethiopia
NARRATIVE PROFILE
Location:
In the Omo region of Ethiopia, to the west
of Lake Chamo. Neighboring towns are Bussa, Zayse, Tsamai and Komso.
They live in deciduous forests on mountain slopes.
Identity:
The Gawwada are a Cushitic people who have
been isolated for centuries. Other peoples who speak the same language
are referred to in the section on language. Closely related are the
Konso people (speaking the Komso language) of Ethiopia, among others in the
Cushitic family. One neighboring people are the Zayse (speaking the
Omotic language Zayse). Variations of the name Gawwada are Gauwada,
Gawata and Kawwada.
The total figure of all these Gawwada-speaking peoples is about 64,000 - 76,000 (from 1995 figures by SIL in the Ethnologue). Figures on their population varies also. This would mean that the Gawwada people proper (speaking the Gawwada and Gobeze dialects) number from 42,000 to 45,000. Some figures include these all as the Gawwada people.
Gawwada leaders use Amharic, Oromo, or Komso as second languages. Literacy is very low among the Gawwada, with reports indicating a range from 1% to 15% literate.
Customs:
The Omo region continues to be one of the
most inaccessible regions of Ethiopia, which has enabled the Gawwada to
maintain their social organization and their traditional values with minimal
variations during the last century. They live in round houses called
tukal, made of acacia branches
covered with grass mats. The houses have cone-shaped roofs with a hole allowing
smoke to escape.
Their economic activity consists in equal parts of agriculture and herding. The Gawwada raise cattle, goats and sheep. They eat a grain called durra, maize, beans, rice, milk, meat and wild fruits. During the dry season, the Gawwada obtain fish from the lake as a complement for their diet.
The society is organized on a war defense model, with all boys trained to be warriors. Their primary weapon is the spear. In earlier times, each young man was required to kill another man and present some body part to their bride. They now kill an animal.
The father is an autocratic authority in the family. They are usually monogamous. Children are highly valued, and a man gains prestige by the number of children he has. Children are commonly not named for months or even years after birth. The most important ceremony in a man's life occurs when his oldest daughter reaches adolescence. Then he is given the title ma gudoha, "big man."
Group identity and cooperation are high values among the Gawwada. They are known as a sociable people, valuing hospitality and almsgiving.
Religion:
Much of Ethiopia accepted the Christian faith
when it was introduced in the early 300s. In later centuries, Islam
became a great influence. Currently about 4% of the population is
Muslim. However, the southern and western sections of Ethiopia have
remained almost impervious to both religions. Peoples in these areas
of Ethiopia still continue practicing their traditional religions.
This is the case of the Gawwada people. All the traditional religions
of the peoples inhabiting the region where the Gawwada live share innumerable
common characteristics. The picture is of one single religion with
some small variations in each ethnic group. These are called
zar
and appear to be similar to the Arab
jinn.
In this religion the most important aspect of worship is the worship of the spirits of the ancestors who serve as intermediaries between the living and an ultimate, single God, called by a common name among all these peoples. There are exists a level of minor divinities which are spirits associated with rivers and lakes.
Christianity:
A large portion of the Ethiopian population adopted the Christian faith when it was introduced by a Syrian trader in
the fourth century. The King at that time accepted Christ, and Ethiopia took
on an identity as a Christian nation from that time. At present about 40%
of the population of Ethiopia are Christian, the largest group being the
Ethiopian Coptic Orthodox Church.
The Gawwada and their neighbors, however, are virtually untouched by Christian faith. They are part of about 20% of the Ethiopian population that follow traditional religions. It is thought that about 2% of the Gawwada profess the Christian faith. There are no details on Christian outreach activities to the Gawwada. There are no Christian resources in the Gawwada language. It is estimated that about 25% have heard the Christian message.
Orville Boyd Jenkins
Some of the information here is from a Spanish profile found on:
http://www.ikuska.com/Africa/Etnologia/Pueblos/gawwada/
-- Rough Machine Translation by SDL International
was the starting point for this material.
- Final translation and edit by Orville Boyd Jenkins
This profile first written July 2001
Last edited on 27 December 2007
Copyright © 2001, 2003 Orville Boyd Jenkins
Permission granted for free download and transmission
for personal or educational use. Other rights reserved.
Email: researchguy@iname.com
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