Gadaa Values of Environment

Abstract

This paper discusses gadaa values of environment depending on some major religious-philosophical conceptions, background knowledge and some common facts about gadaa views of nature Gadaa is a social human system but it has originated out of nature and worked towards its health realization. Scholars of gadaa have defined it as Oromo generational values that have encompassed an entire socio-cultural, political and administrative system of the populace at least before the present. This repository system has expounded the entirety relationship distinctly. However, the aspect is undisclosed in the works of Gadaa scholars and those who studied Oromo natural environment. To this particular purpose, the study has employed descriptive research methods and qualitative approach. Data were obtained through interview, group discussions, observations, personal profile, and analysis of cultural heritage values and written literatures. In the eyes of indigenous experiences, Gadaa is wholly intact with nature through various manifestations depicted in the totality of interrelatedness and affiliation with elements of natural environment. The findings reveal that starting from the root word of gadaa, the relationships between gadaa and the sycamore Odaa tree and the way gadaa defines the interrelatedness and organization of elements in the environment revealed some major inherent values of the system related to nature. Results also showed different forms of culture and nature interrelationships in gadaa are propounding environmental sustainability. Even though, important values of gadaa have declined due to the 20 th century imperial Ethiopia colonizing structure that has worked against Oromo wisdom, the process of revitalizing gadaa values at a present apprehends the study sensible. It is recommended that the more gadaa values are studied the better it assists current reemergence of Gadaa system, and the larger possible, to restore the lost Oromo natural and social environment.