The Contemporary Gadaa Power Transferring Ritual among Gujii Oromoo The challenges and prospects

Abstract

The main aims of this paper are to analyze the challenges that the contemporary gadaa power transferring ritual is encountering and identify the opportunities of the ritual. The methodology employed to undertake the study relies mainly on qualitative approach, basically focusing on the observation method. The ritual ceremonies performed among Gujii and Booranaa Oromoo during gadaa power transfer is named Jilaa among the society. In Gujii gadaa system Me‟ee Bokkoo serves as the main Ardaa Jilaa center where power transfer is carried out. The inevitability of dynamism has brought forth some positive as well as negative change in the performance of power transfer ritual, particularly in 2016, the period this study focused on. As per the analysis carried out in this study, some of the positive aspects observed during the procession of the rituals include: better media coverage, inclusion of important indigenous laws such as education for women, environmental protection and other issues into the gadaa law passed by the council. From among the challenges observed at the ritual are: selling of alcoholic drinks at the occasion, dominance of electronic music over the indigenous ones, and the overtaking of the role of the Jaldhaabaa by government security force. Therefore, to avoid the negative trends creating challenges and promote the positive parts of the ritual, concerned bodies such as gadaa leaders, government, scholars, young groups, wider community are expected to play their role.