Gamo people

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gaming
Gamo
Languages
Gamo
Religion
Ethiopian Orthodox, Traditional African religion, Protestantism
Related ethnic groups
Dorze people

Gamo is the name of the Ethiopian ethnic group located in the Gamo Highlands of Southern Ethiopia. They are found in more than 40 communities, including Chencha, Bonke, Kucha, Garbansa, Zargula, Kamba, Dorze, Birbir and Ochello.[1]

History[]

The name "Gamo" means lion,[2] which refers to the group's legacy and one of Omotic people along with the [Goffa people], they gave their names to the former [Gamo-Gofa] province of Ethiopia. Goffa broke away from Gamo-Gofa zone in 2019.

Language[]

They speak the Gamo language. Once created the Gamo language was thought by many foreigners to be a fruit since the Gamo people are known for some of their fruits, However, after time had passed it was soon known to become a language that was acknowledged by their government.

Population[]

The 2007 Ethiopian national census reported that 1,107,163 people (or 1.56% of the Ethiopian population) identified themselves as Gamo, of whom 141,233 were urban inhabitants and 965,930 rural. However, the national census of 2007 is believed to be incorrect, as it is widely believed that the population of Gamo is over 3 million. The Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region is home to 64.5% of these people.

Arbaminch is the capital city of Gamo people.[3]

Economy[]

The Gamo contribute to a lot of the fruit in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, including but not limited to bananas, mangos, apples and papayas. Additionally, the people of Gamo have developed the ability to conserve crop genetic resources, while also practising highly effective farming strategies. This has lead them to be able to grow over 65 varieties of barley, over 12 varieties of wheat and over 100 varieties of enset, as well as dozens of varieties of cassava, taro and yam.[4] Many Gamo people are weavers that make cultural clothes such as kuta, gabi, buloko, and dunguza.

Religion and history[]

Originally, their belief system was rooted in traditional African religions which was closely tied to nature.[5] Most are members to the Christian Protestantism P'ent'ay or Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.[6] The missionary activities of the Christians has brought disturbances and tensions in the traditional society, threatening the old way of life and the ecological balance.[7]

The Gamo and their strict social hierarchy offer us access for understanding how the caste system manifests itself in material culture. Artisans such as groundstone makers and potters rely primarily on craft production for their livelihood. In most parts of the world, traditional crafts are becoming less of an option, since mechanized mills and metals and plastics are becoming more common.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ Rave, Thomas (2006). Proceedings of the XVth International Conference of Ethiopian Studies, Hamburg, July 20-25, 2003. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. ISBN 9783447047999.
  2. ^ Project, Joshua. "Gamo in Ethiopia". joshuaproject.net. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
  3. ^ "Census 2007, Country Level" Archived November 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Table 3.1
  4. ^ Zulch, Alan. "A Thousand Suns: The View From Ethiopia's Gamo Highlands". .
  5. ^ "Gamo Highlands – Ethiopia".
  6. ^ "Gamo in Ethiopia".
  7. ^ "A Thousand Suns: The View from Ethiopia's Gamo Highlands - Our World".
  8. ^ "(PDF) Culinary Crafts and Foods in Southwestern Ethiopia: An Ethnoarchaeological Study of Gamo Groundstones and Pottery". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2021-09-09.

Further reading[]


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