AN INDIGENOUS SURVIVAL MECHANISMS TO PERIODIC DROUGHTS: - A LESSON FROM EAST GUJI OROMO PASTORALIST COMMUNITIES, SOUTH ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This manuscript tries to explore the continual droughts and its phenomena’s in the Southern Ethiopia East Guji Oromo pastoralist and semi-pastoralist communities that exhibit periodically via examining the possible root causes which fuel for periodical disasters and pestilences occurrence, and communities age old practice of indigenous acquired skills and wisdom's in the face of hardship as a means of coping and surviving mechanisms. Like, Raagaa [prediction the future] practice as drought detection or early warning mechanisms], Hirba, Dabare and Haqaaqqi [drought recovery local mechanisms] resistance mechanisms of periodic drought, cop up several disasters, for centuries with in the East Guji zone pastoral Communities. In this regard, since Ethiopia has many number pastoralist, semi-pastoralist and food unsecured communities that are prone to any time drought and unexpected disasters, the case of East Guji zone Oromo societies experience and traditions would serve as a lesson for those drought vulnerable groups of people.