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Society and Culture
The Konso believe themselves to be some of the most ingenious and industrious workers in Ethiopia. They are proud of their agriculture, culture and the Konso Highlands.
There are two traditional social hierarchies in existence:
POQALLA - intermediary between community and God (ritual practices and conflict arbitration)
DAWRA or SHOROQOTA - represents the mediating priest who arbitrates between individuals and different villages
Every member is obligated by the traditional code of respect for their culture and adherence to the instructions of the administrative groups and the ward.
XELA – larger group for large communal projects are the main administrative community group.
XORRAATA - is a fine imposed for not participating in duties
PORSHOOTA – smaller group (40 – 70 yrs old) who look after the forests and water places and welfare of the community including roads and footpaths (up to 6 people)
KANTA – the local neighbourhood or ward. The Kanta system is a socio–economic division for the purposes of local administration and harmonious communal living.
There is also a huge amount of respect for traditionally conserved forests, community work obligations, various rituals, ideals of the Konso and transfer of power from generation to generation.
Konso Clans
Numbering 9 (excluding sub-clans) – same as Dirashie and Borana
Konso Clan Names
TOKMALEETA
EELAYTA
KEERTITTA
ISHALAYTA
MAHALEETA
TIKISSAITA
SAWDATTA
PAASANT
ARKAAMAYTA
Each clan is associated with different totems, taboos and characteristics, but there is no hierarchy between them.
- No marriage allowed between clan members but you can marry cousins of different clans (patrilineal heritage)
- Poqalla = lord of the family, he wears an iron ring (Mukula) and is the direct representative of the ancestors
- An individual is supported in debt by clan members.
- A Hero (someone who has killed a lion or an enemy) is supported by clan members by sacrificing a male goat in case of ORTITTA attack (see section on Spirits)
- The clan also provides labour for house building or farm work
Some clan alliances disallow intermarriages
Keertita and Paasanta (Karati)
Tokmalayta and Eelayta
Mahalayta and Sawdata
Arkamayta and Isalayta (Fasha)
The clan unit is not inflexible and there are location specific arrangements which allow inter or intra clan marriages. Clan membership is not necessarily defined by birth or common origin and is unimportant in defining a person’s identity and network of kin relations.
Music
Young children amuse
themselves with bulrushes, women and boys play the flute, the kirar is
popular with males as is the five stringed Dita. Konso men form teams
to produce concertos on panpipes. Each member is responsible for
playing and sustaining 1 note.
Decorated calabashes (incised and rubbed with charcoal) were
traditionally used for carrying milk, animal fat and grains.
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