GADAA SYSTEM
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| Oromo people under sycamore tree |
Our world is vast and populated, for its distance, it hosts many surprising cultures and systems and many governance strategies.Today we will look at the Gada system that was practiced by the Oromo people living in East Africa.
What is Gadaa system ?
The Gadaa system is a democratic and egalitarian system by which the Oromo people of East Africa have been governing each other and conducting various systems. It is the indigenous democratic system of governance used by the Oromos in Ethiopia and northern Kenya. It is also practiced by the Konso and Gedeo people of southern Ethiopia. The system regulates political, economic, social and other activities of the community. The Oromo people gather under sycamore tree for a common cause, for various ceremonies and discussions.
Gadaa system is an indigenous
egalitarian democratic system that has been practiced among the Oromo nation of
East Africa for the last five hundred years. Among other structural elements of
the Gadaa system is its legislative body commonly known as Gadaa General
Assembly. Gadaa is a holistic system of governance
encompassing the political, social, cultural, economic and religious affairs of
the Oromo people in East Africa. As a
system of governance, the Gadaa operates in stages (often ten stages with eight
years separation).
The power of the Gadaa general
assembly is to exercise supreme legislative authority. Its functions include
(but are not limited to) reviewing laws at work, proclaiming new laws,
impeaching the men in power, and settling major disputes that could not have
been resolved at the lower levels of its judicial organ(s). Any decision passed
by the general assembly is final and cannot be reversed by any other assembly. The
legislative and adjudicatory supremacy of the general assembly is historically
conditioned and culturally deep-rooted.
Primarily, Gadaa system is an ancient philosophy of socio-political system that responsible for regulating Political stability, Economic growth, social services, Cultural commitments, Ethical contract the of religious order of the Oromo society and practice Gadaa Democracy that require equal participation of both male and female.
Participant Recruitment and Selection
In principle, every person can attend the Gadaa general
assembly. Differences in terms of age, status or political affiliation may not
bar a person from taking part in the assembly. However, it is mandatory for all
living former Abba
Gadaas (presidents), former and incumbent Gadaa Councilors
(not less than thirty in number), and clan elders to convene to the assembly.
The assembly was led by a speaker - ex-Abba Gadaa. In a new development, women were allowed to
attend the general meeting - something previously not permitted for them. Sirna
hopes that it is inevitable that women continue to participate and deliberate
in Gadaa general assembly.
Process, Interactionand
Decision-Making
Again, the Gadaa system is an
indigenous egalitarian democratic system practiced among the Oromo nation. The
Gadaa General Assembly takes place under a sycamore tree - a symbolic
representation of dialogue and consensus.
A holistic
system of governance, the Gadaa operates in stages (often ten stages with eight
years separation). Unlike other Western democratic systems, the Gadaa system
has five permanent political parties whose members assume leadership once every
eight years. Within forty years, all five parties serve their nation
constituting 'One Gadaa’.
The power of
the Gadaa general
assembly is to exercise supreme legislative authority. Its functions include
(but are not limited to) reviewing laws at work, proclaiming new laws,
impeaching the men in power, and settling major disputes that could not have
been resolved at the lower levels of its judicial organ. Any decision passed by
the general assembly is final and cannot be reversed by any other assembly.
Influence,
Outcomes, and Effects
In its current political context, the Gadaa system
is relegated to local-level practices. The past regimes as well as the current
government are responsible for the demotion and underdevelopment of the Gadaa system.
Even though UNESCO recently recognized Gadaa system as intangible cultural heritage, it is not
given any official recognition by national or regional constitutions.
Instead, Gadaa functions
parallel to the state political institutions.
It is perhaps ironic that although the Gadaa system has functioned as an effective method of
participatory democracy for the past six centuries, the Ethiopian national
government is mired in tyranny and corruption. This is a possible indication
that democracy is sustainable where it is socially and culturally grounded, and
not simply self-proclaimed democratic republicanism. For instance, Ethiopia had
a constitution since 1931 and has never become a democratic state in practice.
Nevertheless, politicians and citizens of Ethiopia recognize that Gadaa is democratic, and often the federal and Oromia
Regional State presidents attend the Gadaa power transfer ceremonies; there, they read their
written confessions and appreciate how Gadaa system is uniquely an African egalitarian and
democratic system.
Conclusion
The Gadaa system is
a democratic and egalitarian system by which the Oromo people of East Africa
have been governing each other and conducting various systems.G