THEMES IN THIS
TESTIMONY
History
Land
Social Institutions
Spiritual Beliefs
Traditional Skills
Click on arrows
to find more testimonies
featuring these themes
|
Sex
|
male
|
|
Age
|
68
|
|
Occupation
|
farmer and blacksmith
|
|
Location
|
Geregera (midlands)
|
|
Date
|
E
|
|
summary
detailed breakdown
You will need a password from Panos to view the full
transcript of the interview. To apply for a password, click here.
Once you have a password, click here to go to the beginning
of the transcript. You can also click on any section of the
breakdown of content below and go straight to the
corresponding part of the transcript.
|
Section 1 |
Land redistribution: “It is better now if you want land. No one says ‘so and so was not born here or is a Muslim’ and denies you land.”
Changes in market conditions.
|
Section 2 |
Qire (traditional funeral association). Personal history – life in Gojam and details of his own and his children’s marriages. Education of his children. Trend towards marrying off daughters too young.
|
Section 3 |
Farming practices in Gojam – farmers use fertiliser and get better yields.
Health situation and population growth seen as related – people should use birth control provided by government.
Peace and safety: in the days of Haile Sellassie “a merchant travelled through the wild land, passed the night under the light of the moon, and came back safely after completing his business.”
|
Section 3-4 |
Blacksmiths/artisans – once prosperous before “ignorant people tarnished our names by saying that we ate people”; responsible for building the churches and houses, yet people are hostile to them. Handicap of not being educated. |
|