Unsung traditional wisdom-Halabi Ogete

 

By Abdurezak Mohammed

Myriads of menaces from conflict and violence, desertification, environmental pollution to traditional harmful practices and extravagancy appear to uproar among rural communities in Africa. You may have heard a lot about the threats. Wealth of indigenous heritages that still maintain societal cohesion are, however, far from being easy in your ears.

Big trees in Africa are not there only to keep the balance of the ecosystem, but elders sit in the trees’ shade to renounce wrong doers and to reward elegance! Indigenous conflict resolution institutions have all the wits of preemptive and remedial instruments to social, political and economic evils.

The Halaba people live in the Central Ethiopian Highlands. Their traditional judicial and conflict resolution system proves the assertion made above true. The conflict resolution system called Halabi Ogete has been practiced among the Halaba community for ages. The leader that sits at the helm of the system is called the Wema – a position equivalent to a king.

Selection of the Wema will not go out of the hands of Side tribe. The mythical connection between the people and the selection of the Wema has two versions. The first and widely accepted one is that the people’s direct linage with Prophet Mohammed. This tribe had been oppressed in the past time and the administrative power is meant to compensate the oppression being the second one.

The council goes round villages on a regular basis—bimonthly. But ad hoc meetings could be organized at any location of the villages in the shade of a big tree. The seat of this judicial system is not permanent. But, the meeting is held in the shade of big tree or Ogete Hala, explains Mohammednur Heramo, Media and Communication Process Coordinator of Halaba Zone Culture, Tourism and Communication Affairs Office.

Villagers host the council by covering the necessary financial expenses and arranging special seat for the Wema, according to him. Before cases are tabled to Halabi Ogete, they may pass through the scrutiny of lower rank chambers— Boki Ogete (Family court) has the rights to see cases among family members up to five generations of the same linage. Mini Ogete, however can handle family affairs issues up to seven generations of people who share the same linage.

Also, issues that involve subtribes of the community fall in the jurisdictions of Debo Ogete (Tribal Court). Halabi Ogete, therefore, serves as an appellate court. Cases which fail to get solutions at lower levels or if individuals or groups feel that verdicts of lower administrators are biased, they appeal to the Halabi Ogete. But, the scope of this court is even wider.

It is this supreme body that makes any deal with neighboring communities on behalf of its people. It also drafts and effectuates new bills and policies in which the community should be abided with, as to Mohammednur. One important aspect of meeting of the council is that before the opening of formal proceedings, members of the community and elders exchange information about their neighborhood and other issues of significant value.

A study by Elias Welansa, Traditional conflict resolution system of Halaba, corroborate that the various levels of administration and conflict resolution methods have eased burdens on formal court. As to his finding, the system also properly functions in ensuring inclusivity when it comes to upholding the rights and benefits of the needy and people with disability. A Historian and an author, Amrulah Telaha as well stresses the importance of preserving, nurturing and handing down such invaluable heritages to posterity.