Traditional administrative system in Mursi

By Abdurezak Mohammed

 

South Omo is one of the Zonal Administration in South Nations, Nationalities and Peoples State. The Zone is a home for 16 ethnic groups– Mursi, Murle, Malie, Hamer, Bena, Bacha,Brayle, Bodi, Gnangatom, Ari, Arbore, Kuwagu, Kara, Dime, Dasenech and Tsemay. The base of their economy is cattle rearing, semi-farming and farming.

According to the 2007 National Population and Housing Census, the total number of the population in South Omo had reached to 577,673. The people of Mursi live in the South Omo, Selamango and Logofa woreda. Their economy is depending on cattle rearing and semi-farming. The official language of the people is Mursigna.

This language is grouped in Nilo Saharan language family. According to National Census of this same year, the total number of Mursi people was 7,500. There are two main tribes- Kutame and Shakaand the people of Mursi are led by these tribes. There are also 12 sub-tribes under these two major tribes. The power is given to candidates (relatives) by competition and election.

The competition for power is given to the king’s brother or relatives. The power transfer system is approved by prominent elders, leaders and the male householders groups by giving comments towards the bravery, vigilance, success, administrative performance and ability of the man who is to inherit power. If the proposed inheritor cannot meet those criteria, the elders have the power to disqualify the election. The people of Mursi are led by Kumuru, Koyse, Herhato and Kamis.

Their responsibilities and functions are presented as follows: Kumuru (the king) is the superintendent, controller, representative, and secular and spiritual leader of Mursi people. There is executive council of elders who brings complaint of the community to the Kumuru. Koyse serves as the advisor of the king. It also acts as medical practitioners by curing people from various type of illness.

By preparing traditional medicines (a mud from selected soil and smearing the patients of the community) he assists them to recover from their illnesses. It facilitates spiritual role like expectorates on the patients’ body to save them from sickness and pain. Herhato is a religious leader and psychic/prophet – predict what will happen in the future Herhato listen to communities’ dreams, interpret, predict and extend his opinions from groups under his authority, Kamis.

Herhato traces the system implementation process of the prediction. Kamis makes coffee and conduct spiritual ceremony; bless the members of the community by smearing white mud. It is believed that Kamis will mediate with the God. In addition to spiritual roles Kamis connects the members of the community with higher leaders. Generally the administrative system of the community tends to spiritual rather than secular administrative system.

The peoples of Mursi have their own traditional administrative system in which they solve conflicts within the people and neighboring peoples. The main reasons for conflicts within the peoples of Mursi are robbing of cattle and goats; boundary and farm land issues; and other similar acts. If human life is lost in a conflict, the murderer and his family come to their traditional leader and report the case.

Then, the traditional leader calls the leaders of tribes and administers immediately to prevent counter attack. On the scheduled date the leaders of tribes and administers make cultural conciliation rituals in the presence of prominent elders, families and relatives of murderer and victims, members of the tribe.

 In Mursi clans, age plays a significant role in identifying the status of each individual. Elders become the “police” of the clans and often punish wrongdoers or watch over their people.

Source: Addis Ababa City Administration Culture, Arts and Tourism Bureau