A HISTORICAL SURVEY OF PROTESTANTISM IN SODDO TOWM SINCE 1920s

Abstract This study attempts to reconstruct the socio-economic and cultural developments and its impacts of the history of Protestantism in Soddo Town since 1920s. It mainly depends on the critical examination of primary sources and oral information. The religious practices of the new protestant faith have been exercised in Wolaita and Soddo Town since 1920s. Starting from 1937 onwards Protestantism was highly spread and expanded in Soddo. The post 1941 period, also paved a new chapter after the missionaries returned to Ethiopia from USA and other areas. They first reached to Soddo in 1928 and started their preaching then. They played their role in the socio-economic and cultural developments in Soddo Town until1974. The missionaries worked to lean the attitude of the despised members of the past through teaching about equality, fraternity and fairness. However, this was challenged by the new shoan comers and some local governors in the area under the study who tilted to Orthodox Christianity. But, some administrative bodies like Bogale Walalu asked the central government the permission when his majesty made an official visit to Wolaita and Soddo. This was born a new way to the missionaries freely worship and preach whatever religion that they were following in the area under the study. As a result, since 1920s, the spread and expansion of the new faith Protestantism brought different positive and negative historical consequences on the socio-economic and cultural spheres in Soddo town which still the remembered in the historiography of Wolaita in general and Soddo Town in particular. Among many contributions, the protestant missionaries worked in building schools, health institutions and even taking part in changing the minds of the local people which was filled with the traditional habits. However, the new faith Protestantism provides various negative results on the indigenous cultural realities of the people of Wolaita in general and SoddoTown in particular