The Gede'o of Southern Ethiopia:A Survey of their History o of Southern Ethiopia:A Survey of their History o of Southern Ethiopia:A Survey of their History Since 1974

Abstract The focus of this thesis is reconstructing the administrative and socio-economic history of a Gedeo Zone from 1974- present. It also studied as Gedeo had their own administration system called baale before their incorporation to new Ethiopian state and as people were segmented society. The major historical events that were discussed in this thesis were organized chronologically and thematically. So, the study was arranged in four parts. The first part presents introduction: it discuss topics like location, physical landscapes and historical back ground of the society. The second part deals with historical survey of Gedeo People from incorporation to the state to until 1974. In this section the process of incorporation, Italian period achievements and the restoration of the imperial rule and the subsequent reforms that imperial government had introduced especially in relation to administration and land and the subsequent reactions of the people of the Zone to the introduced changes are the main themes of analysis for the period between 1941 and 1974. A negative or positive society’s cultural, political and socio-economic and their traditional way of life included. The third part presents changes in the Zone following Land Reform Proclamation of 1975, formation of peasant association, producer’s cooperatives, villarization, service cooperatives and it also assesses significant social changes. In early period Gedeo were successful. However, since 1977 the Gedeo were disappointed by the Derg’s political policies and the implementation of some of its programs. Fourth the Gedeo got the opportunity to work for the betterment of their social, economic and political status after 1991. Using their right to self-administration, the Gedeo developed and promoted their culture, language and religion; politics and socio economy. However, the relation between its neighbors, special with Guji became conflictual. The thesis deals with the role of strategic location and natural resources of the Zone in attracting foreign tourism and their local traditions and cultural setups of people. A qualitative methodological approach is employed in producing information. In eliciting the necessary data, the study basically relied on primary sources comprising of officials and functionaries of regional and local governments, community elders, and participants in focus group discussions More than 70 resource persons (key informants and FGD members) participated in providing information by responding to queries organized in the form of unstructured interview guides and checklists.