Mayo People Research Paper

The people group I have chosen is the Oromo People. The Oromo people have occupied north-eastern and eastern Africa for as long as recorded history. It was most probably from there that they dispersed and became differentiated into separate linguistic and cultural groups. They speak Cushitic. These peoples physical and color characteristics vary from Hamitic to Nilotic. The Oromo form a group that spread southwards, east and then west and now occupy a large part of the horn of Africa.

There are several groups of people in East Africa that very closely resemble to Oromo. A group very similar is the Somalis, there culture and appearance are close to that of the Oromo people. In fact the Oromo and Somalis share between 30 to 40 percent
It is the Gadaa system. This system organizes the Oromo people into groups or sets. Each group assumes different responsibilities. The Gadaa system guides the Oromo people's religious, social, political and economic life. As well as their philosophy, art, history, and method of time keeping.

This system guides every aspect of life and serves as a basis for their democratic and egalitarian political system. With the use of the system the power to make laws belongs to the people. The Gadaa system is I believe a well defined but complex system and the following descriptions will hopefully give a basis for how it works.

The Gadaa is broken into two defined male members of society- the hiriyya and the gadaa grade. The following are the gadaa grades:

1.Dabballee (0-8 years of age)
2.Folle or Gamme Titiqaa (8-16 years of age)
3.Qondaaia or Gamme Gurgudaa (1 6-24 years of age)
4.Kuusa (24-32 years of age)
5.Raaba Doorii (32-40 years of age)
6.Gadaa (40-48 years of age)
7.Yuba I (48-56 years of age)
8.Yuba II (56-64 years of age)
9.Yuba III (64-72 years of age)
10.Gadamojjii (72-80 years of