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“MONAI”: THE CULTURAL HERO OF THE ME’ENIT ETHNIC GROUP IN ETHIOPIA

Year 2023, Volume: 16 Issue: 44, 1584 - 1598, 20.12.2023
https://doi.org/10.12981/mahder.1286449

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The Me'enit tribe lives in the southwestern region of Ethiopia. Members of the tribe live primarily in the districts of Me'eni Goldia and Me'eni Shasha, with a few living in Gura Ferda and some neighboring districts. This study focuses on Monai, a teenager who is the cultural and traditional hero of the nation. The main reason for conducting this study is the lack of sufficient research on the myth of the ethnic group. To make the research successful, data was collected from primary and secondary sources. The collected data was analyzed using narrative theory. The research uncovered the different stages that the Me'enit cultural and traditional hero - Monai - went through. These paths are the call to triumph, the rejection of the call, and the victory. This study discussed the existing myth law of the ethnic group, the actions Monai's father takes to protect the myth law against his daughter, Monai's efforts to overcome death, and the results of the analysis. Monai's defeat of the ethnic group myth and the struggle to defend and protect the ethnic group culture are presented in the results of the research. This research focused on the struggle for the cultural hero of the Me'enite ethnic group and shows the actions that the ethnic group should take as a solution to epilepsy, although the ethnic group believes that epilepsy is the wrath of God.

References

  • Abbink, J. (2010). Creation myths of the world an encyclopedia 2nd ed. California፡ Greenwood Publication Group.
  • Abbink, J. (2002). Myth: A biography of belief, New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Abbink, J. (1992). An ethno-historical perspective on Me'en territorial (Southwest Ethiopia). Anthropos, 87(4/6), 351-364.
  • Abbink, J. (1993). Me’en ritual, medicinal and other plants: A contribution to Southwest Ethiopian ethno-botany. Journal of Ethiopian Studies, 26(2). 1-21.
  • Abbink, J. (1995). Ritual and environment: The Mosit ceremony of the Ethiopian Me'en people. Journal of Religion in Africa, 25 (2), 163-190.
  • Abbink, J. (1990). The final rite: Burial among the Me’en of South-West Ethiopia. Proceedings of First International Conference of Ethiopian Studies, 65-75, Addis Ababa: IES.
  • Abbink, J. (1994). The Me’en as historical transformation of the ‘Surma’: Preliminary notes on society and culture. Proceeding of Ninth International Conference of Ethiopian Studies, Vol. I. Section II.
  • Abbink, J. (1992). The Me’en of South-western Kafa: Material culture on Ethiopian Shifting. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University Press.
  • Abbink, J. (1990). Tribal Formation on the Ethiopian Fringe: Toward a History of the ‘Tishana , Northeast African Studies. 12 (1), 21-43.
  • Abbink, J. (1991). The deconstructions of tribe: Ethnicity and politics in South Western Ethiopia. Journal of Ethiopian Studies, 24, 1-12.
  • Andualem, A. (2004). Traditional conflict resolution in Me’enite Ethnicity. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University, submitted to the Department of Ethiopian Languages and Literatures for Master's Degree.
  • Bascom, W.R. (1965). The forms of folklore: Prose narratives. The Journal of American Folklore, 78 (307), 3-20. Brian, R. (2000). Recent concepts of narrative and the narratives of narrative theory. Concept of Narrative, 34 (2), 168-175.
  • Brown, T. J. (2004). Deconstructing the dialectical tensions in the horse whisperer: How myths represent competing cultural values. The Journal of Popular Culture, 38 (2), 274-295.
  • Bryant, M. E. (2009). Mytholopedia. Oh my Gods! A look-it-up guide to the Gods of mythology (mythlopedia). Scholastic Inc.
  • Campbell, J. (2004). The hero with a thousand faces. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
  • Finnegan, R. (1970). Oral literature in Africa. London and New York: Routledge.
  • Hiwot, A. (20014). Mourning system in the Me’enite Nation. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University, Department of Ethiopian Languages and Literatures, presented for the fulfillment of Master's Degree.
  • Kidanewold, K. (1948). Book of grammar, dictionary of hadith. Artistic Publishing House.
  • Kit, K. (2013). Types of mythology. M.A. Education, Your Dictionary.
  • Leeming, D. A. (1998). Mythology the voyage of the hero. 3rd ed, New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Muller, F. M. (1907). Natural religion, Longmans, Green, and Com.
  • Niguse, B. (2005). Socio-cultural history of Me'nenit, 1898 -1991. presented at an annual conference organized by Mizan Tepi University.
  • Paul, C. (2005). Narrative mythology. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
  • Philip, N. (2007). Myths and legends explained. New York: DK Publishing.
  • Tewodros, G. (2001). Interdisciplinary literary reading. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University Press.
  • Zerihun, D. D. (2008), The ethno-history Me’enit ethnic group, south ethnic group nationalities and peoples, regional government. Institute of Language, Culture and History Research, Department of History and Heritages.

“MONAI” THE CULTURAL HERO OF THE ME’ENITE ETHNIC GROUP IN ETHIOPIA

Year 2023, Volume: 16 Issue: 44, 1584 - 1598, 20.12.2023
https://doi.org/10.12981/mahder.1286449

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The Me'enit tribe lives in the southwestern region of Ethiopia. Members of the tribe live primarily in the districts of Me'eni Goldia and Me'eni Shasha, with a few living in Gura Ferda and some neighboring districts. This study focuses on Monai, a teenager who is the cultural and traditional hero of the nation. The main reason for conducting this study is the lack of sufficient research on the myth of the ethnic group. To make the research successful, data was collected from primary and secondary sources. The collected data was analyzed using narrative theory. The research uncovered the different stages that the Me'enit cultural and traditional hero - Monai - went through. These paths are the call to triumph, the rejection of the call, and the victory. This study discussed the existing myth law of the ethnic group, the actions Monai's father takes to protect the myth law against his daughter, Monai's efforts to overcome death, and the results of the analysis. Monai's defeat of the ethnic group myth and the struggle to defend and protect the ethnic group culture are presented in the results of the research. This research focused on the struggle for the cultural hero of the Me'enite ethnic group and shows the actions that the ethnic group should take as a solution to epilepsy, although the ethnic group believes that epilepsy is the wrath of God.

References

  • Abbink, J. (2010). Creation myths of the world an encyclopedia 2nd ed. California፡ Greenwood Publication Group.
  • Abbink, J. (2002). Myth: A biography of belief, New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Abbink, J. (1992). An ethno-historical perspective on Me'en territorial (Southwest Ethiopia). Anthropos, 87(4/6), 351-364.
  • Abbink, J. (1993). Me’en ritual, medicinal and other plants: A contribution to Southwest Ethiopian ethno-botany. Journal of Ethiopian Studies, 26(2). 1-21.
  • Abbink, J. (1995). Ritual and environment: The Mosit ceremony of the Ethiopian Me'en people. Journal of Religion in Africa, 25 (2), 163-190.
  • Abbink, J. (1990). The final rite: Burial among the Me’en of South-West Ethiopia. Proceedings of First International Conference of Ethiopian Studies, 65-75, Addis Ababa: IES.
  • Abbink, J. (1994). The Me’en as historical transformation of the ‘Surma’: Preliminary notes on society and culture. Proceeding of Ninth International Conference of Ethiopian Studies, Vol. I. Section II.
  • Abbink, J. (1992). The Me’en of South-western Kafa: Material culture on Ethiopian Shifting. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University Press.
  • Abbink, J. (1990). Tribal Formation on the Ethiopian Fringe: Toward a History of the ‘Tishana , Northeast African Studies. 12 (1), 21-43.
  • Abbink, J. (1991). The deconstructions of tribe: Ethnicity and politics in South Western Ethiopia. Journal of Ethiopian Studies, 24, 1-12.
  • Andualem, A. (2004). Traditional conflict resolution in Me’enite Ethnicity. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University, submitted to the Department of Ethiopian Languages and Literatures for Master's Degree.
  • Bascom, W.R. (1965). The forms of folklore: Prose narratives. The Journal of American Folklore, 78 (307), 3-20. Brian, R. (2000). Recent concepts of narrative and the narratives of narrative theory. Concept of Narrative, 34 (2), 168-175.
  • Brown, T. J. (2004). Deconstructing the dialectical tensions in the horse whisperer: How myths represent competing cultural values. The Journal of Popular Culture, 38 (2), 274-295.
  • Bryant, M. E. (2009). Mytholopedia. Oh my Gods! A look-it-up guide to the Gods of mythology (mythlopedia). Scholastic Inc.
  • Campbell, J. (2004). The hero with a thousand faces. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
  • Finnegan, R. (1970). Oral literature in Africa. London and New York: Routledge.
  • Hiwot, A. (20014). Mourning system in the Me’enite Nation. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University, Department of Ethiopian Languages and Literatures, presented for the fulfillment of Master's Degree.
  • Kidanewold, K. (1948). Book of grammar, dictionary of hadith. Artistic Publishing House.
  • Kit, K. (2013). Types of mythology. M.A. Education, Your Dictionary.
  • Leeming, D. A. (1998). Mythology the voyage of the hero. 3rd ed, New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Muller, F. M. (1907). Natural religion, Longmans, Green, and Com.
  • Niguse, B. (2005). Socio-cultural history of Me'nenit, 1898 -1991. presented at an annual conference organized by Mizan Tepi University.
  • Paul, C. (2005). Narrative mythology. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
  • Philip, N. (2007). Myths and legends explained. New York: DK Publishing.
  • Tewodros, G. (2001). Interdisciplinary literary reading. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University Press.
  • Zerihun, D. D. (2008), The ethno-history Me’enit ethnic group, south ethnic group nationalities and peoples, regional government. Institute of Language, Culture and History Research, Department of History and Heritages.
There are 26 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Turkish Folklore
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Andualem Moges 0009-0002-5052-0787

Early Pub Date December 20, 2023
Publication Date December 20, 2023
Submission Date April 21, 2023
Published in Issue Year 2023 Volume: 16 Issue: 44

Cite

APA Moges, A. (2023). “MONAI” THE CULTURAL HERO OF THE ME’ENITE ETHNIC GROUP IN ETHIOPIA. Motif Akademi Halkbilimi Dergisi, 16(44), 1584-1598. https://doi.org/10.12981/mahder.1286449