Intangible Heritages

Intangible Cultural Heritage means the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills – as well as the instruments, objects, artifacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage.

This intangible cultural heritage, transmitted from generation to generation, is constantly recreated by communities and groups in response to their environment, their interaction with nature and their history, and provides them with a sense of identity and continuity, thus promoting respect for cultural diversity and human creativity.

The cultures of the peoples of the various Nations Nationalities and Peoples of the Region hold diverse intangible heritages, which incorporate their varied social, political, administrative, moral, religious, and psychological conditions. The languages, history, oral tradition, housing, instruments of   production, food preparation, eating habits, customs, ornamentation, aesthetic values and preparation, beliefs and religious practices, are also components of their Intangible culture. The peoples of SNNPR have diverse & colorful culture in their life style, body decoration, dressing, wearing jewelries and way of life. Each of the nationalities of the region has their own, wedding, burial, religious, and other cultural ceremonies. Some of the nationalities are known of their special cotton cloths weaving and dressing, making bracelets, nickels, earrings and bead. The impressive stone and wood curving techniques, the stone walled villages, the Moras, the Olayats and Wakas are very well known living cultural practices of the unmixed unique Konso nationality culture.

Oral Traditions

Following the diverse ethnic groups and language found the SNNPRS; numerous oral traditions have been practiced including folktales, proverb, riddle, and legends. These intangible heritages are very well known & practiced specially by the elders of the respective ethnic group in the different occasions such as, in-group discussions, meeting.  For example , folktales and proverbs  have been used  by many of ethnic groups in communal gathering and discussions to endorse statement and opinions, to compromise ideas, redirect the course of discussion and to spice up speech and validate ones own view. Although oral traditions have been used in different occasions, many community members especially, the youth seems to know little /or fail to use it/ about the various oral traditions. . 

Efforts have been under way to safeguard and transmit the various oral traditions through measures like recording, systematic collections and documentations, publishing and distributions, awareness rising through the youth and use of mass media. 

Social Practices

There are diverse social practices among the diverse ethnic groups found in the region. These include: Rituals &   festive events: (“Fiche” new year festival,  Meskel, Araffa, moulid),  burial ceremony, naming, marriage, funeral, self help association or ‘Edir’, men & women dressing style, tournaments(Donga, Fattening, Gabata and other cultural games), conflict resolution mechanism, traditional reconciliation, sacrifice, various rite of passage, hairstyle, new-year,  traditional jurisdiction (Yejoka Kicha),  and other.

The region has a plentiful culture and language particularly high ethnic diversity is found  in the South Omo Zone of the region where there are more than 16 ethnic groups ( Mursi, Surma Nagatom, Karo, Ari, Dassench, Bodi, Arbore, Hamer, Bena, Kaugu,  etc). Each of these ethnic groups has their own culture, unique & appreciable lifestyle, reflected by their hair style, body decoration, dressing, wearing jewelry, and ways of life as well as wedding, burial & religious and other cultural ceremonies. Besides, their musical instrument & the dancing styles also vary from one ethnic group to another group. Particularly, the colorful & dramatic traditional ceremonies such as the Ritual stick fighting of Mursi & Surma ethnic-groups locally called Donga /.  The “ Bull-Jumping” ceremonies by Hammers are fascinating events.

Traditional Handicrafts

The people of SNNPR is a remarkably rich with centuries old know how in handicraft production.  Each of the different ethnic group has indigenous knowledge creating diverse traditional handcrafts for various purposes.

The Dorze people in Gamo Gofa zone is very well known for their traditional weaving practices, though the skill is wide spread to different parts of the Region & the country.  Weavers produce different cloths for men, women & children.

Pottery :-is an old tradition of many communities of the different ethnic group and it is still being practices in the region.

Metalwork: - Blacksmiths have different naming in the different ethnic groups. The skill of metal work acquired through observation & practice. Both men and women and children as an assistance involved in this work in many communities. Metalwork involves various steps; Fire is kindled then the metal is hammered and given the final form. The blacksmith make knives, sickles, axes, hatchets and ploughs, among others tools. 

Woodwork:- Traditional wood workers prepare different agricultural tools (mofer, qenber) wooden bowls, beehives, chair, stools, bed, and hencoops. Waka (wooden sculpture of Konso people) is made by wood curving.

Bamboo work :-It has been common practice of many highlander communities to use bamboo trees for various needs in the region. The skill is acquired through observation and practices. Mostly both men and women (in some only men) make materials( flutes, granaries, baskets, beehives, storages, chicken pen, house partition & walls, floor cover, fences, etc, ) from bamboo. 

Basketry :-Basket making is a part of most ethnic group women’s occupations (life) in the region. The skill is acquired through observation and practices i.e making items from grass. Baskets items have various services & it is produced either for personal use or for sales (means of income for women).

Tanning :- Traditional leather work (tanning) is done by a few families of many ethnic groups over generations. Leather workers perform their work near the river /water and in their compounds. They prepare beds, seats; blow fans horse seats, bags, traditional wear, footwear, drums& lyres.   The know-how of the practitioners contributes much for the society.   

Effort have been under way to safeguard, develop and make marketable the various artisans products by documenting, preserving and practicing the know-how and the tradition as well as encouraging and supporting artisans through various measures like training, marketing and technological innovations.

Traditional Arts

The ritual ceremonies related to birth and others festive events, wedding, communal working, funeral, religious ceremony, coronation/ enthronement (Konso & Timbaro), praise, holiday and mourning songs are some of the common traditional arts/songs/ among others that prevailed among the different ethnic groups in the different occasions in the region. Besides, several types of music, dance and theatre are known in the region. These traditional arts emanate from kinship, neighborhood and other types of community relationships through generations. Each of the songs type has their own significances in each community. For example:

Work songs :- Are performed to encourage people to work hard & with more enjoyment and to lighten the mood and enhance group bonding especially during communal/collective/ labour.

Wedding song:- Play pivotal role in strengthening social relationships. It provides the youth with an avenue to express love for their chosen one and provides entertainment for the community.

Indigenous Knowledge & Practices

 The diverse ethnic groups of the Region hold numerous indigenous knowledge & practices concerning nature and the universe. The traditional calendar systems,  traditional medicines, traditional fishing practices, farming practices on terraced land, mixed crop productions, cultural agro forestry, crop storage system, propagation and false banana plantations, traditional house/hut/ constructions, are among others common traditional knowledge and practices of the Region people.
Calendar:- Many of the ethnic groups of the region have their own traditional calendar system which is mainly used for the respective community to identify what kind of economic & social activities would be performed at specific time of the year, traditional fishing practices.