Overview Of Culture in SNNPR

As the name indicates, Southern Nations Nationalities and People Regional State (SNNPRS) is one of the Federal Regional States of Ethiopia endowed with a remarkably rich cultural diversity. This diversity is followed with the existence of 56 Nations Nationalities and People (70% of the country). The Region holds diverse tangible and intangible cultural & historic heritages with both traditional and modern cultural expressions, languages, norms and centuries old know how in handicraft production. The intangible heritage of SNNPRS is extremely rich with an exceptional variety including diverse oral traditions, social practices, traditional crafts, performing arts, indigenous knowledge, and other living expressions

The Region is very well known for its diverse tangible historic & cultural heritages including Monasteries, Mosque, Megalithic Stelae, Paleo-anthropological & anthropological sites. Moreover, two of the eight Ethiopia's cultural and historical heritage sites (Tia and Lower Omo anthropological sites) are listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Site (in 1980) indicating the outstanding universal value of Region’s heritage.  There are also two more universally important historic & cultural sites, which are in the process and proposed to be listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites: the Konso and Gedeo Cultural landscapes, for their better protection and development. The former (Konso Cultural landscape) management plan and nomination file has already completed and expected its final declaration by UNESCO. Besides, the Great Rift Valley, Omo valley and the Region diverse landscape as a whole is further represented by numerous religions including Christianity, Islam, and other traditional religions, which peacefully coexist demonstrating the strong social unity of the Region. 

Appropriate protection and conservation of these assets would enable the Region to change the rich wealthy of cultural and historical assets for sustainable social and economic development for the benefits of the local communities, the Region, and the country as a whole.

The Ethiopian government constitution recognizes promoting pluralism and the right of all ethno-linguistic communities to protect and promote their culture, language, and cultural & historic heritages. Recently, the government restructured to establish a separate ministry for culture and tourism considering the role of this sector to the country’s development. Similarly, the SNNPRS has upgraded and organized the sector to Bureau level..

The Regional government (the Bureau) has given strong attention to safeguard the cultural. Historical and natural resources and ensure sustainable development in the Region.