These three southwest Ethiopian peoples live only 500 kilometres apart. All three have their own democratic political systems, which involve the movement of groups of people together through a series of grades from childhood to old age.
How do they live? The Mursi (who call themselves Mun) and the
Bodi (who call themselves Meen) are neighbours in the valley of the
River Omo. In general they co-operate and trade, but there have also
been frequent conflicts between them. Both grow crops (mainly sorghum)
using both rain and the
retreating floodwaters of the river. However, because of the
unreliability of cultivation in this area, they also depend heavily on
cattle herding. Cattle are highly valued culturally and emotionally.
Men compose songs to their favourite ox or cow, and shout out its name
in battle.
The Konso live in the mountains south of Lake Chamo. Hardworking
farmers, they have developed a system of terraces, on which among other
things they grow cotton, which they weave into a local cloth which is
exported to other parts of Ethiopia. For centuries they have lived in
compact towns built out of the local stone. In the past these were
independent communities, and they still keep a strong sense of
identity. The Konso today are, in theory at least, a semi-independent
unit within the Ethiopian state.
What problems do they face? Water shortages and the gradual drying
up of the environment of the Mursi and Bodi leads to conflict over land
- the Bodi land is higher and better watered. The easy availability of
guns and rifles today make such conflicts much more dangerous. In 2004,
over 2,000 Konso settlers have been moved by the Ethiopian government
into Bodi territory, and more are expected, though there is in fact
still spare land available in their own country. This can only
exacerbate the situation. Meanwhile the Konso settlers, in the
unaccustomed environment, are prone to malaria and other diseases.
The Mursi and Bodi feel highly threatened by what they fear will be the
incursion of several thousand Konso families into their area, and the
possibility of violence cannot be ruled out. Many of the Konso,
meanwhile want to go home.
How can I help?
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Write to your local Ethiopian embassy, click
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How does Survival help? We have written to the Ethiopian authorities protesting against the unnecessary resettlement of the Konso.
