CUSTOMARY LAW ‘WOGA’: ITS MEANING, CHANGES AND CONTINUITY IN THE GAMO CONTEXT

Abstract

This article is an attempt to explore the meaning, the changes and continuity on the customary law, ‘woga’ among the Gamo of southern Ethiopia. The article followed the tradition of an ethnographic approach. To explore the customary law, interviews and focus group discussions were conducted to explore the meaning, its role and the changes that ‘woga’ is facing. The data is analyzed and interpreted in relation to the literature. The meanings of ‘woga’ given by different social groups are discussed. Some cases were analyzed to show the significances of the customary law in the day-to-day lives of the study group. The data shows that the customary law is playing a significant role in resolving interpersonal, family and inter-group conflicts in a micro and macro level in parallel with the formal institution. The study also identified that the customary law has been facing various changes linked with migration and social evolutions that adversely affects its effectiveness and efficiency. Government should promote its continuity by providing the community conflict resilience through inclusive participation of all social groups and rediscovering elders wisdom.

Keywords: changes, continuity, customary law, Indigenous, woga.