Kemant (ness): The Quest for Identity and Autonomy in Ethiopian Federal Polity

Abstract

In the post 1991 context of ’politics of ethnic identity’ along with ‘politics of equal dignity’, this article examines Kemant’s quest for self-determination that the federalist system provides for ‘nations, nationalities and peoples’ of Ethiopia, whilst struggling for the recognition of their ethnic identity over the past two decades. By exploring their de facto existence, and precedence, in the federalist state, the article tracks the political history of Kemant nationality’s struggle. It aims to contribute to the lively political debate on the authenticity of Kemant’s political quest and provides fascinating insights for further inquiries. Drawing on qualitative exploratory research, the article argues that Kemant people’s political struggle, which has grown- out of conditions of alienation and discontent in Ethiopian federal experiment that denied their very distinct existence, is mainly entrenched in identity reclaims before it entirely melts down in the federal arrangement. It is not only a socio-political act of recovering fractured Kemant identity, but also an instrumentalist act for demanding autonomous political administration that can provide a sense of security and autonomy to promote, maintain and reconstruct their identity. Thus, identity and autonomy are intimately linked, and simultaneously demanded by the Kemant people.

Keywords: Kemant; Identity; Autonomy; Ethiopia; Federalism