The Role of Mirriiysaa: Function in Focus

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyze the role of Mirriiysaa (Mirriga) in socio-political context. To achieve this goal, an attempt was made in collecting poems of Mirriiysaa that depict the socio- political function. The two instruments of data collection were an open-ended interview and complete observation. All the collected data were translated into English and analyzed functionally. The study shows that Mirriiysaa is sung for different functions in Hararge Oromo. Because, these people use Mirriiysaa to express their social, political, economical and cultural issues, besides instructing each other about their political, economical and social life. The same clan does not sing Mirriiysaa to one another. Mostly this song is sung by elders. But sometimes also it is sung by women and youths. But youths do not sing with elders. Youths from the same clan cannot sing Mirriiysaa together. But from different clan they can sing together. Elders from the same clan also cannot sing with each other. But from different clan they also can sing together. Mirriiysaa is sung mostly at morning time. Sometimes it is sung at evening and at the afternoon. When playing this song, elder singers have in their hands a cultural material called ‘Alangaa’ (a whip). Hararge people reflect their social and political codes through their oral narratives which the Mirriiysaa (Mirriga) is amongst.

Keywords: Mirriiysaa, Mirriga, Hararge, Oromo, Socio-political, Function

DOI: 10.7176/JCSD/48-01

Publication date:May 31^st 2019