Indigenous Counseling System of Oromo Community in Ethiopia

Abstract

Oromo as a larger community in Ethiopia has its own wisdom and way of living which was not studied well. Accordingly, this study was intended to analyze the efficacy of indigenous counseling approaches ever practiced among Oromo community. Five districts employing indigenous counseling services in their intervention were covered utilizing purposive sampling. Qualitative study design involving explanatory models, semi-structured interview, observation and focus group discussions were used to gather information. The study result discloses that counseling is tradition among Oromo community even if higher institutions and the government didn’t incorporate the cultural values of counseling in the education curriculum. Indigenous counseling system was mistreated area prone to alteration from the usual business. Moreover, cultural invasion by alien religious denominations, high intrusion of the dominant ruling classes through times and displacement of the local natives by the pseudo-urbanization has a moribund effect in stunting indigenous counseling systems. The methods employed, techniques and procedures used by indigenous counselors are well organized aided by the rules and regulations of Gada administration enacted on the general assembly.  Integrating indigenous counseling to the education curriculum of the country and adaptation of the modern counseling methods to the level of harmonizing and pertaining to the local community custom was recommended.

Key terms: Gadaa, general assembly, indigenous counseling, modern counseling, Oromo community

DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/9-5-06

Publication date:March 31^st 2019