Gadaa

Gadaa^[1] (Oromo: Gadaa; literally: era) is the indigenous democratic system of governance used by the Oromos in Ethiopia and northern Kenya.^[1] It is also practiced by the Konso and Gedeo people of southern Ethiopia. The system regulates political, economic, social and religious activities of the community.^[1][2][3]

Under Gadaa, every eight years, the Oromo would choose by consensus nine leaders known as Salgan ya’ii Borana (the nine Borana assemblies).^[4][5] A leader elected by the gadaa system remains in power only for 8 years, with an election taking place at the end of those 8 years.^[6][7][8] Whenever an Abbaa Gadaa dies while exercising his functions, the bokkuu (the symbol of power) passes to his wife and she keeps the bokkuu and proclaims the laws.^[9]

The Gada system has been inscribed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2016.^[10] It is the brainchild of Oromo from the Madda Walabu district of Oromia.^[11][12] Oromo people regarded the system as their common heritage and as a major part of their cultural identity.^[13] It is the system with which the Oromo people have been governing themselves in a democratic way for centuries.^[14][15]

The Oromo governed themselves in accordance with the Gadaa system long before the 16th century, when major three party wars commenced between them and the Ethiopian Empire to their north and Adal Sultanate to their east and south. The result was that Oromo absorbed of the Christian and Islam religions. The Borana and Guji groups near the Ethiopian-Kenyan border were able to practice Gadaa without interruption. In the state of Oromia under the Federal system of Ethiopia, the Gadaa system started a renaissance across Oromia. In 2015, the Gadaa Center at Odaa Bultum was inaugurated and in 2018, the Gadaa Center at Odaa Hullee reinstalled after two centuries of interruption.^[16][17] In 2019, Bule Hora University launched a master's degree program in Gadaa studies.^[18]