Gondoro as a Social Capital: Analysis of an Indigenous Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding Practice of the Guji and Gedeo Peoples

Abstract

The people ruled by the Gada system have a tradition of stopping conflict and establishing peace. The Guji
and Gede’o people have a tradition of conflict resolution and peacemaking called Gondoro. This research
paper aims to show that the Gondoro traditional method of conflict resolution is the social capital of the
Guji and Gedeo people. To achieve this purpose, the qualitative descriptive research approach was applied.
Through this approach, the Gondoro tradition was described in terms of how it was performed and the
traditional practices and their contextual meanings it embodied. A purposive sampling technique was used
to select key informants who were cultural group leaders from Guji and Gede’o. In-depth interviews, focus
group discussions, and document analysis (archival analysis) were employed for data collection. The data
were analyzed by dividing them into different topics to adequately answer the research questions. Based on
the analysis of the qualitative data, Gondoro is performed to cleanse ‘fratricide’ that could happen between
the Guji and Gedeo people or within the Guji or Gedeo people. It is done to cleanse the grief resulting from
the ‘fratricide’ and restore peace among the communities. The article discusses that the Guji and Gede’o
people have ‘fraternal’ relationship that has been reinforced through their shared legendary narratives and
cultural practices. Accordingly, the article argues that the Gondoro tradition is the social capital of the Guji
and Gede’o people. The article concludes that indigenous knowledge, such as the Gondoro tradition, can
serve as a good experience for Ethiopian ethnic groups sharing the border to solve their security problems
through their common tradition.