Field and river

20th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies (ICES20)
Mekelle University, Ethiopia

"Regional and Global Ethiopia - Interconnections and Identities"
1-5 October, 2018

ICES20 logo

Use the "back" button of your browser to return to the list of abstracts.

THE ROLE OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION; A CASE STUDY FOR THE DOCUMENTATION, PUBLICATION AND PROMOTION OF THE INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE ENDAMEKONI, RAYA AZEBO WEREDAS OF THE SOUTHERN ZONE OF THE TIGRAY REGIONAL STATE [Abstract ID: 0212-02]

WENDU Abreha, intangible cultural heritages

The Endamekoni wereda is one of the 9 weredas of the southern Tigary Zonal Administration, located 125 km to the south of Mekelle, and base of a number of unique local cultural traditions and activities; Endamekon has a population of 15000 people who speak Tigrigna predominantly. The Raya Azebo Wereda is found 138 km to the south-east of Mekelle, and has a population of 180,000; meanwhile, the Ambalage wereda is found 85km to the south of the Mekelle. The native people of these weredas are Tigreans; however, there is also a not insignificant number of Oromo people are living in the Raya Azebo wereda, particularly in the HUJIIRA Werabaye kebelle which crosses the new high way from Mekelle to Alamata. The people of the above-mentioned weredas have different intangible cultural heritage practices of potential universal value yet to be documented, preserved and promoted in a proper way. However, these intangible cultural heritages are yet seldom known to scholars and researchers and are still known mostly only in practice and action of the peoples that created them over many lines of generations. As younger generations struggle to preserve these practices, this paper attempts their documentation in the face of possible future abandonment.