The Gadaa System of the 0romo People

The Gada System

A person may change his political line but he cannot change his age. If it is an age-saga or age-level, which had no cycle of 40 years it was possible to change the biologically determined age set itself as opposed to the political line of the Gada system. Dryness is a socially constructed political system determined by Gada law, while age is biologically determined by birth. From this point of view perspective, it is wrong to argue that the Gada system is simply an ‘age-level or cycle’ system. for example, the institution of the Borana Gada, the age system or the eleventh and fifteenth rotating age levels of the political line or the political system. Furthermore, the Oromo-Borana did not consider the age system as their main politics but as a system or institution, which was divided into eleven age groups.

Instead, look at the three pillars of Gada divided into five political lines and rotating In contrast to age sets and hierarchies, the Gada system is based on a unity of concepts comprising diverse whole communities of sets, hierarchies, generations, political lines, and so on. privileges, rewards, and are often expressed in terms of rules and institutions that are the basis, not for the whole society, but for all aspects of social system life. From this perspective, it is pointless to describe the Gada system as ‘age set’ and ‘age grade’.

The age-set/parts are determined by nature, go through both natural, and social processes which, after completion involve an unfolding process, but the Gada system is an infinitive system of recycling.

Gada is the traditional system of governance used by the Oromo people of Ethiopia developed from the knowledge of social experience gained from generation to generation. The system regulates the political, economic, social, and religious activities of the community concerned with issues such as conflict resolution, reparations, and the protection of women’s rights.

It serves as a means to uphold moral ethics, build social cohesion, and define the cultural forms of society.

The Gada is organized into five divisions, one of which acts as the ruling class, consisting of the chairman, the officials, and the assembly. In each eight-year class, leadership goes through a series of credits before acting authoritatively in alternating change.

These classes are taught by oral historians covering history, law, ritual, chronology, cosmology, mythology, moral law, and ceremonial functioning. Meetings and ceremonies take place under a sycamore tree (considered a symbol of Gada), and the major clans have established Gada centers and ceremonial sites in the local style.