Exploring Gumaa as an indispensable psycho-social method of conflict resolution and justice administration

Abstract

Oromo as a society, like many African societies, is rich in indigenous institutions of conflict resolution and justice administration. Gumaa is one of the multitude of Oromo indigenous institutions that has exclusively been used to settle blood feuds of various types. In spite of its wider utilisation and its multi-disciplinary nature, psycho-social analysis of gumaa is lacking in literature. With an aim of helping to fill this gap and of maximising gumaa’s potential contributions to conflict resolution, justice administration and peacebuilding, this article offers a psycho-social perspective on gumaa. Having analysed combined data from multiple sources regarding gumaa within psychological and social frameworks, the author identifies and highlights six interrelated theses (themes) about the key roles gumaa plays in conflict resolution, justice administration and peacebuilding (in cases of homicide). Finally, based on the themes identified and highlighted and other pertinent elaborations and case material, the author theorises gumaa as a vital psycho-social method of confl ict resolution, justice administration and peacebuilding and calls for its offi cial recognition and revitalisation as per article 78(5) of the Constitution of Ethiopia.

African Journal on Conflict Resolution, Volume 13, Number 1, 2013