Korra Garra

Last updated

Korra Garra (or Kora Gara) is an Ethiopian writer, an expert in the Konso language and culture, and an authority on Konso agriculture. He is known for his presentations on the importance of the Moringa tree in the Konso economy and culture.

Contents

Linguist and poet

Korra Garra has been involved in drafting spelling standards for the Konso language. [1] Konso does not have a standard alphabet, although some Christian religious material has been published in the Fidäl script. Korra Garra has published two storybooks in the Latin script at Leiden University's department of African Languages and Cultures. [2] One of these is Konso Water and Gods, or Torra Afaa Xonso (2003). [3] Ato Kora Gara was one of the two representatives from Konso at the International Conference on Endangered Ethiopian/African Languages held in Addis Ababa on 27–30 April 2005, where he gave a poetry reading in Konso/Amharic. [4]

Agriculture

Planting Moringa stenopetala in Konso, 2012 Trees planting in Konso.jpg
Planting Moringa stenopetala in Konso, 2012

Korra Garra is an official of the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture. [5] In 2008 Korra Gara noted that 80% of the Konso economy was agricultural. The people practiced intercropping to reduce the risk of crop failure during drought. Population growth and declining rainfall due to deforestation are causing growing food insecurity. The leaves of the Moringa (cabbage tree) are an important part of the Konso diet. [6] Korra Garra spoke in Turin in 21–25 October 2010 at the Mother Earth 2010 conference, where he discussed use of the Moringa stenopetala by the Konso peasants. The plant is of unusual importance to this community for food and medicine, and the Konso have many proverbs and myths related to the Moringa. [7] He gave a talk on "What is Moringa stenopetala to Konso people?" at the Terracing & Moringa Conference held in December 2011 at the Italian Cultural Institute in Addis Ababa. [8]

As of 2014 Korra Garra was running a community project "Plants and their Products" in Lower Dokattu, and gave talks to visitors on Konso culture, agriculture and the relation of the Konso people to the environment. [9] [10] As a Konso community elder he was appointed a member of the Moringa stenopetala Task Force in 2014. [11]

Publications

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Addis Ababa</span> Capital and largest city of Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia. It also serves as the seat of the government of Oromia. In the 2007 census, the city's population was estimated to be 2,739,551 inhabitants. Addis Ababa is a highly developed and important cultural, artistic, financial and administrative centre of Ethiopia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afevork Ghevre Jesus</span> Ethiopian writer in Amharic

Afäwarq Gäbrä Iyäsus was an Ethiopian writer, who wrote the first novel in Amharic, Ləbb Wälläd Tarik, . Bahru Zewde writes, "Few people before or after him have demonstrated such superb mastery of the Amharic language. Few have ventured with such ingenuity into the hidden recesses of that language to come out with a wealth of vocabulary and idiom one scarcely thought the language possessed. Afäwarq is nonetheless a controversial figure for having supported the Italians during both the First and Second Italo-Ethiopian Wars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burji special woreda</span>

Burji is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia. Prior to 2011, Burji was not part of any Zone in the SNNPR and was therefore considered a Special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area. In 2011, the Segen Area Peoples Zone was established, which includes Burji woreda and the 3 former special woredas surrounding it. It is named for the Burji people, who have their homeland in this woreda. Burji is bordered on the east and south by the Oromia Region, on the west by the Konso special woreda, and on the north by the Amaro special woreda. The administrative center of Burji is Soyama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dirashe special woreda</span> Woreda in SNNPR, Ethiopia

Dirashe is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia. Prior to 2011, Dirashe was not part of any Zone in the SNNPR and was therefore considered a Special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area. In 2011, the Segen Area Peoples Zone was established, which includes Dirashe woreda and the 3 former special woredas surrounding it. It is named for the Dirashe people, whose homelands lie in the eastern part of this woreda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Konso Zone</span> Zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia

Konso is a zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia. It was formerly a woreda. Prior to 2011, Konso was not part of any Zone in the SNNPR and was therefore considered a special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area. In 2011, the Segen Area Peoples Zone was established, which includes Konso special woreda and the 3 former woredas surrounding it. This special woreda is named after the Konso people. Located in the Great Rift Valley, Konso is bordered on the south by the Oromia Region, on the west by the South Omo Zone, on the northwest by Alle special woreda, on the north by Dirashe special woreda, on the northeast by Amaro special woreda, and on the east by Burji special woreda. The Sagan River, which flows south then west to join the Weito, defines part of the woreda's boundary with Burji and the entire length of the boundary with the Oromia Region. The administrative center is Karati; other towns in Konso include Fasha and Sagen. After protesting by residents to become a zone for several years, Konso became a zone in November 2018.

Tsedenia Gebremarkos is an Ethiopian singer and songwriter. Referenced in popular culture, Tsedenia received Kora Award for the 2004 single "Ewedhalehu" and led her to global interconnection with prominent singers. She is known for pop genre while also performing Ethiopian music and predominantly sings in English and Amharic languages.

Ethiopian studies or Eritrean studies refers to a multidisciplinary academic cluster dedicated to research on Ethiopia and Eritrea within the cultural and historical context of the Horn of Africa.

The Apostolic Vicariate of Soddo is a Roman Catholic apostolic vicariate located in the city of Sodo in Ethiopia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethiopia–Mexico relations</span> Bilateral relations

Ethiopia–Mexico relations are the diplomatic relations between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the United Mexican States. Both nations are members of the Group of 24 and the United Nations.

The Argobba are an ethnic group inhabiting Ethiopia. A Muslim community, they are spread out through isolated village networks and towns in the northeastern and eastern parts of the country. Group members have typically been astute traders and merchants, and have adjusted to the economic trends in their area. These factors have led to a decline in usage of the Argobba language. Argobba are considered endangered today due to exogamy and destitution.

The Baháʼí Faith in Ethiopia began after ʻAbdu'l-Bahá wrote letters encouraging taking the religion to Africa in 1916. Probably the first Baháʼí to settle in the country came in early 1934 and with further pioneers by mid-1934, the first Baháʼí Local Spiritual Assembly of the country was elected in November in Addis Ababa. In 1962, Ethiopia Baháʼís had elected a National Spiritual Assembly. By 1963 there were seven localities with smaller groups of Baháʼís in the country. The Association of Religion Data Archives estimated some 27000 Baháʼís in 2005. The community celebrated its diamond jubilee in January 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Getatchew Haile</span> Ethiopian-American philologist (1931–2021)

Getatchew Haile was an Ethiopian-American philologist widely considered the foremost scholar of the Ge'ez language and one of its most prolific. He was acknowledged for his contributions to the field with a MacArthur Fellows Program "genius" award and the Edward Ullendorff Medal from the Council of the British Academy. He was the first Ethiopian and the first African to win the award.

<i>Moringa stenopetala</i> Species of tree

Moringa stenopetala, commonly known as the African Moringa or cabbage tree, is a deciduous tree in the plant genus Moringa, native to Kenya and Ethiopia. A drought-resistant species, it is characterized by its bottle-shaped trunk, long twisted seed pods, and edible leaves likened to cabbage, from which its common name is derived. M. stenopetala is extirpated in the wild in Ethiopia, though still grown there as a crop on the terraces of the Ethiopian Highlands, mainly in the Konso region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethiopia–Italy relations</span> Bilateral relations

Ethiopia–Italy relations refers to the current and historical relationship between Ethiopia and Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Italians of Ethiopia</span> Italian immigrant in Ethiopia, historically starting from 19th century

Italians of Ethiopia are immigrants who moved from Italy to Ethiopia starting in the 19th century, as well as their descendants. Emperor Menelik II did not allow the sale of lands belonging to Ethiopia to Italians (Eritrea) and probably allowed France (Djibouti) to solidify his centralized power and have external trading partners. Most of the Italians moved to Ethiopia after the Italian conquest of Abyssinia in 1936. Italian Ethiopia was made of Harrar, Galla-Sidamo, Amhara and Scioa Governorates in summer 1936 and became a part of the Italian colony Italian East Africa, with capital Addis Ababa. and with Victor Emmanuel III proclaiming himself Emperor of Ethiopia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Italian Ethiopia</span> Territory of Ethiopian Empire during Italian occupation (1936–1941)

Italian Ethiopia, also known as the Italian Empire of Ethiopia, was the territory of the Ethiopian Empire which was occupied by Italy for approximately five years. Italian Ethiopia was not an administrative entity, but the formal name of the former territory of the Ethiopian Empire which now constituted the Governorates of Amhara, Harar, Galla-Sidamo, and Scioa after the establishment of Italian East Africa.

A number of Ethiopian sign languages have been used in various Ethiopian schools for the deaf since 1971, and at the primary level since 1956. Ethiopian Sign Language, presumably a national standard, is used in primary, secondary, and—at Addis Ababa University—tertiary education, and on national television. The Ethiopian Deaf Community uses the language as a marker of identity.

The Institute of Ethiopian Studies(IES) was officially established in 1963 to collect information on Ethiopian civilization, its history, cultures, and languages. The Institute includes a research and publication unit, a library, and a museum. It is located at Addis Ababa University, Sidist (6) Kilo campus, which was at the time of the IES's opening, named Haile Selassie I University after the last emperor of Abyssinia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethiopia in World War I</span> Overview of Ethiopias participation in World War I

During World War I, Ethiopia briefly formed an alliance with the Allied Powers after Italy entered the war in 1915. There was a dynastic battle within Ethiopia after the uncrowned Emperor, Lij Iyasu, allegedly converted to Islam at the behest of the Ottoman Empire in June 1916 and the British and French legates in Addis Ababa concerned a venture. This led to a coup d'état by regent Ras Tafari Mekonnen, later Emperor Haile Selassie, in September, and installed Empress Zewditu, who maintained neutrality throughout the war.

References

  1. Poissonnier 2009, p. 3.
  2. Ongaye Oda Orkaydo 2003, p. 2–3.
  3. Dixon & Aikhenvald 2009, p. 473.
  4. Report on the International Conference... 2005.
  5. Demeulenaer 2002, p. 399.
  6. McCausland 2009.
  7. Castelli 2010.
  8. Terracing & Moringa Conference 2011.
  9. 3 day trek, Strawberry Fields.
  10. Viaje solidario a Etiopia, Tarannà, p. 3, DÍA 05: KONSO.
  11. Ashenif Tadele & Asfaw Debella 2014, p. 36.

Sources