Paper for Issue

INTEGRATING INDIGENOUS AND SCIENTIFIC METHODS OF WEATHER PRACTICES IN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Ethiopia’s rain-fed agriculture system is highly vulnerable to climate variability. Weather forecasting, derived from both indigenous and modern sources, plays a critical role for Ethiopian farmers, with each method having its own strengths and limitations. This study bridges the gap between indigenous knowledge and scientific methodologies by focusing on rain prediction and rainmaking practices in Ethiopia. By examining ecological indicators, ethnobotanical knowledge, and the role of smoke in cloud formation from a meteorological lens, the study identifies potential synergies between indigenous and modern meteorological techniques. The research highlights the significance of indigenous knowledge in sharpening the coarse resolution of satellite based data and suggests strategies for integrating these practices into modern meteorological systems. These strategies include detailed surveys of flora and fauna, controlled experiments, and incorporation of ethno-meteorology into the educational curriculum and operations of the Ethiopian Meteorological Institute. This study enhances the development of effective, sustainable weather forecasting and climate adaptation strategies, fostering dialogue between indigenous and scientific knowledge in Ethiopia.

INTEGRATION BETWEEN INDIGENOUS AND CONVENTIONAL MEDICINES IN ETHIOPIA: UNRESOLVED HISTORICAL CONUNDRUM

Abstract

Since the late 1970s the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended the integration of traditional medicine’ practitioners into primary health care systems in Africa and elsewhere. Numerous studies have examined the integration efforts that followed this recommendation, and by the 1980s, it had become evident that integration faced significant challenges. Besides using oral data gathered from more than twenty indigenous medical practitioners over an extended period and a limited amount of secondary source materials, this historically-informed and analytical study looks at the pluralistic Ethiopia’s medical landscape staring from the early 20th century, when Menilik II made a modest attempt to utilize indigenous therapeutics alongside modern western medical services, to the 1990s, focusing in particular on the efforts made and the major challenges that obstructed cooperation and/or collaboration, let alone integration, between indigenous and western allopathic medicines. Despite the absence of archival materials in the dossiers of government offices and the existence of a handful of workshop proceedings and ethnological/ anthropological studies on the alleged importance of integration, no historical study has been conducted to look into the underlying reasons why the insurmountable challenges facing integration was not given due consideration in the social/medical history of Ethiopia. This historical research work tries to answer why integration attempts had been sidelined or totally abandoned. Finally, some important remarks are proposed on how to approach and tackle this vital, largely neglected and hitherto unsettled historical question.

BRIDGING GENERATIONS: SOME POINTS ON THE CAREER OF ŠÄYKH LÄGAS ADÄM AS INDIGENOUS MEDICAL EXPERT IN GONDAR CITY

Abstract

With few exceptions the study of social history has largely been overlooked in both Africa and Ethiopia. Based on primary and secondary sources, this article has attempted to provide insights on certain aspects of the career of Šäykh Lägas Adäm, a prolific Islamic scholar, wali, herbalist and court figure. In doing so, the paper specifically examined the role he played in society as an herbalist and how community of Gondar responded to his career. In addition to healthcare, this study has examined his social role in the community as a role model for promoting unity, humility, charity, and friendship across religious and ethnic boundaries. This study aimed to illuminate and address gaps in the social and cultural history of Gondar City and its surrounding area. The research highlights Šäykh Lägas Adäm's exemplary career in fostering coexistence and cooperation across community boundaries. The researchers hope that the study of this iconic figure will benefit future generations by providing insights into the lived experiences of esteemed scholars and traditional healers like Šäykh Lägas Adäm. Key words: Šäykh Lägas, Wali, Herbalist, coexistence, Christians, Muslims, Ethiopia,Gondar

MICROSOFT AMHARIC LANGUAGE PACK: AN EVALUATION OF WINDOWS INTEGRATED KEYBOARD AND USER EXPERIENCE

Abstract

This paper focused on Microsoft language interface pack for Amharic. It has examined Windows integrated keyboard and collation for Amharic. It involved a thorough analysis of Amharic characters and punctuation marks, culminating in the suggestion of a standardized solution. The paper has identified various challenges encountered when using the Windows integrated keyboard, particularly with the utilization of repeated and sequence of keys to encode a single character and the unreliability of the current sorting order, which often fails to adhere to its own guidelines. Furthermore, the analysis has delved into shortcomings within the Microsoft-prepared Style Guide for Amharic, including instances of misinformation, typos, and grammatical errors. Based on these findings, the paper has suggested ways to revise the style guide and the keyboard assignment. Keywords: Microsoft Language Pack, Amharic Characters, Windows 10, Windows 11, Amharic Keyboard, Sorting Order

A BOOK REVIEW ON “MY MEMORIES”

Abstract

ዓለምአንተ ገብረሥላሴ የልጅነትና የዩኒቨርሲቲ ትውስታውን፣ የመሬት ይዞታ ጥናትና እና የመሬት ላራሹ አዋጅ ተሳትፎውን፣ በትግራይና በበጌምድር የነበረውን የትጥቅ ትግሉን፣ በሱዳን እና በፈረንሳይ ያሳለፈውን የስደት ዘመኑን፣ በአሜሪካ የኖረበትን አካዳሚያዊና ፖለቲካዊ ሕይወቱን፣ ወዘተ በ“ትውስታዎቼ” መጽሐፉ አካቷል። ሆኖም በጥልቀትና በስፋት የተዳሰሰው ጉዳይ የመሬት ይዞታ ጥናትና እና የመሬት ላራሹ አዋጅ ተሳትፎውን በመሆኑ የዚህ የመጽሐፍ ዳሰሳ በመሬት ጉዳዮች ላይ ያተኩራል። የዓለምአንተ ትውስታዎቼ ከተለመዱ ግለ ታሪኮች ለየት ይላል። በሥር ነቀሉ የገጠር መሬት አዋጅ መረቀቅና መተግበር ላይ የነበረውን የግል እና የቡድን ተሳትፎውን ተመርኩዞ፤ በአዋጁ ዙሪያ ሲቀርቡ ከቆዩ የተሳሳቱ ትችቶችና ትርክቶች መክቷል። አከራካሪ ሆነው የቆዩ ጉዳዮችን ደግሞ በጊዜ ሂደት ነጥረው በወጡ ፖለቲካዊ እና የኢኮኖሚያዊ ዕይታዎች አንፃር ቃኝቶ ለአንባቢ አቅርቧል። ስለሆነም መጽሐፉ እንደሚከተለው ጠለቅ እና ሰፋ ያለ ዳሰሳን ጋብዟል።