The Gamo Folktales
ISBN Code : 978-1-59907-181-7
Language : English, Amharic, Gamo
Pages number : 350
Format : Paperback
Publication date : 12/20/2018
$24.95
Description
The Gamo Folktales, a collection of 150 stories gathered from the Gamo communities of the highlands of southwest Ethiopia, provides insight into the vibrancy and deep traditions of the Gamo people. Historically known as agro-pastoralists, their usage of folktales forms an integral part of their rich culture, carrying traditional wisdom and moral precepts, as well as age-old tales of magic and enchantment. This collection, carefully selected from a cache of 850 stories painstakingly gathered across nine administrative districts, preserves this vital aspect of Gamo culture, celebrating the power of folk tales to entertain, advise, educate, and bring people together.
The Gamo, whose system of cultivation and management of both mountain and lowland pastures, coupled with an age-old governance structure, has contributed, among many things, a resilience to climatic and other social shocks, are also known to be magnificent storytellers. The Gamo Folktales is a celebration of this heritage and a brief look into Gamo origins and identity. An integral feature of important community gatherings known as ”dubbusha,” this tradition is practiced by both young and old and reflects some of the views that connect them across ages and cultures. Evolving through various social and historical periods, these stories carry with them the marks of this evolution.
