Buna Qalaa Ritual of the Boorana Oromo

Abstract

Buna Qalaa (Slaughtered Coffee) is the coffee meal which is prepared from dried coffee berries by cooking them with butter after washing appropriately and cutting the tip off each coffee bean with one's teeth. This study deals with the buna qalaa ritual of the Boorana Oromo. It aims at investigating the worldview, philosophy and symbolisms of coffee which are rooted in the buna qalaa ritual of the Boorana Oromo. To this end, ethnographic field methods of interview, focus group discussion and observation were exploited in order to generate first hand data. The raw data was interpreted and synthesized drawing on the general framework provided by Turner (social drama) and Geertz (thick description) as a theoretical basis. The analysis revealed the procedures followed to prepare buna qalaa, the social actors of the ritual, its social values and the worldviews attached to the practices involved in the ritual, as well as the symbolic interpretations of the actions and blessings. Thus, it is possible to safely conclude that the buna qalaa ritual, which accompanies all ritual performances of the Oromo is beyond meal/consumption and reflects the philosophical outlook of the people. The philosophical viewpoint and worldview of the society ingrained in this ritual depict the strong and time tested attachment of the Oromo to coffee consumption and production.

Consumers’ Perceptions on the Quality Attributes of Buna Qalaa and Its Trend of Consumption in Borana Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

“…100.0% Buna Qalaa prepared using vegetable oil is of low quality. Study showed that due to decrease in the supply of butter, oil has been used as a replacement of butter (Bacha et al 2018). Respondents also gave reason for a minor increase in trend of Buna Qalaa quality due to awareness created on sanitation.…”

“…About 50 % of the coffee produced is consumed locally (Amamo, 2014). Buna Qalaa is the coffee meal which is prepared from dried coffee berries by cooking them with butter after washing appropriately and cutting the tip off each coffee bean with one's teeth (Bacha et al, 2018). Buna Qalaa has both food and social value.…”

“…Traditional ghee is added to Buna Qalaa (Gemechu and Tola, 2017) which could improve the nutrition supply of individuals. Among the Borana people, Buna Qalaa is an integral part of their daily life and practiced by each family (Bacha et al, 2018). The traditional Buna Qalaa ceremony is presented during public meeting (Elemo, 2006) and served during special occasions and holidays (Gemechu and Tola, 2017) The use of traditional food/drink may be affected by change in life style of the consumers.…”

Safety of dried coffee husk (cascara) from Coffea arabica L. as a Novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283

“…The coffee husk is traditionally consumed in the Middle East, Africa and South America in the form of infusion or as an ingredient in various dishes (Hestler and Spilling, 2010; Thurston et al., 2013; Hattox, 2014). The Oromo ethnic group from Ethiopia was reported as the first consumers of coffee fruits during different cultural or religious rituals, as slightly roasted and melted in butter in a dish called ‘bunaqalaa’ or coffee husks mixed with milk (‘hoja’) (Hussen et al., 2008; Wayessa, 2011; Bacha et al., 2018). Infusions of coffee husks have been also consumed in Yemen (named ‘qishr’ or ‘al Kahwa al Kishria’, i.e.…”

Technical Report on the notification of cherry pulp from Coffea arabica L. and Coffea canephora Pierre ex A. Froehner as a traditional food from a third country following Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283

“…The applicant provided references on the traditional consumption of foods prepared with coffee berries, mashed and mixed with butter, by ethnic people in Ethiopia back to the 1800s (Wayessa, 2011;Bacha et al, 2018). In Uganda and in other central Africa countries, coffee cherries pulp was chewed (Anzueto…”