Indigenous Counseling System of Oromo Community in Ethiopia

Abstract

Even though the concept of counseling in the modern society and indigenous community vary vibrantly, the purpose of counseling is the same globally. Counseling is a serving approach for individuals 'within the system'. Oromo as a larger community in Ethiopia, Africa, has its own wisdom and way of living which is not studied well. Accordingly, this study was intended to analyze the efficacy of indigenous counseling approaches ever practiced among Oromo community. Five districts/zones/employing indigenous counseling services in their intervention were covered utilizing purposive sampling. Qualitative study method employing semi-structured interview, observation and focus group discussions were used to gather information. The study result discloses that counseling is the tradition among Oromo community in Ethiopia even if there was no attempt made by higher institutions and the government to incorporate the cultural values of counseling in the education curriculum of the country. The indigenous counseling system was mistreated area prone to alteration from the usual business. Moreover, cultural invasion by alien religious denominations, high intrusion of the dominant ruling classes through times and displacement of the local natives by the pseudo-urbanization has a moribund effect in stunting indigenous counseling systems. The methods employed, techniques and procedures used by indigenous counselors are well organized aided by the rules and regulations of Gada administration enacted on the general assembly (Gumii Gayyoo). Integrating the indigenous counseling system to the education curriculum of the country and adaptation of the modern counseling methods to the level of harmonizing and pertaining to the local community custom was recommended as key component.

Counselling and reconciliation practices among the Oromo community

“…Prevention counselling involving reconciliation, conflict resolution and peacekeeping (maintaining peace and stability) is the most essential philosophy of elder counsellors' life routines. Consistent with this, Abeshu & Baissa (2019) indicated that indigenous counselling is characterised by a preventive approach to stabilise and maintain peace and security among the local citizens. It is exceedingly effective in minimising the risk of behavioural, emotional, social, political and economic challenges before they emerge.…”

“…This issue is entertained under reconciliation, which might take days of discussion and may require the involvement of counsellors at different levels. Abeshu & Baissa (2019) discussed the three levels of counselling at family, kinfolk and elder counsellor levels, which work effectively in the community milieu to facilitate counselling and reconciliation.…”

“…In the case of the Oromo community, the practice of counselling and reconciliation have a long history. Abeshu & Baissa (2019) declared that counselling is a life practice for the Oromo community, although no one could portray it when it was introduced to the public. Counselling is a cultural aspect of the community serving as a central tool in maintaining one's need for the societal interest or the group in which the individual resides.…”

Unraveling the Life Problems of the Samin Kudus Community with Indigenous Counseling

“…Sedulur Samin Kudus has done it. This is done in the Oromia community where they carry out counseling with traditional elders to teach, guide, and reconcile (Abeshu & Baissa, 2019). As expressed by Lau (Lau, 2000), providing counseling with the same background between the counselor and the counselee will accept the advice from the counselor.…”

“…They prefer psychotherapy therapists who are relatively similar in attitude, personality, ethnicity, and gender. In indigenous peoples, (Abeshu & Baissa, 2019) researching the people of Oromia, Ethiopia. They have elders as community leaders, and religious and ritual leaders, who are involved in advising the team to teach, guide, reconcile, and conduct counseling in the community.…”