Diss.--Berlin--Humboldt-Univ., 1999. / Nombreux exemples musicaux. Glossaire p. 175-189. Bibliogr. p. 203-218.

Version remaniée de: Doct. diss.--Social anthropology--Trondheim--University, 1994. Titre de soutenance : Spirits, mediums und human worlds : the Amhara peasants of the North Ethiopian highlands and their traditions of knowledge. / Bibliogr. p. 247-268. Index.

Zugl.: Kassel, University, Diss., 2008.

The aim of this thesis is to present from the historical perspective the Ethiopian Amharas as a nation, which, even though they are not forming majority of the state, they had and still have major impact on the Ethiopian society. They also maintained influence on other nations mainly thanks to the Amharic language, which became the official language of the whole of Ethiopia. The structure of the work is divided in such a way in order to include all the relevant phases that are related to the history and life of the Ethiopian Amharas. The compilation of the work is based on the theoretical analysis and the study of the literature. In the thesis I give a brief overview of the history, including the legend of the origin of the Solomon dynasty, to which the Amharas still avow. In the view of the fact that significant role in Ethiopian society plays also the affiliation of most of the Amharas with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, I deal with its history and hierarchies. I also apprise of the religious rituals, feasts and celebrations. In individual parts I follow up the historical roots of Amharic and its relevance to a particular language group. Role of Amharic is analyzed with respect to the educational system in Ethiopia, I am also referring to its role in connection with the so-called Amharization...

Diese Lesematerialien sind für Deutsch-Muttersprachler konzipiert worden, die Amharisch lernen wollen. Die vorliegenden Geschichten wurden von Studenten aus verschiedenen Landesteilen Äthiopiens zusammengetragen und zeichnen sich besonders durch ihre literarische Gestaltung aus.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Wollo, formerly referred to as ―Bete Amhara,‖ refers to a region of Amharic-speaking Christians. It was one of the oldest provinces of Ethiopia; located in the north-eastern part of Ethiopia at the cross- roads of the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Sudan, and central and Southern Ethiopia. Its geostrategic central position has made it a historical focal point of historical dynamics in Ethiopia. Due to its geostrategic position, many writers of the medieval period referred to Wollo as the ―center and the heartland of the Abyssinian Empire. On account of these, major historical battles among political, social, and religious forces occurred in this region leaving their own mark on it and the nature of the Ethiopian state. Before the sixteenth century, Wollo had been a center of history, political administration, religion, and religious education. As a result, numerous historical events have taken place in this province. Due to such factors, it was part of the historically dominant regions in Ethiopia. However, after the sixteenth century we see a decline in the position of Wollo. A province which was part of the center, afterwards the sixteenth century, had been downgraded to the periphery following its domination by Islam and Oromo, which were two subjects of marginalization in Ethiopian historiography. Thereafter, the province was relegated from the country‘s political ground and historical narration due to ethnic, religious, and political backgrounds. In the earliest recordings of the historically dominant groups of Ethiopia, Wollo was not properly represented as it was regarded as a Muslim and Oromo province. In much of the recently recorded literature on the subaltern groups in the post-1991 period, the internal events of Wollo have been ignored. Therefore, both in the past and recently, the socio-political history of Wollo province has never been given due regard. Despite the fact that Wollo bears elements of both the historically dominant and historical subaltern of Ethiopia, it has not been provided proper representation by the narrative of the historically dominant groups, as it is not given proper place in the emergent history of the subaltern in Post-1991 Ethiopia. This paradox of Wollo belonging to both but not given due attention and representation is the corridor leading to explore the dark sides of Ethiopian historiography. Thus, this study attempts to examine why, how and in what way Wollo has been neglected from the country‘s political ground and historical narration. It will also try to reconstruct the social and political history of the province in the period under study.

Sustainability of biophysical soil and water conservation measures undertaken on communal land remains a challenge. This research was conducted in the two watersheds of Legambo district, Ethiopia, using a conservation project implemented as disaster risk reduction and adaptation to climate change. The study examined relevance and appropriateness of conservation measures and identified factors affecting sustainability. Findings show that population growth is high and crop production is the major source of income for all households. Crop income levels varied significantly (P<<0.01) with wealth status of households. Droughts, floods, crop diseases and frost are hazards that frequently occur in the area. Some conservation measures implemented were considered by communities as inappropriate. Low community participation, poor planning and unclear objectives and use rights, weak enforcement of by-laws and lack of maintenance of structures are the major challenges. Integrating family planning, enhancing participation of women, clarifying responsibilities and benefit sharing arrangements, enforcement of rules and building capacity are suggested to improve effectiveness and sustainability of conservation measures / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Management)

Cette thèse décrit et analyse les caractéristiques ethnologiques, musicales et acoustiques de la lyre bagana des Amhara d’Ethiopie. L’étude des données ethnologiques montre que le bagana incarne de nombreuses valeurs de la société traditionnelle amhara. Instrument considéré comme un don de Dieu et qui fut joué par des rois, le bagana est sacré. C’est un instrument intime, dont le jeu (toujours en solo ou accompagné seulement de la voix) est considéré comme un acte de prière ou une méditation à caractère religieux. Le musicien ne se donne pas à voir, ni par une dimension spectaculaire de sa performance, ni par une dimension phatique.<p>L’analyse des accords utilisés dans le répertoire du bagana montre que cet instrument est essentiellement accordé selon deux échelles modales pentatoniques, tezeta et anchihoye. L’organisation temporelle des chants de bagana est fondée sur des pulsations discrètes très rapides. La pulsation apparente se compose d’un multiple de cette pulsation discrète qui change en fonction du motif joué, ce qui crée une sensation de rythme libre ou de rubato. Les chants de bagana sont fondés au niveau mélodique sur des unités qui se composent de paires de notes. <p>L’analyse musicale du répertoire du bagana montre que celui-ci est fondé sur la répétition variée d’un ostinato musical assez court couplé à des paroles qui changent sans se répéter (à l’exception du refrain) selon les lois de la poésie amharique orale traditionnelle. Les procédés de variations mis en œuvre sont en général assez subtils car ils doivent préserver la sensation de répétition tout en apportant des éléments nouveaux. <p>L’étude des propriétés acoustiques du bagana permet de déterminer que celle-ci produit des sons très graves (jusqu’au sol 1). Le dispositif chevalet large-obstacles modifie tous les paramètres du son. L’analyse de la facture traditionnelle montre que l’instrument est conçu pour produire un son grésillant, long et intense sans avoir recours à une caisse de résonance volumineuse. <p>Le bagana est un instrument puissant, qui permet l’établissement d’une relation directe avec des entités surnaturelles via une transe légère. La voix et l’instrument sont dans un rapport de fusion et de renforcement mutuel. Les modes phonatoires utilisés sont « breathy » et « harsh ». La présence de la voix agit comme un guide perceptif, qui intervertit le rapport fond-forme dans la perception de l’instrument. <p> / Doctorat en philosophie et lettres, Orientation histoire de l'art et archéologie / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

This study examines rural household food security and its determinants in drought-prone Amhara Region of Ethiopia by focusing on Lay Gaint district as a case study site. A range of factors from physical environmental circumstances to policy and institutions-related issues determine households‟ vulnerability to food insecurity and livelihood outcomes. The survey results showed that the majority (74%) of the sampled households experienced food insecurity. The situation was worse among female-headed households such that 86% of them were food insecure. The study revealed that, despite the low level of productivity related to local environmental constraints, rural livelihoods remain undiversified with small scale rain-fed agriculture to provide the primary source of livelihood for the large majority of households (~93% of respondents). Only about 25% of the respondents participated in some form of non-farm or off-farm activities, but with only little contribution to their total annual incomes. Food insecurity is a chronic problem in that, on average, households in the study area consume from own production for only about six months. The study found out that the majority of households (about 80%) perceived annual rainfall to be inadequate to support the growing of crops and grazing of animals. The main adaptive strategies employed by the majority of households included diversifying livestock kept, planting trees and diversifying crops. The study revealed that incidence, depth and severity of food insecurity of the food insecure households showed that Woina-Dega and Kolla agro-ecologies are prone to vulnerability to food insecurity. This suggests that development interventions that are geographically differentiated; and build household assets will improve household food security in the study area, and in other similar environments in the country. / Geography

This study examines rural household food security and its determinants in drought-prone Amhara Region of Ethiopia by focusing on Lay Gaint district as a case study site. A range of factors from physical environmental circumstances to policy and institutions-related issues determine households‟ vulnerability to food insecurity and livelihood outcomes. The survey results showed that the majority (74%) of the sampled households experienced food insecurity. The situation was worse among female-headed households such that 86% of them were food insecure. The study revealed that, despite the low level of productivity related to local environmental constraints, rural livelihoods remain undiversified with small scale rain-fed agriculture to provide the primary source of livelihood for the large majority of households (~93% of respondents). Only about 25% of the respondents participated in some form of non-farm or off-farm activities, but with only little contribution to their total annual incomes. Food insecurity is a chronic problem in that, on average, households in the study area consume from own production for only about six months. The study found out that the majority of households (about 80%) perceived annual rainfall to be inadequate to support the growing of crops and grazing of animals. The main adaptive strategies employed by the majority of households included diversifying livestock kept, planting trees and diversifying crops. The study revealed that incidence, depth and severity of food insecurity of the food insecure households showed that Woina-Dega and Kolla agro-ecologies are prone to vulnerability to food insecurity. This suggests that development interventions that are geographically differentiated; and build household assets will improve household food security in the study area, and in other similar environments in the country. / Geography