Language and religion are essential components of cultural identity. Cultural identity both reinforces and subverts the dominant paradigm. An alliance of Church and State in Ethiopia reinforced Abyssinian imperial political, economic, and military domination with linguistic, religious, and cultural hegemony. The Abyssinians are the Amhara and Tigrayan people, who speak related Semitic languages and follow Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. As the Abyssinians created the modern Ethiopian empire, they dominated the Ethiopian political landscape since the 1880s. Onesimos Nasib’s life serves as a case study, allowing this thesis to explore these themes of how culture can reinforce or undermine state authority. Enslaved as a child, Onesimos’ life reveals how cultural perceptions justified exploitation in the Abyssinian Empire. After his freedom and baptism into the Protestant Christian faith, Onesimos’ work as a missionary, translator, and teacher reveals how language, culture, and religion can help edify an exploited group while challenging the sources of that exploitation. This thesis emphasizes the significance of Oromo literature, education, and the adoption of Protestant Christianity in Wallaga region in Western Ethiopia during the early twentieth century as a means of preserving Oromo language, culture, and beliefs.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / This thesis focuses on federalism and ethnic diversity. Using two case studies. / South Africa

Magister Legum - LLM / Ethiopia is a federal state located in the horn of Africa. The Constitution has assignedlegislative, executive and judicial powers to the federal and regional Governments.1The main objective of this study is, therefore, to find out whether the decentralization of governmental powers between the national and the state governments of Ethiopia is also reflected in the decentralization of functional competences concerning environment related matters. In other words, this study attempts to determine whether Ethiopia is environmentally federal state, the extent and the possible shortcomings of the environmental federal structure. With this basic aim or objective in mind, in the study attempts will be made to see how the Constitution allocates the powers regarding environment among the federal, state, and local governments. To that effect, the role of the federal, the State and the local governments regarding the setting of environmental standards, pollution control and EIA will critically be analyzed. The match or the mismatch of the role of the federal as well as the state governments with their capacity will be investigated. Comparisons with selected legal systems will also be made for the purpose of identifying the practice of other systems in specific environmental matters selected for comparisons.

This thesis proposes to empirically evaluate fundamental welfare outcomes associated with common property rights forestry. The inferences made were based on data collected from selected villages in rural Ethiopia, where common property forestry programs are being run or are planned. The thesis comprises of three separate analysis chapters. The first of these analysis chapters engaged with the estimation of compensating variation, for community forestry intervention, using double-bounded contingent valuation methods while controlling for biases arising from anomalous preference revelation. The second analysis chapter aimed to identify salient community forestry program attributes that are preferred by potential program participants, estimate welfare effects and test preference heterogeneity for each of the selected attributes. The third analysis chapter aimed to estimate average treatment effects associated with the implementation of natural forest management decentralization, paying particular attention to identification issues. The results from the first analysis chapter indicate that community forestry programs offer sizeable welfare benefits. Furthermore, double-bounded CVM studies in developing country contexts also suffer from preference revelation anomalies, and, therefore, researchers should control for these anomalies. From the second analysis chapter, the welfare gain offered by community forestry was found to hinge largely on the proposed attributes of the program, such as the type of forest, area enclosure and type of land upon which the forest was to be situated. Moreover, the results pointed to significant differences in attribute preferences across the study population. In the third analysis chapter, after controlling for selection bias and treatment-effect heterogeneity associated with program participation, forest management decentralization programs were found to increase the average welfare of participant households between 19.96% and 33.63%. The results support the claim that common property right forestry management can be used to revive rural development and provide incentives for environmental protection, the latter of which has been uncovered in related research. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Economics / unrestricted

Since adoption is a dynamic process that involves learning about new technologies, static adoption models fail to adequately explore the effects of changes in farmers’ perception and attitudes over time. This study analyzed the influences of farmers’ learning and risk on the likelihood and intensity of adoption of improved tef and wheat technologies in Northern and Western Shewa zones of Ethiopia. The study employed Xtprobit and Xttobit and random effect models and panel data of the same farmers from 1997 to 2001. Separate samples were selected for wheat and tef and the study covers the same farmers from 1997-2001. Panel data are better suited to study dynamic changes and the random effect models control for unobserved variability and potential endogeniety. Comparison of the main features of tef and wheat farmers revealed that wheat farmers are slightly younger, more educated, have slightly higher family size and significantly higher family labour than tef farmers. While average farm size is similar for tef and wheat farmers, farmers cultivated 60% and 30% of their land to tef and wheat, respectively. However, tef farmers allocated only 20% of their tef area to improved varieties due to shortage of desirable varieties whereas wheat farmers allocated 90% of their land to improved varieties from 1997 to 2001. Only three improved varieties were demonstrated and limited quantities of improved seeds were distributed to tef farmers whereas six improved wheat varieties were demonstrated and relatively sufficient quantities of improved seeds were distributed to wheat farmers during the study. Besides, similar levels of fertilizers and herbicide were used on tef and wheat. Wheat and tef were mainly grown for own consumption as less than half of the produce (48% of all wheat and 46% of all tef) was sold in the market. The study provided evidence of the importance of learning in the adoption decision and area allocation to improved varieties. As farmer’s gained more experience from growing the new varieties in previous years, they continued adoption and increased areas under these varieties. The study also revealed that adopters of wheat and tef technologies have increased their production by 20% and 39%, respectively, than non-adopters. Results of the analyses indicate that awareness, availability and profitability of the new improved tef and wheat varieties enhanced farmer’s learning and farmer’s experience had positive influence on the likelihood and intensity of improved seed adoption. Improved tef and wheat varieties were found more risky than the local varieties. The study further revealed that younger age of farmer, farmers’ learning from previous experience, availability of family labour and credit are key determinants of the likelihood and intensity of adoption of improved seed. Policies and strategies that contribute to timely availability of improved inputs and provision of credit enhance farmers learning from their own experience on adoption. Policies and strategies that focus on farmers’ education and provision of insurance for crop failure to reduce risk would help the new extension program (NEP) achieve its objectives which give emphasis to raising smallholders’ production and productivity. / Thesis (PhD (Agricultural Economics))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development / unrestricted

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Microbiology and Plant Pathology / Unrestricted

In-vitro and greenhouse screening of 78 bacterial isolates from sorghum rhizosphere in Ethiopia and 86 isolates from the rhizosphere of grasses at Nylsvlei Nature Reserve in South Africa was conducted in terms of inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum that causes root rot in sorghum. Among the Ethiopian isolates KBE5-7, KBE5-1, KBE2-5 and NAE5-5 resulted in 100% disease suppression while disease suppressions ranging from 85.6% - 95.8% were rendered by South African isolates KBS9-H, KBS9-B, KFP9-A, NAS6-B and KBS5-F. According to identification by means of API and 16S rDNA sequencing, the majority of the effective isolates belong to members of the genus Bacillus. Other Gram negative isolates effective in this study have been identified as Serratia marcescens, Chryseomonas luteola, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Enterobacter sakazaki. Screening of rhizobacterial isolates was also conducted in terms ofin-vitro and in-vivo antagonistic activity against Pythium ultimum Trow, a common soilborne pathogen causing yield reductions in a wide variety of crops including sorghum. Statistically significant disease suppression was achieved by a number of isolates both from Ethiopia and South Africa. Most of the effective isolates maintained themselves in the rhizosphere at a level of ≥ 105 cfu/g four weeks after inoculation. While Bacillus cereus was the predominant isolates from both sites, Brevilbacterium laterosporus, Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas fluorescens were among the most effective isolates with the potential to suppress Pythium ultimum in-vitro and in-vivo. Modes of action studies assessing production of antibiotics, siderophores, chitinolytic activity and induction of systemic resistance in sorghum were conducted for rhizobacterial isolates effective against F. oxysporum and P. ultimum. The antibiotic substances produced in the culture filtrates of many of these effective bacteria resulted in strong antifungal activity against both pathogens. The antibiotics from Bacillus cereus (KBS5-H) and Bacillus subtilis (KBS6-3) resulted in an efficient antagonistic activity against F. oxysporum and Pythium ultimum respectively. Siderophore production was evident in the Gram-negative strains Serratia marcescens (KBS9-R), C. violaceum (KBE9-1) and E. sakazaki (NAS6-B) with prominent yellow/orange halo development on CAS-agar plates demonstrating the potential by these isolates to produce siderophores under iron stressed conditions. Chitinolytic activity on chitin-agar plates was shown by isolates which mostly (83%) belonged to strains of B. cereus The split root system has also demonstrated that B. cereus (KBS5-H), C. violaceum (KBE9-1) and S. marcescens (KBS9-R) were capable of rendering significant induction of systemic resistance against F. oxysporum in sorghum. The successful in-vitro and in-vivo suppression of F. oxysporum and P. ultimum by the effective rhizobacterial isolates and the presence of various modes of action provide useful information on the potential of these isolates as biocontrol agents against soilborne fungal pathogens. The isolation and screening of rhizobacteria for growth promotion of sorghum has also been conducted under greenhouse condition in pathogen free soils. Three isolates from Ethiopia and 10 isolates from South Africa have been identified as the most effective growth promoting isolates in these studies. The isolates also tested positive for the production of siderophores, production of indoleacetic acid and phosphate solubilization, the direct modes of actions through which bacteria promote plant growth in the rhizosphere of several plants. Of the most effective isolates 44 % were identified as Bacillus cereus, 19 % as Chryseomonas luteola, 13 % as Serratia marcescens, 13 % as Sphingomonas paucimobilis, and 6% each as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Brevibacterium laterosporus respectively. The best biocontrol agents were selected out of a total of 24 isolates both from Ethiopia and South Africa. The selection procedure was conducted by using criteria such as the in-vitro and in-vivo suppression of Fusarium oxysporum and Pythium ultimum, the root colonization ability of the bacterial isolates and selected modes of action including production of antibiotic substances and siderophores, chitinolytic activity and induction of systemic resistance in sorghum. According to this procedure five isolates from Ethiopia (KBE5-7, KBE5-1, KBE9-1, NAE1-7 and NAE5-7) and six isolates from South Africa (KBS5-F, KBS9-R, KBS6-H, KBS5-H, KFP9-K and KBE6-17) have been selected as the most efficient biocontrol isolates. The selection of the best performing growth promoting isolates was conducted out of 12 efficient isolates using the following criteria: root colonization, siderophores and indoleacetic acid (IAA) production, phosphate solubilization and bacterial growth profiles in liquid cultures. Two isolates from Ethiopia (KBE7-8 and KBE9-1) and five isolates from South Africa (KBS5-H, KBS5-F, KBS6-H, KBS9-B and NAS4-3) have been selected as the best growth promoting isolates. As the screening and selection of this study are based on laboratory and greenhouse studies, further evaluation of the best isolates under field conditions and additional modes of action studies are warranted to ascertain their full potential as biocontrol and growth promoting agents. / Thesis (PhD (Plant Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Microbiology and Plant Pathology / unrestricted

Bringing more agricultural land into production for biofuels and food crops will be necessary if we are to both fulfill our collective climate initiative goals and feed an increasing global population. The direct competition between land for food and land for biofuels has resulted in increased interest in identifying 'marginal lands' such that biofuels can be grown on land that does not threaten the food security of poor, rural communities. The term `marginal land' is also used by developing state governments to describe large swaths of land being leased to private or state-affiliated investors in what has been referred to by the international research community as the 'global land grab'. 'Marginal land', however, is defined and operationalized differently across users and anecdotal evidence shows that some lands classified as marginal are actually used by local communities. Empirical studies investigating these contested lands have not incorporated spatial information. The main objective of this thesis is to conduct a multi-scalar, spatially-explicit exploration of the marginal lands narrative. The first chapter investigates the ontology of the marginal land label as it is applied on a global/regional scale using a meta-analysis of four recent studies. The second chapter triangulates national-level geospatial information with information from semi-structured interviews to examine marginal lands allocated to Ethiopia's federal land bank as contested spaces. The third chapter uses a statistical analysis to identify the socio-political and biophysical determinants of banked lands on a subnational scale in Benishangul-Gumuz, Ethiopia. Results show that methods using remotely sensed information to identify marginal lands on a global/regional scale are qualitatively and quantitatively divergent and are limited in their usefulness in identifying available land for biofuels. The Ethiopia case study finds that the federal government is banking 'marginal land' for future investment that is more appropriately understood as 'land unused for commercial agriculture' and that they are contested spaces where the federal government stands to incur multiple benefits through their transformation to large-scale agriculture. I also find both biophysical and socio-political factors (i.e. ethnicity, agricultural practices) guide the federal government's decision regarding which land to target in the subnational region of Benishangul-Gumuz.

Cervical cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death among women in less developed countries. Screening for cervical cancer is the most accepted and successful strategy for cervical cancer control. The purpose of the study was to investigate factors that determine cervical cancer screening practice among women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and develop guidelines to improve the utilisation of cervical cancer screening services. The researcher used the health belief model (HMB) as the theoretical foundation of the study and a convergent parallel mixed methods design. Quantitative data was obtained from screened and not screened women attending maternal health services at selected public health centres. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 23 was used for entry and analysis of data Qualitative data was obtained in key informant interviews from health service professionals on their perceptions of women‟s cervical cancer screening uptake at the health centres. The study found that higher age >35 years category (X2 =33.618 and p-value <0.001), contraceptive use (X2 value=20.7 and p-value <0.001), having two or more children, and knowledge of cervical cancer and screening (chi-value X2 =51.649, p-value=0.001) were strongly associated with screening practice. In addition, women‟s perception of susceptibility (t-test=3.42 and 3.432, p-value=0.001) was a predictor of screening. Lack of awareness was a serious barrier to cervical cancer screening and health service providers‟ information was a strong promoter of screening. The study recommends promoting and facilitating health education on cervical cancer at all health facilities; organising awareness campaigns, education programmes, and community mobilisation to raise awareness of cervical cancer screening; integrating cervical cancer screening with other reproductive health services, and capacitating the health professionals in order to increase utilisation of cervical cancer screening services. Consequently, the researcher used the findings of the study to develop guidelines to improve the uptake and quality of cervical cancer screening services. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Public Health)

The main research question was What are the relationships between parenting style, self-regulated learning (SRL) and the academic achievement of selected (upper) primary school students in Ethiopia? The following specific research questions were formulated: • What are the views of the students on the parenting styles, and on parental acceptance and control, the cognitive strategies they use, and their self-regulated learning? • What is the relationship between parenting style and SRL? • What is the relationship between parenting style and academic achievement? • What is the relationship between SRL and academic achievement? • Does SRL moderate the relationship between parenting style and academic achievement? In this study a correlational design was used, but it was also exploratory and descriptive. Data were collected by means of a self-report questionnaire, while the academic achievements of the students were derived from official records. The questionnaire was completed by 477 randomly selected students from two classes in each of five schools in Hawasa, Ethiopia. The analysis of the data was done by means of descriptive, correlation, and ANOVA tests. The major findings included the following: Most of the children experienced acceptance by their parents, in particular from their female parents/guardians. The best levels of acceptance were, for example, “When I get a poor grade at school, my parents encourage me to try harder”, or “I can count on my parents to help me if I have some kind of a problem”, and “My parents keep pushing me to do my best in whatever I do”. However, it was found that the parents seldom spent time merely talking to their children. The female parents/guardians seemed to control their children more than the male parents/guardians, and were more involved with their children. The children, though, also believed that their parents/guardians did not really know how they spent their leisure time. More often the children perceived their parents as being neglectful. Regarding their cognitive strategies, the students particularly made use of memorization. The cognitive strategies of the children whose parents were authoritative were significantly better than those of the other children. When a student’s self-regulation increased, his/her cognitive strategies also increased, and when the cognitive strategies improved, so did the average achievement. The parents’ parenting styles were also significantly related to their children’s achievement, and were moderated by cognitive strategies as co-variants. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)