The Power of Culture in History: Traditional Conflict Management Mechanism among the Dizi Community, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

This article deals, among other things with how both traditional and modern institutions and mechanisms of conflict management which are being implemented in the southwest frontier areas of Ethiopia in which the Dizi people settled for centuries, do not save the people from death. Dramatic traditional conflict management mechanisms of Dizi people, mainly Dofie simply become successful in solving intra conflicts. Following the introduction of modern administration in 1898 in this frontier area the un-preserved Traditional Conflict Management Mechanism of the Dizi Community became powerless from time to time. Number of death, lose of property e.g. Cattle and land due to conflict between the agriculturalist Dizi and pastoralist Suri continued from time to time since time of immemorial. Cultural factors, ecological crisis, population movements and rapid spread of modern weapons make the problem complicated.