Beyond Cultural Heritage and Symbolism: A Quest for Constitutional Recognition of the Oromo Gadaa System in Ethiopia

Abstract

This study argues for the formal legal and functional recognition of the Oromo Gadaa System (OGS) beyond its current status as intangible cultural heritage. Through a qualitative analysis of Ethiopia’s legal framework and the implications of UNESCO’s 2016 inscription, the research has found that while Proclamation 839/2014 provides a basis for safeguarding heritage, it fails to address the integration of the OGS’s governance mechanisms. Constitutional provisions allow for such recognition but remain unimplemented. The study has identified the OGS’s core democratic principles-such as periodic succession, checks and balances, and restorative justice-as potential contributors to strengthening Ethiopia’s governance architecture. However, significant structural incompatibility between the centralized state and the decentralized, consensus-based logic of Gadaa present fundamental challenges. The findings, derived from interviews and document analysis, suggest that moving from symbolic to functional recognition requires navigating complex questions of legal pluralism, power-sharing, and institutional hybridity. The study concludes that a constitutionally recognized, hybrid model is necessary to leverage the OGS’s indigenous values for enhanced political stability, administrative effectiveness, and socio-cultural harmony.