Book

Highland plateau Amhara of Ethiopia

Human Relations Area Files • New Haven, Conn. • Published In 1985 • Pages: 3 v. (xvii, 502 leaves)

By: Messing, Simon D. (Simon David), Bender, M. Lionel (Marvin Lionel).

Abstract

This is a comprehensive ethnograpy of rural Amhara society and culture circa 1950s, including an extensive 100-page glossary. Amhara society is extremely hierarchical, ranked by property relations, ethnicity and occupation. At the top are the descendants of a former military and religious fief-holding elite. At the bottom are occupational groups marked by their religious and ethnic differences. Although orthodox Christianity is the dominant state religion, Messing discusses a whole strata of animistic and syncretic beliefs and practices that are closely tied to Amhara medical views and remedies. Women are locked out of Amhara political and religious life, but play a major part in spirit possession cults, which Messing poses as a parallel world to the dominant patriarchal society. Also included are lengthy discussions of the Amhara life cycle and etiquette.

HRAF PubDate

1998

Region

Africa

Sub Region

Eastern Africa

Document Type

Book

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Ian Skoggard ; 1996

Field Date

1953-54, 1961

Coverage Date

1950s

Coverage Place

Gonder District, Ethiopia

Notes

Simon D. Messing ; edited by M. Lionel Bender

Revision of thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Pennsylvania, 1957

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 482-502) and index

LCCN

85200729

LCSH

Amhara (African people)