Book

Highland plateau Amhara of Ethiopia

Human Relations Area FilesNew 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.
Subjects
Glossary
Social stratification
Etiquette
Magical and mental therapy
Revelation and divination
Congregations
Ideas about nature and people
culture
Amhara
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)