Xossa (God) in the Traditional Belief of Wolaitta

Authors

  • Henok Yonas Alambo
  • Sishir Kummar ‎Tripathy

Abstract

This study seeks to investigate the history of the traditional religion of medieval Wolaitta. Its principal aim is to illuminate the value and place of Xosso within the umbrella of the traditional religion of Wolaitta. To this end, the study employed qualitative methodology. Accordingly, data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. Books, articles and other published and unpublished materials were utilized and to substantiate oral sources are also consulted. Based on the data analyzed, the study came up with findings that like other primitive religion of Africa, Xosso is a core or focal point of their worship. Among the Wolaittans, Xosso have had special place and no representation of an image as the Judaic tradition did. He is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent and the creator of universe including man. More interestingly, their traditional conception of God corresponding to the universal religions of today (Christianity and Islam). Therefore, the research concluded that, for the Wolaitta’s the concept of God is “beyond their depiction” as He is the origin (ubbawu pulitto), explanation of everything (ubbabwu birshetta) and the first principle (woggawu kochchoruwa).Besides, the traditional religion of Wolaitta had influenced the socio-economic and cultural aspects of the people. After the advent of Orthodox Christianity and Protestantism, however, the Wolaitta primal religion was greatly influenced and gradually its followers reduced. In spite of this, the traditional religion of Wolaitta survived retaining some of its basic features.

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Published

2020-02-03

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Section

Articles