Thirteenth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

Ethnicity in Ethiopia started to become an important means of political mobilization and organization since the 1960s. However the politicization of ethnicity reached its peak since the 1991 restructuring of the country along ethnic and linguistic formula. The making of ethnicity as basic tool of allocation of power and resources in turn brought disputes and controversies among the various ethnic groups over the use of resource and power. The Silte / Gurage dispute over the quest for distinct ethnic identity was one of such cases that became a source of academic and public discourse in the past. In 2001, after a lot of disputes and controversy Silte people went for a referendum which was the first of its kind to vote on their ethnic identity and voted to be recognized as independent ethnic group vis-à-vis the larger Gurage group. Thus this thesis singled out this unique case in history of the country and attempts have been made to deal on it thoroughly. The major objective of this thesis is therefore to explore the nature and factors for the assertion of Silte distinct ethnic identity vis-à-vis the larger group through exploring academic as well as public discourse.