Birth ritual ceremony in Hadiya culture

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to explore birth rituals ceremony in Hadiya tradition. We choose this sort of culture since this topic has hitherto received insufficient attention in study. A descriptive research design and qualitative data analysis approach were used in the study. The interviewees, in the data collection were chosen using a purposeful sampling strategy. We employed unstructured interview, focus group discussion and document analysis to collect the data. In Hadiya society, there are lots of cultural values which need to be recorded in research form. Of these cultural values, one is the birth rituals and ceremonies. The study examined three phases of birth ritual ceremony, i.e., (before birth, during birth, and after birth). Some Hadiya people observed a ritual called lamfolano/pregnancy in the months of pregnancy. In this phase the mother’s hair is parted by her friend to put her in a calm, relaxed mood. During birth, pregnant women eagerly await the traditional birth ceremony accompanying their delivery. In anticipation of the birth, the expectant mother and her friends celebrate together, dancing special dances and tasting distinctive foods that the mother will eat after her baby is born, such as mooqa or genfo, traditional porridge. After birth, or qa’l lasage, very closely female and male relatives perform the blessing ceremony, or maase’imma.Wobaxa or showering time was very important ceremony and the lyric poems are used “baha-baha, ihi-ihi, and liiranchi yookko” are the most common dance in the Hadiya culture and these dances were highly performed. To keep the continuity of this culture, Hadiya people should organize the way how they keep culture and in an early period to protect women delivering at the health center free from risk. Women should be supported to observe the birth rituals that are beneficial to their health and that of their babies. Lastely, everybody should be involved in the protection of cultural traditions and exclude risky parts by giving birth at health centers.