Annales d'Ethiopie, 2005, vol. XX: 149-180
TRADITIONAL KONSO CULTURE AND THE MISSIONARY IMPACT
Shako Otto (M.D.)
Father Azaïs (1931) introduced to the world the Konso wa'kka1. Cerulli (1956) revealed the Konso settlement pattern and terracing. Murdock (1956) described the Konso as "Megalithic Cushites" who had made an impressive use of stone monoliths. Kluckhohn (1962) in Markets of Africa concluded the Konso case as a trace of highest stage of ancient economic developments in East Africa. Black (1973; 1974) produced papers on Konso phonology and metathesis, followed by a large volume on Konso grammar and syntax. Hallpike (1972) wrote an ethnographic monography entitled The Konso of Ethiopia. Amborn (1984) worked on Konso agriculture, which he described as "a labor intensive agrarian complex". Recently, Watson (1998) has showed the struggle between traditional Konso culture and the local Protestant movement.
In general, all these scholars and others, not mentioned-above, have contributed as much as they could in introducing the Konso and their culture to the world. But the realities of Konso life still call for a more comprehensive scholarly work that will project an all-round, authentic, picture of their society.
Demographically, Hallpike's and Watson are diametrically far apart from each other and this not merely because of the time interval between their studies. Hallpike limited the Konso population to just about 60,000 {ibid., 1972: 1), while Watson (1998: 75) after 30 years announces that the Konso population estimate is 125,099. He mentions that many Konso have migrated to Iavello, Mega, and Marsabit in Kenya {ibid.: 9) but does not commit himself as to whether these migrants are part of his population figure or not. Watson states that substantial Konso populations living in Arba Minch, Ko'mmayti, Gidole, Teltelle, Iavello, Arbore, Moyale, Omorate, Negale Borana, and probably several other places are not included in the population estimate. A Farm Africa report2 published in 2000 gives a much higher than that of Watson. Previously the Central Statistical Authority of Ethiopia had declared that the Konso population as was 157,585 (1996). Ethiopian television, included in its presentation of the mummified late Dawit (Jhirato) Kala's special funeral rite (on 18 May 2004) an estimate of the
1. Statues made from dry juniper wood and erected ceremonially at a suitable site to present to the public view the success of their hero, called in their language "xhe'tallitta". 2. Farm Africa is an NGO that involved itself in humanitarian relief grain distribution for drought victims in the Konso Special District. It reported that the relief grain receiving Konso population in the district was 220,000.
