TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE PRACTICES AMONG MASHOLE COMMUNITY IN SNNPR OF ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Marriage can be defined as a series of customs formalizing the relationship between adult partners within the family and socially approved union between two or more adult partners that regulates the sexual and economic rights and obligations between them. It has customs, rules, and obligations that establish a socially endorsed relationship between the kin groups of the married partners. The traditional marriage practices are on disappearing as a result of the quick process of economic growth, globalization, modernization and religions. This leads to the loss of identity. As a result many scholars make their own contribution by documenting, displaying and promoting distinctive features of different ethnic group identity. For the matter, this study aimed to understand, provide detailed data of traditional marriage practice of the Mashole through qualitative data gathering and analysis method. Therefore, Mashole has four types of traditional marriage practices such as Logashipota, Tina, Dahal, and Boliqala marriage. However those traditional marriage practices are on disappearing as the result of infrastructure fulfillment, government, nongovernmental organization and religious expansion. Therefore government, community members and other stakeholders are suggested to plan for develop and promote the cultural aspects of Mashole community.