The Role of Women in the ‘Shanee-Salgee’ Structure of the Macca Gadaa System

Abstract

The main focus of this paper is to investigate how the ‘Shanee-Salgee’ structure empowered women in the Maccaa Gadaa system. Although studies on the Oromo Gadaa system have overlooked the roles of women in the Oromo Gadaa system, using women’s share of seats in the Shanee-Salagee structure, the paper argues that women have had equal rights in lawmaking and passing decisions in the Maccaa Oromoo Gadaa system. The research adopted qualitative research methodology and a descriptive design. The data for the study were collected from informants that were selected using the snowball sampling method. The informants were elders and both historical and cultural experts. The tools used for data collection were interviews, focus group discussions, and document reviews. The collected data were categorised according to their contents and analysed qualitatively. Accordingly, the analysed data show that women have played significant roles in the Maccaa Oromo Gadaa System over generations. Contrary to most studies, the analysis of the Maccaa Gadaa Shanee-Salgee structure shows that women have had equal rights in all aspects of the Gadaa system with their male counterparts. Their seats in the assembly of lawmaking and their sounds in passing decisions begin with the equal share of seats with males across ages in the Shanee-Salgee structure. They have also had the right to perform strong social practices and own economic assets as their male counterparts. The siiqqee, ateetee, and caaccuu ritual performances and household economic administration are among the assets on which they have had strong power. Their roles in harmonising and developing social, economic, and religious issues for the Oromo extend beyond that of men. Even Abbaa Gadaa could not be empowered without the anointment of Haadha Siiqqee. Therefore, the role of women in the Gadaa system is very high, and it is necessary to preserve it and pass it on to the next generation.