IHSM COMMENTARY
In Ethiopian galaxy, Wisdom from the minorities!
Written by Professor Abdi Khalil
Believe it or not. Ethiopian is a land of minorities. According to many reports, there exists two numerically giant ethnic groups in Ethiopia. Yes, statistically speaking, the Oromos and the Amharas appear to be majority in numbers, but with respect to diversity and inclusion measurement, they are only 2 out of 82+ ethnic groups. Using diversity and inclusion measurement, the two are only 2.4% of the total number of ethnic groups. This makes them minority! Yes. This is an alternative perspective. The 80+ ethnics are the majority with respect to inclusion and diversity measurement because this measurement indicates multiple languages, cultures, traditions, religions, historical facts and peaceful co-existence. This measurement emanates from divine principle ‘If you save a single human being, it is like saving the whole of humanity. And, if you destroy a single life, it is like destroying the whole of humanity.’ Not only a minority group matters, but a single human being matters the most!
The richness of Ethiopia’s heritages from the 80+ groups is paramount, significant and meaningful, where beauty and peace are defined. Without these 80+ groups, it would be mirage to define an Ethiopian and talk about Ethiopia. These relatively small nations and nationalities define Ethiopia as multiple tributaries define the Nile River. Because of the existence of the minorities, Ethiopia has been and will continue to be the land of tolerance, solidarity and co-existence. Mind you, small things always lead to perfection and beautify the rest, whatever it is!
In fact, being majority in number always sparks conflict. It threatens the existence of the minorities no matter how many minority groups they are. Having two numerically giant groups in a nation has also become the source of hate between themselves as they compete for resources and power control. Uncontrolled power defies humanity and infringes the rights of the minorities and becoming the source of destruction for all.
Protecting endangered nations and nationalities from constant threats from the so-called population giants should be the priority of considerate political elites, if they were to implement vital and significant democratic principles in Ethiopia. Not only interventions in protecting and upholding the rights of the minorities, but also involving the minorities to have the right to rule and govern, that will create sustainable peace and prosperity in Ethiopia.
If they were to build peaceful Ethiopia, the two population giants should talk to each other humbly and to the many minorities with humility and humanity. Giants usually lose their sense of humanity as they adamantly brag about their numbers always. They so often stop listening to what it matters the most. The political party leaders usually become arrogant, ignorant, insensitive, uncompromising, selfish and hateful; even though their own people do not endorse such behaviors and become victim themselves. Forgiveness and reconciliation would be far-fetched and beyond the politician reach. They are consumed with power play. Ultimately, these reckless attitudes will set up the whole country into self-destructive mode. It is suffice to recall what happened between the two ethnic giants, Hutsi and Tutsi, in Rwanda in 1990s. No need to fall into such political traps and hooliganism to repeat human and natural destructions in Africa.
Nowadays, Ethiopia is in a shock with fluid political discourse. A daily shock that comes from the two titans propagating hatred and seemingly parallel ideologies. Ideologies that are unhealthy for the whole country. It is high time they listen to the minorities, who have experiences in tolerance, solidarity, reconciliations and unity. Ethiopia survived this long because of tolerance and peaceful nature of the minorities. The minorities are full of knowledge, as knowledge is a light that leads to wisdom. Wisdom is life for the soul and fuel in building societies’ characters. Proper characters build a peaceful nation. Harar is one of the prominent sources of such wisdom as it continues to demonstrate its characters as a sharing and caring regional state since it is the basket of tranquility, bounty and divine hospitality.
This reminds me what an elder guru said sometimes ago. Harar is a visible peace. Hararis walk with moderate manners. They are people with balance and fairness in their intentions and actions. They gave happiness to many, though they were treated miserably. They made people laugh, though they were made to cry. They, however, are intact and happy as happiness is found between two extremes with peaceful intentions.
Behold Ethiopia! Digest this. As the Harari proverb says, it is better to transform yourself with many small steps in the right direction than to make a corrupted leap forward only to stumble backwards. The corrupted leap comes from selfishness, disrespect and expansionist ideology. Destroying a nation does not require modern weapons, it requires only re-constructing a political system full of hate, arrogance, ignorance and unforgiveness that can implode and explode any time.
Harar is a social university and institute for reconciliation and peace. Understanding Harar could profoundly help most Ethiopian politicians to learn and to open their eyes to the beauty of life, diversity, inclusion, co-existence and peace. Take a moment to reflect on these! Build humanity within yourself first to ultimately build humanely nation through people-to-people relationships in Ethiopia.
Aselam Aleykum