The Making of National Identity and Symbolism in Modern Ethiopia: A Need for Deconstruction?

Abstract

A given entity – group, nation, state, or otherwise – can develop identity and be attributed some common and defining elements of identity. While it is reasonable to argue that identity may develop for different reasons in different conditions, once created it significantly affects social, political, cultural, and to some extent economic relations among or between peoples. Even a given pieces of social practice performed by a group of peoples in a regular way becomes a tradition of the latter which in turn defines the mode of living of the group. Religious, cultural, and political practices performed by a given community, consequently become defining elements of the group's identity. Important elements of national identity are myths, values, culture, religion, history, and to some extent ideology and such are reflected as national symbols which can be put as foundations of nationalism. The aim of this article is to examine the status functions of national symbols in the country since the formation of the modern Ethiopia by putting a due focus to the Oromo and Amhara peoples. The Oromo and Amhara national groups are focused: -  due to the fact that they are the first and second largest nations, respectively, in terms of number on one hand; and the Amhara has been dominant in terms of cultures, values, history, and discursive narratives while the Oromo people has been marginalized on the other hand. Furthermore, almost all of the Abyssinian values and discourses are either claimed by or attributed to the Amhara people of Ethiopia. Consequently, there remains the political dynamics of symbolism that need to be addressed in order to re-imagine the federation founded upon a genuine national identity and nationalism. In writing this article, the researcher uses both secondary sources of data and observation of the existing discourse with regard to Ethiopia's national identity.