An Anthropological Study of the Uneasy Complicity of Humans and Spotted Hyenas in the Orthodox Ethiopian Context of Tigray

Masterarbeit , 2013 , 102 Seiten

Soziologie - Kultur, Technik, Völker

This thesis aims to provide an extensive account on the relation and interaction between humans and spotted hyenas in the Tigray Region in northern Ethiopia. Different levels of the human, the animal and the divine aspects of these relations will be considered. Local perceptions and (folk) stories are taking a prominent role in the exploration of the symbiotic, although simultaneously conflictive, cohabitation of people and wildlife. In a second part of the thesis, perspectives on nature, and the role of religion in the conservation of biodiversity will be considered. Special attention will be paid to the environment in which humans and hyenas coexist. In a last chapter, I will try to analyse the spotted hyena’s association with evilness, and the various related discourses on disease causation and healing. My aim is to give a holistic interpretation of the Ethiopian belief in buda (evil eye), in which culture, ecology, medicine, psychological conceptions, religion and social relations seem to come together in a complex whole. I will argue that the uneasy complicity of humans and spotted hyenas finds its parallel in similar tensions between majority and minority groups in the Ethiopian context, although buda also appears in other close interpersonal relationships.

Table of Contents

• Acknowledgements
• Abstract
• Table of Content
• List of Abbreviations and Acronyms
• List of Foreign Terms
• List of Figures
• List of Pictures
• Introduction
  • Research question
  • Methodology
  • Study sites
    • Enderta: in and around Mekelle
    • Kilte-Awlaelo: Awaleo
  • Structure of the thesis
• The spotted hyena in Tigray: conservation and persistence
  • Symbiotic cohabitation
  • Conflictive coexistence
  • Preventive measures and protection
  • Ambiguity and ambivalence
  • Both predator and scavenger
  • Symbolic boundaries
  • Beyond the nature-culture dichotomy
  • Discussions between conservationists and anthropologists
• Perception and folk stories of the spotted hyena
  • The spotted hyena as a dangerous animal
  • The spotted hyena as a powerful animal
  • The spotted hyena as a fast animal
  • The spotted hyena as a wicked animal
  • The spotted hyena as a greedy animal
  • The spotted hyena as a cursed animal
  • The spotted hyena as a fearful animal
  • The spotted hyena, revelation and omen messages
  • The spotted hyena as a wise animal
  • The male and the female spotted hyena
• The Ethiopian Orthodox context and perspectives on nature
  • The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
  • The role of the EOTC in the conservation of church forests
  • Ethiopian Orthodoxy shaping landscapes in Tigray
  • Sacredness: closedness and secrecy
  • Valuing wildlife
  • Spotted hyenas consumed as tourist attraction in Harar
• The spotted hyena's relation with evil spirits
  • The Ethiopian evil eye belief: buda
  • Discourses on disease causation and explanations of misfortune

Objectives and Key Themes

This thesis aims to provide an extensive account of the relationship and interaction between humans and spotted hyenas in the Tigray Region of northern Ethiopia. The study examines local perceptions and folk stories to understand the complex coexistence between humans and wildlife. It further delves into the role of religion in the conservation of biodiversity, particularly in the context of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

• Human-animal relations in the Tigray region
• Folklore and cultural beliefs about spotted hyenas
• Religious perspectives on nature and conservation
• The role of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in shaping the environment
• The association of spotted hyenas with evil spirits and the concept of buda (evil eye)

Chapter Summaries

This preview does not include summaries of the final chapter or any sections containing major revelations or spoilers.

• The introduction sets the research question, methodology, study sites, and the structure of the thesis.
• Chapter 2 explores the complex relationship between humans and spotted hyenas in Tigray, addressing both the symbiotic and conflictive aspects of their cohabitation. It examines conservation efforts, preventative measures, and the ambiguity surrounding this species.
• Chapter 3 delves into local perceptions and folk stories about the spotted hyena, examining its representation in Tigrayan culture. It discusses various attributes assigned to the animal, including its dangerousness, power, speed, wickedness, greed, and association with curses, omens, and wisdom.
• Chapter 4 investigates the influence of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church on perspectives on nature and conservation in Tigray. It explores the role of the church in preserving church forests and shaping landscapes, discussing concepts of sacredness, closedness, and the valuation of wildlife.
• Chapter 5 focuses on the spotted hyena's association with evil spirits, particularly the concept of buda (evil eye). It investigates discourses on disease causation and explanations of misfortune, linking the animal to beliefs about evil and misfortune.

Keywords

This thesis explores the complex relationship between humans and spotted hyenas in the Tigray Region of northern Ethiopia. The study investigates local perceptions and folk stories, conservation efforts, and the role of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in shaping the environment. Key themes include human-animal relations, folklore, religion, biodiversity, and the concept of buda (evil eye).

• Hochschule: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Social Sciences)
• Veranstaltung: Master Thesis - Social and Cultural Anthropology
• Autor: Silke Froyen (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2013
• Seiten: 102
• Katalognummer: V214563
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668611290
• Sprache: Englisch
• Schlagworte: anthropological, study, uneasy, complicity, humans, spotted, hyenas, orthodox, ethiopian, context, tigray