Foretelling Encounter, Symbolizing Fighter and Yearning Winner: The KorbeessaaGoromtii Ritual among the Ituu Oromoo, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study focuses on the Korbeessaa-Goromtii ritual practices of the Ituu Oromoo. The study
relies on an explorative research design. We gathered the data for the study through focus group
discussion, observation, and key informant interviews. The Ituu sacrifice Korbeessa and Goromtii
goats, demanding peace, victory over their enemies upon conflict, and averting the potential
challenges ahead of them. The findings of the study reveal that the Korbeessaa-Goromtii ritual is
performed anytime when needed. This ritual is context-based. It is performed either when conflict becomes very frequent or is predicted to occur in the near future. Only males attend the Korbeessaa-Goromtii ritual. Male children are taken to the ritual to let them know about it from
their very childhood. Fathers and elder brothers, as well as any adult male, assist the children in carrying out the ritual. The ritual serves to foretell the natural and social environment. This ritual is conflict-oriented, and women do not participate directly as main actors. We analyzed the data
using the content analysis method. The qualitative data from the field were categorized and organized into different themes