THE INTRODUCTION AND EXPANSION OF PROTESTANTISM IN HADIYA (CA. 1928-1991)

Abstract

This thesis studies about The Introduction and Expansion of Protestantism in Hadiya, (Ca. 1928- 1991). The year 1928 was a watershed in the birth of Protestant Christianity among the Hadiya society while the year 1991 was a remarkable period because with the change of government Protestant Christians got religious freedom, ethnic and cultural rights, and some degree of economic and political freedom. Obviously, Protestantism seems to have a remarkable influence on the socio-cultural, economic and political aspects of Hadiya people, yet its history have not been fully investigated. This was the major concern of this study that aimed at examining the far reaching changes brought about by Protestantism on the life of the Hadiya people. The study examines the missionary activities and the steady conversions of Hadiya people from their traditional religion, fandanano to Protestant Christianity. Besides the fandaano, prior to the introduction of Protestantism, Islam and Orthodox Christianity were predominant religion among the Hadiya. Unlike Orthodox Christianity, Protestantism reached among the Hadiya people through humble approach by providing social services like education and health centers and by doing so that, it did not take longer time for introduction and expansion. In line with this, researcher collected various secondary and primary sources from different areas namely Hadiya zone culture and tourism office, Bobicho Bibile school archive and Library, Heto south central synods Archive and Library, Addis Ababa Archival Cnters and Libraries, Haramaya University Libraries as well as investigated and analyzed them critically. Based on the finding, although Protestantism has narrowed social class oppression like Occupational minorities (Bete-Israel and tanners), occupational minorities have been still undermined mainly in political and economic way of life. It was obvious that, when Protestantism faced different challenges among the Hadiya people, various approached were pursued to overcome these problems. Similarly, Protestantism should work actively with other religious groups to create wellbeing society of the Ethiopian people in general and the Hadiya people in particular.