A Thematic Analysis of the Afar Camel Folk Literature: An Ethnography-of-Communication Approach

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Periodical article

Title:	A Thematic Analysis of the Afar Camel Folk Literature: An Ethnography-of-Communication Approach
Author:	Hailemichael, Aregga
Year:	1995
Periodical:	Journal of Ethiopian Studies
Volume:	28
Issue:	1
Period:	June
Pages:	1-22
Language:	English
Notes:	biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:	Ethiopia Northeast Africa
Subjects:	Afar oral literature camels Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) Literature, Mass Media and the Press literature Ethnography folklore Language and languages Afar (African people)
External link:	https://www.jstor.org/stable/41966053
Abstract:	Among the Afar pastoral nomads of Ethiopia camel owners have high social prestige. Camels dominate not only Afar culture, but also the various categories of Afar oral folk literature. Proverbs, sung poems and war cries, collected in Wahli-Fanta Camel Herders Associations in Awsa 'awraja' (district) in February 1989 and March 1990, illustrate the role played by the camel in Afar life and the material importance of the camel as a source of wealth and prestige. The 30 items in the corpus are described and analysed according to the following themes: the physical qualities or nature of the camel as a symbol of social status, camel ownership as a symbol of social status, bravery or heroism as a symbol of social status, and the gender division of labour as a symbol of social status. Bibliogr., notes.