EXPLORATION THE CURRENT EFFECTIVNESS OF WUKIYER INTRA- CULTURAL COMMUNICATION PRACTICE IN PROMOTING CULTURAL VALUE AND CULTURAL IDENTITY: THE CASE OF GETA WOREDA. GURAGE ZONE

Abstract

his study is about exploration the current effectiveness of wukiyer intra-cultural communication practice in promoting cultural value and cultural identity: the case of ‘Geta Guraghe’. The main purpose of the study was to explore the indigenous cultural communication practice of the ‘Geta guraghe’ society i.e. the ‘Wackier’ practice through a deep understanding and meaning making approach so as to expose the practice and to introduce in the communication studies area. There by the role of the ‘wukiyer’ practice to cultural value promotion and the issue of identity creation were questioned along with the driving question that is the advantages of cultural communication practice towards cultural identity creation and promotion. The discussion and thoughts from several dimension was brought to set the framework and the theoretical frame to the study was Ethnography of communication and also the method to gather data and the throughout the research process was ethnography. Ethnographic research designs were followed through observation, interview & focus group discussion to understanding of the cultural groups in their own setting done. Then thematic analysis was performed as a data analysis mechanism. Five themes which are identified through categorization and coding of data as well as the underpinning framework ethnography of communication helped in the process. Then the feature and practices of ‘wukiyer’, ‘wukiyer’ for cultural value promotion, ‘wukiyer’ and identity, ‘wukiyer’ for knowledge transfer as well as the challenges of ‘wukiyer’ were the themes presented in the discussion.