Blessings and Curses as Social Controlling Mechanism in Ethiopia: The Case of Amhara, Oromo and Gurage Communities

Abstract

The study was based on the social harmonization of blessings and curses in oral narrative by Ethiopians. The main object of the study was to study the role of blessings and curses and to show how and when they are used. Thus, the study could be a baseline as a preliminary idea for researcher who desires to study about the people, scrutinize the relations between blessings and curses; and to study the sequence of narrative as well as a thorough and in-depth look at the community’s reaction to the theme. Both primary and secondary data sources were reflected. The obtainable data were examined by a functionalism approach. The finding indicated that blessings and curses have been used to nurture the moral law of the society and to shape the generation with kindness and integrities. The finding also confirmed that blessings and curses are used by the people to reflect and influence human emotions such as anxiety, fear, dismay, joy, and sadness.

Key words: Blessing, curse, social control, social cohesion