Shabo people
Total population | |
---|---|
1,000–2,000[citation needed] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Ethiopia | |
Languages | |
Shabo | |
Religion | |
Predominantly traditional, some influence of Mekane Yesus Evangelical Church |
The Shabo are an ethnic group of southwestern Ethiopia. They call themselves "Sabu" and are sometimes called "Mikeyir" by their neighbors.
Their livelihood is based on
The Shabo claim that Juku (God) created them in the same area that they occupy today and that other groups (like the Majangir and Shekkacho) arrived later to the region. The Shabo have different clans and exogamy is mandatory (either with people from other clans or from other ethnic groups). Traditionally, grooms had to give the bride's father an axe and a spear (for hunting in the forest and gathering honey) in order to get married. The bride's mother received bracelets.
References
Anbessa, T. and P. Unseth, 1989. "Toward the classification of Shabo (Mikeyir)." In M. Lionel Bender (ed.): Topics in Nilo-Saharan linguistics. Nilo-Saharan, 3. Hamburg: Helmut Buske, pp. 405–18.