Basketo people

The Basketo people are an Omotic-speaking ethnic group whose homeland lies in the southern part of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia. The Basketo special woreda is named after this ethnic group. According to the 2007 Ethiopian national census, this ethnic group has 78,284 members, of whom 99.3% live in the SNNPR.^[1]

The Basketo cultivate ensete and, additionally, tuber roots, maize, millet and vegetables. They also keep domestic animals in small numbers.

Traditionally, the Basketo were organized as a segmentary clan society headed by a divine king, the kati. The ethnic religion of the Basketo knew a duality of the sky-god Tsosii and the earth-mother Qacharunde. Under Ethiopian rule many of them converted to Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.

The Basketo were conquered for the Ethiopian empire by Ras Welde Giyorgis in 1893.

See also

• Basketo language

Notes

Sources

• Azeb Amha and Dirk Bustorf: "Basketo". In: Encyclopaedia Aethiopica. vol. 1. Wiesbaden 2003. pp. 499f.
• Eike Haberland: "Die Basketto und verwandte Stämme". In: Altvölker Süd-Äthiopiens. Stuttgart 1959. pp. 189-226.

Ethnic groups in Ethiopia Afar Agaw Amhara Anuak Arbore Argobba Awi Banna Basketo Berta Chara Chebo Daasanach Danta Dawro Dizi Dorze Gabra Gamo Gedeo Gumuz Gurage Habesha Hadiya Hamar Harari Harla Irob Jeberti Kambaata Kichepo Konso Koore Kunama Kwama Kwegu Maale Macha Oromo Majang Mekan Murle Mursi Nuer Nyangatom Oromo Qemant Rer Bare Saho Shabo Shanqella Shinasha Shita Sidama Silt'e Somalis Surma Tigray-Tigrinya Tirma Tsamai Welayta Werji Weyto Yejju Oromo Yem Zay