As an occupational therapist, I know that culture affects
occupation, but what are specific ways and specific occupations relevant to the
Ethiopian context?
One song I am fascinated with illustrates the impact of how
changing cultural norms affects child’s play.
Watch a video of this song, sung by a 6 year old boy in Ethiopia. (if the embedded video doesn't work, click here)
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| A 2 year old girl singing |
What was your initial response to this song? When I heard it in Amharic, I heard only the lovely tune and sweet voices. I saw only the beautiful physical and emotional connection to one another as they simultaneously sang and gestured.
The English meaning of the words are as follows:
The English meaning of the words are as follows:
My sister, my mother, you taste like lemons
Tonight, what did that man say?
He said only one thing, that he wants to marry me and get
divorced
He will never divorce, but he will marry you by force
(There are several versions of this part)
A raven nested on top of my roof
Flew away thinking that I wasn’t home
Oh, poor raven! I feel bad it flew away
May I will be cursed to drink Elephant’s bile
Elephant’s bile is bitter!
A brave man’s heart is as big as a mountain
When I came back after a mountain trekking
I saw a hyena crying for a dead donkey
I saw a flea standing there and praying
I saw too a snake getting tattooed its neck
50 chickens were slaughtered
One chicken survived
And ran away to the backyard!
When I heard the translation, I
was reflexively horrified to realize that young children were casually singing
about child brides. I realized I needed to learn more about the origin, history, and context of this song.
I could not find any published research so I
asked many adults from the community as many questions as I could think of. What
people said is they hope the themes of this song (connection to female friends, family members, and role models, enjoying childhood, eschewing marriage while still a child) can shape a child’s thinking about childhood and marriage and hopefully contribute to the decrease in the rate of child marriage.
This song is sung by many children nowadays, but in the beginning
it was intended in particular for girls. While some in the West shun the idea
that activities should be assigned a particular gender category, the history of
this song was an answer generated by the community to address a particular need
in the community. The fact that it is now sung by all children,
regardless of gender, can be seen as a cultural evolution in several ways. It may empower girls who will grow to be young women and later women possibly
raising children of their own, to make safer choices on their own behalf. It may prepare boys who will grow to be men to see the world in a way they may not
have previously which may impact their decisions regarding marriage and their
own daughters when they become men. Parents who teach this song to their children or hear their children sing it will hopefully also be impacted by it's message.
Although the Ethiopian government has committed to eliminating child marriage by 2025 and child marriage rates have declined by around 20%, in the period from 2000-2011, 41% of girls in Ethiopia under age 18 were married or in a union.
Although the Ethiopian government has committed to eliminating child marriage by 2025 and child marriage rates have declined by around 20%, in the period from 2000-2011, 41% of girls in Ethiopia under age 18 were married or in a union.
For more information regarding child marriage and efforts to end this practice in Ethiopia, visit these places:
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