The Wonder of Siqqee

Whenever I read the history of the Gaddaa system, I am always left astonished. Not that I am astounded at our magnificent history. Despite the attempts of the Abyssinian Empire at wiping away the golden age of  our Oromo era, they were disappointed to realize that history of honorable pedigree can never by erased as hard as one may try. Today, I was at awe when perusing written research about another indigenous system of ours – ying to the yang-Gaddaa institution. The arrangement is called the Siqqee system.

I was alien to this gender-tailored arrangement until I read a detailed essay by a person by the name of Asafa Jalata concerning Oromo history. The literary work discusses about how the Siqqee system was a check-and-balance mechanism meant to ensure harmony among the sexes. Seeing that the Gaddaa system was a male-dominated institution, the purpose of Siqqee was to maintain a degree of equilibrium and counteract the inequality that empowering only one gender causes. The root word being self-explanatory, this system was symbolized by a traditional stick (the meaning of the word) handed down from mother to daughter in a ritual held after being married off. The symbolism held by this instrument is very powerful; the stick is a tangible remainder that, although no longer a maiden under the protection of her family, the bride is never to be powerless even if her husband was to attempt to overstep his bounds and wield his dominion over her. She was still entitled to her rights as a woman - married or unmarried!

If ever an Oromo woman was to be wronged by her husband, or women's rights  transgressed past the point of tolerance (a sin according to Oromo belief), this sisterhood movement would leave their homes to convene a meeting under a symbolic tree called qilxxu (similar in appearance to a cedar tree). This was the traditional venue for reconciliation meetings held by male elders and the aggravated women in question. Settling these issues were of grave importance – the reason being that there was nothing worse than the wrath of furious Oromo women then. The rewards for testing their patience were plenty from cursing the transgressing man to attacking him, verbally and physically. It was also spiritually sacrilege to upset women, the act of which was seen as creating an imbalance in the Godly order.

The object of my admiration is that we had systems of gender balance similar, if not the same, as that that exists in the Western world, today. This was an ancient system that existed for millennia, and set us millennia ahead of or time. It is no wonder that this system, a source of Oromo pride, including the Gaddaa system, was targeted by the Abyssinian Empire – something this great merits not only my admiration but international recognition.

Again, I would like to thank Asafa Jalata for writing such a marvelous piece of work. I look forward to more eye-opening essays as this.

Note: The essay in question can be read at the following address :- http://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=utk_socopubs&sei-redir=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.co.uk%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Dgadaa%2520and%2520oromo%2520women%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D26%26ved%3D0CFQQFjAFOBQ%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Ftrace.tennessee.edu%252Fcgi%252Fviewcontent.cgi%253Farticle%253D1005%2526context%253Dutk_socopubs%26ei%3DYCdNT7DeH6nqmAWjvYz_Dw%26usg%3DAFQjCNG5G5M0nQ0UJDEAjXwnEWogdkgf8A#search=%22gadaa%20oromo%20women%22