BUNA: Oromo women gathering for coffee

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2004

Abstract

Coffee, indigenous to Oromo lands in Ethiopia, is an essential cultural and spiritual element in people's lives. Oromo who resettled in the United States have adapted ancient coffee traditions in indigenous, Christian, and Muslim contexts. This in-depth ethnographic study looks at buna for several generations of Muslim Oromo. The authors explore interpersonal and ritual ways that the women communicate support for one another and promote harmony in their families and community through this ancient tradition. They highlight previous ethnographic studies of Oromo groups (1962-1998) to place this urban coffee gathering in a broader historical, political, economic, and social context. The coffee gathering provide s important opportunities for women to communicate with Allah, saints, and each other. Interactions during buna involve greetings, honoring, respecting the elders, praying, sharing stories, and sustenance.

Publication Title

Journal of Contemporary Ethnography

First Page Number

675

Last Page Number

703

DOI

10.1177/0891241604269321

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