Sidama Agro-Pastoralism and Ethnobiological Classification of its Primary Plant, Enset (Ensete ventricosum)

  • Marsha B. Quinlan Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-4910
  • Robert J. Quinlan Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-4910
  • Samuel Dira Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-4910
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14237/ebl.5.2014.222
Keywords: East Africa, linguistic ethnobiology, Musaceae, ethnobotany, pastoralism

Abstract

Enset is an essential plant for the Ethiopian Sidama system of agropastoralism. Sidama agropastoralism and the folk taxonomy of enset is presented here in ethnographic context. One of several societies of Ethiopia’s enset complex, the highland Sidama are among the most wholly reliant on enset and maintain more enset varieties in their gardens than other groups. Sidama agro-pastoral systems revolve around human-enset-cattle interaction: Sidama eat low-protein parts of enset; cattle eat high-protein parts of enset; Sidama get protein from dairy; Sidama fertilize enset with cattle manure. In the Sidama language, enset offers an example of Hunn’s generic elevation within the framework of Berlinian perceptual-taxonomic theory. Weesho (enset) may serve both as a folk generic taxon and a life-form taxon depending on the frame of reference. Such expansion allows for an intermediate taxa translating to “male” or “female” ensets, followed by generic and specific taxa for kinds or “breeds” of enset. Generic elevation offers descriptive magnification of nomenclature for enset, a most salient species among Sidama people.

Author Biographies

Marsha B. Quinlan, Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-4910

Marsha Quinlan (Associate Professor, Anthropology, Washington State University) is an environmental and medical anthropologist with foci in ethnobotany and ethnozoology.

Robert J. Quinlan, Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-4910
Robert Quinlan is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at WSU with interests in ethnobiology and human behavioral ecology.
Samuel Dira, Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-4910

Samuel Dira is a doctoral candidate in Anthropology at WSU. His research focus is ecological anthropology and resilience in Ethiopia.

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Published
2014-10-02
How to Cite
Quinlan, M. B., Quinlan, R. J., & Dira, S. (2014). Sidama Agro-Pastoralism and Ethnobiological Classification of its Primary Plant, Enset (Ensete ventricosum). Ethnobiology Letters, 5, 116-125. https://doi.org/10.14237/ebl.5.2014.222
Issue
Vol 5 (2014)
Section
Perspectives

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