Arbore

The Arbore are one of the nationalities who live in Hammer district. The meaning of the word Arbore is soily brown. According to the elderly the meaning is connected to the origin and settlement of the nationality. Members of The Arbore Nationality settled at Arbore locality from three different directions. Those who settled at a place called Arbore were Pastoralists from Gebra in Kenya. According to evidences they included Farto, Ries, Gaarora, Hasgelech, Ebure, Hugsa, and Neqefale tribes. When these tribes settled at Arbore for the first time they made fire. Seeing the smoke of the fire Konso and Borena communities joined them. In addition to this Hesante and Garle groups from Borena, and Almoq group from Konso rejoined them. After these groups from different directions ; settled Diola, Heruf and Garangudo groups from neighbouring Dasenech, Tsemay and Hammer mixed and lived together with them. Generally speaking it is believed that members of the nationality are results of the settled people from Konso, Borena, Dasenech, Tsemay, Hammer and Nyangatom.
The mother tongue of the nationality is Oho Arbore. It is from the Cushitic language family. Most of the nationality members speak Hammer and Oromo languages. Those who are at the boundaries speak Tsemay and Konso languages.
The livelihood of the nationality is on cattle rearing and combined agriculture. Gaidel is a tool in which they till the ground to cultivate maize and sorghum for consumption. Plaughing with an ox is not usual at the community.

Cultural Administration System

There are cultural administrative systems which do administrative and spiritual works. Qawet and Kernet are known for spiritual works. Those who work different administrative work are Jaleba, Danto and Mura. A person who goes to Qawet ;it is believed “Nothing is undone for him”. So the society gives special honour for Qawet. Qawet is counted as a great religious leader by neighbouring nationalities. People come to him from Tsemay, Hammer, Birayle, Borena and Konso to perform cultural orders for him. Even though he doesnt have power to lead the administration superiorly; he can take part as an elder as he is member of the nationality.
Elders selected from the community along with Karnet ask Qawet to pray for them and bless them for the rain to rain , no more draught , cattle fatten, for peace to prevail and children grow.
Young sheep is slaughtered. After its fatty tissue called Mora is seen, the Qawet calls the Arbore god Waqa for fulfillment of everything asked. He blesses and prays for these to happen. Karnet as a follower of Qawet. In addition to his job as an assistant, he substitutes the Qawet in his absence and works Qawets spiritual works. Qawet is elected from Almoq tribe. When he dies his assistant Karnet takes his place after his competency is evaluated.
There is a communal group Luba formed by one age group. They assist each other and perform cultural orders.
Luba has bodies with different authorities.
They are Jalleba, Danto and Mura. Their functions are mainly charge de affairing. Jalleba has the authority to enforce law. When different offenses are committed by members of the community, they pass it to Dantos order. The Danto according to his order presents the accused to the Jalleba. The Jalleba together with the elderly sees the cases of appeals and resolves the problem. Mura sees issues related to land ownership. The nationality performs a ceremony called Nyar to pass on power. This passing of power passes once in eight years. It is a ceremony in which the youth take the authority of the fathers with its own process. This cultural event is called Keis. When conflicts occur at the nationality it is seen by the assembly of the elderly called Nab. The elderly meet and thoroughly investigate and penalize the guilty based on the intensity of the case fault.