Dasenech

The Dasenech Nationality mainly settles in Dasenech District .The origin of the nationality starts from Kismayo in the Eastern part of Somalian Republic. They lived there for a long time. And they lived in Pupe areas of North Kenya. But the Kenyan tribes living around them envied by the growing number of their cattle and chased the Dasench. After this they settled at Aqolony in Ethiopia. As they faced grazing land and water shortage , they started living in areas of Omo River in which Borena Oromos and Arbores were living. This area is called Nyimamari. The social life in the area , the increasing number of the nationality members and a better wealth made them register a better development. These contribute to their permanent settlement in the area.
The nationality speaks the Cushetic Afa Dasenech which is otherwise called Dasenech.
The Omo River is basis of ones life in Dasenech. Economy of The Dasenech people relied on rearing.
Hand in hand with this they produce agricultural products for daily consumption. The main crops produced in the area are sorghum, maize and haricot bean.
The Dasenech nationality has eight tribes. They are Shir, Elele, Nyarich, Ankoriya, Oro, Riyael, Koru and Randel.

Cultural Administration System

Even though The Dasenech Nationality is moving from pace to place ,they have their own cultural administrative system in their long history. This cultural administration system is called Narduy. But later it is renamed Edberen. Its leaders are elderly selected from all tribes.
There is no class and economic difference between members of the nationality. So if conflict occurs between people , the conflict is soon resolved by the Edbaran elderly according to members of the nationality. The Edbaran elected by the people has no time limit. Therefore when assembly members die because of old age and health disorder by-election is held in their place. However; the authority is not eternal and doesnt pass on to the next on the line based on genealogy.
Through the specific time is not known , the first landlord of The Dasenech Nationality is named by Embperor Menilik. But ever since it has been counted as a culture and about eight landlords ruled the area. The nine(eight?) land lord are Atomesiya, Dabo, Amanjok, Genyamas, Atol, Lunyaqedao, Luluko, Yerer and Lukdab.
The beginning of the landlordship has no effect over the leadership of the elderly. So it is counted as a system and “Shir Tribe” started the landlordship. That is why it is tribe leader of the nationality until now.
Tribe leaders elected in the nationality highly try to solve natural and manmade problems of the society from the time they took power. Together with elderly they solve problems. They implore the god of their fore fathers for protecting the public from evil and for the avoidance of famine and disease.
When a person is killed at the nationality the tribe leader orders the elderly to settle the dispute. The elderly also keep the families of the killer and the killed not to kill each other as a revenge. If they live nearby they are made to live away from each other. Then they penalize the guilty. They slaughter or inject an ox/cow to show there is no more revenge. After this the reconciliation is over.

Cultural Holidays (Festivals)

Among many cultural holydays of the nationality Dimi can be mentioned. Dimi is a cultural festival (holiday) of The Dasenech in which young girls readiness for maturity is celebtrated. The family or tribe with young girl of the first wife goes to the first Dimi festival banqueters (feast makers) and announces her maturity. The festival is prepared when the girl is 12 to 14 years old. The appeal to celebrate the feast is presented by her uncle/Abiye/ from the mother side. Borde or Areqe (drinks) ,meat and bread for the feast are prepared ahead of time and they explain to relatives and the uncle. The uncle brings a girl who sings the Dime song to the would-be- brides house so that she sings.
As the ceremony is made for one tribe and at one time , one or two young girls of a family can have one festival for both.
Parents who are celebrating the Dimi order show they are owners of the cultural order. For this the father wears Tele / a kind of dress made of goats skin/. The mother mean while wears Lol (a colobos monkeys skin) and a bell called Yeyyerich. The girl wears Abunenasala (a skirt made of goats skin), butter called Salaju for magnifying her beauty and attends ceremony with her peers.
Also attending the ceremony are requested elderly of the surrounding and her parents. Her father based on his resource competency gives one or two oxen for his relatives.
Holding the ox the girls sing. While singing they got to a place in which the coffee flake are sold. They bring the coffee flakes in a bartering exchange to the ox they have taken there. Half of the coffee flake is made for the elderly and the rest is distributed to her married relatives. Elders express best wishes to her parents and bless the girl to have a successful marriage. They also bless the surrounding to become healthy peaceful and satisfactory. On the ceremony each of the brothers and uncles slaughter a goat and bring the highly alcoholic drink called Areqe.
If a feast of Dime is not made for a girl she is casted out of any custom of the nationality and the property of her parents looted. If as a chance a girl begins to menstruate before the Dime ceremony, she cannot marry. Her parents do not make matrimonial ceremony for her.
However; her uncle /Abuye/ takes her to his house and cuts cardia Africana and erects it in front, calls elderly and explains. He performs the order for her by giving ox and sheep and delivering Areqe and Borde. This Dime ceremony is celebrated by the remaining tribes of the nationality.