2025/12/31 by Kebede Amare Belay, Belay, Kebede Amare, David James Narendra Bondla +1
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Social Sciences · #African history and culture analysis #Anthropological Studies and Insights #Ch’eleqot #Land Rights and Reforms #Tigrai #artisans #potters #smiths #social stigma
paper · doi:10.71624/szxpnq69
openalex publication_date 2025/12/31 · openalex created_date 2026/01/01 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/01
This article describes the socio-economic life of blacksmiths and potters inhabiting Ch’eleqot, a tabiya in the southeastern zone of Tigrai, Northern Ethiopia. The article is part of a doctoral thesis on cultural ecology. In the course of collecting data (2024) the existence of a group of people with common descent, residing in a specific area of the tabiya and engaged in the production of farm implements and pottery, attracted the attention of the author. So, with the main objective of understanding their socio-economic life and their place in the community, a detailed study has been conducted. The study is ethnographic and basically has employed qualitative data collecting tools: household studies have been conducted, which have given good insight into the economic, social, and cultural dynamics of the village community. Other data collecting mechanisms, such as observation, key informant interviews, informal and formal discussions, were thoroughly conducted, and field notes and diaries were kept. Some case histories were also recorded. The data have clearly shown that this group of people is part of the larger village community, enjoying similar rights and privileges. However, very subtly, they are spatially marginalized and openly restricted from intermarrying with other members of the tabiya community. This is related to their capacity to produce implements and pottery, which is believed to belong to a specific group of people who are capable of doing this and who, at the same time, are believed to have strong eyes that could cause harm. Findings are discussed and summarized.