Dynamics of Possession and Distribution : A Case Study of Rural Ethiopia

抄録

The purpose of this paper is to examine the issue of wealth-sharing in a multi-ethnic village in southwestern Ethiopia, by focusing on how and to whom crops are distributed. It will also reveal the dynamic process underlying the distribution, by analyzing peoples' interactions when giving to others and keeping things for themselves. In most of the literature, the issues of wealth-sharing and reciprocal assistance have long been discussed in terms of their cultural aspects. In this paper, I focus on a rural village in highland Ethiopia, where migrants from a variety of ethnic backgrounds have settled to produce cash crops. The people have different cultural backgrounds, and it is almost impossible to find a single cultural trait or concept shared by all the villagers. This kind of case study can provide a much wider basis for understanding the dynamic processes of possession and distribution in a changing society.