War Experiences and Self-determination of the Daasanach in the Conflict-ridden Area of Northeastern Africa

Abstract

The Daasanach have fought with four neighboring pastoral groups, viewed as “enemies” (kiz), for more than a half-century. The Daasanach claim that their primary motive for going to war is the demonstration of masculinity, allowing men to be recognized as “brave” by community members. Various cultural apparatuses praise the “brave man” who kills a member of a kiz group and who raids their livestock. Nevertheless, men do not homogeneously mobilize for war. In this paper, I examine (1) the ideology that motivates men to go to war, (2) individual experiences of the battlefield and how reflection on those experiences affect an individual’s choice of action when the next war arises, and (3) how people accept others’ decisions to go to or abstain from a war.