Drought as a Threat to Cultural Practices among the Borana Pastoralists of Southern Ethiopia

Borana is one of the most drought-stricken areas in Ethiopia. Recently, it has experienced five consecutive droughts between 2019 and 2023, resulting in significant deterioration in livelihoods and influencing cultural practices. The general objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of drought on cultural practices among the Borana pastoralists in southern Ethiopia. The study employed a qualitative ethnographic research design, utilizing in-depth and key informant interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and observations. The participants included community elders, parents, youths, experts from government offices (particularly from the culture and tourism office), and representatives of NGOs working on drought crises in the area. The study findings showed that the recurrent drought in Borana has affected daily rituals, sacred sites, occasional and annual ceremonies, traditional food systems, indigenous social security and networks, dressing style, hairstyle, house structure, and utensils in use. In addition to cultural impacts, this drought caused the loss of traditional knowledge and skills, losses in crop yields and livestock production, a lack of water and pasture, stress, poverty, and forced displacement. The study recommends that humanitarian and development interventions‌ prioritize addressing the underlying ‌challenges posed by climate change in order to protect and preserve cultural ‌practices and livelihoods affected by recurrent drought crises, rather than relying primarily on emergency relief measures.