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Rachel Knapp

T. Katsanos

LBST 2102

9 May 2017

Final Reflection

There are many different views on globalization, on whether or not it has a negative

impact or a positive impact on communities. Globalization is defined as a change within

societies which results in an adaptation of sorts to the newfound interaction. Different scenarios

will lead people to have different opinions on the issue. Some see globalization as an

enlightening new way to gain interdependence while others view it as a loss of identity. One

main example of a negative impact on societies is cultural globalization. This is when a unique

culture is being forced into a wider span of humanity where customs and ideas are being taken

and spread around. Eventually the original society begins to question their culture and lose a

sense of self. The Sidama community in Ethiopia is a specific example of where cultural

globalization is occurring.

Before globalization began the Sidama people lived humbly within their society. They

relied heavily on cash crops and agriculture for main economic benefit. This culture had

wonderful land that grew the best crops including their staple food waasa. They lived simply

by their protestant christianity and performed their sacred rituals and ceremonies. The Sidama

people spoke their own unique language which amazed others. Like many other indigenous

groups they believed in ancestors and mystical beings and practiced traditions and cultural values

throughout their community. This culture has a variety of different aspects to their culture. This

includes the fichchee-chambalala which is a celebrated cultural event similar to our new year,
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the Luwa Cycle which is a ritual that sets the structure of society through an 8 year rotation,

the Barcima and this is a circumcision ceremony bringing a young man into society, and the

Anga culture who is an elder who has authority over the community. These are the few

customs and traits that provoked the spark of cultural globalization.

Due to culture globalization coming fast at the Sidama community they began gaining a

loss of identity within their culture. They started questioning why they were the way they were

and why people were so fascinated by them. They became discouraged and overwhelmed with

this new sense of self they werent exactly sure how to handle it. States with a congested amount

of the Sidama societies are creating efforts to preserve this culture before it disappears

completely. They are working hard to get the Sidama people to understand what is at risk if they

do not try to control and fight back against this globalization. Recently the state has been

working on ways to strengthen culture against this major threat and trying to find the funding and

power to follow through with their efforts.