Dr. Waktole Tiki Uma

Josie Teurlings

PhD thesis: The Dynamics of the Ancient Tula Wells Cultural Landscape: Environmental and Social History, ca. 1560 to the Present

Waktole Tiki Uma Photo: Evy Jørgensen

Tula well complexes are ancient water systems in southern Ethiopia, that have been in use for more than 500 years. the well system has economic, cultural, ritual, and political significance to the Borana pastoralist. The dynamics of this water system is the interplay of environmental and human agencies. Epidemics and droughts collapse cattle economy and human demography, denying the tula wells the most important inputs forcing the Borana to abandon many tula wells. Floods on the other hand have repeatedly hit tula wells, filling the well shafts and collapsing the walls.

The social and political disturbances influenced the management system and disrupted the human stewardship of tula wells. The Borana pastoralists responded to environmental vagaries and social and political disturbances through societal reorganization and rehabilitation and re-excavation of the collapsed wells. In the process, they have transformed labour organization and technology of well excavations, that caused well structural modification, increasing water yields of individual wells.

The thesis reconstructed the dynamics of the ancient tula wells cultural landscape in southern Ethiopia during the last five centuries. The aim was to advance knowledge on ancient water systems, of which past recorded knowledge is meagre.

The thesis approached environmental reconstruction using the oral time recall system of the Borana for understanding the impacts of natural disasters (epidemics, droughts, excessive rainfalls or floods, famine, etc.) and social and political disturbances (social disharmony, disunity, and conflicts) on tula wells cultural landscapes.

Supervisors:
Prof. Gufu Oba, Noragric, UMB
Prof. Terje Tvedt, University in Begen

Evaluation committee:
Prof. James McCann, Professor of History, Boston University.
Prof. David M Anderson, Professor of African Politics, African Studies Centre and St Cross College, University of Oxford
Professor Tor Arve Benjaminsen, Professor of Development Studies, Noragric, UMB

Trial lecture: Environmental change and water scarcity in southern Ethiopia since ca.1500: causes and consequences

Updated: 06.12.10
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