ABSTRACT
Slavery increased considerably as a consequence of the social and political climate that prevailed in mid-nineteenth-century Ethiopia. In the history of any people, past events of slavery understandably cause much embarrassment, making discussion of it difficult, and denial of its existence commonplace. The Gurage political community is based on the system of clanship. Political functions take place within the nexus of clanship ties which have structural variability depending on what ties and cleavages are relevant in any given situation. The primary political function of the jural community is the maintenance of social control. Gurage intertribal political relations are dealt with at the council assembly called Ya Goka. Any Chief can summon Ya Goka. If the Chief and his council have failed to achieve a reconciliation between the contestants, appeal to Ya Goka can be made by them, and the Chief is obliged to recognize this appeal.
