The book brings together findings of researchers concerning a topic which has long fascinated anthropologists from an academic point of view, but which also has an important practical implication for development and social justice in Ethiopia. 

Most of the contributors are staff and graduates of the MA programme in social anthropology in the College of Social Sciences in Addis Ababa University. Alula Pankhurst, the then MA graduate coordinator, worked with thirteen students and graduates as well as three scholars from the universities in England and Japan, carrying out PhD researches in Ethiopia. The team held a workshop in Awasa, south Ethiopia, where several staff members from the department, a visiting professor and researchers from the Institute of Ethiopian Studies participated. The results have been jointly edited by Alula Pankhurst and Dena Freeman of Cambridge University. 

Such comparative research carried out by a team on a specific topic of both academic and practical interest, can be considered a precedent for future research, in which staff and students work together in collaboration with foreign scholars. The research critically examines previous theories about marginalization and proposes a new interpretation. By comparing different societies in southern Ethiopia using common concepts and addressing the similar issues, the research provides a wealth of comparable data, which will be useful for further research on this topic. It is hoped that the findings will be compared with other regions of the country. 

The research also considers how such marginalization has been or could be overcome locally, and which factors account for its endurance. The study provides useful suggestions for government policy, donor support and development projects concerned with addressing this type of social exclusion.  

This research project has had a significant impact on the development of the research interests of students and graduates of the MA programme. Two students went on to write their MA theses specifically on craftworkers and seven others address the topic of marginalized groups to some extent. Five of the graduates were then carrying out PhD studies abroad. Of these two were carrying out research on issues relating to marginalized craftworkers.      

The research was carried out through funding from NGOs’ notably OXFAM (UK) and NOVIB (Holland). However, the initiative came from the university side, and the research design was developed combining academic with development issues, rather than to fulfill consultancy objectives.

The publication of this edition was possible with funds provided by the Norwegian Government through the Chr. Michelsen Institute. 

Extract from the Foreword by Teferi Abate, Chairman, Department of Sociology and Social Administration, College of Social Sciencess, Addis Ababa University