Singing as Justice:Ateetee, an Arsi Oromo Women’s Sung Dispute Resolution Ritual in Ethiopia

Abstract

This article explores how singing and ritual can constitute justice. Specifically, I look at how Arsi Oromo women in Ethiopia use ateetee, a sung indigenous women’s dispute resolution process, to protect, defend, promote, and assert their rights. I use thick descriptive ethnography, narratives, and experiences from fieldwork, musico-poetic analyses, and the voices of Arsi Oromo community members to explore how the sung ateetee ritual is a necessary and effective means for Arsi women to claim their rights in rapidly changing social environments.