Initiating Change in Highland Ethiopia

Exploring cultural change in a Southern Ethiopian community, Dena Freeman examines the contrasting stability of sacrificial rituals and the evolving nature of initiation ceremonies. By analyzing ethnographical and historical data from the Gamo Highlands, she investigates how external factors influence internal transformations, emphasizing the role of cultural system structures. This research challenges traditional views on the relationship between structure and agency, offering a fresh perspective on anthropological theory and the dynamics of cultural continuity and change.