Kambaata (Amharic: ከምባታ) is a Cushiticethnic group in south-central Ethiopia, specifically in Kambaata Zone in Central Ethiopia Regional State. It is also known as Cambat, Kambata, Cambatta, Kambatta or Khambat by various historians and early explorers. The Kambaata people and Kambaatissa (their language) belongs to the East Highland Cushitic language family. Kambaata was first mentioned in the chronicles of EmperorYeshaq I. Kambaata was "one of the southern kingdoms with well-established monarchical system...instituted in 16th century and operated without interruption until it ended at the last decade of ninetieth century"[1] when it was incorporated by Emperor Menelik II. During this first period incorporation, Kambaata province was largely Christianized.[2]
People
The Kambata ethnic group is one of the indigenous peoples in Ethiopia. Scientists categorize
the Kambata as a highland east Cushitic tribe. In a broader sense, the term Kambata
people, is used to describe the various clans and groups of Kambata [Kambata,
Alaba, Tambaro]. More specifically, it refers to inhabitants around the heartland of
Hambaricho massif. These three autonomous groups speaking dialects of the same
language are collectively referred to as the Kambata people.
The differences between the various groups of Kambata are not very strict. People are astonishingly mingled, intermarried and spoke one another’s languages. It is,
therefore, difficult to specify clear boundaries of these groups
Demographics
Traditional dressing and dancing of Kambaata culture
The Kambaata people speak the Kambaata language, a Cushitic language.
History
The Kingdom of Kembata was ruled by a long line of its kings known as Down. King Dagoye, from the Oyeta clan, was one of the famous kings known for expanding Kambata territories. The last independent king of Kambaata was King (Woma) Delbato Degoye.
An important landmark for the Kambaata people is Mount Hambaricho, where their king, Woma, used to live and the people used to celebrate annual festivities in the past. The king and the god of Kambaata lived there.[clarification needed]
Kambata language [self‐name Kambaatissa], [also Kambatigna in Amharic] is one of the working languages of Ethiopia[citation needed]. It is a more known language, spoken by around 4 million speakers. It includes several dialects, such as Tembaaro, Alaba, and Qabeena. It is closely related also to the Hadiyya and Sidama languages, spoken in the neighboring regions. All of these are classified in the group of Highland East Cushitic languages. They are further a part of the Cushitic group of the Afroasiatic language family.
Both the Latin script and Ge'ez script are used for writing. For example, the Bible (full New Testament and part of the Old Testament) has been published in Ge’ez script. The officially established spelling usage [orthography] taught currently in primary schools in the region deviates from the International Phonetic Alphabet convention. For example, in the word Kambaata, the double letters ⟨aa⟩ indicate length.
The language of inter‐ethnic communication is Amharic, the national language of Ethiopia. Kambatas have Amharic names, and some even speak Amharic as their first language. These days, traditional Kambata names are hardly given to children. English is the only spoken foreign language and is the language of teaching in secondary schools.
Subsistence
They have various indigenous traditional cuisines, the most important of which is kocho, which is made from ensete. They also cultivate a variety of tubers, spices, coffee, crops, and vegetables.
Other clans in Kembata province, such as Tembaro, Alaba, and others, live together and form the Kambaata. Tanners Shekla Seriwoch is the most secluded clan in Kembata province; this clan is unable to participate in any socioeconomic activity with Kambaata. Tanners clan and Kambaata people could never marry.
Kambaata is one of the most densely populated regions in Ethiopia. Due to overpopulation and lack of economic opportunities in their region, they migrate to large cities, industrial areas, and large plantation farms. In recent years they experienced a large influx of migration to South Africa and Middle Eastern countries.
Notable people
Biruk Lambiso – Professor of Orthopedics Surgery at Addis Ababa University
Arsano, Yacob, "A traditional Institution of Kambata" (2002). In: Bahru Zewde and Siegfried Pausewang(eds.), Ethiopia. The Challenge of Democracy from below. Uppsala
Braukämper, Ulrich. 1983. Die Kambata: Geschichte und Gesellschaft eines süd-äthiopischen Bauernvolkes. Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner.
Gebrewold-Tochalo, Belachew (2002), The Impact of the Socio-Cultural Structures of the Kambata/Ethiopia on their Economic Development. Vienna.
