Abstract:
A lot of research hus been conducted on the mos/ conunonforms oj'lffP, in ~~thiopiaand Amhura region.
' 'Yekcrfer Wodaji ' ts described <?S one tlu: hi1rn~fi1I traditionui practices co.1nn1011IJ' practiced iu Amhar«
region. However, little ts known about its nature. hOH' il is be;ng pracuced, whtn specific ru .. •tiv.:tic:..s
pe.ljorm?d in lite practice bf' -Yelwnfi•r Wodaji ·, when, where and by wliorn ii is b~ing practiced. what
conditions/situations promote the prnctice and what health, social, psychological and economic
consequences doe» if have on individuals who are engaged iii. Therefore. tl:e main ohji~ctii't~ of' this
research ll'(l,, ltJ explore tile nature <ii Tek.e11f'er Wodaji' tradition in Wogdie Woreda o/ South Wolto
a,fr11i11istr<~live Zon«. Ju order to study tlus poorly studied phenomenon in .. depth, the sPAr/;1 used a
qualitauve re. .... earclt approach. .4n1ong the various designs r~f'the qualitazlve approoch. this study used a
case study research design to ,/ig 01~t the untouched nature of this tradition. The data •;1.ie r. e co.'l,·u,.·ted
using. i11-deptg-iraer1i,,n,,\., focus group discussions and keJ1 informan: interviews. Th« ./l1ulin.~s showed
tha! 'Yekenjer Wodat! · tradttion is 01;e kin~is of HIT' Isa ving its <11-vn peculiar nature "'1(1 ii is practtced 1>.Y
both sex before and after marriage and pcrfarmed in th« form ofn» kissing. e.i<:han~:hift g~'fis, and other
pre .. sexual activitic: as wet! as ,,.,.,)king promises to do S!l.l: afler rr.<H·r·zage. The jin:lin,t.;s indicated that due
10 the s!ron~: relauon betv.een the socio-cuttural acsivities OJr the socie~J,. and this tradition, the practice
has an a(frib- of' trans .. geniU'fitional nature i•ia ir~f(u·tnal communication in the society. This 1>rac1ice_ is
hi,s:hl,v inrerretated with socio-cultuml and religious practices. which intern1ingle.d witl) the duy-to-duy
Jif._? of the society. Mareovcr, this stul.~v ir.i.·cistiKate,f various consequence of thi: traditional practtc«
inctudtngjatal wound, physical injury, sexual violence. birth of fatherless babies. psvchosocial probtems
and t!<:ath. Based on rhe.fin<li11gs. ii is possible to conclud« thtu · 'ff/;,en . ter JF'oda)' is a luu'n!,l'ui traditionat
pructice that can C!1u.,·e violution tundnmesuat human rights and significans harm on tne society und
evpeciait» on men and i1 .. <>1ne1,1 who are 1;rai.;Jicing it. 111e ;'inding.\· ofth« stud)' have important itupliC'atiorJs
forfimher research, praaitioners arid concerned bodies like local <:onnnunit)• leaders, ,':l.."GOs and various