Religious Change and Islam: The Emergence of the Salafi Movement in Bale, Ethiopia

By Terje Østebø1

This paper intends to shed light on the early emergence and growth of the Salafi movement in Bale. Focusing on Islamic scholars returning from studies in Saudi in the late 1960s, the paper discusses the role of these individuals, as well as the nature and content of the new impulses they brought. Further, the discourse over cultural and religious practices caused by these new impulses will be duly discussed, particularly with reference to the role of Islamic literacy in the context of Bale.

Introduction
Islam in Ethiopia has often been contrasted to Islam of the Middle East and portrayed as pragmatic, tolerant and inclusive. Esoteric, Sufi-oriented and syncretistic, it is largely singled out as a homogeneous and inert phenomenon, devoid of any major changes up until the late 20th century. Arguably, such a picture conceals the inherent diversity and dynamics of Ethiopian Islam. Disparate patterns of Islamisation, occurring at different points of history, and influenced from various directions contributed to shaping of a variety of Muslim communities with distinct localised features. Home to a number of Sufi brotherhoods and with the presence of three of the four madhabs, Islam in Ethiopia is best characterised as a heterogeneous and dynamic phenomenon. This dynamic nature is further demonstrated by a recurrent trend of religious change occurring at various stages in history, in which Ahmed Gragn may represent the most known reformer. As amply discussed by Hussein Ahmed in his survey of 19th century Islam in Wollo, change was an essential aspect of indigenous Islam in this period, where winds of change in the wider world of Islam also found pathways to Ethiopia, leading to controversy and tensions between reformers and defenders of the status quo (Hussein Ahmed 2001). This illustrates the existence of interactions between trans-local and localised Islam and between groups within the Ethiopian Muslim community contributing to constant negotiations and the mouldings of inherent and new messages.
Also in his survey, Hussein stated that “it is interesting to note that Ethiopian Islam did not respond to the Wahhabi call” (2001: 73). The intention of this paper is not to prove Hussein wrong. Undoubtedly, Hussein’s descriptions of 19th century Wollo are accurate. However, moving more than a century ahead, we see a complete different situation, with Salafism making a clear impact on contemporary Islam in Ethiopia.2
Based on findings from an extensive fieldwork, this paper intends to shed some light on the initial emergence and growth of the Salafi movement in Bale. This province was one of the areas where the movement at an early stage gained foothold, and is today one of the strongholds of Salafism in Ethiopia. My objective is to contribute with insights on the movement in its particularity; hopefully contributing to a broader understanding of Salafism in general. Linking the empirical material with various theoretical perspectives on religious change, I moreover seek to forward some reflections around this phenomenon. The discussion is situated around three interrelated themes; first, the interaction of various contexts and the transcendence of boundaries; secondly, the issue of Islamic literacy as affecting change; and thirdly, the aspect of socio-economical relations.
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