"The numerically predominant ethnic group in Ethiopia, the Gallas (Oromos), have had an influence on customary adoption practices in the country that even outweighs their numbers. It is reported that "adoption", i.e. full assimilation of an outsider into a family as a child, originated with this group in the early 1800's.
The practice was and is called gudifetcha or mogassa by the Gallas (Oromos). Later, the politically dominant group in Ethiopia, the Amharas, adopted the Galla (Oromo) practice. The Amharas called their version yemar lij or, in some areas of the country, yetut lij.
The Galla (Oromo) version varies from one locale to another but always involves considerable ceremony including the carrying and wearing of symbols and oath-taking by the adoptive parents in front of priests and elders, and feasting. The Amhara version involves feasting and oath-taking, but somewhat less ceremony overall.
The principal Amhara ritual revolves around a pot of honey. The adoptive parents dip their thumbs or breasts in the pot and the child sucks the thumbs or breasts, thus the terms yemar lij (honey child) or yetut lij (breast child). In both the gudifetcha-mogassa and yemar-yetut lij forms of adoption, the consent of the natural parents or relatives to the adoption is solicited and received as part of the ceremony."
From: John H. Beckstrom in 1972 in the Journal of African Law
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