Indian Journal of Social Science and Literature (IJSSL) ISSN 2583-0643 (Online), Volume-1 Issue-1, September 2021 16 Published By: Lattice Science Publication (LSP) © Copyright: All rights reserved. Retrieval Number: A1005091121/2021©LSP Journal Website: www.ijssl.latticescipub.com Feragezagn: Customary Conflict Resolution Mechanism Among Gurage Zone in the Case of Meskan Woreda Southern Ethiopia Kebede Lemu Bekelcha, Wondu Yasin Said Abstract: The major goal of this study was to explore the role of Feregezagn in handling/ settling conflicts in the Meskan bête Gurage. Meskan Communities are found in Gurage Zone, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS). The researcher was conducted in Meskan woreda. Qualitative research methodology was employed in the study for its appropriateness to explore the role of customary institutions in handling/ settling conflicts in the study area and data was collected through the use of interview and focus group discussion (FGD) and case study. The results obtained from the study suggest that Conflicts in Meskan bête Gurage, as in anywhere else, may vary from trivial interpersonal disagreements to a serious dispute which might eventually lead to homicide. The most common conflict issues in Meskan bête Gurage are land and boundary related conflicts, family related conflict, marriage related conflict, alcoholism, and socio-cultural value related conflict, disagreement over the and accidental conflicts and there is values and beliefs systems related to the customary conflict resolution Institutions Meskan , customary institutions have played a great role to solve different local conflicts and for the development of modern institutions. To sum up, Feragezegn customary conflict resolution institutions are costly and time effective in addition to many other benefits provide for the society. Therefore, at this time government courts encourages customary institutions to promote peace and to solve conflicts at the grass root level or at the local level. Keywords: Feragezag; Conflict; Customary; Meskan; Resolution I. INTRODUCTION Conflict is a natural and unavoidable part of human existence with some form of friction, dispute or disagreement occurred within a group or between a group when beliefs or actions of one or more members of the group are resisted or acceptable to catch other. In the history of human being conflict is not a new phenomenon that there are opposing interests between parties in a situation and there must be a belief by each a side that other one is acting or will act against the others (Akhim,1997) Manuscript received on August 14, 2021. Revised Manuscript received on August 22, 2021. Manuscript published on September 10, 2021. * Correspondence Author Kebede Lemu Bekelcha, Lecturer of Social Anthropology at Bule Hora University, Oromia Ethiopia, Email: kebedel2013@gmail.com or kebedelemu9@gmail.com Wondu Yasin Said, Former Social Anthropology student of Bule Hora University; Email: yasinwondu@gmail.com © The Authors. Published by Lattice Science Publication (LSP). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) According to Fisher (2000) points out that in our day-to-day interaction with others, we either observed or pass through conflicts, which range from the very interpersonal quarrel, family and neighbors dispute, ethnic and inter- state conflicts to the global war. Customary conflict resolution mechanisms are locally organized institutions working according to the custom and norms of given society and works according to the specific culture of particular community (Murithi, 2008). In Africans place great emphasis on peaceful resolution of disputes so as to restore social harmony to the conflicting parties, and families, while the principles of equity and justice entrenched, in their customs and traditions are maintained. Among many African societies, it was strongly upheld that disputes should be settled amicable by persuasion rather than the resort of force or coercion (Agbu and Bolarinwa 2006). Ethiopia is one of the country that characterized by multi ethnic, Linguistic and multicultural society. Ethnically diverse societies are living in Ethiopia (Merera, 2003:1). The Ethiopia people are very much accustomed to settle their dispute other than going to court law. Customary all traditional law that are easily accessible to the people are applicable. Ethiopia has different kinds of conflict resolution mechanism among different ethnic group. Among this Awssia of Wolayta, Abegar of Northern Wollo, Songo of Sidama, Yejoka of Gurage, Yehager shimagle of Amhara and Jarsuma of Oromo are some of the examples. These compact resolution mechanisms are not limited to ethnic group’s pus but also they are expanded at community level (Mammo, 2005: 6).Therefore in this study the researcher we have tried to analyzed and interpret "feragezgn" customary conflict resolution mechanism among Gurage zone Meskan woreda. 1.2. Statement of the Problem Many societies assume that conflict as wars, but the concept war describe that a state of connotation is always present and deemed legitimate by the preparing part, and in which actual violence and chaos occurs as regular basis in the society (Fergurson,1999). Conflict and society developed its own culture, beliefs, attitude and conflict resolution mechanism based on their customary customs and values. Like others, Africans have their own means of addressing and resolving conflicts since the remote past (Zartman, 1989).