About Institute of Sidama Studies

The Institute of Sidama Studies (IoSS) of Hawassa University was established in July 2020. The aim of the Institute includes conducting Sidama related research, promoting culture and indigenous knowledge, enabling language development, as well as providing library and documentation services.

The Institute of Sidama Studies (IoSS) of Hawassa University was established in July 2020. Sidama is the catchment area of Hawassa University. The Sidama people have enormous indigenous knowledge and cultural practices; some of which are recognized at the global level. One example of the latter is the recognition of Fichee-Cambalaalla, the Sidama New Year celebration, by the UNESCO as one of the world’s intangible heritages in 2014.

The main goal of the IoSS is to document, preserve, and promote the culture, indigenous knowledge, language, and overall socio-economic life of the Sidama people through comprehensive research. The Institute also incorporates a cultural museum unit where the material culture will be collected, stored, and made available for visitors and researchers interested in the Sidama ethnographic and historical studies.