Dagu from a Small Mountain Town: May 2011

About Dagu

"A nomadic tribe in Ethiopia, called the Afaris, believe it is a sacred responsibility to listen and share "dagu", a word that means information, though it implies more than pure data. The Afaris are nomadic cattle herders, and they have existed for thousands of years in a harsh environment where most nomadic tribes have been wiped out.

Being nomads, Afari families travel from place to place, seeking better conditions for their cattle and themselves. Every so often they will meet another Afari family, and no matter what they are doing or where they are heading, they sit down to talk and listen, usually for hours. The exchange of dagu trumps all other responsibilities.

Children learn about dagu in their families and practise with their parents until they are deemed to be adept at deep listening, astute observation, and sense making or pattern recognition. To survive, the Afaris need all their members to be sensitive and aware of emerging patterns - both natural and social. They claim that dagu is the secret to their longevity. 'Dagu is life' is an Afari expression.

Dagu from a Small Mountain Town

About Dagu

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