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The Gabbra people are semi-nomadic pastoralists who follow the camel. Their life-style, however, is deeply influenced by what we can call a "jubilee" rhythm.

Each individual takes up a new responsibility every seven years. So, both young girls and boys look after sheep and goats until the age of seven, when the boys begin to look after the camel - a sacred animal for the Gabbra - and the girls begin to learn the skills of homemaking. At the age of 14 the boys become warriors, and at 21 they are senior warriors.

Every seven year the different clans of the bribe meet in the hills on the border between the lands we call Kenya and Ethiopia and celebrate their story and tradition. They also take the opportunity to re-allocate animals to families who have had theirs stolen by other tribes, or have suffered losses because of disease.

They will cancel debts owed by other members of the tribe and they will initiate new members into the ranks of warrior and elder. This is similar to the aims of the Old Testament great jubilee year when debt was forgiven, slaves released and land restored.

Every fifty years the Gabbra hold a huge gathering during which women have exactly the same rights as the men to speak in public and influence decisions.
The lifestyle of this small, vanishing group of people has a great deal to teach us. How willing are we to cancel debts that other people owe us? It is relatively easy to be involved in the arguments about the lessening of debts owed by Third World countries. but what about our attitudes to people who have simply offended us, people who we believe owe us an apology?

Are we really committed to the redistribution of goods and services, technology and the means of communication, so that those who have nothing might begin to play a part in shaping their own future?

As we approach a General Election, we will no doubt hear more and more about how the proposals of the "others" will cost us more in tax. How on earth can we lift this taboo on the public debate about tax? The argument in this country, and other parts of the rich world, pales into nothing when compared with the sacrifice and commitment to the common good as lived out by the Gabbra.

At their huge super-Jubilee celebration, everyone has a voice, and everyone is listened to so carefully. Who do we listen to? Working parties made up of experts, or the "great and the good"? Favourite authors, commentators and gurus? When are we going to take the risk to listen to the powerless, the marginalised, the abused, those with no credibility?

Jesus must have frightened the life out of people when he told them to become like children and Samaritans - the powerless and the outsiders.
The Gabbra are a happy people, but they are constantly under threat, not just from the severity of their surrounding, but also the incursion of the so-called developed world - new transport, communication and an apparently more comfortable lifestyle. How can we protect the uniqueness of this people, and the uniqueness of everyone else in the face of rampant consumerism and commercial pressures?

Thankfully the Jubilee is not just about ringing bells and building eyesores on the South Bank. It is about celebrating two thousand years of the reign of Jesus Christ, the presence of the Spirit of the Lord in every one, and a call to work so that everyone can appreciate the fullness of life.

(Fr. Jim O'Keefe, President of St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw, UK, from The CAFOD Magazine)
CAFOD, the official aid and development agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, will soon be calling to make A New Covenant with the Poor.
Aimed at helping the poor of the world begin the new Millennium with a better future, it is an invitation to make a commitment to the poorest of God's family in the Third World.

There will be opportunities to campaign on working conditions and Third World debt, for new partnership between rich and poor communities and sharing wealth.

CONTACT: 
CAFOD, Romero Close, Stockwell Road, London SW9 9TY, UK
e-mail: [email protected]
internet: http://www.cafod.org.uk/cafod/

AFRICANEWS AFRICANEWSis the initiative of a group of lay Christians. It wants to strengthen the Christian and African presence in the media world. AFRICANEWS editorial staff wants to prove that the media can be used to promote peace and solidarity. In particular, AFRICANEWS expresses its preferential option for the poor. All news and their analysis will be given from the perspective of the African grassroot people, their struggle for freedom, dignity and justice. Africanews is co-published by People for Peace in Africa and Koinonia Media Centre. Photo Service For some articles there are high quality colour prints (15x18cm) availble on request. The cost is US$10 each, air mail postage included. Subscription Africanews is sent free of charge by E-Mail. Hard copies are free of charge in Africa. Outside Africa hard copies are sent by subscription at US$60 per year. Contributions are welcomed. Make your cheques payable to: KOINONIA MEDIA CENTRE. Correspondence Address all correspondence to: The editor, Andrew Awour, Koinonia Media Centre, P.O.Box 8034, Nairobi, Kenya. Tel./Fax: +254.2. 560385; Africanews is available on-line in the following ways: Mailing List>/b> I f you have an e-mail subscribe to our mailing list (text only) by sending a request to [email protected] in the body of the message write (smallcaps only): subscribe afrinews or you can access Africanews at the following URL (text and graphic) in World Wide Web: http://www.freeworld.it/peacelink/afrinews.html

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