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All Journal Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial Budapest International Research and Critics in Linguistics and Education Journal (Birle Journal) Britain International of Humanities and Social Sciences (BIoHS) Journal Britain International for Linguistics, Arts and Education Journal (BIoLAE Journal) Rowter Journal Matondang Journal Economit Journal Polit Journal LingLit Journal Lakhomi Journal
Belay Sitotaw Goshu
Department of Physics, Dire Dawa University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
Religion Arts Humanities Economics, Econometrics & Finance Education Environmental Science Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Social Sciences Other

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Celestial Diglossia and the Moral Clock: Ethno Linguistic Encoding of Cosmology and Social Hierarchy in Ethiopian Life Cycle Ritual Discourse Muhammad Ridwan; Belay Sitotaw Goshu; Arifulhak Aceh
LingLit Journal Scientific Journal for Linguistics and Literature Vol 7 No 1 (2026): Linglit Journal: Scientific Journal of Linguistics and Literature, March
Publisher : Britain International for Academic Research (BIAR-Publisher)

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Abstract

Ethiopian life‑cycle rituals have been extensively documented, yet the specific linguistic mechanisms that encode cosmology and social hierarchy remain undertheorised. Existing studies treat language as a transparent medium rather than a constitutive force. This article introduces two novel concepts, celestial diglossia (stratified access to astronomical registers) and the moral clock (celestial events that license ritual speech)—to explain how Oromo, Amhara, and Gedeo ritual discourse re‑classifies initiates across birth, initiation, marriage, and death. Twelve months of participant observation, 85 interviews with ritual specialists (Hayyu, Qallu, priests, Zār leaders), and audio‑recorded speech events (marriage negotiations, Dhibaayyuu vows, Zār healing sessions) were analysed using discourse analysis and ethnographic semantics. Celestial diglossia parallels the Ge‛ez‑Amharic split, creating an epistemic hierarchy where priests control constellation names (e.g., Bakkalcha/Pleiades) and heliacal calculations. The moral clock exemplified by Bakkalcha’s rising—periodically licenses Mekdes (loyal reproach), transforming taboo direct criticism into a “face gift.” This temporary inversion reinforces rather than subverts hierarchy. In Gadaa transitions, the new Abbaa Gadaa cannot pronounce judgement formulas until Bakkalcha’s first sighting. Eclipses suspend all ritual speech, proving the clock’s regulatory coherence. Ethiopian ritual discourse accomplishes a triple transformation (biological→social→cosmic) through linguistic encoding, not mere symbolism. Age‑grade progression is mapped directly onto observable celestial events. Linguistic anthropology must integrate astronomical time as a performative dimension. Future research should examine southern Ethiopian groups (Sidama, Konso) and the impact of Orthodox Christianity on contemporary ritual registers.
The Cultural Pragmatics of Silence: A Cross Cultural Corpus and Experimental Study of Unfilled Pauses in High vs. Low Context Societies Muhammad Ridwan; Belay Sitotaw Goshu
Lakhomi Journal Scientific Journal of Culture Vol 7 No 1 (2026): Lakhomi Journal : Scientific Journal of Culture, March
Publisher : Britain International for Academic Research (BIAR-Publisher)

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Silence in conversation is a pragmatic resource whose interpretation varies across cultures. Hall’s (1976) high‑context (HC) versus low‑context (LC) framework predicts that HC cultures value silence as respectful and reflective, whereas LC cultures perceive it as awkward or evasive. Empirical evidence linking unfilled pause duration to Hall’s dimension remains scarce. This study examined cross‑cultural differences in the production and interpretation of unfilled pauses. We tested whether HC speakers produce longer, more frequent pauses and whether listeners from HC versus LC cultures differentially rate willingness, politeness, and competence as a function of pause length. Phase 1 analysed naturalistic corpora (Japanese, Egyptian Arabic, German, American English; N = 400 conversations). Phase 2 used a controlled experiment (N = 480) with four pause durations (0.2–2.5 s) across two speech acts. HC speakers produced pauses nearly twice as long and frequent as LC speakers. Experimentally, LC listeners showed a steep decline in willingness ratings with longer pauses (52% drop), while HC listeners showed only a shallow decline (15%). A significant interaction emerged for politeness: longer pauses increased politeness for HC listeners but decreased it for LC listeners. Silence operates as a culturally variable pragmatic marker, supporting Hall’s framework and challenging Universalist accounts. Intercultural training should address pause‑norm differences; language assessment should include pragmatic competence regarding unfilled pauses.
Spatial Frames of Reference and Non Digital Way-finding: A Longitudinal Study of Cultural Persistence in Namibian and Inuit Communities Muhammad Ridwan; Belay Sitotaw Goshu
Lakhomi Journal Scientific Journal of Culture Vol 7 No 2 (2026): Lakhomi Journal : Scientific Journal of Culture, June
Publisher : Britain International for Academic Research (BIAR-Publisher)

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This longitudinal study (2005–2025) examined cultural persistence in spatial frames of reference (FoRs) and non‑digital wayfinding among the ≠Akhoe Haiǁom of Namibia (n = 84) and Inuit of Igloolik, Nunavut (n = 72). Across three waves, absolute (geocentric) FoRs remained predominant in both communities, with no significant population‑level decline Haiǁom: 78 % to 74 %; Inuit: 72 % to 69 % (both p  > 0.05). However, significant generational differences emerged: younger participants (≤ 30 years) showed lower absolute FoR preference than older adults (≥ 50 years) in both groups (Haiǁom: 69 % vs. 82 %; Inuit: 62 % vs. 77 %; β = 0.42 and 0.39, respectively, p < 0.01). Importantly, the generational gap did not widen over time (no wave × cohort interaction). Self‑reported GPS use rose dramatically (Haiǁom: 4 % to 41 %; Inuit: 12 % to 67  %), yet increased GPS use was not associated with diminished wayfinding accuracy when controlling for age (β = 0.07, 95 % CI [–0.03, 0.17], p = 0.16). Qualitative data revealed that participants actively domesticated GPS as a supplemental tool, preserving geocentric strategies for primary orientation. These findings support a model of adaptive persistence, wherein core orienting schemas resist rapid transformation while peripheral strategies undergo selective innovation. We conclude that culturally embedded FoRs constitute a resilient cognitive resource, with implications for theories of cultural cognition, indigenous knowledge preservation, and the design of culturally responsive navigation technologies.
The Role of Social Media in Marital Dissolution in Ethiopia: Impacts and Implications Belay Sitotaw Goshu; Melaku Masresha Woldeamanueal; Anantasha Titisania Rimadewi
Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial Vol 13 No 2 (2026): Konfrontasi, June
Publisher : Budapest International Research and Critics University

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Ethiopia’s high marital dissolution rate (45% within 30 years) is exacerbated by social media’s growing influence, with 42.2 million internet users by 2023. Platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp contribute to marital conflicts, amplified by cultural and gender norms. This study investigated social media’s role in marital problems in Ethiopia, examining platforms, conflict types, cultural influences, urban-rural differences, and intervention feasibility to inform evidence-based solutions. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was used, involving 400 survey respondents (50% male, 50% female; 200 urban, 200 rural) and 20 semi-structured interviews (10 urban, 10 rural; 50% female). Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS (Version 27) with chi-square tests, t-tests, and logistic regression, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis with NVivo. Social media, particularly Facebook and WhatsApp, drives 68% of reported marital conflicts, including jealousy (51%), infidelity suspicions (37%), and communication breakdowns (32%). Urban couples face higher conflict prevalence (75%) than rural ones (61%) due to greater platform access. Patriarchal and collectivist norms amplify conflicts, with women reporting more jealousy. Digital literacy (M=4.12) and counseling (M=3.98) were rated highly effective interventions. Social media significantly undermines marital stability in Ethiopia, with urban areas and women most affected. Cultural norms exacerbate conflicts, but digital literacy and counseling offer viable mitigation strategies. Implement urban-focused digital literacy programs, gender-sensitive counseling, and community-based workshops, supported by enhanced content moderation in local languages.
Sacred Sounds and Waters: Sonic and Scientific Dimensions of Divine Connection in Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, Oromo Irreecha, and Global Traditions Belay Sitotaw Goshu; Muhammad Ridwan
Lakhomi Journal Scientific Journal of Culture Vol 7 No 2 (2026): Lakhomi Journal : Scientific Journal of Culture, June
Publisher : Britain International for Academic Research (BIAR-Publisher)

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This study explores the synergistic roles of water and sound in facilitating divine connection and cultural expression across Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity’s Tsebel rituals, the Oromo Irreecha festival, and global religious traditions, integrating scientific perspectives to elucidate their efficacy. In Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, Tsebel (holy water) is central to sacraments like baptism and healing, with Timkat’s communal immersions and liturgical hymns fostering spiritual communion. Similarly, Irreecha’s September riverside rituals involve songs and grass offerings to Waaqaa, symbolizing gratitude and renewal. Global parallels, including Hindu Ganges mantras, Islamic Zamzam recitations, Shinto misogi chants, and Indigenous water songs, reveal water and sound as universal conduits for divine communication. Scientific insights enhance understanding: water’s acoustic properties (transmitting sound four times faster than air) create immersive ritual environments, while chanting reduces stress hormones and triggers dopamine, promoting transcendence. Physiologically, water’s 60% composition in the human body mirrors its symbolic clarity, with placebo effects supporting perceived healing. These findings highlight how water and sound unite communities, reinforce cultural identity, and foster environmental stewardship, as seen in Irreecha’s nature-centric offerings. Future research could explore lesser-known rituals or neuroscientific impacts of sound in aquatic settings. This interdisciplinary analysis contributes to religious studies, anthropology, and science, emphasizing the universal human quest for divine connection through elemental forces. By documenting these practices, the study supports cultural preservation amid modernization, offering insights into humanity’s spiritual resilience.
The Humoral Cosmos: Astrological Medicine and the Birth of Evidence-Based Timing in Pre-Modern Clinical Practice Belay Sitotaw Goshu; Muhammad Ridwan
Lakhomi Journal Scientific Journal of Culture Vol 7 No 2 (2026): Lakhomi Journal : Scientific Journal of Culture, June
Publisher : Britain International for Academic Research (BIAR-Publisher)

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Astrological medicine (iatromathematics) dominated pre‑modern clinical practice from the 11th to 17th centuries, yet it is routinely dismissed as superstitious pseudoscience. This verdict obscures its methodological contribution to clinical reasoning. This article reevaluates astrological medicine as a proto‑evidence‑based system, arguing that it created the first systematic practice of using temporally indexed observational data to guide clinical decisions concept we term “evidence‑based timing.” Methods: A historical analysis of primary sources (Galen’s De diebus decretoriis, Avicenna’s Canon, Bernardo de Gordon’s Lilium medicinae), material instruments (ephemerides, astrolabes, Zij tables, Zodiac Man diagrams), and case records (Simon Forman, Richard Napier, Girolamo Fracastoro) was conducted, tracing the logic of astrological prognosis and its secularization through Sanctorius and Sydenham. Astrological medicine forced practitioners to record celestial configurations, predict critical days, and verify outcomes, producing longitudinal, and time‑stamped clinical data. While lacking randomization, blinding, and statistical inference, it institutionalized the habit of temporal optimization. The doctrine of decumbiture charts and lunar‑phase bloodletting schedules represented the first standardized risk‑assessment tools. By the 17th century, iatromathematicians stripped away planetary causation but preserved the chronometric framework, leading directly to quantitative physiology and secular crisis‑day prognosis. Pre‑modern physicians were rational empiricists who asked the right question—“When?” even with the wrong causal model. Astrological medicine was not evidence‑based by RCT standards but was authentically evidence‑based timing. Historians should replace dismissive labels of “superstition” with contextual analyses that recognise the empirical discipline of astrological clinical practice, while modern chronobiologists should acknowledge this lineage.
Culturally Responsive Physics Education: A Bibliometric Mapping of Ethnoscience and Local Wisdom Integration (2010–2025) Belay Sitotaw Goshu; Muhammad Ridwan
Lakhomi Journal Scientific Journal of Culture Vol 7 No 2 (2026): Lakhomi Journal : Scientific Journal of Culture, June
Publisher : Britain International for Academic Research (BIAR-Publisher)

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The integration of local culture and indigenous knowledge into physics education has gained substantial scholarly attention over the past decade, reflecting a broader global movement toward culturally responsive pedagogy. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research on ethnoscience and local wisdom integration in physics education, drawing on Scopus-indexed publications from 2010 to 2025. Using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny-Bibliometrix software for network visualization and scientific mapping, the analysis examines publication trends, geographic and institutional contributions, key authors, thematic clusters, and emerging research directions. The findings reveal a gradual but accelerating annual growth in publications, with Indonesia emerging as the dominant contributor, reflecting the country's rich cultural diversity and active physics education research community. The Journal of Physics: Conference Series and AIP Conference Proceedings are identified as the primary publication outlets. Four major thematic clusters emerge: culture-physics integration, influencing factors in culturally based learning, methodological approaches, and supporting elements including digital innovation. Central themes connecting these clusters include ethnoscience, Islamic physics, digital learning tools, and contextual pedagogy. The analysis also identifies significant research gaps, including limited geographic diversity beyond Indonesia, narrow focus on motion and heat topics, and insufficient development of validated instructional materials. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on culturally responsive science education by providing a systematic mapping of the research landscape and offering evidence-based recommendations for future inquiry.
Policy Enactment and Institutional Readiness for Artificial Intelligence in Ethiopian Higher Education: A Multilevel Analysis of Challenges and Capacity Gaps Belay Sitotaw Goshu
Matondang Journal Vol 6 No 1 (2027): Màtondàng Journal
Publisher : Britain International for Academic Research (BIAR) Publisher

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Ethiopia has emerged as a continental leader in artificial intelligence (AI) policy, establishing the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute (2020), approving a National AI Policy (2024), and committing US$324 million to the world's second AI-dedicated university (scheduled for 2027). However, the translation of this ambitious national vision into institutional practice within higher education remains critically under-examined. This study investigates AI policy enactment and institutional readiness across Ethiopian higher education institutions (HEIs), examining the alignment between national policy aspirations and implementation capacity at macro, meso, and micro levels. Drawing on Stephen Ball's Policy Enactment Framework, the study employed a qualitative multilevel case study design. Data were collected through policy document analysis, institutional records, semi-structured interviews with 400 stakeholders (policymakers, university administrators, faculty, and students), surveys of faculty AI literacy (N=376), and observational site visits across seven purposively selected Ethiopian public universities. Ethiopia has made significant policy advances, but a substantial readiness gap persists. Infrastructure limitations, particularly inadequate internet connectivity and computing resources, remain critical obstacles. Faculty AI literacy is limited, with only 35% reporting basic awareness and 8% competence in curriculum development. Institutional readiness varies considerably, with some universities demonstrating strategic vision while others lack coherent AI strategies. Cross-cutting challenges include weak governance structures, data privacy vulnerabilities, and institutional resistance to change. The successful integration of AI in Ethiopian higher education requires coordinated action across all levels of the education system. Without deliberate, equity-focused interventions, AI adoption risks exacerbating existing educational inequalities between urban and regional institutions. Policymakers should finalise the National AI Policy with clear implementation guidelines and allocate dedicated funding for existing universities. University administrators should develop institutional AI strategic plans, invest in ICT infrastructure, and establish innovation hubs. Faculty must participate in structured AI literacy programmes and integrate AI content across disciplines. Development partners should support infrastructure development and facilitate South-South cooperation on AI in education.
The Fractal Polity: Macrocosm, Microcosm, and the Co-Creation of Communal Heaven or Hell Belay Sitotaw Goshu; Muhammad Ridwan
Polit Journal Scientific Journal of Politics Vol 6 No 3 (2026): Polit Journal: Scientific Journal of Politics, August
Publisher : Britain International for Academic Research (BIAR-Publisher)

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Political science has long struggled to explain why some nations achieve sustained flourishing (“heaven on Earth”) while others descend into systemic predation, distrust and suffering (“hell on Earth”). Existing institutional, economic and cultural theories overlook the recursive, self similar relationship between macro scale governance and micro scale citizen consciousness. This paper introduces the fractal polity framework, drawing on the Hermetic principle “As above, so below,” to theorize governance and citizen practice as co creative, bi directionally causal and self similar across scales. The study synthesizes political philosophy, complexity theory and comparative case analysis. Four cases are examined using a novel Fractal Diagnostic Tool that assesses macro micro alignment on three dimensions: justice, truth and compassion. Fractal alignment produces heavenly outcomes (Costa Rica); pathological fractal alignment produces self reinforcing hell (Mobutu’s Zaire); radical macro reform can catalyze micro change (post Soviet Georgia); but macro liberalization without micro civic trust can trigger collapse (post EPRDF Ethiopia). Transmission occurs via institutional signaling, resource allocation, enforcement, collective action, norms diffusion and leadership selection, with tipping points at critical minority thresholds. Heaven and hell on Earth are emergent products of fractal alignment or misalignment. Durable transformation requires simultaneous top down institutional reform and bottom up cultivation of civic virtue. Policymakers should adopt fractal audits; citizens should organize at neighbourhood scales; researchers should employ multi scale longitudinal methods, agent based modelling and QCA.
Reassessing the Star of Bethlehem in Matthew 2: Astronomy, Theology, and the Ethiopian Angelic Tradition Belay Sitotaw Goshu
Lakhomi Journal Scientific Journal of Culture Vol 7 No 3 (2026): Lakhomi Journal : Scientific Journal of Culture, September
Publisher : Britain International for Academic Research (BIAR-Publisher)

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The Star of Bethlehem in Matthew 2:1–12 has long resisted definitive explanation, with astronomical hypotheses (planetary conjunctions, comets, novae) and theological readings often proceeding in isolation. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo tradition, which identifies the star as the Archangel Michael, remains virtually unknown in mainstream scholarship. This review reassesses the star by integrating three lenses: natural astronomical candidates, theological functions within Matthew’s narrative, and the Ethiopian angelic interpretation. An interdisciplinary review of astronomical literature (retrospective celestial mechanics, ancient Chinese records), patristic exegesis (Origen, Chrysostom), and Ethiopian primary sources (The Book of the Mysteries of the Heavens and the Earth, 15th c.), supplemented by liturgical and architectural analysis. No single astronomical candidate fully accounts for the star’s narrative behaviors (cessation, reappearance, “standing over” a house). Patristic writers, especially Chrysostom, interpreted the star as an angelic power. The Ethiopian tradition uniquely names the star as Michael, embeds this identification in the Genna Christmas procession (candles, three circuits of the church), and reflects it in the eastern orientation of the “Bethlehem” prothesis room. Conclusion: The star is best understood as a “providentially timed convergence” natural astronomical event (e.g., the 5 BCE comets) used by God as the vehicle for angelic guidance and theological revelation. The Ethiopian voice resolves narrative difficulties and enriches the interdisciplinary conversation. Future research should systematically survey Ge‘ez manuscripts (e.g., Te’amrä Iyasus, homiliaries) and compare Ethiopian angelology with Coptic and Syriac traditions.
Co-Authors Anantasha Titisania Rimadewi Arifulhak Aceh Bikila Merga Deresa Duol Dak Maluel Kassahun Desealegn Asfaw M. Yoserizal Saragih Melaku Masresha Woldeamanueal Muhammad Ridwan Muhammad Ridwan Muhammad Ridwan Muhammad Ridwan Muhammad Ridwan Nigussie Mamushet Degeif Nurvita Sari Musdiani Silalahi Ramlan Ramlan Ramlan Solomon Zerihun Wan Nurul Atikah