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The Chemistry of Devotion: Materials, Techniques, and Symbolism in Ethiopian Sacred Metalwork and Manuscript Illumination Belay Sitotaw Goshu; Muhammad Ridwan
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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Ethiopian sacred arts represent one of the world's oldest continuous traditions of material and spiritual transformation, yet the chemical knowledge embedded in these practices remains largely unexplored in the historiography of science and art history. Purpose: This study examines Ethiopian sacred metalwork and manuscript illumination as a form of applied alchemy, investigating the practical chemistry, techniques, and theological symbolism underlying these traditions. Drawing on interdisciplinary approaches combining archaeometric analysis (X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, and Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry), art historical examination, ethnographic documentation, and textual analysis, this study synthesizes existing research and presents new interpretations of Ethiopian sacred material culture. Ethiopian artisans possessed sophisticated indigenous chemical knowledge encompassing metallurgy (smelting, lost-wax casting, alloying, gilding), parchment-making, ink preparation (carbon-based and iron-gall inks), and pigment production (mineral, plant-based, and imported pigments). This practical chemistry was deeply intertwined with theological symbolism: gold signified divine light, red represented the blood of Christ, and the processes of transformation were understood as acts of purification and devotion. The Ethiopian tradition, continuous since late Antiquity, serves as a vital source for understanding vanished historical practices. Ethiopian sacred arts constitute a distinctive tradition of applied alchemy that challenges Eurocentric narratives of chemical knowledge, demonstrating that sophisticated material practices flourished in non-European contexts. Future research should prioritize systematic chemical analysis of wider manuscript and metal object corpora, ethnographic studies of living craftspeople, comparative studies with other African and Eastern Christian traditions, and digital humanities approaches to preserve and analyze this endangered heritage.

The Growth-Emissions Paradox: Assessing the Offset of Climate Mitigation by Economic Expansion in Ethiopia Belay Sitotaw Goshu; Muhammad Ridwan
Economit Journal: Scientific Journal of Accountancy, Management and Finance Vol 6 No 1 (2026): Scientific Journal of Accountancy, Management and Finance: (February)
Publisher : Britain International for Academic Research (BIAR-Publisher)

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Ethiopia's climate mitigation initiatives from 2010 to 2023, under the Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) framework, demonstrate a dual strategy of renewable energy expansion and afforestation, achieving modest offsets amid 8.4% average annual GDP growth. Total mitigation amounted to 34,006 tCO₂, with renewables contributing 49.3%, driven by hydropower surging to 85% of electricity generation by 2022, phasing out 95% of fossil fuels, and afforestation accounting for 50.7%, via 3,450 kHa planted and a 25.6% forest cover increase, sequestering 500 tCO₂ annually. However, a -3.4 kHa/year afforestation slope and low overall impact (2% of national emissions) highlight scalability challenges. Sectoral greenhouse gas emissions rose 196% to 770 ktCO₂e, with agriculture's share declining from 77% to 32%, overtaken by industry (39%) and transport (26%). Emissions growth was driven primarily by transport activity (46.2% contribution; feature importance 0.176) and industrial GDP (38.1%; 0.129), while the energy sector’s –7.1% offset underscores the efficacy of renewable deployment. Intensity halved across sectors, yielding absolute decoupling in agriculture (0.9 indexes) and industry (0.8), though transport recoupled sharply. Decoupling analysis confirms full relative decoupling over the 13 years, with emissions rising only 4.0, lagging GDP growth, and producing a 41.3% reduction in intensity (–15.948 tCO₂ per million USD per year). Periodically, 2010-2015 achieved a -26.1% intensity drop foundational to CRGE, while 2016-2023 sustained -17.7% amid a 39.8% emissions rise, averting 117,426 ktCO₂ (4.2% effectiveness). Net effects balanced 184.0% GDP expansion with 67.6% offsets, closing a 0.36 efficiency gap. These findings affirm Ethiopia's positive low-carbon trajectory, economic decoupling, balanced mitigation drivers, positioning it as an African exemplar. Yet vulnerabilities such as drought exposure, urbanization pressures, and equity gaps demand accelerated reforms to deliver NDC-aligned emissions cuts and net-zero by 2050.

The 2026 Strong El Niño Triggers a Compounding Drought-to-Flood Cascade, Elevating Multisectoral Risks to East African Agriculture and Public Health Belay Sitotaw Goshu; Muhammad Ridwan
Economit Journal: Scientific Journal of Accountancy, Management and Finance Vol 6 No 2 (2026): Economit Journal: Scientific Journal of Accountancy, Management and Finance: (May
Publisher : Britain International for Academic Research (BIAR-Publisher)

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The World Meteorological Organization projects the 2026 El Niño to rank among histories strongest, with an 80% probability of onset between June and August and a 63–65% chance of attaining super-strength from October 2026 through February 2027, posing a dire threat to climate-vulnerable East Africa. This paper provides a holistic, predictive assessment of the event's cascading consequences for agriculture and public health across the region. Our synthesis integrates climatic forecasts from WMO, NOAA, and ICPAC; agricultural and food-security indicators from FAO GIEWS, FEWS NET, and IPC classifications; health surveillance data from WHO; and historical lessons from the 1997–1998 and 2023–2024 episodes. We project a distinct biphasic pattern: drought from June to September curtails planting and growth in western unimodal zones; Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, and western Kenya followed by a positive Indian Ocean Dipole-driven deluge from October to December. This second phase unleashes widespread flooding across Kenya, Somalia, southern Ethiopia, and Uganda, destroying standing crops, spoiling stored grain, and rupturing transport and market infrastructure. Staple cereal yields, notably sorghum and millet, could plummet by up to 30%. Concurrently, inundated landscapes amplify Rift Valley fever transmission, triggering substantial livestock losses. The compound effect would push roughly 8.8 million people across 22 high-risk nations into acute food insecurity; Somalia alone may see 6 million individuals facing IPC Phase 3 or worse. Health systems will grapple with surges in cholera, malaria, dengue, and heat-related morbidities, with critical hotspots centering on the Lake Victoria and Tana River basins, the Juba and Shabelle catchments, and densely populated urban hubs like Nairobi. This impending super-El Niño constitutes an unprecedented humanitarian emergency, yet its forecast lead time offers a tangible preparedness window. We urge immediate investments in early-warning system upgrades, climate-resilient crop varieties, irrigation and flood defenses, expanded disease surveillance and vaccine stockpiles, robust water-sanitation-hygiene programs, scaled humanitarian logistics, and targeted interventions addressing the structural poverty and land-use pressures that magnify climatic shocks.

Leapfrogging into Digital Credit: The Trade-off between Financial Inclusion and Portfolio Risk in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Comparative Analysis of Kenya and Ethiopia Belay Sitotaw Goshu; Muhammad Ridwan
Economit Journal: Scientific Journal of Accountancy, Management and Finance Vol 6 No 2 (2026): Economit Journal: Scientific Journal of Accountancy, Management and Finance: (May
Publisher : Britain International for Academic Research (BIAR-Publisher)

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The rapid proliferation of mobile-based lending across Sub-Saharan Africa has generated a fundamental tension: digital credit promises financial inclusion at scale yet carries inherent portfolio risks that threaten lender stability and borrower welfare. This study examines this inclusion-risk trade-off through a comparative analysis of Kenya, a mature digital credit market, and Ethiopia, an emerging latecomer with significant leapfrogging potential. Drawing on bank-level loan performance data, regulatory frameworks, and institutional analysis spanning 2014–2025, the study documents Kenya's "develop first, regulate later" trajectory, which achieved remarkable inclusion, 5.5 million borrowers, and Sh76.8 billion in disbursements but at the cost of a micro-loan default crisis, with loans below KES 1,000 defaulting at 83.1 percent. Four determinants-loan appraisal, borrowing costs, disbursement management, and repayment terms mediate this trade-off. Ethiopia, by contrast, has adopted a proactive regulatory framework but constrained inclusion through a bank-account mandate that excludes the unbanked majority. Early risk indicators, unsecured lending at scale, fee opacity, and emerging defaults suggest vulnerabilities are already present. The comparative analysis yields five stylized facts and five policy recommendations for latecomer economies: recalibrate credit access, strengthen consumer protection, invest in financial infrastructure, adopt regulatory sandboxes, and enhance supervision. The findings extend leapfrogging theory, demonstrating that technological leapfrogging does not automatically imply regulatory leapfrogging. Ethiopia has a narrow window to integrate innovation, inclusion, and stability from the outset, offering lessons for emerging digital finance markets worldwide.

Saint Yared’s Cosmic Harmony: Music, Astronomy, and Philosophy in 6th-Century Ethiopia Belay Sitotaw Goshu
Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial Vol 12 No 4 (2025): Konfrontasi, December
Publisher : Budapest International Research and Critics University

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.33258/konfrontasi2.v12i4.357

Saint Yared, a 6th-century Ethiopian composer, pioneered musical notation with his melekket system and Deggua antiphonary, yet his interdisciplinary contributions remain underexplored in global scholarship. This study investigates Yared’s integration of music, astronomy, and philosophy, aiming to reposition his legacy within world musicology and intellectual history. Methods: Employing qualitative methods, the research analyzes Ge’ez manuscripts, ethnomusicological recordings, and historical records through textual interpretation, comparative analysis, and thematic synthesis. It examines Deggua’s seasonal structure, the theological underpinnings of Yared’s modes (Ge’ez, Ezel, and Araray), the melekket system’s synthesis, Aksumite and Nine Saints’ influences, and Yared’s global context. Yared’s Deggua aligns with celestial cycles, reflecting astronomical knowledge, while his modes embody Trinitarian theology and Neoplatonic harmony. The notation predates European systems, integrating diverse disciplines shaped by Aksumite traditions and Byzantine thought via the Nine Saints. His work challenges Eurocentric narratives, predating Guido d’Arezzo and paralleling Boethius. Yared emerges as a visionary whose cosmic harmony unites science, art, and faith, affirming Ethiopia’s role in early intellectual history and warranting broader recognition. His contributions prefigure medieval developments, enriching global understanding of musicology’s origins. Future research should digitize Yared’s works, compare them with Asian notations, and integrate his legacy into educational curricula to enhance preservation and appreciation.

Misconceptions in Electrochemistry among 11th- and 12th-Grade Students in Dire Dawa and Harari, Ethiopia: Causes, Effects, and Strategies Melaku Masresha Woldeamanueal; Belay Sitotaw Goshu
Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial Vol 12 No 4 (2025): Konfrontasi, December
Publisher : Budapest International Research and Critics University

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.33258/konfrontasi2.v12i4.358

Misconceptions in electrochemistry (ECT), such as believing electrons flow through the salt bridge, persist among students, influenced by didactic teaching, weak prior knowledge, and misleading resources. These errors vary across educational programs, impacting academic performance. This study aimed to examine school-specific ECT misconception rates and scores among 360 students from the Diploma in Design and Construction (DDC), Engineering and Operations Diploma (EOD), and Health and Social Sciences (HSS) programs, identifying contributing factors and proposing interventions. Data were collected via assessments and interviews (N = 30). Misconception prevalence (e.g., salt bridge error) and mean scores were analyzed for each group: DDC (65%, M = 26.2), EOD (75%, M = 24.1), and HSS (64%, M = 27.3). Interview responses highlighted didactic teaching (90–100%) and prior knowledge gaps (80–90%). Descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis informed findings. EOD showed the highest misconception rates (75%) and lowest scores (M = 24.1), linked to resource scarcity and 100% didactic teaching. DDC had moderate rates (65%) and scores (M = 26.2), tempered by 90% of didactic methods despite urban advantages. HSS exhibited the lowest rates (64%) and highest scores (M = 27.3), reflecting better teacher preparation, though 80% reported weak prior knowledge. ECT misconceptions correlate with teaching methods and resource availability, with EOD being the most affected. The groups encounter difficulties due to gaps in prior knowledge and passive teaching methods in HSS. Future research should test targeted interventions (e.g., labs, CCTs, teacher training) and expand longitudinal data collection to address these disparities effectively.

Quantum Leaps over the Nile: Rethinking the Ethiopia-Egypt Dispute through a Quantum Lens Belay Sitotaw Goshu; Muhammad Ridwan
Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial Vol 12 No 4 (2025): Konfrontasi, December
Publisher : Budapest International Research and Critics University

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.33258/konfrontasi2.v12i4.359

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), now 98.66% complete, represents a significant advancement in regional development, providing electricity access to households previously reliant on rudimentary lighting and supporting socioeconomic progress in Ethiopia. However, for Egypt's population of over 105 million, heavily dependent on the Nile, it raises concerns over potential reductions in downstream flow, impacting agricultural productivity in the Nile Delta. Sudan, with a population of approximately 48 million, anticipates benefits from regulated flows equivalent to around 20 billion cubic meters (BCM) annually, including reduced flood risks, though drought remains a potential challenge. This study humanizes the transboundary stakes involved, employing synthetic data for water allocations and dispute intensity to model scenarios amid the ongoing 2025 negotiations. It proposes a quantum-inspired diplomatic framework to resolve this transboundary dispute, integrating optimization techniques with cooperative mechanisms. Statistical analysis compares classical allocation approaches (variable outcomes, 0.89 efficiency) with quantum-optimized models (more stable, 0.92 efficiency), based on simulations of the Nile's approximate 100 BCM annual flow. Visualizations illustrate allocation trends, informing proposed policy frameworks such as a Water Accord, Nile Resilience Protocol, and Global Quantum Partnership. Results from quantum-inspired models demonstrate stabilized shares (e.g., 50 BCM for upstream uses, 30 BCM and 20 BCM downstream), reducing variance by 50% and accommodating sediment dynamics of approximately 287 million cubic meters annually. In conclusion, the analysis underscores pathways beyond mere data toward equitable resource management, fostering cooperation across riparian states. Recommendations include establishing real-time modeling hubs, adaptive reserve mechanisms, and enhanced global collaboration by 2026 to support sustainable Nile Basin governance.

The Mediating Role of Computational Identity in the Relationship between Computational Thinking Skills and Academic Self-Efficacy Belay Sitotaw Goshu; Muhammad Ridwan
Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial Vol 12 No 4 (2025): Konfrontasi, December
Publisher : Budapest International Research and Critics University

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.33258/konfrontasi2.v12i4.360

Computational thinking (CT) has emerged as a critical 21st-century skill, yet its motivational and psychological correlates in higher education remain underexplored, particularly in African contexts. Creative interest (CI) and academic self-efficacy (ASE) represent key motivational mechanisms that may link CT perceptions to broader academic confidence. Purpose: This study examined the direct and indirect relationships among computational thinking, creative interest, and academic self-efficacy among undergraduate students, testing whether creative interest mediates the effect of CT on ASE. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 357 undergraduate students at Dire Dawa University, Ethiopia. Validated self-report scales measured overall and subscale levels of CT, CI, and ASE. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and bootstrapped mediation analysis with PROCESS macro. CFA supported the distinctiveness of the three constructs with acceptable fit (CFI = 0.92, RMSEA = 0.072) and strong validity (AVE > 0.76). CT showed strong positive correlations with CI (r = 0.594) and ASE (r = 0.632). Mediation analysis revealed a significant total effect of CT on ASE (β = 0.356, p < .001), a significant direct effect after mediation (β = 0.289, p < .001), and a small but significant indirect effect via CI (β = 0.067, 95% bootstrap CI [0.033, 0.101]), accounting for 18.8% of the total effect. The model explained 42.5% of variance in ASE. Conclusion: Computational thinking perceptions enhance academic self-efficacy both directly and partially through creative interest, highlighting a motivational pathway in which CT fosters creative identity that, in turn, supports efficacy beliefs. Ethiopian universities should integrate CT training with activities that explicitly link computational skills to creative expression and self-regulated learning to maximize motivational and efficacy benefits.

The Cosmic Horizon as the Highest Heaven: Examining Michael Guillen's Hypothesis Belay Sitotaw Goshu; Muhammad Ridwan
Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial Vol 13 No 1 (2026): Konfrontasi, March
Publisher : Budapest International Research and Critics University

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The human tendency to locate the divine in spatial terms represents a cognitive universal, yet classical theism affirms divine transcendence, the claim that God as Creator cannot be contained within creation. Into this tension steps physicist Michael Guillen, who has proposed that the "highest heaven" described in biblical tradition possesses a specific physical location: the cosmic horizon, the boundary of the observable universe where galaxies recede at the speed of light and time ceases. This article critically examines Guillen's hypothesis, evaluating whether it successfully integrates scientific cosmology with theological claims about divine transcendence and the nature of heaven. The study employs interdisciplinary analysis, drawing on cosmological literature to clarify the scientific status of the cosmic horizon, and on theological sources (biblical, patristic, medieval, and contemporary) to assess the hypothesis against classical and modern understandings of divine transcendence, immanence, and eschatology. The analysis proceeds through comparative evaluation of scientific and theological frameworks. While Guillen's hypothesis has received popular attention, sustained scholarly analysis remains lacking. This article provides the first systematic examination of the proposal within the science-religion literature, demonstrating how the hypothesis reveals fundamental tensions between spatial models of divinity and theological commitments to transcendence. It offers a constructive alternative: interpreting the cosmic horizon as a symbol of transcendence rather than a literal location. Scientifically, Guillen misconstrues the cosmic horizon, which is not a physical location but an observer-dependent observational boundary. Theologically, his spatial literalism conflicts with classical theism's affirmation that God cannot be contained within creation (1 Kings 8:27; Augustine; Aquinas).

The Augmented Science Journalist: A Human-in-the-Loop Framework for AI Integration Belay Sitotaw Goshu; M. Yoserizal saragih; Muhammad Ridwan
Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial Vol 13 No 1 (2026): Konfrontasi, March
Publisher : Budapest International Research and Critics University

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Algorithmic bias in healthcare systems has emerged as a critical threat to equitable patient care, with growing evidence that machine learning models perpetuate racial and ethnic disparities in clinical decision-making. This study aimed to investigate the extent, evolution, and real-world consequences of bias in healthcare algorithms through an innovative human-in-the-loop (HITL) investigative journalism framework. The methodology integrated AI-driven discovery, automated code repository auditing, and in-depth human investigation across three phases. AI tools analyzed temporal bias trends from 2015–2023, audited over 50 public GitHub repositories, and quantified disparities, while human journalists conducted expert interviews, impact assessments, and narrative synthesis to ensure contextual accuracy and ethical framing. Key findings revealed persistent and severe biases: Black and Native American patients experienced 2–3 times higher bias scores than White patients, with diagnostic and risk-prediction algorithms showing the greatest disparities. Only 33% of analyzed repositories included explicit bias testing, despite high adoption rates. Consequential impacts included false negative rates up to 73.7% for Black patients needing care, elevated treatment disparities, poorer health outcomes, and substantial economic costs from excess hospitalizations. The novelty lies in the scalable HITL synergy that enabled longitudinal, multi-source analysis previously infeasible manually, translating technical artifacts into actionable public knowledge. In conclusion, unchecked algorithmic bias systematically harms marginalized communities. We recommend mandatory bias audits, regulatory oversight of proprietary systems, and participatory governance involving affected patients.

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