HRAF Global Scholar: Melkamu Amsalu Workneh
Title: Ph.D. candidate, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology
University Affiliation: University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
Research Topic: Land Scarcity and Marriage in Northwestern Ethiopia

HRAF Global Scholar Melkamu Amsalu Workneh is a Ph.D. candidate in the department of Anthropology and Archaeology at the University of South Africa. His dissertation title is “Assets at Marriage: The impact of land scarcity on women’s marriage opportunities in the Amhara National Regional State, Northwestern Ethiopia.”

This work seeks to understand how land scarcity contributes to culture/norm change in relation to marriage for women in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. The study investigates cultural responses to resource scarcity, particularly with regard to farmland. Using human ecology as the main theoretical model, the research will further investigate human behavioral adaptation to changes in the environment.

Currently, Melkamu Amsalu is reviewing ethnographic data related to his work. His study requires in-depth understanding of human culture, marriage, changes in post-marital residence choice, and environmental changes. He expresses his appreciation for being able to participate in the HRAF Global Scholars program:

The eHRAF databases provide a terrific opportunity to access cross-cultural anthropological studies which directly and indirectly relate to my current study. In addition,  eHRAF offers one of the few opportunities where I can access contemporary as well as classical ethnographic sources which enable me to compare human cultural changes in response to environmental changes across time and place, as well as a means to examine various descriptions of changes in post-marital residence choices. Therefore, I am grateful to have this opportunity.

HRAF is honored to feature Melkamu Amsalu Workneh as one of our HRAF Global Scholars for 2025. We wish him continued success with his research.

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