Inter-ethnic conflicts have frequently arisen among pastoralists living in the border area of Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan. The Daasanach, agro-pastoral people in the area, have fought with their 'enemies' (kiz) intermittently. Nevertheless, many Daasanach have friend (s) who belong to neighboring ethnic groups, including kiz. When a war ends, members of the two groups voluntarily visit each other's land and interact friendly. A person forms a friendship with someone, whom he meets during the time of trade or co-residence, through entertaining and/or giving something without demanding any immediate return. When inter-ethnic relations get tensed up, mutual visits beyond ethnic boundary are cut off, so that the firstgiver cannot take a counter-gift for a long time. Bearing such risks, why do they entertain and make kiz a gift? And why does the recipient re-visit to kiz land to reciprocate? In this paper, I will analyze the emerging process of friendship by analyzing the situations how two persons who belong to different ethnic groups meet and make/receive a gift/counter-gift.
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