Chat

Every society has its drug. In the predominantly Muslim Kalu Woreda the drug of choice is ‘chat’, a mildly stimulating leaf which is chewed for hours to derive the desired effect. 

The village leader Indrise Abdu Yimer is in a great hurry to get to the market on the Saturday morning. When asked what he is going to do he answers “I am going to chew chat.”

He explains: “It normally costs about 5 Birr to buy the chat. It is not the good quality stuff I chew, that costs about 10-20 Birr. I go to Harbu on market days, twice a week, to chew chat. Most of the men of the village do this. It’s a custom! On other days the men of the village come to my house and we chew chat too. I usually provide the chat, and the tea and coffee. Of course it is a big expense, but I am addicted to it. I usually have enough food in the house, so for me it is not a big problem. I enjoy having my friends around in my house. Women chew chat too, sometimes. But not as much as men do. Of course not!”