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In this research work an attempt has been made to show the dynamics of religion in practice and how adherents produce meaning from their double allegience to two differnt religions, Orthodox Christianity and Qallu religious practice. It shows the hybrid space created by societies to negotiate lived realities. In doing so, it attempts to show the power relations that affect the way the two religions are practiced. In a situation where adherents have to go to both institutions, their adherence to Qallu is secret while their being followers of orthodox christianity is publicly disclosed. The dichotomy with regard to practising the two religions exists is analysed.

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Serawit is a lecturer at the University of Axum, Ethiopia. She got her master´s degree in indigenous cultural studies from Addis Ababa University in 2009 and her research interest is on religious hybridity in contemporary Ethiopia.

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