Migration and Rural-Urban Linkages in Ethiopia

technology and lifestyles. Furthermore, it indicates that whilst migrants’ livelihoods arespatially within an urban context, their social and cultural identity still remains rootedwithin the rural village context facilitated by the strong ties and networks with family andvillage relations as well as religious and social festivals.Types of urban-rural linkagesBased on our qualitative study, individual migrants living in urban areas maintainmultiple types of networks with their rural homes to serve their social and economicinterests as well as maintain their cultural identities and ethnic ties. The case study below(Figure 3) presents an account of an individual migrant from the south and illustrates thatwhilst his livelihood is spatially within Kolfe, his networks still remain rooted within hisrural village in Gamo facilitated by the strong ties and networks with family and villagesthrough various forms such as trade, marriage and cash remittances.47