Oromo people and the Land of Oromia
The Oromo are indigenous African people inhabiting the North Eastern part of Africa. Their country is called Oromia, which is currently under the domination of the Ethiopian colonial Empire. The Oromo are descendants of the Eastern-Kushitie group of people indigenous to the Horn of Africa, with a population of over 40 million, which makes them one of the largest indigenous peoples of East Africa.
A map of the region showing Oromia within the current political boundaries of Ethiopia (in beige).
A Few Facts About Oromia
- Oromia is the largest Regional State in the Ethiopian Empire State.
- Oromia (also phonetically spelled as Oromiyaa)
- Oromia has been occupied by Ethiopia (Abyssenia) for over 100 years
- Size: 600,000 Square km (375,000 Square miles); Larger than Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, The Netherlands and France combined
Oromo People and Oromia (Land of Oromo)
Language
- The Oromo nation has a single common mother tongue, called the Oromo language or Afaan Oromoo or Oromiffa.
- It is the third most-widely spoken language in Africa, after Hausa and Arabic.
- Before colonization, the Oromo had used their own language in social, religious, educational, political, and legal activities.
- The Oromo language has been neglected and suppressed by Ethiopian authorities. In an effort of destroying Oromo national identity, the language of a minority group, Amharic is used as the official or national language.
Population
- Approximately 40 million (year 2000 estimate), a minority of the 67 million Ethiopian Population (40-45% of the whole Population is Oromo).
- 3rd largest single nationality group in Africa; single largest nationality in East Africa.
- Capital: Finfinnee (also called Addis Ababa).
- Religion: Christianity, Islam and Traditional Belief in God, Waaqaa
Economy
- Mainly agriculture (coffee, several crops, spices, vegetables) and Animal Husbandry; Mining industry; Tourism trade; Medium and small-scale industries (textiles, refineries, meat packaging, etc)
- Breadbasket of the Horn of Africa
- Largest livestock holding in Africa
- Forestry and wildlife reserves of the Horn
- Minerals (gold, silver, platinum, uranium, marble, nickel and natural gas)
History
- An independent loosely confederated nation before being colonized by the Ethiopian empire in the 1890s and still a nation in captivity
- Practiced Gada democratic Leadership structure, which is similar to Grecian Polls
- Locale of the 35 million year old Lucy
Culture
- The Oromo culture is governed by an egalitarian Gada democratic system of administration.
- Power to administer the affairs of the nation and the legislative power belongs to the people.
- Respect for elders, women and children are the key components of Oromo Culture.
- A culture of managing conflicts through arbitration/consensus.
The hour has not come but it will come, perhaps our children will see the departure of the oppressors
Rooba, 1975 voicing his faith in the future of Oromia
Politics
- Conquered after bloody resistance between 1882- 1898, as the result of which the population of Oromo was reduced from 10 million to 5 million
- In 1886 a smallpox epidemic (the first biological warfare every used in the region) was used to frighten and weaken Oromo resistance
- Currently thousands of Oromos languish in prison, Many have fled the country.
- Deprived of their rich resources
- Politically marginalized, tortured, and deprived of basic human rights.
- Ongoing killings, extra judicial disappearances, imprisonment, segregation and injustice in the universities, colleges, and educational system
- Struggling for Self Determination
About Oromo Refugees
- Unaccounted number of Oromo refugees live in almost other countries of Africa.
- Most refugee have been separated from their families for more than 10-15 years.
- Most refugee children grew up in refugee camps where there is no education and where there is lack of access to health facilities.
- More than 500 Oromo university students were forced to leave their education and fled to Kenya
- In 2004 brutal government move is the eviction of over 400 Oromo university students solely for their quest for the freedom of expression and speaking against the human rights abuses of the government.
- The government assigned secret security agents to each Oromo university student, denying them their right to join their family. As the result these students are exposed to hunger, homelessness, and lack of other basic human rights.
- Their families are worried about whereabouts of their children. Most students are exposed to harassment, torture, disappearances and arbitrary detention.