The Oromo are a native African ethnic group found in Ethiopia and to a smaller extent in Kenya. They are the largest single ethnic group in Ethiopia, at 32.1% of the population according to the 1994 census, and today numbering around 40 million.
The Oromo are one of the Cushitic speaking people living in Eastern and North Eastern Africa. Cushitic speakers have occupied parts of north-eastern and eastern Africa for as long as recorded history.
Oromo people are found mainly in Ethiopia (99%), but are spread from as far as:
• Northern Ethiopia (southern Tigray Region)
• Kenya (mainly northern)
• Even as far south as Lamu Island
The Oromo characterize one of largest of the Cushitic groups occupying the Horn of Africa. Their physical features, culture, language and other confirm clearly the fact that they are native to this part of Africa.
Existing information indicates that the Oromo lived as a community of people for thousands of years in East Africa (Prouty at al, 1981).
Bates (1979) asserts, “The Gallas (Oromo) were a very ancient race, the indigenous stock, possibly, on which most other peoples in this part of eastern Africa have been grafted”.
It is possible that they have existed for a longer period of time side by side with their northern Semitic-speaking neighbors.
During the 16th century, following the wars between the kingdom of Ethiopia and the neighboring Sultanate of Adal, which resulted in the exhaustion of both states, Oromos moved north into their territories.
The Ethiopian monk Bahrey, writing in 1593, credited the Oromo achievement to the existence of too many non-fighting classes in the ruling Ethiopian hierarchy, as opposed to the Oromos, whom he illustrated as having a homogeneous warrior class.
He also affirmed their spread (as result of their inhospitable homeland) into northwestern areas such as:
• Arsi
• Shewa
• Welega
• Gojjam
• Hararghe
• Wollo
Harold G. Marcus hints northwest Borena as the original homeland of the Oromo. Settled Oromo began to integrate with their Amharic-speaking neighbors at least from the 17th century on.
Several Oromo chieftains gained power in government of the monarchy. Particularly Emperor Iyoas I (1730-55), who was half Oromo, favored his mother’s Oromo kinsmen and allies, and in his era, the Oromo language was the language of the court in Gondar.
By the late 18th century, the influence of the central government of Ethiopia had declined, and local governors and kings enjoyed greater autonomy.
During the era of Zemene Mesafint (which lasted until 1855), the Oromo dynasty of chiefs of Yejju were the most important uninterrupted line of warlords to dominate the figurehead emperors of Ethiopia.
They turn out to be sub-kings of Begemder, Regents of the empire, as well as imperial father-in-laws. Ras Ali I of Yejju attained this dominance in 1779, and it continued, although contested by other warlords, until the 1855 defeat of Ras Ali II of Yejju by the upstart Kassa Hailu (who became Emperor Tewodros II).
Due to the powerlessness of the Emperor of Ethiopia during the Zemene Mesafint, the Yejju Oromo were successfully the rulers of Ethiopia. Other tribes and chiefs of the Oromo people were also famous, such as:
• Lady Menen of Wollo who became Empress in 1800s
• Ras Mohammad of Wollo who became Ras Mikael, later Negus of Siyon and father of Emperor Iyasu V
• Menen, of Ambassel, who became Empress Consort of Haile Selassie
Feel free to forward your comment on the history of this prominent tribe in Ethiopia.
Keywords: Cushitic speakers, Oromo, Lamu Island, Gallas, Arsi, Shewa, Welega, Gojjam, Hararghe, Wollo, Yejju, Oromo dynasty, Begemder,
The Stupid Debetras!!!
You made our site like you are doing in your city “Bahir Dar, shitting on road side trough your “Ante Aram shorts”. You stupid “lemagn”, we are talking from our home. You are barking like a dog not to loose what you get for substance. No matter as humanity we can provide you some scraps until you die on the road side one day. You carry a dry wood with your debtaras to assist you in getting some food. You know well that, if you don’t stop your stinky ideas like your ancestors no doubt, you will be back to your mother fucker ancestors place. You shit down with narrow mind in here and things will become serious and you will be send back to your beggars profession. This is last warning to you before you will be arrested. If you think that your address is not known and you will continue to shit your stupid ideas in here, you will get your hands and legs dush like your father in Alert hospital. Idot!!!!
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hello for every body ,please stop talking about bad ,and unnecessary word. write good thing is not blaming or insulting each other,please.
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AWAASH
I agree with your idea, and my intention was not to respond for ill minded people. However, when we are talking about our history, they become up side down and get mad. I don’t know exactly why, they become a life time enemy to Oromo people.I think this people who are writing down unnecessary things in here are probably the youngsters and they don’t know what their ancestors even did to our people. At least they have to work hard on the way they can live in peace like other friends in the country. Out of 83 tribes in the country 82 are guanine and respected people and they never, ever intrude to our site. We have also a great respect to them.
But so called Debetaras are intruding to this site and they shit with narrow mind. Any way now on wards I will not follow their way.
Thank man.
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we oromias we have to stand up for war and take over oromia!!!!!!!!
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yadeta I agree with u thats the only way.
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hey one oromo(u should call ur self one amara) thats who u and ur dad r (or sell outs) fuck u and oromo haters. OROMIYA SHALL BE FREE………..
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dear afdies what r u talking about following medrac. those r bunch of amaras and amara mind oromos. how could we even truest amaras who don’t even want us exist in this world. they wish us to burn a life did u know if they were on power instead of tgrey we would not even call our self oromo . its not that i like tgry but i prefer them over amara. look at our ppl educated more than ever,call them self oromo and proud of who they are. with amara none of this will happen. they do not want as to be who we r. Please oromo stop being used by others and be ur self. why do we have to be used by others all the time .we are smart,strong,majority,we have every thing. we do not need any one for nothing. the only pple who do good for the country and ppl r as oromos so thing about it and work on it.
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Have you asked your selves what are you doing for Oromia or the Oromo people?
I want to know, right now what are you as an individual doing for Oromo?
If your a university student, what’s your goal/major, and how does that connect to improving Oromo peoples lives.
And people (particularly Oromo children) need to understand that first we need to fix your selves.
This mean Oromo student shouldn’t have time to be going to CLUBS/dance BALLS. (all u c happening in ATL, MN, WA, etc.) While our brother/sisters are being locked up.
How COME we have Oromo children involved in gangs, and are being killed or killing eachother weekly for “God know what” in the US.
How COME do we have Oromo mothers and entire familys struggling HERE IN AMERICA, with no support.
How Come we can set under this COMPUTER and write all this bull for HOURS, but don;t want to send a minute improving or strengthening our community here.
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WE are all to blame…
Why isn;t their programs or systems made for the Oromo youth in Minnesota.
Why dont we have support projects for Stuggling Oromo Family in America, Europe, Australia, etc.
Were are our University Graduate students, our doctors, nurses, social worker, psychologist, artist, engineers, scientists, educator,etc.
Most are dwelling in his others country and have forgotten their responsiblity.
BUT i want to end on this.
One brother said it perfectly, in the comment above!! He said:
“ACT LOCAL, THINK GLOBALS”
because if we can’t even solve the community problems…HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO SOLVE A NATION’S PROBLEM..
sorry but the math just doesn’t add up!!
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Oromo peaple are good people who respect other ethics so please respect them . they are peace loving nation ,because of their number the world community sided with ethiopia for pure reason that i thing is religion. free oromia will change east african map. Insha Alla. a message somali jigjiga
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Abdille lemma this not your level to talk any thing still you trying to push around some ethnic groups ,so you are nothing and nothing means nothing .
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Kadir Bullo is not somali i am somali and i know how somalis talk .Kadir is eiter who has no identity or rejected by oromo community. Or may be he is making happy his Amara wife who could be more educeted than him due to that he can not hide any thing from her. sorry kadir lamman dhufu you lost.
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Hey my Oromo brothers and sisters. I am an Oromo. born from my Oromo father and mother. but unfortunately as a number of my other brothers born and grow up in Finfine I didn’t know Oromifa, but eager to know the language and teach my children in the future. But I don’t know how one thing that I understand is to teach my children I need to know the language first. Please help me on this regard. Thanks in advance for your help.
God bless Oromia
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Dear Brother,
Kintaw.
It is nice that you have an interest to learn Afaan Oromo. Having interest toward a language means 50% is already done. For the remaining 50% you have to start reading basic alphabets and small Grammars. First of all go to a book store and buy the alphabets (Qubee) and secondly buy Hirkoo Dictionary which can explain a number of common day to day speech words or communication sentences. Once you have started this, I can assist you by giving 10 wards a day on you private mail.
Read and contribute on the Oromo history also in here.
Best regards
Gondol
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Hi my Oromo brother and sisters how came no one is writing any thing any more?
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The Oromo history is deep and far beyond 3000BC. It needs deep research from oromo intellectuals. To my understanding most of the oromo researchers themselves limited to 16 Century so that they can’t come up with noble ideas about Oromo history Ruther than repeating what has been said by other researcher like “Mengestu Hailamariyam said, Oromo comes from east”.
I need some answer for the following questions?
It it is already proved that Oromo was dealing with Astronomies before 3000years. This is proved with fact and carbon test. So,
Where is the origin of Oromo?
Where did Oromo lives before 3000BC,2000BC,100BC,1000AC?
Where the fictitious 16th century did comes from?
How one society appears in 16th century and concurs every thing?
Thank you,
Gondol
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