Oromo
Total population
25 Million Image File history File linksMetadata Dej_Balcha_Aba_Nefso. ...
Regions with significant populations
Ethiopia
Languages
Oromo
Religion
Sunni Islam, Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, Protestant, Traditional
Related ethnic groups
Afar, Agaw, Amhara, Beja, Hadiya, Sidama, Tigray and Somali

The Oromo (Ethiopic:ኦሮሞ) are an African ethnic group found in Ethiopia and to a lesser 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 25 million.^[1] Their native language is the Oromo language (also called Afaan Oromoo, and Oromiffa). Oromo, also known as Afaan Oromoo, Oromiffa(a), and sometimes in other languages as variant spellings of these names (Oromigna, Afan Oromo, etc. ... Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam. ... Ethiopian Church in Jerusalem This Ethiopian icon shows St. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Afar (or Danakil) are a tribal people who reside principally in the Danakil Desert in the Afar Region of Ethiopia and in Eritrea and Djibouti. ... The Agaw are a people of Ethiopia. ... Amhara (Amharic: አማራ, Geez: አምሐራ) is an ethnic group in the central highlands of Ethiopia, numbering about 23 million, making up 30. ... The Beja people are an ethnic group dwelling parts of North-Eastern and Eastern Africa including the area of the Horn of Africa. ... Hadiya (Gudela) was a powerful vassal kingdom of Ethiopia, located in southwestern Ethiopia, south of the Abbay River and west of Shewa. ... The Sidama people of southern Ethiopia are an ethnic group whose homeland is in the Sidama region of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia. ... The Tigray-Tigrinya are an ethnic group who live in Eritrea and the northern highlands of Ethiopias Tigray province. ... Oromo, also known as Afaan Oromoo, Oromiffa(a), and sometimes in other languages as variant spellings of these names (Oromigna, Afan Oromo, etc. ... The Geez language (or Giiz language) is an ancient language that developed in the Ethiopian Highlands of the Horn of Africa as the language of the peasantry. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Oromo, also known as Afaan Oromoo, Oromiffa(a), and sometimes in other languages as variant spellings of these names (Oromigna, Afan Oromo, etc. ...

History

The Oromo are one of the Cushitic speaking groups of people living in Eastern and North Eastern Africa. Cushitic speakers have inhabited parts of north-eastern and eastern Africa for as long as recorded history. Oromos are found predominantly in Ethiopia (99%), but are spread from as far as northern Ethiopia (southern Tigray Region) to (mainly northern) Kenya, even as far south as Lamu Island. The Oromo represent one of largest of the Cushitic groups inhabiting the Horn of Africa. Their physical features, culture, language and other evidences unequivocally point to the fact that they are indigenous to this part of Africa. Available information clearly indicates that the Oromo existed as a community of people for thousands of years in East Africa (Prouty at al, 1981). Bates (1979) contends, "The Gallas (Oromo) were a very ancient race, the indigenous stock, perhaps, on which most other peoples in this part of eastern Africa have been grafted". The Cushitic languages are a subgroup of the Afro-Asiatic languages phylum, named after the Biblical figure Cush by analogy with Semitic. ... Map of Ethiopia highlighting the Tigray region. ... Lamu is an island of the Lamu Archipelago of Kenya. ...

While further research is needed to precisely comprehend the origin of Oromo people, it is well known that Oromo people come from a line of pastoralist/nomadic group and/or semi-agriculturalist group. It is likely that they have existed for a longer period of time side by side with their northern Semitic-speaking neighbors. There is a wealth of oral history that describe interactions between the two group dating back as early as the 6th century.^{[citation needed]}. 14th century BC diplomatic letter in Akkadian, found in Tell Amarna. ...

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, attributed the Oromo success to the existence of too many non-fighting classes in the ruling non-Oromo hierarchy, as opposed to the Oromos, whom he described as having a homogeneous warrior class.^[2] Bahrey also explained their spread into northwestern areas such as Arsi, Shewa, Welega, and Gojjam and northeastern areas like Hararghe and Wollo as result of their inhospitable homeland.^[3] Harold G. Marcus suggests northwest Borena as the original homeland of the Oromo.^[4] Adal was a sixteenth century province-cum-sultanate of Ethiopia located in modern Somali, Oromia, and Afar regions in Ethiopia, as well as southern Djibouti and western Somaliland. ... Abba Bahrey (Geez ባሕርይ bāḥriy, Geez pearl) was a late 16th century Ethiopian monk, historian, and ethnographer. ... Arsi is also an extinct Tocharian language Arsi (or Arusi) is one of the 12 zones in Oromia region, Ethiopia. ... Shewa (also spelled Shoa) is a historical region of Ethiopia. ... Welega was a province in the western part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Nekemte. ... Gojjam, or Gojam, was a province in the north-western part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Debra Markos. ... Hararghe, sometimes spelled Harerge, was a province in the eastern part of Ethiopia, with its capital in Harar. ... Wollo was a province in the north-eastern part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Dessye. ...

Settled Oromo started to integrate with their Amharic-speaking neighbors at least from the 17th century on. Also, several Oromo chieftains obtained 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 power of the central government of Ethiopia had waned, and local governors and kings enjoyed greater autonomy. During this era (which lasted until 1855), known as the Zemene Mesafint, the Oromo dynasty of chiefs of Yejju were the most important continuous line of warlords to dominate the figurehead emperors of Ethiopia. They became sub-kings of Begemder, Enderases (Regents) of the empire, as well as imperial fathers-in-law. Ras Ali I of Yejju achieved 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 in that year became Emperor Tewodros II). Due to the powerlessness of the Emperor of Ethiopia during the Zemene Mesafint, the Yejju Oromo were effectively the rulers of Ethiopia. Some historians date the murder of Iyasu I, and the resultant decline in the prestige of the dynasty, as the beginning of the Ethiopian Zemene Mesafint (Era of the Princes,) a time of disorder when the power of the monarchy was eclipsed by the power of local warlords. ... Begemder was a province in the north-eastern part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Gondar. ... This is a list of Ethiopian aristocratic and religious titles used in Ethiopia until the end of the Monarchy in 1974. ... Ali I of Yejju (died 1788) was a Ras of Begemder, and following the death of Ras Mikael Sehul, Regent of the Emperor of Ethiopia. ... Ali II of Yejju (c. ... Tewodros II (Geez ቴዎድሮስ, also known as Theodore II) (1818 -suicide April 13, 1868) was an Emperor of Ethiopia (1855 - 1868). ... The Emperor (Geez ንጉሠ ነገሥት, , King of Kings) of Ethiopia was the hereditary ruler of Ethiopia until the abolition of the monarchy in 1975. ...

Other tribes and chiefs of the Oromo people were also prominent, 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; and another lady Menen, of Ambassel, who became Empress consort of Haile Selassie. Iyasu V (Geez ኢያሱ), also known as Lij Iyasu (Geez ልጅ ኢያሱ; 4 February 1887 - 25 November 1935) was the designated but uncrowned monarch of Ethiopia (1913 - 1916). ... Ambassel is a mountain fortress in the Amhara highlands of Ethiopia. ... Haile Selassie Haile Selassie (Power of Trinity) (July 23, 1892 – August 27, 1975) was the last Emperor (1930–1936; 1941–1974) of Ethiopia, and is a religious symbol in the Rastafarian movement. ...

In order to integrate with the imperial power and family, a large share of the Oromo converted to Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity during these centuries. As one of the last such developments, in late 1800s Emperor Yohannes IV ordered the Oromo tribe of Wollo to convert to Christianity within six months at the threat of losing their property. Such a threat had caused many Wollo Oromos to leave their homeland and migrate further to the South. Their leader was Ras Mohammed who became Ras Mikael and later made an imperial marriage, becoming the father of Emperor Iyasu V. ...

Subgroups

The Oromo are divided into two major branches that break down into an assortment of clan families. From west to east, these subgroups are:

The Borana which include:

• The Macha Oromo, living between Didessa River and the Omo River, and south into the Gibe region;
• The Tulama Oromo, who live in the Oromia Region around Addis Ababa;
• The Guji Oromo, who are the southern part subgroup of the Oromo, inhabiting neighboring the Borana Oromo.
• The Borana Oromo,(not to be confused with the branch in general) who live in Borena Zone and in Kenya.
• The Gabra Oromo, who live in north Kenya along the Moyale border region
• The Garri Oromo, who live in north east Kenya

And countless subdivisions. Omo River empties into Lake Turkana, August 1995 The Omo is an important river of southern Ethiopia. ... The Gibe region is used to indicate a historic region in modern southwestern Ethiopia, to the west of the Gibe and Omo Rivers, and north of the Gojeb. ... For the long-distance runner, see Addis Abebe. ... The Guji Oromo are an east African ethnic Oromo group living in southern Ethiopia. ... Borena (or Borana) is one of the 12 zones of the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. ...

The Barento/Barentuma which include:

• The Wallo Oromo, who are the northernmost group, and live predominantly in the Oromia Zone of the Amhara Region, as far north as Lake Ashenge, with whom the Raya Oromo and the Yejju Oromo are often grouped;
• The Ittu Oromo, who live in the Oromia Region from the Awash River east to a line drawn south of Dire Dawa;
• The Karrayu Oromo, who live along the Awash valley in east Shawa as well as West Hararge
• The Aniya Oromo, who live south of the Ittu and west of the Erer River;
• The Afran Qallo which refer to the 4 decedents of Qallo, which are:
  • Ala Oromo, living west of the city of Harar and the Erer River
  • Oborra Oromo, living between Ituu and Ala Oromo
  • Babille Oromo,living east of the Erer River in the Oromia Region
  • Dagaa Oromo (Nole and Jarso):
    • Nole who live east of Dire Dawa and north of Harar;
    • Jarso who live in the northeastern corner of the of the Oromia Region;
• The Arsi Oromo, who primarily live in the Arsi Zone of the Oromia Region (which is named for them) as well as the Bale Zone; and
• The Qallu, who live between the Awash River and Dire Dawa.

And countless subdivisions. Oromia is a Zone in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. ... Map of Ethiopia highlighting the Amhara region. ... Lake Ashenge is a lake in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. ... Ittu (also spelled Ituu) is one of the divisions of the Oromo people. ... The Awash (sometimes spelled Hawash) is a major river of Ethiopia. ... Map of Ethiopia showing Dire Dawa (in red). ... Harar (sometimes spelled Harrar, Hārer, or Harer) is an eastern city in Ethiopia, and the capital of the modern Harari ethno-political division (or kilil) of Ethiopia. ... Country Italy Region Piedmont Province Province of Turin (TO) Mayor  ? Elevation m Area 11. ... Arsi (or Arusi) is one of the 12 zones of the Oromia region, Ethiopia. ... Bale is one of the 12 Zones in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. ... Qallu in is a name given to the families which are believed to be descents of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq,the first Caliph of Islam, and who are living now in many areas of Eastern Ethiopia. ... The Awash (sometimes spelled Hawash) is a major river of Ethiopia. ... Map of Ethiopia showing Dire Dawa (in red). ...

Society and culture

Oromo society was traditionally structured in accordance with gadaa, a social stratification system partially based on an eight-year cycle of age sets, but over the centuries the age sets grew out-of-alignment with the actual ages of their members, and some time in the 1800s another age set system was instituted. Under gadaa, every eight years the Oromo would hold a popular assembly called the Gumi Gayo, at which laws were established for the following eight years. A democratically elected leader, the Abba Gada, presided over the system for an eight-year term. Gadaa is no longer in wide practice but remains influential. Gadaa is the traditional religion of the Oromo people in Ethiopia. ... social stratification is the division of people of a particular society on the basis if occupation, income, power, prestige, authority, status, dignity, education, class, castle, gender, race and ethnicity In sociology, social stratification is the hierarchical arrangement of social classes, castes and strata within a society. ... The effects of ageing on a human face Elderly woman Ageing or aging is the process of systems deterioration with time. ... // Invention of the Jacquard loom in 1801. ... The National Assembly is the name of either a legislature, or the lower house of a bicameral legislature in some countries. ...

In a short article, Geoffrey W. Arnott described an Oromo rite of passage in which young men run over the backs of bulls surrounded by the village community.^[5] Bruce Parry filmed the same practice among the Hamar people for his BBC television series "Tribe" transmitted in July 2006. Arnott's interest lay in making a comparison with bull-leaping at Knossos in the Aegean Bronze Age.

Religion

Muslim is the most practiced faith among the Oromo. In the 1994 Ethiopian census in the 85% Oromo region of Oromia, 44.3% were Muslims, 41.3% Orthodox Christians, 8.6% Protestants, 4.2% Traditional, and the remaining 1.6% constitute other religious groups. Protestant Christianity is the fastest growing religion inside the Oromo community. In urban Oromia Orthodox Christians constitute 67.8% of the population, followed by Muslims 24.0% and Protestants 7%.^[6]

Politics

History

Historically, the Afaan Oromo speaking people used the indigenous Gadaa system of governance that is relatively said to be more democratic than other forms of governance in the region. Many Oromo communities - most notably Gibe Kingdoms, around Jimma - gradually adopted monarchy and other forms of governance in the later centuries of 2nd Millennium. Such changes occurred to due the growing influence of Islam from the east and Orthodox Christianity from the north as well as power struggle between opposing Oromo communities. Jimma is the largest city in western Ethiopia; as of 1994 it had a population of 88,867 people. ... A millennium (pl. ...

Both the peaceful and violent competition and integration between Oromos and others neighboring ethnicities of Amhara, Sidama, Somali and others shaped up politics inside the Oromo community historically. Northern Expansion of Oromos, particularly the Arsi, to ethnic Somali and Sidama territories; the Yejju and other Oromo communities to the north, mirrored the southern expansion of Amharas to influence the current ethnic politics in Ethiopia.^[7]

During the last two centuries, Oromos who have not integrated with the Amhara have not had fair political power inside Ethiopia. However, ethnically mixed Ethiopians with Oromo background made up a high percentage of Ethiopian generals and leaders. The Wollo Oromo (particularly the Raya Oromo and Yejju Oromo) were early Oromo holders of power among the increasingly mixed Ethiopian state. The later north-to-south movement of central power in Ethiopia led to Oromos in Shewa holding power in Ethiopia together with the Shewan Amhara. This led to more political and ethnic mixture between Amhara and Oromo in Shewa region, to the degree that northern Amharas labeled Shewan Amharas using the derogatory term "Galla." ^[8] According to a report by HRW, the large presence of assimilated Oromos inside the Ethiopian government did not benefit Oromos who did not assimilate. Amhara (አማራ) may refer to: Amhara, an ethnic group of Ethiopia. ... This page is about the Egyptian deity. ...

In terms of descent, the group that became politically dominant in Shewa - and Subsequently in Ethiopia - was a mixture of Amhara and Oromo; in terms of language, religion and cultural practices, it was Amhara.^[9]

Nonetheless, both ethnically mixed Oromos and those with full Oromo descent held high leadership positions in Ethiopia. Notably Iyasu V was the designated but uncrowned Emperor of Ethiopia (1913 - 1916) while Haile Selassie I was the de jure Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. Both these Ethiopian Emperors are ethnically mixed, with Oromo parents and lineages. During the Zemene Mesafint or "Age of Princes" of Ethiopia, Emperors became figureheads, controlled by warlords like Ras Mikael Sehul of Tigray, and by the Oromo Yejju dynasty, which later led to 17th century Oromo rule of Gondar, changing the language of the court from Amharic to Afaan Oromo.^[10][11] By the 1880s, Sahle Selassie, king of Shewa (the later Emperor Menelik II) allied with Ras Gobena's Shewan Oromo militia to expand his kingdom to the South and East, expanding into areas that hadn't been held together since the invasion of Ahmed Gragn.^[12] Other famous leader of Ethiopia with Oromo descent was Ras Makonnen Woldemikael Gudessa, the governor of Harar who served as the top general in the First Italo–Ethiopian War, playing a key role at the Battle of Adwa. He is the father of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I. ^[13] Iyasu (Joshua) (4 February 1887 - 25 November 1935) was the ruler of Ethiopia from 1913 to 1916, when he was deposed. ... Haile Selassie Haile Selassie (Power of Trinity) (July 23, 1892 – August 27, 1975) was the last Emperor (1930–1936; 1941–1974) of Ethiopia, and is a religious symbol in the Rastafarian movement. ... Some historians date the murder of Iyasu I, and the resultant decline in the prestige of the dynasty, as the beginning of the Ethiopian Zemene Mesafint (Era of the Princes,) a time of disorder when the power of the monarchy was eclipsed by the power of local warlords. ... Mikael Sehul (Tigrigna Mikael the Astute; his name at birth was Blatta Mikael; c. ... Tigray was a province of Ethiopia. ... Not to be confused with the Aramaic language. ... Emperor Menelik II (Geez ምኒልክ) baptized as Sahle Maryam (August 17, 1844 – December 12, 1913), was of Ethiopia from 1889 to his death. ... Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi (c. ... Ras Makonnen ca. ... Harar (sometimes spelled Harrar, Hārer, or Harer) is an eastern city in Ethiopia, and the capital of the modern Harari ethno-political division (or kilil) of Ethiopia. ... Combatants Ethiopia Italy Commanders Emperor Menilek II Empress Taytu Ras Alula Engida Dejazmach Balcha Aba Nefso Fitawrari Gebeyyehu Ras Gobena Ras Makonnen Ras Mengesha Atikem Ras Mengesha Yohannes Ras Mikael of Wollo Ras Wale Betul Negus Tekle Haymanot of Gojjam Oreste Baratieri Strength ~100,000 (80,000 with firearms), Unknown... Haile Selassie Haile Selassie (Power of Trinity) (July 23, 1892 – August 27, 1975) was the last Emperor (1930–1936; 1941–1974) of Ethiopia, and is a religious symbol in the Rastafarian movement. ...

Current

Most Oromos do not have political unity today due to their historical roles in the Ethiopian state and the region, the spread out movement of different Oromo clans and the differing religions inside the Oromo nation. Accordingly, Oromos played major roles in all three main political movements in Ethiopia (centralist, federalist and secessionist) during the 19th and 20th century. In addition to holding high powers during the centralist government and the monarchy, the Raya Oromos in Tigray played a major role in the revolt inside the Tigray regional state, known as "Weyane" revolt, challenging Emperor Haile Selassie I's rule in the 1940s. ^[14] Simultaneously, both federalist and secessionist political forces developed inside the Oromo community. Tigray may refer to a place in Ethiopia or a people in Ethiopia: Tigray Region Tigray Province Tigray-Tigrinya people Category: ... Haile Selassie Haile Selassie (Power of Trinity) (July 23, 1892 – August 27, 1975) was the last Emperor (1930–1936; 1941–1974) of Ethiopia, and is a religious symbol in the Rastafarian movement. ...

Presently, a number of ethnic based political organizations have been formed to promote the interests of the Oromo. The first was the Mecha and Tulama Self-Help Organization, founded in January 1963, but was disbanded by the government after several increasingly tense confrontations in November, 1966.^[15] Later groups include the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM), the United Liberation Forces of Oromia (ULFO), the Islamic Front for the Liberation of Oromia (IFLO), the Oromia Liberation Council (OLC), the Oromo National Congress (ONC, recently changed to OPC) and others. Another group, the Oromo People's Democratic Organization (OPDO), is one of the four parties that form the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) coalition. However, these Oromo groups do not act in unity: the ONC, for example, was part of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces coalition that challenged the EPRDF in the Ethiopian general elections of 2005. For other uses, see 1963 (disambiguation). ... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... OLF symbol The Oromo Liberation Front (Oromo: Adda Bilisummaa Oromoo, Amharic: ኦሮሞ ፡ ነጽነት፡ ግንባር), or OLF, is an organization established in 1973 by Oromo nationalists to promote self-determination for the Oromo people against what they call Abyssinian colonial rule. It has been designated a terrorist organization by the Ethiopian government. ... The IFLO (Islamic Front for Liberation of Oromia), now known as the FIDO (Front for Independent Democratic Oromia since 2005) after the group reformed its ideology (from national and religious based, to a secular and national ideology) is an Oromo based polito-military organization founded in 1985 by Commander... The Oromo National Congress is a political party in Ethiopia. ... The Oromo Peoples Democratic Organization is a political party in Ethiopia. ... A political party is a political organization that seeks to attain political power within a government, usually by participating in electoral campaigns. ... The Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front, or EPRDF, is the ruling political party of Ethiopia. ... The United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (or UEDF) is a coalition of several existing political parties of Ethiopia which combined to compete for seats in the Ethiopian General Elections held on May 15, 2005. ... Ethiopia held general elections on May 15, 2005, for seats in both its national and in four regional government councils. ...

A number of these groups seek to create an independent Oromo nation, some using armed force. Meanwhile the OPDO and several opposition political parties in the Ethiopian parliament believe in the unity of the country which has 80 different ethnicities that have been intermarrying and living together for centuries. Also there are believed to be around 2.4 million other Ethiopians who have mixed ancestries with the ethnic Oromo.

Nomenclature

The Oromo were historically called Galla, therefore one may encounter this name in older texts, but Oromos do not use this term to refer to themselves since it is considered a derogatory term. Historically, some people among the northern Amhara community used the label "Galla" derogatorily to label Oromos as well as to label Shewan or southern Amharas who were mostly mixed with Oromo. ^[16] A word or phrase is pejorative or derogatory (sometimes misspelled perjorative) if it expresses contempt or disapproval; dyslogistic (noun: dyslogism) is used synonymously (antonyms: meliorative, eulogistic, noun eulogism). ...

However, when Charles Tutschek, writing in the mid 19th century, researched the Oromo, "his informants, according to their published letters, used Galla as a term of self-reference."^[17] The name has fallen into disfavor and is now considered to be pejorative, possibly because of a folk etymology for "Galla" (that it came from Qal la/كَل, pronounced similar to Gal la, Arabic for "ney/no way") that implies they refused Muhammad's offer to convert to Islam. In the Somali language, the word gaal means "non-Muslim" or "stranger", a possible reference to the Oromo and their old pagan religion.^[18] It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with pejoration. ... Folk etymology is a term used in two distinct ways: A commonly held misunderstanding of the origin of a particular word, a false etymology. ... Arabic redirects here. ... Muhammad in a new genre of Islamic calligraphy started in the 17th century by Hafiz Osman. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... The Somali language (Af Soomaali) is a member of the East Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic family. ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ...

Notable Oromo

• Ahmad Taqi- an early nationalist.
• Ali Birra - Singer, composer and songwriter
• Waqo Gutu - Leader of the Bale revolt founding the first Oromo separatist movement.
• King Abba Jifar II - ruled Jimma and surrounding areas
• Prof. Ayana Birru - invented the Amharic typewriter
• Abebe Bikila - first African and Ethiopian to receive a gold medal in the Olympics (marathon; ran barefoot)^{[citation needed]}
• Ras Ali II of Yejju, Enderase or Regent of the Ethiopian Emperor, effectively the ruler of Ethiopia 1915-1930
• Berhane Adere- won the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
• Capt. Aster Tolossa Ethiopian Jet Pilot (1st woman pilot to shoot down a jet in air-to-air warfare)
• Capt. Bulcha Debossie - Decorated Ethiopian senior pilot during Emperor Haile Selassie I
• Derartu Tulu - Long Distance runner and Gold Winner at the Olympics
• Fatuma Roba - Long Distance runner and 1996 marathon winner.
• Gete Wami - cross country and track runner.
• Haile Selassie I- Emperor of Ethiopia, 1930-1974
• Tilahun Gessesse - Famous Ethiopian Singer
• Kenenisa Bekele - Ethiopian long distance runner
• Mamo Wolde - Ethiopian long-distance runner, winner of the marathon at the 1968 Summer Olympics
• Onesimos Nesib - evangelist and translator of Bible into the Oromo language
• Teferi Benti - former Ethiopian president
• Dawud Ibsa Ayana - Chairman of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF)
• Negasso Gidada former Ethiopian president
• Bulcha Demeksa - Chairman of Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM)
• Tilahun Gessesse - famous Ethiopian singer
• Tirunesh Dibaba - Ethiopian long-distance runner
• Ras Gobena - famous and controversial 1800s Oromo figure who allied with Emperor Menelik II
• Abdus Ibrahim - American soccer (football) player, plays for FC Dallas.
• Leencoo Lata- a writer and one of the founders of Oromo Liberation Front (OLF).
• Beka Yahya - One of the first Oromo Actor in the US. Well known in the Oromo community

Ahmad Taqi Sheikh Mohammed Rashid (May 14, 1940 - September 6, 1974) was an Oromo nationalist. ... Ali Birra (born 1950) is a famous Oromo singer, composer, poet and nationalist. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Moti Abba Jifar II was king of the Gibe Kingdom of Jimma (reigned 1878 - 1932). ... Jimma is the largest city in western Ethiopia; as of 1994 it had a population of 88,867 people. ... Abebe Bikila (August 7, 1932 - October 25, 1973) was an Ethiopian runner and two time Olympic marathon champion from Ethiopia. ... For other senses of this word, see Marathon (disambiguation). ... Walking barefoot Going barefoot means not wearing shoes, socks, or other foot covering. ... Ali II of Yejju (c. ... This is a list of Ethiopian aristocratic and religious titles used in Ethiopia until the end of the Monarchy in 1974. ... Berhane Adere (born July 21, 1973 in Shewa) is an athlete from Ethiopia. ... Haile Selassie Haile Selassie (Power of Trinity) (July 23, 1892 – August 27, 1975) was the last Emperor (1930–1936; 1941–1974) of Ethiopia, and is a religious symbol in the Rastafarian movement. ... Derartu Tulu (born: March 21, 1972) in Bokoji, Arsi, Ethiopia is a long distance track, road and marathon athlete. ... Fatuma Roba (born December 18, 1973) is a long-distance runner from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia most known for winning a gold medal in the marathon race at the 1996 Summer Olympics. ... Gete Wami (born December 11, 1974 in Debre Berhan) is a female Ethiopian cross country and track runner. ... Haile Selassie Haile Selassie (Power of Trinity) (July 23, 1892 – August 27, 1975) was the last Emperor (1930–1936; 1941–1974) of Ethiopia, and is a religious symbol in the Rastafarian movement. ... Tilahun Gessesse is an Ethiopian singer. ... Kenenisa Bekele (born June 13, 1982, Ethiopia) is an Ethiopian distance runner, one of the most successful distance runners of all time and considered by some as a modern-day great. ... Demisse Mamo Wolde (June 12, 1932-May 26, 2002) was an Ethiopian runner born in Diri Jille. ... Modern day marathon runners The word marathon refers to a long-distance road running event of 42. ... The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were held in Mexico City in 1968. ... Onesimos Nesib (about 1856 - 21 June 1931), was a native Oromo who converted to Lutheran Christianity and translated the Christian Bible into Oromo. ... Tafari Benti 1921 1977 was the president of Ethiopia from November 28, 1974 until February 3, 1977. ... OLF symbol The Oromo Liberation Front (Oromo: Adda Bilisummaa Oromoo, Amharic: ኦሮሞ ፡ ነጽነት፡ ግንባር), or OLF, is an organization established in 1973 by Oromo nationalists to promote self-determination for the Oromo people against what they call Abyssinian colonial rule. It has been designated a terrorist organization by the Ethiopian government. ... Dr. Negasso Gidada Solon (born 1943) was the President of Ethiopia from 1995 until 2001. ... The Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement is a political party in Ethiopia. ... Tilahun Gessesse is an Ethiopian singer. ... Tirunesh Dibaba (born June 1, 1985 in Arsi, Ethiopia) is an Ethiopian long distance track athlete. ... Menelik II (August 17, 1844 - December 12, 1913), Conquering Lion of Judah, Elect of God, King of Kings of Ethiopia was negus negust (emperor) of Ethiopia from 1889 to his death. ... Year founded 1996 as Dallas Burn League Major League Soccer Nickname FCD, Hoops, Toros, Red Stripes Stadium Pizza Hut Park Frisco, TX Coach Steve Morrow Owner Clark Hunt First Game Dallas Burn 0–0 San Jose Clash (Cotton Bowl; April 14, 1996) Largest Win Dallas Burn 5–0 Kansas City... OLF symbol The Oromo Liberation Front (Oromo: Adda Bilisummaa Oromoo, Amharic: ኦሮሞ ፡ ነጽነት፡ ግንባር), or OLF, is an organization established in 1973 by Oromo nationalists to promote self-determination for the Oromo people against what they call Abyssinian colonial rule. It has been designated a terrorist organization by the Ethiopian government. ...

See also

• Borana people
• Oromia

The Borana are an East African ethnic group living in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia. ... Oromo flag The land of the Oromo Nation is known as Oromia (sometimes spelled Oromiya). ...

External links

• People of Africa, Oromo Culture and Eretcha festival

References

CIA redirects here. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The World Factbook (ISSN 1553-8133; also known as the CIA World Factbook)[2] is an annual publication of the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States with almanac-style information about the countries of the world. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Hakluyt Society is a society named after Richard Hakluyt. ...

Further reading

• Mohammed Hassan, The Oromo of Ethiopia, A History 1570-1860. Trenton: Red Sea Press, 1994. ISBN 0-932415-94-6
• Herbert S. Lewis. A Galla Monarchy: Jimma Abba Jifar, Ethiopia 1830-1932. Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1965.

• RIC Query - Ethiopia. INS Resource Information Center. Retrieved on October 8, 2005.