Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Arts and Humanities Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Sociology

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Oromummaa

Articles 1 - 13 of 13

Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities

Promoting And Developing Oromummaa, Asafa Jalata Sep 2012

Promoting And Developing Oromummaa, Asafa Jalata

Sociology Publications and Other Works

As any concept, Oromummaa has different meanings on conventional, theoretical, and political, and ideological levels. Although the colonizers of the Oromo deny, most Oromos know their linguistic, cultural, historical, political, and behavioral patterns that have closely connect together all of their sub-identities to the Oromo nation. There is a clear conventional understanding among all Oromo branches and individuals on these issues. The Oromo national movement has gradually expanded the essence and meaning of Oromummaa. The colonization of the Oromo and the disruption of their collective identity and the repression and exploitation of Oromo society have increased the commitment of some …


Celebrating Oromo Heroism And Commemorating The Oromo Marytrs' Day (Guyya Gootota Oromiyaa), Asafa Jalata Apr 2010

Celebrating Oromo Heroism And Commemorating The Oromo Marytrs' Day (Guyya Gootota Oromiyaa), Asafa Jalata

Sociology Publications and Other Works

Oromo history demonstrates that the Oromo people had been heroic when they were organized under the gadaa system of government. Between the third and fourth gadaa grades (i.e., from 16 to 32 years), Oromo boys became adolescent and initiated into taking serious responsibilities, including protecting the security of the Oromo country. The ruling group had responsibility to assign senior leaders and experts to instruct and advise these young men in the importance of leadership, organization, and warfare.


Oromummaa: National Identity And Politics Of Liberation, Asafa Jalata Apr 2010

Oromummaa: National Identity And Politics Of Liberation, Asafa Jalata

Sociology Publications and Other Works

Local and fragmented Oromummaa and national Oromummaa are interconnected, but not necessarily one and the same. For instance, if you were born into an Oromo family in an area where the Oromo language is widely spoken, you automatically learn this language without relating it to Oromo national culture and liberation politics. In several Oromia regions, under Ethiopian colonialism, there are Oromos who speak Afaan Oromoo and express local culture without comprehending Oromo national culture and politics. Such Oromos may claim that they were born with Oromummaa. But this kind of Oromummaa is local and fragmented and little to do with …


What Is Next For The Oromo People?, Asafa Jalata Mar 2010

What Is Next For The Oromo People?, Asafa Jalata

Sociology Publications and Other Works

Thank you for inviting me to give a talk on the future of the Oromo people. To try to speculate on the future of the Oromo people is a very challenging task. Nevertheless, I try my best depending on my knowledge of the Oromo colonial history and national struggle in relation to the Ethiopian colonial state. Currently, the Oromo people and their national struggle are at a crossroads because of three major reasons. First, since the Oromo people are engaged in national struggle for self-determination, statehood, sovereignty, and democracy, the Tigrayan-led Ethiopian government is systematically attacking and terrorizing them. Second, …


Oromo Peoplehood: Historical And Cultural Overview, Asafa Jalata Mar 2010

Oromo Peoplehood: Historical And Cultural Overview, Asafa Jalata

Sociology Publications and Other Works

The study of the historical, cultural, religious, linguistic, geographical and civilizational foundations of Oromo society is essential to understand the differences between the Oromo and Ethiopian peoples. The study of these differences is important in properly addressing historical contradictions which have emerged since the colonization of Oromia. First, we introduce Oromia and explain the process of its establishment. Second, we discuss the origin and branches of the Oromo and their modes of livelihoods, the gada system (Oromo democracy), world views, philosophy, and religion. Third, we explore the processes of class differentiation and kingdom formation in northern and western Oromia.


The Urgency Of Building Oromo National Consensus, Asafa Jalata Jan 2010

The Urgency Of Building Oromo National Consensus, Asafa Jalata

Sociology Publications and Other Works

No abstract provided.


Imagining Oromo Self-Knowledge For National Organization Capacity Building, Asafa Jalata Oct 2009

Imagining Oromo Self-Knowledge For National Organization Capacity Building, Asafa Jalata

Sociology Publications and Other Works

This paper imagines and explains the essence of Oromo self-knowledge in relation to Oromummaa—Oromo culture, identity, and human agency at the personal, interpersonal[i] and collective (national)[ii] levels. It specifically explains the relationship between Oromo national and sub-identities before and after colonialism, the uneven development of Oromummaa, and Oromo organizational problems. This paper also suggests some steps that should be taken by Oromo leaders, nationalists, and activists in order to overcome the problem of uneven development of Oromo nationalism and to build an effective national political leadership, increasing the organizational capacity of Oromo society so it will be able to achieve …


The Struggle Of The Oromo To Preserve An Indigenous Democracy, Asafa Jalata Jun 2009

The Struggle Of The Oromo To Preserve An Indigenous Democracy, Asafa Jalata

Sociology Publications and Other Works

This paper explores the essence of the gadaa system (Oromo democracy) and how and why the Oromo people are struggling to preserve and develop this indigenous democracy, written records of which go back to the sixteenth century. It also explains the essence and the main characteristics of Oromo democracy that can be adapted to the current condition of Oromo society in order to revitalize the Oromo national movement for national self-determination and democracy and to build a sovereign Oromia state in a multinational context. The paper also demonstrates that this kind of struggle is an uphill battle because the Oromo …


Increasing Political Activism And Mobilization: Building An Oromo Agency And Capacity For Liberation, Asafa Jalata Dec 2008

Increasing Political Activism And Mobilization: Building An Oromo Agency And Capacity For Liberation, Asafa Jalata

Sociology Publications and Other Works

Without increasing our political activism, mobilizing and organizing our people, we cannot effectively challenge and defeat our external and internal enemies that are attempting to strangulate the development of Oromummaa and the progress of the Oromo national struggle. Our external enemies have been using Oromo clienteles to achieve their political and economic objectives in Oromia. Some Oromos have been used as raw materials in building other nations. Such Oromos have lacked political and national consciousness or lacked self-respect and attacked the Oromo nation for money and other interests. As the Said Bare government created and used the Somali Abo group …


Oromummaa As The Master Ideology Of The Oromo National Movement, Asafa Jalata Jan 2008

Oromummaa As The Master Ideology Of The Oromo National Movement, Asafa Jalata

Sociology Publications and Other Works

Oromummaa, as an element of culture, nationalism, and vision, has the power to serve as a manifestation of the collective identity of the Oromo national movement. The foundation of Oromummaa must be built on overarching principles that are embedded within Oromo traditions and culture and, at the same time, have universal relevance for all oppressed peoples. The main foundations of Oromummaa are individual and collective freedom, justice, popular democracy, and human liberation all of which are built on the concept of saffu (moral and ethical order) and are enshrined in gada principles. Although, in recent years, many Oromos have become …


The Concept Of Oromummaa And Identity Formation In Contemporary Oromo Society, Asafa Jalata Jul 2007

The Concept Of Oromummaa And Identity Formation In Contemporary Oromo Society, Asafa Jalata

Sociology Publications and Other Works

This paper examines the essence of Oromummaa (Oromo culture and nationalism),[1] Oromo identity, and human agency at the personal, interpersonal[2] and collective (national)[3] levels. It specifically explains the relationship between the uneven development of Oromummaa and Oromo organizational problems. This paper also suggests some steps that should be taken by Oromo nationalists and activists in order to overcome the problem of uneven development of Oromo nationalism and to build an effective national political leadership, increasing the organizational capacity of Oromo society so it will be able to achieve self-determination and human liberation.


Commemorating Falled Oromo Heroes And Heroines (Guuyyaa Gootota Oromoo), Asafa Jalata Apr 2007

Commemorating Falled Oromo Heroes And Heroines (Guuyyaa Gootota Oromoo), Asafa Jalata

Sociology Publications and Other Works

Why do we commemorate this national day? What is the importance of having heroes and heroines in Oromo society? What criteria distinguish Oromo individuals who have sacrificed their lives for the liberation of their people and their country? There are five major reasons why we commemorate this day. First, this day allows us to remember those Oromo heroines and heroes who sacrificed their lives to restore Oromo culture, identity, and human dignity that were wounded by Ethiopian colonialism. Second, this commemoration day assists us to recognize the dialectical connection between martyrdom, bravery, patriotism and Oromummaa. Third, this day reminds us …


Oromummaa, Asafa Jalata Jan 2007

Oromummaa, Asafa Jalata

Sociology Publications and Other Works

This book is a collection of my nineteen selected speeches that I delivered to different Oromo and other communities, organizations, and scholarly conferences in North America between 2000 and 2007. Since these speeches were delivered at different times to different audiences, the reader observes some similar central patterns in some of the chapters. In order to maintain the originality of the speeches, I have decided not to change them. From outset I declare that I am an integral part of the process I am exploring and critiquing in this book as a member of the educated Oromo group who have …