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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

The Oromo In Exile: Creating Knowledge And Promoting Social Justice, Asafa Jalata Nov 2010

The Oromo In Exile: Creating Knowledge And Promoting Social Justice, Asafa Jalata

Sociology Publications and Other Works

Although it has been impossible to freely study, write, and publish on the issues of the Oromo people in the Ethiopian Empire because of political repression, activist Oromo scholars in the Diaspora have been engaging in the development critical Oromo scholarship to address the political, economic, cultural and social problems of this down-trodden people for almost two decades. As a member of the Oromo Diaspora, I have been participating in and observing the development of Oromo scholarship. Successive Ethiopian governments have been targeting for imprisonment or elimination activist Oromos suspecting their participation in the Oromo national movement for national self-determination, …


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.