Black Liberation Reading List:

The Oromo of East Africa

Compiled By: Alby, Marii, and Zemzem

General Ethiopian History

Books

“Revolutionary Ethiopia” by Edmond Keller

”Oromo Nationalism and the Ethiopian Discourse: The Search for Freedom and Democracy”

By Asafa Jalata

“The Invention of Ethiopia” by Bonnie Holcomb and Sisay Ibsaa

“The Ethiopian State at a Crossroads: Decolonization and Democratization or Disintegration?” by Leenco Lata

“The Horn of Africa as Common Homeland: The State and Self-Determination in the Era of Heightened Globalization” by Leenco Lata

“Ethiopia: A Pawn in European Diplomacy” by Ernest Work

“Conquest and Resistance in the Ethiopian Empire, 1880 - 1974: The Case of the Arsi Oromo by Abbas Gnamo

Articles

“Knowledge, Identity and the Colonizing Structure: The Case of the Oromo in East and Northeast Africa” by Gemetchu Megerssa

• https://oromianeconomist.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/knowledge-identity-oromo-phd-thesis-of-gemetchu-megerssa-ruda.pdf

The Hamitic Hypothesis: It’s Origins and Functions In Time Perspective by Edith Sanders

• https://courses.washington.edu/relvip/Religion_%26_Violence/Study_Guides/Entries/2014/6/26_Religion_and_Politics_in_Christianity_files/Hamitic%20Hypothesis.pdf

Oromo History

Books

“Gadaa (Oromo Democracy)” by Assafa Jalata

“Being and Becoming Oromo”: A collection of academic articles

“Preserving the History of Ethiopia’s Oromo People” by Brian Yates, Ph.D.

• https://www.sju.edu/news/preserving-history-ethiopias-oromo-people

“The Oromo of Ethiopia: A History 1570-1860” by Mohammed Hassen

“The Oromo and the Christian Kingdom of Ethiopia: 1300-1700 (Eastern Africa Series)” by Mohammed Hassen

“Oromia: An Introduction to the History of the Oromo People” by Gadaa Melbaa

Articles

Comparing the African American and Oromo Movements in the Global Context by Asafa Jalata

• https://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1079&context=utk_socopubs

Oromo People article by Beekan Erena:

• https://scholar.harvard.edu/erena/oromo

Gadaa (Oromo Democracy): An Example of Classical Civilization by Asafa Jalata

• https://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1080&context=utk_socopubs

Conquest, Tyranny, and Ethnocide against the Oromo: A Historical Assessment of Human Rights Conditions in Ethiopia:

• https://www.jstor.org/stable/41931279?seq=1    (Academic article)

Ethiopia's Unacknowledged Problem: The Oromo by PTW Baxter

• https://www.jstor.org/stable/721835?seq=1

Aanolee: ‘a tragedy on which Ethiopian sources are silent’

• https://www.opride.com/2014/04/08/aanolee-mutilation-a-tragedy-on-which-ethiopian-sources-are-silent/

Sinnqee System

Videos

Gola Oromiyaa

• https://www.facebook.com/OBNAfaanoromo/videos/882896172224213/

How A Stick Protects Oromo Women - BBC

• https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-africa-44442764/how-a-stick-protects-oromo-women-in-ethiopia

Waaqeeffanna (Indigenous Oromo Religion)

Articles

Oromo Indegenous Religion: Waaqeeffannaa - Bedassa Gebissa Aga

•  https://www.rsisinternational.org/IJRSI/Issue26/01-08.pdf

“The Oromo Conception of Life” by Workineh Kelbessa- (Academic Article)

The Embelama of Walaabuu-Faajjii Walaabuu

• This discusses the significance blackness and how it represents purity as well as the colors of the original oromo flag
• http://www.waaqeffannaa.com/culture/the-embelama-of-walaabuu-faajjii-walaabuu/#:~:text=The%20primordial%20black%20or%20grey,believes%20Waaqaa%20seated%20and%20lived.

Irreechaa Ceremony (Oromo Thanksgiving)

• https://www.waaqeffannaa.com/irreechaa/

Oromia’s Irreecha Festival – A Revival of an Ancient African Culture – An Attempt to Understand and Explain

• https://www.waaqeffannaa.com/irreechaa/oromias-irreecha-festival-a-revival-of-an-ancient-african-culture-an-attempt-to-understand-and-explain/

Oromo Protests

Articles

“The Oromo Protests have Changed Ethiopia”

• https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2016/11/oromo-protests-changed-ethiopia-161119140733350.html

“Ethiopia: Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa”

• http://www.oromoliberationfront.org/News/2011/Ethiopia-_Urgent_Action_and_Apeal.pdf

Amnesty International: ‘BECAUSE I AM OROMO’: SweepIng Repression In the Oromia Region of Ethiopia

• https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/4000/afr250062014en.pdf

Ireecha Massacre - Human Rights Watch

• https://www.hrw.org/report/2017/09/19/fuel-fire/security-force-response-2016-irreecha-cultural-festival                 

“The Oromo and the War on Terror in the Horn of Africa”

• https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/07/2013714133949329934.html

Discourse on the term “Habesha” and Writings on other Minorities

Articles

“The Difference Between Being Habesha and Ethiopian” by Magn Nyang

• http://www.sudantribune.com/The-difference-between-being-an,30208
• This woman is an Anuak woman from Gambella - one of the most oppressed ethnic groups in the country who also don’t look phenotypically “Ethiopian”

“Anniversary of Anuak Massacre” by Obang Metho

• http://www.anuakjustice.org/141213-Anuak-Remembrance.htm

“It is Time to Hear from the Ethiopian Minorities on the Current Crisis We Face!”

• http://www.solidaritymovement.org/index.php

Miscellaneous:

Additional resources:

• http://www.ethesis.net/ethiopie/ethiopie_bibliografie.htm

Interesting read on how Teddy Afro’s music may not be as universal as some may think

• https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/09/17/the-world-loves-ethiopian-pop-star-teddy-afro-his-own-government-doesnt/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.36eadbb3550a

For our visual learners, the video below includes

• Different tribal dances of the Oromo ethnic group
• A spoken word briefly touching on the unique facts of the Oromo people
• A fashion show showcasing different attires of each tribe within Oromo culture

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC7TPMg5K24