(A4O, 26 March 2014) The Karrayu Oromo who have lived for generations (for more than 6ooo years) in the north-east of Oromia, Metehara Plain and Mount Fantalle area keeps the wonderful Oromo culture and history.

They trace their descent from Oromo through Barentuma whom they regard as their genealogical father while they consider the Ittu as their genealogical brother.

According to a popular belief, Karrayu begot two sons known as Dullacha and Basso, names that represent the two major genealogical groups within the Karrayu. 

The Karrayu consider a location called Meda Wollabu, a natural lake located between the Borana and Bale areas, as their place of origin.

Oral tradition has it that the Karrayu settled around Fantalle mountain where they had been residing around lake Basaqa, in the Sabober plains and the Metehara area for the past 6000 years.

The present Karrayu land is located on the edge of the Upper Valley of the Awash River Basin.

It lies at an altitude of not more than 1000 meters above sea level falling to 955 meters at Metehara Plain and rising as high as 2007 meters at Mount Fantalle, which is the highest elevation in the area.

The neighbors of the Karrayu are the Afar Debine in the North, Arsi Oromo in the South, the Awash National Park in the East, and beyond the Park are the Ittu of West Harrerge, the Argoba in the West and the Amhara in the district of Berehet in the southwest.

However, the socio-cultural identity they have preserved for centuries as a predominantly pastoralist community is being put to test both spontaneously and systematically.