Monthly Archives: July 2024
Remembering Girma Gamada: A Pillar of Oromo Volunteerism
How do we remember Girma Gamada?
Girma Gamada was born and raised in Oromia. When he was young, however, the political situation did not allow him to serve his countrymen. The passion and passion for promoting Oromo and Oromummaa did not disappear from him. Instead, this charity left the country with Girma and became an example of Oromo Volunteerism.
GIRMA GAMADAA: An Example of Oromo Volunteerism
Volunteerism is doing good for the community. This culture is to do work that benefits the community and the country. Everyone has the ability to be kind; but not everyone works beyond their own existence and livelihood for the benefit of other communities. But people who are born with this gift cannot hide themselves. When they get this opportunity, they start doing things that will promote and promote their nation.
We can take Girma Gammada as an example of the people that Oromo had like this, and lost in a short time.
Girma was exiled from Oromia for political reasons and lived in exile in Nairobi, Kenya. He then settled in Toronto, Canada. From then on, he started working to address the shortage of Oromo through advertising and information. In a short time, he promoted Oromo songs in various ways and made various posters.
He also made it known in the community by preparing advertisements for festivals and events.
He was doing advertising for various Oromo associations. He contributed greatly to the recognition and growth of the Waqeffannaa association by preparing many posters. He has been contributing to the international recognition and growth of the Irreecha festival.
He was involved in all Oromo structures such as OMN, sports associations and community building. He has done a basic job to make the history of the Oromo fighters like Jaal Bureyessso known to the Oromo people and follow their fancy.
Jawar Mohammed recalled Girma’s contribution to OMN as highly dedicated. “It is devastating to hear of the passing of Girma Gemda. We have lost a true friend and a selfless servant of our community. Girma was one of the most committed and consistent people I had the privilege to work with for more than a decade. He was with us from day one, through all the ups and downs. May you rest in peace, brother. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the Toronto community.”
Since arriving from Oromia, almost 20 years ago, Girma has been serving customers with his friendly and informative approach to seafood selections.
It is with heavy hearts that we inform you that Girma has been diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease), a rare and life-altering condition. ALS is a neurological disease that affects the motor neurons; motor neurons are the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. This diagnosis means that Girma can no longer work and provide for his family as he once did.
It also means he can no longer continue his volunteer work as a graphic designer for the Oromo Community Center or pursue his passion for photography. Girma’s photography skills were evident in his coverage of the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Afrofest Toronto and African Fashion Week Toronto.
For people like Hawwinee Alamayehu, Girma was a brotherly advisor. “A patriot, a strong professional, a hero of man, for me to lose you from my own good brother is a strong sorrow beyond words.”
Girmaan was an adult who was strong in many ways. Tulluu Liiban testified to the achievements of Girma Gamada who will be well remembered by the community. “Girma Hordofa Gemeda, who has been a shining star in promoting the Oromo cause through his creative works over the past 2 decades, passed away untimely in North America and beyond hoped he would recover from his illness Unfortunately this humble and clean human being is gone capacity He has been rendering his works for free with passion.
” Moreover, Girma has designed promotional pieces including printable materials such as T-Shirts, caps, banners, artifacts, logos etc. He has also contributed to the design and editing of choreographies and photography. Girma has recorded and documented a number of vital events in Oromo, in videos and pictures. He has designed events, stages and presented auction items for free for community fundraisers. His Lega Xaafoo Studio is based in Toronto, Canada. Girma will be greatly missed because of his invaluable contributions and commitment to the Oromo people throughout his life.”
Girma was being treated for a neurological disease. However, he could not be cured by treatment. He passed away on July 4,2024. Girmaan was the father of one child; condolences to his wife and child.
Girmaan is not with us today. His voluntaristic work will live with us forever. People like Birhanu Olana are remembering him as very committed Oromo professional.”Girman was a strong Oromo son. He was a strong cameraman and graphics expert that he was helping us day and night when we were looking for such professionals and he never asked us for payment for his services.”
Seenaa Girmaa Gamadaa: Fakkeenya Toleeyyummaa
Girmaa Gamadaa akkamitti yaadanna?
Girmaa Gamadaa Oromiyaa keessatti dhalatee guddate. Yeroo umuriin isaa dargagoometti garuu lammii isaa akka tajaajiuuf haalli siyaasaa ture hin hayyamneef. Fedhii fi dharraan waa’ee Oromoo fi Oromummaa guddisuu garuu isa biraa hin dhabamne. Inumaayyuu dharraan toleeyyummaa kun Girmaa waliin biyyaa bahee fakkeenya toleeyyummaa Oromoo ta’e.
GIRMAA GAMADAA: Fakkeenya Toleeyyummaa Oromoo
Toleeyyummaan aadaa tola hawaasaaf hojjachuu dha. Aadaan kun hojiilee hawaasaa fi biyya fayyadu hojjachuu dha. Namoonni hundi dandeettii toleeyyummaa qaban; garuu namni hundi jiruu fi jireenya ofii bira darbe kan hawaasa biraa fayyadu hin hojjatu. Namootni kennaa kana waliin dhalatan garuu of dhoksuu hin danda’an. Hiree kana yeroo argatan waan saba isaanii beeksisuu fi guddisu hojjachuu jalqabu.
Namoota Oromoon akkanatti qabaatee ture, yeroo gabaabaa keessatti dhabe Girmaa Gammadaa akka fakkeenyaatti ilaaluu dandeenya. Girmaan biyya Oromiyaa irraa sababa siyaasaatiin dhiibamee biyya baqannaa Keeniyaa, Naayiroobii, keessa jiraatee ture. Sana booda biyya Kanaadaa, magaalaa Torontoo keessatti qubate.
Yeroo san irraa kaasee hanqina Oromoo karaa beeksisaa fi odeeffannoo jiru furuuf hojii jalqabe. Yeroo gabaabaa keessatti sirboota Oromoo karaa addaddaa beeksisuu, postara addaddaa hojjachuun akka guddatan taasise. Hawaasa keessattis beeksisa ayyaanotaa fi taatotaa qopheessuun akka beekamu gochaa ture. Waldaalee Oromoo addaddaaf beeksisa hojjachaa ture. Waldaan Waaqeffannaa akka beekamuu fi guddatu dhaadhessa hedduu qopheessuun qooda guddaa gumaache. Ayyaanni Irreechaa akka sadarkaa addunyaatti beekamuu fi guddatu gahee olaanaa gumaachaa ture. Ijaarsa Oromoo kan akka OMN, waldaa ispoortii fi ijaarsa hawaasa Oromoo mara keessatti hirmaataa ture. Seenaa qabsaa’ota Oromoo kan akka Jaal Bureyesssoo fa’aa akka ummanni Oromoo beekanii fi faan-dhahii isaanii hordofaniif hojii bu’ura qabu hojjachuun yaadatama.
Jawaar Mohaammad gumaacha Girmaa OMNf godhe of kennuu ol’aanaa ta’uu yaadateera. “Boqonnaa Girmaa Gammadaa dhaga’uun gaddisiisaa dha. Hiriyaa dhugaa fi tajaajilaa ofittummaa hawaasa keenyaa dhabneerra. Girmaan namoota kutannoo fi wal irraa hin cinne waggoota kurnan oliif waliin hojjechuuf mirga argadhe keessaa tokko ture. Guyyaa tokko irraa kaasee, bu’aa ba’ii hunda keessa nu waliin ture. Nagaa siif haa boqottu obboleessa. Maatii isaa fi hawaasa Toroontootiif jajjabina onneen qaba.”
Girmaan erga Oromiyaa irraa dhufee waggoota 20 dura jechuun ni danda’ama, filannoo nyaata galaanaa irratti mala michuu fi odeeffannoo qabuun maamiltoota tajaajilaa tureera.
Girmaan dhukkuba ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ykn Lou Gehrig’s disease) jedhamu kan baay’ee hin mul’anne fi jireenya namaa jijjiiru qabamee ture. ALS dhukkuba niwurooloojikaalaa kan niwuroonota sochii qaamaa miidhudha; motor neurons seelii narvii sammuu fi lafee dugdaatti sochii maashaalee fedhii isaaniitiin to’atanidha. Qorannoo kun Girmaan kana booda akka durii hojjetee maatii isaa guutuu hin danda’u jechuudha.
Kana booda hojii tola ooltummaa Giddugala Hawaasa Oromootiif graphic designer ta’ee itti fufuus ta’e fedhii suuraa isaa hordofuu hin danda’u jechuudha. Girmaan dandeettiin suuraa ka’uu isaa Maraatoonii Toroontoo Waterfront, Afrofest Toronto fi African Fashion Week Toronto irratti uwwisa isaa irratti mul’ateera.
Girmaan dhukkuba narviitiin wal’aanamaa ture. Haa ta’u malee yaalaan fayyuu hin dandeenye. Adoolessa 4,2024 addunyaa kanarraa boqote. Girmaan abbaa mucaa tokkoo ture; haadha warraa fi mucaa isaatiif jajjabina hawwina.
Namoota akka Hawwinee Alamayehutiif Girmaan gorsaa obbolummaa ture.”Sabboonaa, ogeessa cimaa, goota namaa, anaaf obboleessa gaarii ofii irraa si dhabuun gadda jabaa jechaa ol ta’edha.”
Girmaan nama guddaa karaa hedduun jabaa ture. Bu’aa ba’ii Girmaa Gamadaa hawaasa biratti akka gaariitti yaadatamu Tulluu Liiban ragaa ba’aniiru. “Waggoota kurnan 2 darban hojiiwwan kalaqaa isaatiin kaayyoo Oromoo beeksisuuf urjii ifaa ta’ee kan ture Girmaa Hordofaa Gemeda, yeroo malee Ameerikaa Kaabaa keessatti du’aan addunyaa kanarraa boqote, dhibee isaa irraa ni fayya jedhee abdate bira darbee Kan nama dhibu ilmi namaa gad of qabuu fi qulqulluun kun hin jiru.”
Dandeettii hojiiwwan isaa tolaan fedhiidhaan agarsiisaa tureera. Kana malees Girmaan meeshaalee maxxanfamuu danda’an kanneen akka T-Shirt, caps, banners, artifacts, logos etc. dizaayinii fi gulaaluu kooreegiraafii fi suuraa irrattis gumaacha godheera Girmaan Oromo keessatti taateewwan barbaachisoo ta’an hedduu galmeessee jira. Gumaacha gatii guddaa fi kutannoo umurii isaa guutuu ummata Oromoof kenneen dhabame.”
Girmaan har’a nu waliin hin jiru. Hojiin toleeyyummaa isaa bara baraan nu waliin jiraata. Namoonni akka Birhaanuu Olaanaa ogeessa Oromoo baay’ee of kenne ta’uu yaadatu.
“Girman ilma Oromoo cimaa ture. Ogeessota akkanaa yeroo barbaannu halkanii guyyaa nu gargaaraa akka ture ogeessa kaameeraa fi giraafiksii cimaa turee fi takkaa kaffaltii nu gaafatee hin beeku; kaffaltii tajaajila isaaf kaffalu.”
ግርማ ገመዳ: በጎ ፈቃደኝነት ታሪክ
ግርማ ገመዳን እንዴት እናስታውሳለን?
ግርማ ገመዳ ተወልዶ ያደገው ኦሮሚያ ነው። በወጣትነቱ ግን የአገሩን ሰው ለማገልገል የፖለቲካ ሁኔታው አልፈቀደለትም። ኦሮሞን እና ኦሮምማንን የማስተዋወቅ ስሜቱ እና ፍላጎቱ ከሱ አልጠፋም። ይልቁንም ይህ የበጎ አድራጎት ፍላጎት ከአቶ ግርማ ጋር ሀገሩን ጥሎ የኦሮሞ በጎ ፈቃደኝነት ተምሳሌት ሆነ።
ግርማ ገመዳ፡ የኦሮሞ በጎ ፈቃደኝነት ተምሳሌት
በጎ ፈቃደኝነት ለህብረተሰቡ መልካም እያደረገ ነው። ይህ ባህል ማህበረሰቡንና ሀገርን የሚጠቅም ስራ መስራት ነው። ሁሉም ሰው ደግ የመሆን ችሎታ አለው; ነገር ግን ሁሉም ከራሱ ህልውና እና መተዳደሪያ አልፈው ለሌሎች ማህበረሰቦች ጥቅም አይሰራም። ነገር ግን በዚህ ስጦታ የተወለዱ ሰዎች እራሳቸውን መደበቅ አይችሉም. ይህን እድል ሲያገኙም ሕዝብን የሚያስተዋውቅና የሚያስተዋውቅ ተግባራትን ማከናወን ይጀምራሉ። ኦሮሞ እንደዚህ ነበረው እና በአጭር ጊዜ ውስጥ ያጣውን ህዝብ ግርማ ገመዳን ልንወስድ እንችላለን።
ግርማ ከኦሮምያ በፖለቲካ ምክንያት ተሰዶ በኬንያ ናይሮቢ በስደት ኖረ። ከዚያም በካናዳ ቶሮንቶ መኖር ጀመረ። ከዚያን ጊዜ ጀምሮ የኦሮሞን ችግር በማስታወቂያና በመረጃ ለመፍታት መስራት ጀመረ። በአጭር ጊዜ ውስጥ በተለያዩ መንገዶች የኦሮምኛ ዘፈኖችን በማስተዋወቅ የተለያዩ ፖስተሮችን ሠራ። ለበዓላትና ዝግጅቶች ማስታወቂያ በማዘጋጀት በህብረተሰቡ ዘንድ እንዲታወቅ አድርጓል።
ለተለያዩ የኦሮሞ ማኅበራት ማስታወቂያ ይሠራ ነበር። ብዙ ፖስተሮችን በማዘጋጀት ለዋቄፈና ማህበር እውቅና እና እድገት ከፍተኛ አስተዋፅዖ አድርጓል። የኢሬቻ በዓል በዓለም አቀፍ ደረጃ እንዲከበርና እንዲያድግ የበኩሉን አስተዋፅኦ ሲያደርግ ቆይቷል።
በሁሉም የኦሮሞ መዋቅሮች እንደ OMN፣ የስፖርት ማኅበራት እና የማህበረሰብ ግንባታ ላይ ተሳትፏል። እንደ ጃል ቡሬሶ ያሉ የኦሮሞ ታጋዮችን ታሪክ በኦሮሞ ህዝብ ዘንድ እንዲታወቅ እና ምኞታቸውን እንዲከተል መሰረታዊ ስራ ሰርቷል።
ጃዋር መሀመድ ግርማ ለኦኤምኤን ያበረከቱትን አስተዋፅዖ ከፍተኛ ቁርጠኝነት እንዳለው አስታውሷል። “የአቶ ግርማ ገመዳ ህልፈት መስማት በጣም አሳዛኝ ነው። እውነተኛ ጓደኛ እና ከራስ ወዳድነት ነፃ የሆነ የማህበረሰባችን አገልጋይ አጥተናል። ግርማ ከአስር አመት በላይ አብሬ የመስራት እድል ካገኘኋቸው በጣም ቁርጠኝነት እና ቋሚ ሰዎች አንዱ ነበር። እሱ ከመጀመሪያው ቀን ጀምሮ በሁሉም ውጣ ውረዶች ውስጥ ከእኛ ጋር ነበር። በሰላም ያርፍህ ወንድሜ። ለቤተሰቦቹ እና ለቶሮንቶ ማህበረሰብ ልባዊ ሀዘንን እመኛለሁ።”
ግርማ ከኦሮሚያ ከመጣ የዛሬ 20 ዓመት ገደማ በፊት ባሳየው የወዳጅነት እና መረጃ ሰጪ የባህር ምግብ ምርጫ ደንበኞችን ሲያገለግል ቆይቷል።
ግርማ በአልኤስ (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease) በተባለው ያልተለመደ እና ህይወትን የሚቀይር በሽታ ተያዘ። ALS የሞተር ነርቭ ሴሎችን የሚጎዳ የነርቭ በሽታ ነው; የሞተር ነርቮች በአዕምሮ ውስጥ እና በአከርካሪ አጥንት ውስጥ በፈቃደኝነት የሚደረጉ የጡንቻ እንቅስቃሴዎችን የሚቆጣጠሩ የነርቭ ሴሎች ናቸው. ይህ ምርመራ ግርማ እንደ አንድ ጊዜ ሰርቶ ቤተሰቡን ማሟላት አይችልም ማለት ነው።
ለኦሮሞ ኮሚኒቲ ሴንተር ግራፊክ ዲዛይነር ሆኖ የበጎ ፈቃድ ስራውን መቀጠል ወይም የፎቶግራፍ ፍላጎትን መከተል አይችልም ማለት ነው። ግርማ የፎቶግራፍ ችሎታው በቶሮንቶ የውሃ ፊት ለፊት ማራቶን፣ አፍሮፌስት ቶሮንቶ እና የአፍሪካ ፋሽን ሳምንት ቶሮንቶ ላይ ባቀረበው ዘገባ ላይ ታይቷል።
እንደ ሃዊኔ አለማየሁ ላሉት ሰዎች ግርማ ወንድማዊ አማካሪ ነበር:: “ሀገር ወዳድ፣ ጠንካራ ፕሮፌሽናል፣ ጀግና ሰው እኔ ከራሴ ጥሩ ወንድሜ ላጣህ ከቃላት በላይ ከባድ ሀዘን ነው።”
ግርማን በብዙ መልኩ ጠንካራ የነበረ ጎልማሳ ነበር። ቱሉ ሊባን በህብረተሰቡ ዘንድ በደንብ የሚታወሱትን የግርማ ገመዳን ስኬት መስክሯል። “ባለፉት 2 አስርት አመታት የኦሮሞን ጉዳይ በማስተዋወቅ አንፀባራቂ ኮከብ የነበሩት ግርማ ሆርዶፋ ገመዳ ያለጊዜው ርቀዋል።ነገር ግን ባለፉት ጥቂት ወራት የግርማ ጤና ሁኔታ ላይ ባይሆንም ጓደኞቹ፣ቤተሰቦቹ እና የኦሮሞ ማህበረሰብ በሰሜን አሜሪካ እና በቅርቡ ከህመሙ ይድናል ተብሎ ከሚጠበቀው በላይ ይህ ትሁት እና ንፁህ የሰው ልጅ በሰሜን አሜሪካ፣ በአውሮፓ እና በኦሮሞ ስነ-ጥበባት ላይ ለሚኖሩ ኦሮሞዎች ያለ እረፍት ምላሽ በመስጠት በጎ ተጽዕኖ አሳድሯል።
“የአቅም ስራዎቹን በነፃ ሲያቀርብ የቆየው የግርማ ዲዛይኖች ፣የዲጅታል አኒሜሽን ፣የሙዚቃ ኢንቶር እና የሽግግር ስራዎችን ቀርፆ ነው ለማለት አያስቸግርም። እንደ ቲሸርት፣ ኮፍያ፣ ባነሮች፣ ቅርሶች፣ ሎጎዎች ወዘተ.የኦሮሞ አርቲስቶችን የኮሪዮግራፊ እና የፎቶግራፍ ስራዎችን በመንደፍ እና በማስተካከል የበኩሉን አስተዋፅኦ አበርክቷል።”
“ግርማ በርካታ የኦሮሞ ወሳኝ ኩነቶችን በቪዲዮ እና በምስል ቀርጾ ዘግቧል። ለህብረተሰቡ የገንዘብ ማሰባሰቢያ ዝግጅቶችን፣ መድረኮችን ነድፎ በነጻ የጨረታ ዕቃዎችን አቅርቧል። መቀመጫውን በቶሮንቶ ካናዳ ያደረገው የእሱ Lega Xaafoo Studio ከግርማ ግላዊ ጥቅም ይልቅ ለማህበረሰብ አገልግሎት ይውላል ማለት ይቻላል። ግርማ በህይወት ዘመናቸው ለኦሮሞ ህዝብ ባበረከቱት የማይናቅ አስተዋጾ እና ቁርጠኝነት በእጅጉ ይናፍቃሉ።”
ግርማ በነርቭ በሽታ ታክሞ ነበር.፡፡ ይሁን እንጂ በሕክምና ሊድን አልቻለም. በሐምሌ 4, 2024 ከዚህ አለም በሞት ተለየ። ግርማ የአንድ ልጅ አባት ነበር; ለሚስቱ እና ለልጁ ከፍተኛ ሀዘን የተሰመን መሆኑን መግለጽ እንወዳለን፡፡
ግርማ ዛሬ ከእኛ ጋር የለም። የበጎ ፈቃድ ስራው ከእኛ ጋር ለዘላለም ይኖራል። እንደ ብርሃኑ ኦላና ያሉ ሰዎች እሱን የሚያስታውሱት በጣም ቁርጠኛ የኦሮሞ ፕሮፌሽናል መሆኑን ነው::”ግርማን ጠንካራ የኦሮሞ ልጅ ነበር::ጠንካራ የካሜራ ባለሙያ እና የግራፊክስ ባለሙያ ነበር፡፡ እንደዚህ አይነት ባለሙያዎችን ስንፈልግ ሌት ተቀን ይረዳን ነበር እና ፈጽሞ ክፍያ አልጠየቀንም:: ለአገልግሎቶቹ ክፍያ፡፡”
Advocacy for Oromia 