Baatuu, Oromia – In a significant act of cultural revitalization, the Jilaa Waayyuu ceremonial ground in Baatuu has been officially reopened and restored to its original purpose after being closed for 63 years. The site, once a central hub for Oromo cultural and spiritual life, has been revived through a government-led heritage restoration project.

Known locally as Qilxuun Qixxee Waayyuu, this historic arena traditionally served as a place for community assembly, conflict resolution, and spiritual prayers. It was where elders gathered to deliberate on matters of justice and communal welfare and was revered as a sacred site for connecting with Waaqa (God).

Government officials highlighted the restoration as a key achievement. Obbo Badhaasaa Reebaa, an official from the Baatuu Branch of the Prosperity Party Office, stated, “The Oromia Regional Government has shown a dedicated focus on reclaiming our cultural heritage. We are committed to ensuring the Oromo people can return to their ancestral traditions and practices.”

Echoing this sentiment, Obbo Kamaal Badhaasoo from the Baatuu Culture and Tourism Office emphasized the project’s importance for future generations. “Our culture was suppressed and inaccessible for 63 years,” he said. “But thanks to the government’s work on cultural restoration, it has now been brought back to life. It is our duty to strengthen this revival and preserve it for the generations to come.”

A Suppressed History

The grounds carry a hidden history of suppression. In 1955, Emperor Haile Selassie passed by the site and saw the Waayyuu elders assembled in their traditional Qixxee formation. When he inquired about the place, his attendants informed him it was a “Qixxee Biyyaa” (a traditional assembly for governing the land). The Emperor subsequently decreed the area a imperial domain, forcibly dispersing the community and banning their gatherings.

Now, 63 years later, the Baatuu City Administration has announced that the Jilaa Waayyuu grounds have been returned to the people, marking a symbolic and concrete step in the recovery of Oromo cultural sovereignty.