“From Identity to Nation-Building: Oromo Sisterhood Institute Declares ‘Oromummaa is Non-Negotiable'”

[Virtual Conference] — In a powerful and intellectually charged virtual summit, the Oromo Sisterhood Institute has forcefully redefined the trajectory of the Oromo struggle, centering women’s leadership and declaring the core ideology of Oromummaa as the non-negotiable foundation for the future.

Held under the theme “Oromummaa is Non-Negotiable”, the conference assembled leading Oromo intellectuals and activists with a clear mission: to critically engage with the Oromo struggle and strategically empower women to assume robust roles in its present and future leadership.

The conference featured a distinguished panel including Dr. Asafa Jalleta, Jaal Ayyaanee Lammeessaa, and Jaal Raajii Gudetta, expertly facilitated by Jaal Naaroobika Bayissa. Their discussions delved into the practical and philosophical applications of this framework, reinforcing the conference’s resonant refrains:

• Oromummaan seenaa keenya! (Oromummaa is our history!)
• Oromummaan eenyummaa keenya! (Oromummaa is our identity!)
• Oromummaan egeree keenya! (Oromummaa is our future!)

“This was more than a discussion; it was a declaration of intent,” a statement from the Oromo Sisterhood Institute read. “Our aim is to ensure Oromo women are not just participants but architects of the next chapter.”

The keynote framework was delivered by scholar Jaal Ayyaanee Lammeessaa, who presented a compelling three-stage evolution for the national movement:

“Oromummaa must grow into Sabboonummaa (Enlightenment/Consciousness); from Sabboonummaa, we are summoned to unify for Ijaaramuu (Construction/Building).”

This progression charts a deliberate path from foundational identity, through a phase of widespread political and cultural awakening, to the ultimate, unified project of tangible nation-building.

By framing Oromummaa as an evolving, dynamic force essential for survival and sovereignty, the institute has moved the discourse beyond preservation towards active creation. The summit signals a pivotal shift, positioning Oromo women’s intellectual leadership as the vital catalyst for transforming a non-negotiable identity into a built future.