FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Global Oromo Advocacy Group Mourns Scholar Who Championed Indigenous African Democracy

(Melbourne, Australia) – February 5, 2026 – The global advocacy network, Advocacy for Oromia, has announced the passing of Professor Asmerom Legesse, a towering intellectual figure whose work fundamentally reshaped global understanding of the Oromo people and their democratic heritage. Professor Legesse, hailed as a “steadfast guardian” of Oromo culture, died at the age of 89.

In a statement released from its Melbourne headquarters, the organization paid tribute to the scholar’s more than four decades of work dedicated to the Gadaa system, describing it as the “sophisticated democratic and socio-political foundation of Oromo society.” The statement emphasized that Professor Legesse was far more than an academic; he was a “preeminent global ambassador” for an indigenous African system of governance, justice, and social order.

His seminal text, Oromo Democracy: An Indigenous African Political System, was highlighted as a cornerstone of his legacy. Advocacy for Oromia stated that his scholarship performed a “vital act of cultural reclamation and global education,” which restored dignity to a marginalized history and presented the world with a self-originating model of democracy that predated Western constructs.

The condolence message also revealed a poignant historical connection. During a recent visit to Asmara, Eritrea—Professor Legesse’s birthplace—a delegation learned that his family home stood adjacent to the church where Abbaa Gammachis and Aster Ganno, 19th-century icons of faith and linguistic preservation, translated the Bible into the Oromo language. The group framed this “physical proximity” as a powerful metaphor, linking the spiritual resilience of those earlier figures with Professor Legesse’s intellectual fortitude in defending Oromo identity.

Born in Asmara in 1937, Professor Legesse’s academic journey took him from political science at the University of Wisconsin to a doctorate in anthropology from Harvard University, where he later taught. Advocacy for Oromia noted that his rigorous research provided the foundational academic framework for understanding indigenous African political philosophy.

The organization extended its heartfelt condolences to his family, academic colleagues, and the Oromo people worldwide. While mourning the loss, the statement concluded with a commitment to celebrate his “immortal legacy,” asserting that his work will continue to “illuminate the path toward understanding, justice, and self-determination.”

About Advocacy for Oromia:
Advocacy for Oromia is a global network dedicated to promoting awareness, justice, and the rights of the Oromo people. It focuses on upholding principles of democracy, human rights, and cultural preservation central to Oromo identity.