By Dhabessa Wakjira

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In the heart of the Horn of Africa, a quiet revolution has been unfolding—one that began not with weapons, but with a single, powerful act: the reclaiming of a name. The Oromo struggle, known as Qabsoon Oromoo, did not start in the battlefields or political chambers. It began in the minds and hearts of a people determined to define themselves.

For decades, the Oromo people were subjected to a painful erasure. Their identity—the very name “Oromo”—was suppressed, replaced by the derogatory and alien label “Gaallaa,” a term meant to demean and dehumanize. But the Oromo refused to be silenced. They resisted, they fought, and they insisted on being called by their rightful name. That insistence was the seed from which a broader movement grew.

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The Awakening of Identity

The struggle for Oromo identity quickly evolved into a comprehensive renaissance. It was no longer just about a name; it was about reclaiming every aspect of what it means to be Oromo. The movement demanded recognition not only of the people but also of their language, their script, their land, and their heritage.

The Oromo language, Afaan Oromoo, had long been marginalized, dismissed as a “vernacular” unworthy of official status. But the struggle brought it back to the forefront. The adoption of the Qubee script—a writing system that gave the language a standardized, visible form—was a monumental victory. It allowed Afaan Oromoo to be taught, written, and celebrated, restoring dignity to a people who had been forced to express themselves in the tongues of others.

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Reclaiming the Land, Reclaiming the Names

The Oromo struggle also sought to restore the geography of their homeland. The region of Oromia—the ancestral land of the Oromo people—had been fragmented and renamed by outsiders. Cities and towns bore foreign-imposed names that carried no meaning for the Oromo. But the movement demanded change.

Today, places like Adaamaa, Bishooftuu, Amboo, and Finfinnee are once again called by their Oromo names. These are not mere linguistic adjustments; they are acts of reclamation, of asserting that the land belongs to its people and that its history is written in their language. Even the capital, Finfinnee, stands as a symbol of the struggle—a reminder that identity is inseparable from place.

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Reviving Culture and Spirituality

Beyond language and geography, the Oromo struggle has breathed new life into cultural and spiritual traditions that had been suppressed for generations. Festivals such as Irreechaa, the annual thanksgiving celebration, have seen a remarkable revival. Alongside it, traditions like Shanan, Gadaa, Ifaanoo, Goobee, Shinooyyee, and Wadaajaa have been rejuvenated, connecting the Oromo people to their ancestral roots.

The spiritual practice of Waaqeffannaa, the traditional Oromo belief in one supreme being, has also experienced a resurgence. These cultural and spiritual revivals are not nostalgic gestures; they are affirmations of a living heritage, a declaration that the Oromo identity is not a relic of the past but a vibrant force for the future.

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The Path Forward: Institutions and Unity

The struggle for Oromo identity has also extended to the realm of governance and legal recognition. The movement has worked tirelessly to ensure that Oromo institutions—both traditional and modern—are restored and strengthened. The revival of the Gadaa system, a traditional democratic governance structure, has been particularly significant. It serves as a reminder that the Oromo people have long possessed their own systems of justice, leadership, and decision-making.

Efforts to modernize and restore traditional courts and councils continue to gain momentum, ensuring that Oromo customs are not only preserved but also adapted to meet the needs of today. The Oromo struggle has made clear that the fight is not just for the past but for a future where the Oromo people can chart their own course.

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The Unfinished Business

Despite these achievements, the struggle is far from over. The Oromo quest for self-determination and full recognition continues. The demand for a constitutionally recognized Oromia and the resolution of the broader Oromo question—Gaaffiin Oromoo—remains at the heart of the movement. Until that question receives a just and lasting answer, the struggle will persist.

The Oromo renaissance is a testament to the resilience of a people who refused to disappear. It is a story of cultural reawakening, of reclaiming identity from the ashes of oppression, and of building a future grounded in pride and self-respect. The journey began with a name, but it will end with a nation—strong, united, and free.

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The Oromo struggle is not merely a political movement; it is a profound act of cultural survival. In a world where identities are often erased, the Oromo people remind us that the power to define oneself is the most fundamental freedom of all.