The official press release from the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF/ABO) regarding the passing of beloved artist and freedom fighter Ilfinash Qannoo:

OFFICIAL FEATURE STATEMENT

On the Departure of Beloved Artist and Freedom Fighter Ilfinash Qannoo

Issued by the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF/ABO)
Fulbaana 07, 2026 | Finfinnee, Oromia

A Great Heroine Has Fallen

The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF/ABO) announces with profound grief and a heavy heart the passing of the great Oromo heroine, patriot, and freedom fighter – Beloved Artist Ilfinash Qannoo – who departed from this world on Fulbaana 06, 2026, in the heart of Oromia, at Finfinnee.

Her loss is not merely the loss of an artist. It is the silencing of a voice that sang freedom for over six decades. It is the emptying of a heart that burned with love for Oromia. It is the falling of a flag that inspired millions to rise against oppression.

Roots of a Revolutionary

Artist Ilfinash Qannoo was born in 1962 to her father, Obbo Qannoo Galdaasaa, and her mother, Aadde Zartihun Qananii, in the town of Saxxoo, located in Eebbaa district, East Wallagga Zone, Western Oromia – a region that would later become the cradle of many liberation struggles.

From her childhood, she was drawn to the arts. But her coming of age coincided with a period of intense political awakening across Ethiopia – a time when the Oromo people and other nations rose against the oppressive system. It was this environment that shaped her destiny and transformed her from a simple performer into a voice of the voiceless.

The Song That Shook the Throne

Her path to fame – and to persecution – began in 1976 at a historic cultural performance in Finfinnee. There, she posed the revolutionary question that would become an anthem of resistance:

“Qawwee malee maaltu bilisa nu baasa?”
(“Without the gun, what will set us free?”)

From that moment onward, her life became inseparable from the struggle for Oromo liberation. She dedicated every song, every performance, and every breath to:

• Glorifying the Oromo struggle
• Preaching Oromo unity
• Dreaming of Oromo freedom
• Empowering the Oromo people

Her stage became a battlefield. Her microphone became a weapon. Her lyrics became a declaration of war against injustice.

The Price of Resistance

For her unwavering commitment to the Oromo cause, she paid a heavy price. Under both the Derg regime and the later Woyanne (TPLF/EPRDF) government, she endured long years of imprisonment alongside countless other freedom fighters.

Her suffering did not end there. During her incarceration under the Woyanne regime, she was subjected to brutal torture – including having her scalp forcibly shaved with broken glass – resulting in deep and lasting physical and psychological wounds.

Upon her release, with the help of Oromo patriots, she was secretly taken to neighboring Kenya, and later granted asylum in Norway, where she continued her work from exile.

A Lifetime of Contribution

Throughout her life, Artist Ilfinash Qannoo produced over 10 albums, each one a powerful contribution to the Oromo liberation movement. Wherever the OLF/ABO had a presence, she was there – answering the call, lending her voice, and rallying the people.

Even during the period when the OLF was hosted in Eritrea and waging its armed struggle, Ilfinash – though living in exile in Norway – traveled repeatedly to Eritrea to inspire and strengthen the fighters. Her presence among the combatants was proof of her unwavering dedication; she did not simply sing about the struggle – she lived it.

Her Final Days – Fire That Would Not Die

Her love for Oromia and her commitment to the cause never wavered. Her heart and spirit remained as strong as steel, untouched by compromise or despair. But the years of imprisonment, torture, and exile had taken a toll on her health. The physical and emotional wounds inflicted upon her in Ethiopian dungeons finally caught up with her.

In her final moments, even as her body weakened, her spirit burned bright. Her last words were not of regret, but of love:

“Oromoo koo! ABO koo! WBO koo! Bilisummaa! Oromiyaa! Tokkummaa fi jaalala Oromummaa…”
(“My Oromo! My OLF! My Oromo Liberation Army! Freedom! Oromia! Unity and love of Oromummaa…”)

She passed at the age of 64, still singing, still hoping, still burning for freedom – until her very last breath.

Artist Ilfinash Qannoo leaves behind her two beloved daughters, Hawwii and Daangaa.

A Call to Honor Her Sacrifice

The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF/ABO) extends its deepest condolences to her family, her relatives, her fellow freedom fighters, and the entire Oromo nation.

We call upon our people to remember her message of unity and love – which was her eternal legacy. We urge all Oromos to carry forward the torch she lit, and to not let the sacrifice of Ilfinash and countless other heroes be in vain.

Let us strengthen our unity. Let us reinforce our love for one another. Let us complete the struggle they began – so that Oromia may be free.

Final Salute

Her memory will forever be etched in our hearts. Her songs will forever echo in our struggles. Her spirit will forever march beside us.

Rest in power, Beloved Ilfinash Qannoo.
You did not die – you were promoted to immortality.

“Qabsa’aan ni kufa, qabsoon itti fufa!”
(“The fighter may fall, but the struggle continues!”)

Glory to the Broad Victory of the People!

Issued by:
Oromo Liberation Front (OLF/ABO)
Fulbaana 07, 2026
Finfinnee, Oromia

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