When it came to realising her dream of preserving the once-banned East African language Oromo, Toltu Tufa didn’t need to look any further than her dad, Abdu Tufa, for inspiration.
NOBLE Park’s Toltu Tufa had a dream to write a children’s book in her father’s native African language of Oromo, which was banned in parts of East Africa until 1991.
Her initial goal was to raise $ 50,000 through a crowd- funding campaign, but thanks to overwhelming support to save the African language, she ended up raising $124,000.
Now her dream has come to fruition and she has launched a range of educational tools in Oromo, including four textbooks, picture storybooks for preschool children, stickers and flashcards.
Earlier this month she returned to Australia after a book tour of seven cities in seven weeks, visiting communities around the globe who donated largely to her campaign.
Her books have sold out in each of those seven cities and yesterday, at the Melbourne launch of her Oromo range at Springvale Town Hall, Ms Tufa presented awards to those who helped to make her dream a reality.
“There’s so many local people in the city of Greater Dandenong who’ve actually experienced what it feels like to not have their language being spoken,” she said.
“There’s a lot of people who have suffered during the regime who want to pass ( Oromo) on to their children.
“Then there’s a lot of children who are just excited about having something that’s high-quality, colourful and available.”
Ms Tufa said she planned to make cartoons and videogaming in Oromo.
“The whole theory of my work is culturally empowered storytelling,” Ms Tufa said.
“I wanted children to be able to learn about their language in a context they understand, so they have cartoons that look like them and sound like them.”
A native African language has been brought to the pages of children’s textbooks for the first time by a Melbourne educator. More than 40 million people speak the Oromo tongue but, until now, it’s been largely passed down by word-of-mouth.
Source: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/video/399415363938/Aussie-educators-quest-to-document-an-African-Lang
As mortals we all must die. But the Oromummaa we observe in our diverse dances, songs and lyrics is eternal. Looked at without comprehension of this truth, Oromummaa is a bleak, final and ever changing.GUYYAA AADAA OROMO will be a 3-days celebration and it starts three days before Irreechaa.
5. GUYYAA AADAA OROMO is a euphoric event where people dance, sing, party and have an overdose of fun. It allows someone’s true heart to come out and have as much fun as possible.
6. GUYYAA AADAA OROMO is the result of months of preparation. People will eagerly anticipate the start of each year’s GUYYAA AADAA OROMO.
8. On GUYYAA AADAA OROMO celebration day, street venders sell foods after obtaining license from local officials .
9. During this holiday, Oromo musical bands compose music and sell them, books will be sold, Oromo cultural attires will be available for sell by venders etc.
10. This holiday will be glamorized via television, radio, websites, Facebook etc
 Addee Asli Oromo: The first woman in the history of Ethiopian Empire that sentenced to death because of her political vision about Oromo people but released after 18 years in prison as a result of international communities campaign. |
 Addee Urjii Dhaabaa: Is one out of many Oromo Women that survived sexual aggression of Ethiopian government military force, police and security agents. |
Thank you Mr, Chairman
Your excellences member of the European parliament, Dear participants, Ladies and Gentlemen, my most heartfelt thanks are extended to the Organising Committee of this seminar. I am particularly grateful to my informants Asli Oromo, Urjii Dhaabaa, Ilfinesh Qano and Dinkinesh Dhereessaa whom I am able to speak to about the agony they endured and who also morally supported of the Oromo women survivors of sexual violence who able to speak to them while their stay in Ethiopian Prison.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Ethiopia is the tenth largest country in Africa and it is the second most populated country in Africa with projected population of 100 million by 2020. It has a number of nations/ nationalities with distinct culture. Ethiopia consists of peoples speaking more than 80 different languages (CSA, 2006)[1]. Currently, Ethiopia is classified into nine regional states. Oromia is the largest regional state in land mass and population. Ecologically and agriculturally Oromia region is the richest region in the Horn of Africa. Oromos are accounted for more than 45% of the population of the Ethiopian empire. The population size of the Oromo people and their resources makes Oromia the heart of Ethiopia. Failure and progress in Oromia regional state is grossly contribute to the failure and progress to Ethiopia.
Oromo people are egalitarian society. Historically their democratic system of government known as “Gadaa” governed the social, economic political affairs of the Oromo people. Under Gadaa, Oromo women developed their own unique institution known as “Siiqee”. Oromo women used Siiqee institution to defend their rights, promote their interests and challenge male domination. After the Oromo people are colonized in 1880s all Oromo institutions are either totally banned or incapacitated. Since then the Oromo people are denied the right to determine on their social, economic, political and cultural affairs. For example, banning or incapacitating Siiqee hindered the Oromo women defending their rights. The colonial power not only banned and incapacitated Oromo institutions but also introduced and/or widened gender hierarchy and discriminatory social practices. This conditioned Oromo women to bear double burdens (i.e. colonial and male domination) and exposed them to sexual violence.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The definition and the scope of sexual violence is a major problem in communications as it can be defined either narrowly or broadly. Here are four selected exemplary definitions of the term for the purpose of this presentation. The United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (UN, DEVAW, 1993)[2], defines violence against women as: ‘any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.
The second definition of violence which is worthy to consider is one that is found in the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, better known as the Maputo Protocol, which was adopted by the African Union in 2003 in Maputo, Mozambique and entered into force in 2005 (AU, Maputo Protocol, 2003)[3]. As per this protocol, violence against women means: “all acts perpetrated against women which cause or could cause them physical, sexual, psychological, and economic harm, including the threat to take such acts; or to undertake the imposition of arbitrary restrictions on or deprivation of fundamental freedoms in private or public life in peace time and during situations of armed conflicts or of war” (AU, Maputo Protocol, 2003: article 1.b. paragraph. 8)
For more information: https://advocacy4oromia.org/campaigns/sexual-violence-with-special-emphasis-on-sexual-aggression-in-oromia/
Liberation is a journey. However, for the weak minded, it is a journey toward an unreachable destination. For the brave community like Australian Oromo Community however, it is neither a short distance running nor it is unreachable destination. Nonetheless, for the shortsighted opportunists, liberation is the process of economic transactions. It is the process through which they make a living by selling their own people and information.
Here is the protest of Australian Oromo Community in Victoria against those men and women who used the Oromo cause and came to Australia and now running around in Australia’s malls and hotels where this, the Tigre Trojan horse, named Abduleziz eats and sleeps at 81-95 Henry st. St. Albans on February 7, 2015.
Thanks to the sacrificed heroes, we have glimpsed our future, we know the way and we have the truth on our side.
The new scheme will include a public awareness campaign to tackle domestic violence
The aim is to establish uniform guidelines for prosecuting domestic violence cases across all states.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has urged the Council of Australian Governments, the peak inter-governmental forum, to reach agreement on a plan this year.
One Australian woman dies every week as a result of domestic violence, according to government statistics.
Mr Abbott’s announcement comes three days after a campaigner against domestic violence, Rosie Batty, was named Australian of the Year.
Ms Batty’s son Luke was killed in public by his father last February while playing cricket.
After her son’s death, Ms Batty emerged as an articulate and powerful advocate for the rights of women and children living in violent relationships, giving new force to efforts to prevent family violence across Australia.
Activists say Ms Batty’s ability to explain why so many women struggle to protect their children from violent partners helped make family violence a key campaign issue for all political parties in last November’s Victoria state election.
‘Terrible things’
Mr Abbott said at a press conference on Wednesday that Ms Batty’s advocacy had played a role in his decision to establish the national scheme. He said she was advising the government on how to make it easier for women to get help from the authorities.
He added that he did not want Ms Batty’s Australian of the Year award to be just symbolic. Rather, he said, she wanted “us to act as a nation to make a difference to reduce the scourge of domestic violence”.
Rosie Batty won Australian of the Year for her work as a campaigner against domestic violenceHe said a national scheme would mean a domestic violence court order against an alleged perpetrator in one jurisdiction would hold in another. The violence should not be allowed to follow women from state to state, he said.
“I am a father of three daughters, and the brother of three sisters,” he said. “The last thing I want to see is violence against women and children.”
Mr Abbott said one of the issues that would be addressed was greater co-ordination between police, social services and mental health bodies.
The government would also consider launching a public awareness campaign similar to those launched to address illegal drink driving.
“If you are a repeat drink driver, you really have the book thrown at you,” said Mr Abbott. “But if you breach a domestic violence order, often there are hardly any consequences.”
“I tell you just because terrible things are happening behind closed doors doesn’t mean they are not terrible things.”
Today, Australians celebrate their national day. They celebrate what Australia means to them: their freedom, their tolerance and their multiculturalism.
For Meti and Jitu who arrived Australian with their family in 2009 because of political persecution, however, the Australian Day means #peace, #freedom, #dignity, and after all #choice in which they vow to honour the day with great contribution.
Happy Australia Day
#advocacyforOromia!
Press Releases, 19 January 2015
Re: Great Loss to the Human Rights Community as Legendary Dr. Martin Hill Passes On
Dr Martin Hill
We are deeply saddened to hear the death of Dr Martin Hill, and we want to express our sincerest condolence to his wife and his family on behalf of the Advocacy for Oromia Association in Victoria Australia. Dr Martin was a long time friend and voice for the voiceless oppressed peoples of the world including the Oromo, and we greatly benefit from his support. Dr. Martin Hill passed away on Friday 9 January 2015.
Dr. Hill’s legacy at the Amnesty Secretariat office in London, as a researcher and a campaigner on the Horn of Africa in the human rights field for over 32 years, has many aspects. At sub-regional level where many human rights violations and suffering for the past three decades and lack of attention globally, Dr. Hill brought human rights issues and concerns in the limelight and earned the admiration and love of many people particularly Oromians, Eritreans, Ethiopians, and Somalis.
Dr. Hill worked with many voiceless people and individuals on the protection and promotion of human rights. Many of our friends particularly remember the first human rights defenders training for Somalis that Dr. Hill organized in 1997 in Kenya. He was instrumental in organizing sub-regional networks consultation meetings to the run up of the All Africa Human Rights Defenders Conference I 1998 and subsequently the global human rights summit in Paris in December 1998.
Dr. Hill will be remembered for his ardent support to human rights in the Horn of Africa. He inspired and mentored so many human rights activists who are now working with prominent human rights organizations around the world. He contributed to the fight against human rights violations and ending the culture of impunity in the sub-region.
Our thoughts are with his family and many friends around the world. The Advocacy for Oromia, a non-profit advocacy organisation working to ensure that the Oromo people’s rights and wishes are respected, extends its sincerest condolences to his wife, Dawn Hill and children. Dr Hill was a remarkable man, who made a difference in the lives of many voiceless people through his researching and campaigning activities on the Horn of Africa in the human rights field for over 32 years.
For more information: Advocacy for Oromia Oromia Press Release Dr Martin Hill
Advocacy for Oromia
19 January 2015
(Advocacy for Oromia) We are deeply saddened to hear the death of Dr Martin Hill, a long time friend and voice for the voiceless oppressed peoples of the world including the Oromo. Dr. Martin Hill passed away on Friday 9 January 2015.
Dr. Hill worked at the Amnesty Secretariat office in London, as a researcher and a campaigner on the Horn of Africa in the human rights field for over 32 years.
I first met Dr. Hill in 1989 when he led the first Amnesty International delegation to Somalia during the period of military dictatorship. At sub-regional level where many human rights violations and suffering for the past three decades and lack of attention globally, Dr. Hill brought human rights issues and concerns in the limelight and earned the admiration and love of many people particularly Ethiopians, Eritreans and Somalis.
Dr. Hill was a friend to me and to my late uncle, Dr. Ismail Jumale Ossoble, (the only human rights lawyer who consistently defended prisoners of conscience in the dreaded national security court). Dr. Ossoble was a prisoner of conscience himself and was Amnesty International’s principle research contact in Somalia during the 80s and 90s. We subsequently established Dr. Ismail Jumale Human Rights Centre in 1996 and I co-directed the centre for 6 years starting in 1996 before I went into exile. During this period, I was the principle Somali contact for Amnesty International and I worked very closely with Dr. Hill.
Dr. Hill worked with us on the protection and promotion of human rights for Somalis including a sign up campaign during the 50th UDHR anniversary celebrations where Dr. Ismail Jumale Centre was able to garner over 1.5 million signatures including first signature by the founding first President, the late Aden Abdulle Osman at his farm in Shalambood District of lower Shabale region, former Prime Ministers, faction leaders, and civil society groups among others.
I particularly remember the first human rights defenders training for Somalis that Dr. Hill organized in 1997 in Kenya and I was part of that training. He was instrumental in organizing sub-regional networks consultation meetings to the run up of the All Africa Human Rights Defenders Conference I 1998 and subsequently the global human rights summit in Paris in December 1998.
He also supported our research initiative during our initial mission, Africa Human Rights Defenders Project in the East and Horn of Africa while I was at York University. Dr. Hill was present as founding member of East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network in 2005 in Entebbe, Uganda.
Dr. Hill will be remembered for his ardent support to human rights in the Horn of Africa. He inspired and mentored so many human rights activists who are now working with prominent human rights organizations around the world. He contributed to the fight against human rights violations and ending the culture of impunity in the sub-region.
Our thoughts, and those of the wider human rights community, are with his family and many friends around the world. The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project staff, East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network and the Pan Africa Human Rights Defenders Network, extend our sincerest condolences to his wife, Dawn Hill and children.
Advocacy for Oromia 