Biography of Professor Mahadi Hamid Mude: A Pioneer of Oromo Language & Literature

Early Life & Background

  • Birth & Origins: Born in Chiro Town, East Hararghe, Oromia, on February 1, 1950. Mahadi Hamid Mude was deeply rooted in Oromo culture and language from an early age.
  • Education: Pursued studies in physics (BS, MSc, PhD) but maintained a lifelong passion for Afaan Oromo linguistics and literature.

Key Contributions to the Oromo Language

1. Research on Oromo Writing Systems

  • Studied five alphabets used for Afaan Oromo:
  • Roman (Latin)
  • Arabic (Ajam/Manzuma)
  • Ge’ez (Ethiopic)
  • Sheik Bakrii Saphaloo’s script (used for revolutionary poetry)
  • Takka Lama script (developed by his brother, Abdella Hamid Mude)
  • Advocated for Latin script (Qubee Afaan Oromo), arguing it best represented Oromo phonetics.
  • Opposed forced Ge’ez adoption under the Derg regime, citing linguistic inadequacy.

2. Literary & Educational Works

  • Developed early Oromo readers to promote literacy in the 1970s.
  • Attempted to co-author an Oromo grammar book with Haile Fidaa (author of Hirmaata Dubbii Afaan Oromo), but political upheaval halted the project.

3. Founder of “Bariisaa” – The First Oromo Newspaper

  • Established in the 1970s, Bariisaa was the first Oromo-language weekly newspaper.
  • Faced government censorship & harassment for promoting Oromo language rights.
  • Forcibly nationalized in 1977 by the Derg regime, ending its independent run.

Academic Career & Later Life

  • Field: Despite his linguistic work, he was a tenured physics professor (specializing in applied physics).
  • Taught at universities in Atlanta, Georgia (USA).
  • Community Leadership:
  • Founding member of the United Oromo Community of Georgia.
  • Active member of the Oromo Studies Association (OSA).

Legacy & Impact

  • Unsung Hero of Qubee Afaan Oromo: Played a crucial (but often overlooked) role in the standardization of the Oromo Latin script.
  • Pioneer of Oromo Media: Bariisaa paved the way for future Oromo publications like Gadaa, Jimma Times, and Oromia Times.
  • Dual Intellectual: Bridged science (physics) and Oromo linguistics, proving the importance of multidisciplinary scholarship.

Quote (Hypothetical):
“Language is the soul of a people. To deny the Oromo their script is to deny them their voice.”

Death: Passed away in 2021, but his contributions live on in Qubee Afaan Oromo and Oromo literary activism. Mr Mahdi has survived with four kids, Waariyoo, Mahmoud, Hamiidaa, and Taymour, and their mother, Mazian Ahmed.