Category Archives: Kindness
Oromia Eyes AI, Agriculture, and Climate Finance in High-Level Talks with Nedamco Africa
By Dhabessa Wakjira
ADDIS ABABA — In a significant step toward positioning Oromia at the forefront of technological innovation and sustainable development, the President of the Oromia Region welcomed the Nedamco Africa team to the Oromia President Office for a forward-looking discussion on opportunities at the intersection of artificial intelligence, agriculture, climate finance, and international investment.
A Vision for Technology-Driven Development
The meeting, described by the President as “a pleasure,” explored exciting possibilities for leveraging technology and international partnerships to advance agricultural productivity, strengthen climate resilience, unlock investment, and build local technological capacity. The discussions signal a growing recognition that Oromia’s future prosperity will depend not only on its vast natural resources and agricultural potential but on its ability to harness the tools of the digital age.
Artificial intelligence, in particular, was identified as a transformative force capable of revolutionizing how the region approaches farming, resource management, and climate adaptation. By integrating AI into agricultural systems, Oromia could improve crop yields, optimize water usage, and provide farmers with data-driven insights that enhance productivity and sustainability.
Climate Finance and COP32
The timing of the discussions is significant. As Ethiopia prepares for COP32 and continues to advance its digital ambitions, the Oromia regional government is positioning itself as a key player in the global conversation on climate finance and sustainable development. The meeting with Nedamco Africa explored how international partnerships could unlock investment for climate-resilient infrastructure, renewable energy, and agricultural adaptation.
The President emphasized that bringing together innovation, investment, and development is essential to creating lasting benefits for the Oromo people. “I see significant potential in bringing together innovation, investment, and development to create lasting benefits for our people,” he stated.
Building Local Capacity
Beyond the immediate opportunities for investment and technology transfer, the discussions focused on building local technological capacity—a critical component of any sustainable development strategy. Without a skilled local workforce equipped to manage and innovate within these new systems, the benefits of AI and digital technology would remain dependent on external expertise.
The meeting with Nedamco Africa thus signals a commitment not only to attracting investment but to ensuring that Oromia develops the human capital needed to sustain and expand technological innovation in the years ahead.
A Promising Beginning
“I welcome Nedamco Africa’s interest in exploring these opportunities with us,” the President said. “This is the beginning of a promising conversation, and I look forward to what we can build together.”
The discussions represent a new chapter in Oromia’s engagement with the global technology and investment community. As the region continues to position itself as a hub for innovation and sustainable development, partnerships like the one with Nedamco Africa will be instrumental in transforming vision into reality.
#Oromia #Ethiopia #COP32 #AI #Agriculture #ClimateFinance #Innovation #SustainableDevelopment
Diwali Across Victoria: A Festival of Light, Hope, and Community
By Dhabessa Wakjira
MELBOURNE — On 8 November, many Victorians will celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights. Observed by Hindu, Jain, Sikh, and Buddhist communities, Diwali holds different meanings and traditions across cultures and faiths. Across these celebrations, the festival is associated with hope, the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance.
A Festival Shared Across Faiths
Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in the world. Its name derives from the Sanskrit word deepavali, meaning “row of lights.” For Hindus, it marks the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and his victory over the demon king Ravana—a celebration of the triumph of dharma (righteousness) over adharma (evil). For Jains, it commemorates the attainment of nirvana by Lord Mahavira. For Sikhs, it marks the release of Guru Hargobind Ji from imprisonment and the Bandi Chhor Divas, a celebration of freedom and justice. For Buddhists, particularly in Nepal and parts of India, it is associated with the day Emperor Ashoka embraced Buddhism.
Despite these different origins, the common thread is unmistakable: light overcoming darkness, knowledge overcoming ignorance, and hope overcoming despair.
How Victorians Celebrate
Across Victoria, Diwali is celebrated with a richness that reflects the diversity of the communities who observe it. Homes are cleaned and decorated with rangoli—intricate patterns made from coloured powders, rice, and flower petals. Diyas (oil lamps) are lit and placed around homes and in temples, symbolizing the light of knowledge and the presence of the divine. Families gather for prayers, share sweets and festive meals, and exchange gifts.
In Melbourne, public celebrations have become a major feature of the city’s cultural calendar. From Federation Square to local community halls, Diwali events bring together thousands of people each year for music, dance, food, and fireworks. Temples across the state—including the Shree Swaminarayan Temple in Tarneit, the Sri Durga Temple in Rockbank, and the Hindu Society of Victoria in Carrum Downs—hold special services and celebrations. Community organisations host cultural programs, and the annual Diwali at Fed Square has become one of the city’s most anticipated multicultural events.
A Celebration of Community
Beyond the lights and the festivities, Diwali carries a deeper message about community and belonging. It is a time when families come together, when neighbours exchange greetings, and when the bonds of friendship are renewed. For the Indian diaspora in Victoria—one of the fastest-growing communities in the state—Diwali is also an opportunity to share their heritage with the wider public, fostering understanding and connection across cultural boundaries.
The festival’s emphasis on hope and renewal resonates beyond the communities who celebrate it. In a world often marked by division and uncertainty, the image of lamps lit against the darkness speaks to something universal: the human desire for goodness, knowledge, and peace.
Wishing Everyone a Joyful Diwali
As Victorians prepare to celebrate, the message is one of warmth and inclusivity. Whether through the lighting of diyas, the sharing of sweets, the explosion of fireworks, or the simple act of gathering with loved ones, Diwali is a reminder that light—however small—has the power to dispel darkness.
Wishing everyone celebrating a joyful Diwali!
#Diwali2026 #FestivalOfLights #Victoria #MulticulturalAustralia #DiwaliMelbourne
Eight Black Women Who Rose to the Highest Levels of Political Power in America
By Dhabessa Wakjira
From the halls of Congress to the White House, the U.S. Senate, and the highest levels of national security, eight Black women have broken barriers, challenged political traditions, and become some of the most influential figures in American political history. Their journeys remind us that Black women have not simply participated in American politics—they have helped shape its direction.
1. Barbara Jordan (1936–1996): The Congresswoman Who Challenged a President
Barbara Jordan was one of the most respected political figures in American history. In 1966, she became the first Black woman elected to the Texas Senate. In 1972, she made history again by becoming the first Black woman elected to Congress from a Southern state since Reconstruction.
Her greatest national moment came during the Watergate scandal in 1974. As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, she delivered a powerful speech during the impeachment proceedings against President Richard Nixon. She defended the U.S. Constitution and argued that no president should stand above the law. Her speech established her as one of America’s most respected political orators.
2. Carol Moseley Braun (1947– ): The First Black Woman Elected to the U.S. Senate
In 1992, Carol Moseley Braun achieved a historic political breakthrough. She defeated Republican incumbent Alan Dixon in Illinois, becoming the first Black woman ever elected to the United States Senate. She served from 1993 to 1999.
During her time in the Senate, she advocated for education, civil rights, and women’s equality. In 1999, President Bill Clinton appointed her U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa. She also sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004. Her achievement opened another important door for Black women in American political leadership.
3. Patricia Roberts Harris (1924–1985): The First Black Woman in a Presidential Cabinet
Patricia Roberts Harris was a lawyer, diplomat, educator, and government official. In 1965, she became the first Black woman appointed as a U.S. ambassador, serving in Luxembourg.
Her achievements continued under President Jimmy Carter. In 1977, she became Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), making her the first Black woman to serve as a U.S. cabinet secretary. In 1979, she became Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. When that department was reorganised in 1980, she became the first Secretary of the newly established Department of Health and Human Services. She occupied some of the most influential positions in the American federal government.
4. Condoleezza Rice (1954– ): The First Black Woman to Become U.S. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice became one of the most influential women in American foreign policy. In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed her National Security Adviser—the first Black woman to hold that position. In January 2005, she made history again when she became the 66th U.S. Secretary of State, the first Black woman ever to occupy the office.
Her responsibilities included international diplomacy, foreign policy negotiations, and America’s relationships with other countries. She served until January 2009. Her decisions, particularly concerning the Iraq War era, remain subjects of political debate. Nevertheless, her appointment represented a historic breakthrough in American government.
5. Susan Rice (1964– ): The First Black Woman to Become U.S. National Security Adviser
Susan Rice became one of the most influential foreign policy officials in President Barack Obama’s administration. Before becoming National Security Adviser, she served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations from 2009 to 2013. In 2013, she became the first Black woman appointed National Security Adviser.
The position placed her at the centre of presidential decision-making on international relations, intelligence, defence, and national security. She served until 2017. In 2021, President Joe Biden appointed her Director of the Domestic Policy Council. Her career demonstrates the growing influence of Black women in America’s most sensitive government institutions.
6. Kamala Harris (1964– ): The First Black Woman to Become Vice President
Kamala Harris made American political history. She previously served as District Attorney of San Francisco, California Attorney General, and U.S. Senator. In 2020, Joe Biden selected her as his running mate. After winning the presidential election, Harris was sworn in on January 20, 2021.
She became the first woman to serve as U.S. Vice President, the first Black person to hold the office, and the first South Asian American to become Vice President. In 2024, she became the first Black woman nominated for president by a major American political party. Although she lost the 2024 presidential election, her place in American political history remains significant.
7. Maxine Waters (1938– ): The Long-Serving Congresswoman
Maxine Waters is one of the most prominent Black women in contemporary American politics. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, she moved to Los Angeles, California, where she became involved in community organising and politics. She was elected to the California State Assembly in 1976. In 1990, she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Waters became nationally recognised for her outspoken positions on racial justice, economic inequality, housing, financial regulation, and government accountability. She chaired the powerful House Financial Services Committee from 2019 to 2023. Her influence has made her one of the most recognisable Black women in American congressional politics.
8. Stacey Abrams (1973– ): The Political Strategist
Stacey Abrams is a lawyer, former Georgia legislator, and voting rights advocate. She served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2007 to 2017 and became the chamber’s Democratic minority leader.
In 2018, she became the first Black woman nominated for governor by a major political party in the United States. Although she narrowly lost the election to Brian Kemp, her political influence grew nationally. She became widely recognised for her work on voter registration, voting access, and electoral participation. Through organisations including Fair Fight Action, she helped bring national attention to voting rights debates. She ran for governor again in 2022 but lost to Kemp. Although she has never served as governor, her influence on modern American electoral politics is undeniable.
What These Eight Women Have in Common
Their political journeys demonstrate how much American politics has changed. Barbara Jordan became a powerful defender of constitutional accountability. Carol Moseley Braun broke the racial and gender barrier in the U.S. Senate. Patricia Roberts Harris opened the door to Black women’s leadership in presidential cabinets. Condoleezza Rice reached the highest levels of American foreign policy. Susan Rice became the first Black woman National Security Adviser. Kamala Harris became America’s first female and first Black Vice President. Maxine Waters became one of the most recognisable voices in Congress. Stacey Abrams became a major force in modern electoral organising.
They did not all share the same political beliefs, strategies, or backgrounds. But each made a significant contribution to the history of Black political representation in America. Their stories remind us that Black women have not simply participated in American politics. They have helped shape its direction.
Four Women, One Heritage: Ethiopian American Women Make History in 2026 Elections
By Dhabessa Wakjira
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Based on 2026 U.S. election results confirmed so far, four women of Ethiopian heritage have won seats in Congress, state government, and the judiciary—a milestone that reflects the growing political representation of Ethiopian Americans across the United States.
Melat Kiros: A Historic First in Colorado
Melat Kiros has been elected to the U.S. Congress from Colorado’s 1st Congressional District, becoming the state’s first Black woman elected to Congress. At 29 years old, Kiros is also the first Gen Z woman ever elected to the House of Representatives. Born in Addis Ababa before moving to America to study law, she defeated a 15-term incumbent in the primaries before winning the general election. Her victory is a testament to the rising influence of a new generation of Ethiopian American leadership.
Samra Brouk: Re-elected to the New York State Senate
Samra Brouk has been re-elected to the New York State Senate, continuing her service as a voice for her constituents in Rochester and the surrounding region. Brouk, who has been a prominent advocate for mental health reform and community investment, represents the deepening roots of Ethiopian American political engagement in New York.
Yema T. Measho: Elected Circuit Court Judge in Oregon
Yema T. Measho has been elected as a circuit court judge in Oregon, bringing her legal expertise and commitment to justice to the bench. Her election reflects the growing presence of Ethiopian Americans in the judicial system—a crucial arena where representation matters for ensuring fairness and equity.
Nina Ashenafi-Richardson: Securing Another Judicial Term in Florida
Nina Ashenafi-Richardson has secured another judicial term in Florida, continuing her distinguished career on the bench. Her re-election is a vote of confidence in her service and a reminder that Ethiopian American women are shaping the legal landscape in states across the country.
A Growing Presence
These four women represent different journeys—from Congress to state senate to the judiciary, from Colorado to New York to Oregon to Florida. But they share one thing: Ethiopian heritage. Their achievements reflect the growing representation of Ethiopian Americans in the political and civic life of the United States.
The 2026 elections have been described as a watershed moment for diversity in American politics. The election of Black women to Congress, the rise of Gen Z leadership, and the growing presence of immigrant communities in elected office all point to a changing political landscape—one that is more reflective of the country’s demographics and more responsive to its diversity.
Congratulations
To Melat Kiros, Samra Brouk, Yema T. Measho, and Nina Ashenafi-Richardson: congratulations. Your victories are not only personal achievements but milestones for the Ethiopian American community and for all who believe in the promise of representative democracy.
Four women. Different journeys. One shared Ethiopian heritage.
#EthiopianAmerican #Election2026 #WomenInPolitics #RepresentationMatters
Melat Kiros: 29-Year-Old Ethiopian-Born Trailblazer Elected to Congress
By Dhabessa Wakjira
DENVER, Colorado — In a political season that has already made history, one victory stands out as particularly remarkable. Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old Democrat, has been elected to Congress from Colorado’s 1st Congressional District—becoming the first Gen Z woman ever elected to the United States House of Representatives.
From Addis Ababa to the Halls of Congress
Kiros was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, before moving to America to study law. Her journey from the Ethiopian capital to the chambers of Congress is a testament to the possibilities that education, determination, and public service can unlock. She is a member of the Democratic Party and brings with her a legal background that has prepared her for the rigors of legislative work.
A Historic First
Kiros is the first Gen Z woman elected to Congress and the second Gen Z member elected to the House of Representatives, following Maxwell Frost. At 29 years old, she represents a new generation of leadership—one that has come of age in a time of profound social and political change and is now stepping into the institutions that shape the future.
The Road to Victory
Her path to Congress was not an easy one. In the primaries, Kiros defeated Diana DeGette, a 15-term incumbent—a stunning upset that signaled voters’ appetite for fresh leadership and new voices. She then went on to face Republican Christy Peterson in the general election, emerging victorious.
The victory is not only a personal triumph but a milestone for Ethiopian Americans and for the broader diaspora community. As one supporter put it: “Ethiopia to the world.”
A New Generation Takes Its Seat
Kiros’s election comes at a moment when American democracy is being tested and renewed. Her presence in Congress will bring a perspective shaped by her immigrant experience, her legal training, and her generation’s commitment to addressing the challenges of the 21st century—from climate change to economic inequality to the defense of democratic norms.
She joins a historic class of Black women elected to Congress in 2026, a group that includes Nikema Williams, Lucy McBath, Jasmine Clark, Ayanna Pressley, and many others. Together, they represent a transformation of American political representation—one that is younger, more diverse, and more reflective of the country’s changing demographics.
Congratulations
Melat Kiros’s victory is a moment of pride not only for Colorado and the United States but for Ethiopia and the global Ethiopian diaspora. Her story—from Addis Ababa to the U.S. Congress—is a reminder that the distance between struggle and leadership is often smaller than it appears, and that the children of immigrants can rise to the highest levels of public service.
Congratulations, Congresswoman-elect Melat Kiros.
#AmericaDecides #Election2026 #MelatKiros #EthiopiaToTheWorld
When Those in Power Refuse to Listen: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Power of Nonviolent Dialogue
By Daandii Ragabaa
What happens when those in power refuse to listen?
Martin Luther King Jr. grew up in a segregated United States, where Black Americans were denied a voice and risked threats and violence for speaking out. The institutions of government, the courts, the police, and much of the public square were closed to them. To speak was to risk one’s life. To be heard was almost unimaginable.
Yet King chose not to answer silence with silence. He chose nonviolent resistance.
The Strategy of Peaceful Protest
King understood that the refusal to listen is itself a form of violence—a denial of the other’s humanity. His response was not to mirror that denial but to expose it. Through peaceful protests, sit-ins, marches, and boycotts, he helped make the situation of Black Americans impossible to ignore. The point was not merely to disrupt but to reveal: to show the nation and the world what segregation actually looked like, and to force those in power to confront what they had chosen not to see.
In 1963, 250,000 people joined the March on Washington, where King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. It made people listen. The following year, legislation prohibiting racial discrimination was passed—the Civil Rights Act of 1964—and King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Principle 4: In Dialogue, You Must Listen
The Nobel Peace Center identifies this as an example of Principle 4 of good dialogue: In dialogue, you must listen. The principle is deceptively simple, but it carries profound implications. Listening is more than merely hearing. It requires focus and presence. It requires the willingness to set aside one’s own prejudices and judgments long enough to actually receive what another person is saying.
The Nobel Peace Center offers practical guidance on what this looks like:
- Listen to what is being said. Do not let your own thoughts and prejudices interfere with your ability to listen.
- Do not give advice unless it is requested.
- Do not interrupt. Let the other person finish talking.
- Do not capture the conversation by drawing parallels to your own experiences.
- Be empathic and show understanding for the other person’s situation.
- Do not presume to know other people’s opinions.
These are not abstract ideals. They are disciplines—habits of attention that must be practiced, especially by those who hold power.
The Courage to Make Listening Impossible to Avoid
King’s genius was in understanding that when those in power refuse to listen, the response is not to shout louder but to create conditions in which listening becomes unavoidable. The March on Washington was not merely a protest; it was an invitation—a demand—for the nation to hear what it had spent generations trying to drown out.
The Nobel Peace Center notes that King “used Principle 4: In dialogue, you must listen to find a solution.” This is a crucial insight. King did not abandon dialogue; he insisted on it. He did not seek to destroy his opponents; he sought to awaken them. His nonviolent resistance was, in its deepest logic, an act of faith in the possibility of dialogue—even with those who had shown no willingness to engage.
Listening as a Moral Practice
The lesson for our own time is clear. In a world where political leaders often speak past one another, where social media rewards outrage over understanding, and where the powerful routinely dismiss the grievances of the marginalized, Principle 4 remains a radical challenge. Listening is not a passive act. It is a moral practice—a recognition that the other person has something to say that we need to hear.
King’s life is a testament to this truth. He listened to the pain of his community. He listened to the conscience of the nation. And he forced those in power to listen to him—not through violence, but through the disciplined, peaceful insistence that their humanity and his were bound together.
A Legacy That Still Speaks
More than half a century after his death, King’s example continues to teach. When those in power refuse to listen, the answer is not to abandon dialogue but to practice it more faithfully—to create the conditions, through peaceful means, in which listening becomes inevitable. That is the lesson of the March on Washington. That is the lesson of the Civil Rights Act. And that is the lesson of Martin Luther King Jr.’s extraordinary life.
The Nobel Peace Center’s eight principles of dialogue—of which listening is the fourth—are not merely a framework for conflict resolution. They are a way of being in the world. And as King showed, they have the power to change history.
Principle 4: In dialogue, you must listen.
Read more about the Nobel Peace Center’s dialogue principles: https://www.nobelpeacecenter.org/en/dialogue/principle-4
“A Nation Approaching Spiritual Death”: MLK’s Warning and the Moral Case for Social Justice Over Military Spending
By Dhabessa Wakjira
More than half a century after his death, Martin Luther King Jr.’s words continue to cut through the noise of political debate with unsettling clarity. “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death,” King declared in 1967, in a speech that would prove to be one of his most prophetic. His message reminds us that building peace through social justice is not a policy preference—it is a moral responsibility.
The Context of a Prophetic Warning
King spoke these words at a moment of profound national tension. The United States was deep in the Vietnam War, spending billions on military operations abroad while poverty, inequality, and racial injustice continued to ravage communities at home. King had come to see the connection between the two—what he called the “giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism.” For King, these were not separate problems but interlocking systems of oppression. A nation that could find endless resources for war but not for the poor was a nation that had lost its moral compass.
His warning was not merely about budgets. It was about priorities, values, and the soul of a nation. “Spiritual death” was King’s way of describing what happens when a society becomes so invested in violence and domination that it can no longer recognize the humanity of its own people—when the means of destruction are funded more generously than the means of life.
The Relevance Today
King’s words resonate with uncomfortable force in 2026. Global military spending has reached record levels, with nations around the world pouring trillions into defense budgets while social programs—education, healthcare, housing, and poverty alleviation—remain chronically underfunded. The gap between what societies spend on war and what they spend on peace is not merely a fiscal statistic; it is a moral indictment.
In Ethiopia and across the Horn of Africa, the consequences of this imbalance are visible. Resources that could be used to build schools, hospitals, and infrastructure are diverted to conflict. Communities that have suffered from war and displacement continue to wait for the “peace dividend” that never arrives. The lesson King articulated—that a nation cannot bombs its way to security while neglecting the well-being of its people—is as true today as it was in 1967.
Peace Through Social Justice
King’s message was not merely a critique of military spending; it was a vision of what true peace requires. “True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice,” he famously said. Peace cannot be built on the backs of the poor, the marginalized, or the dispossessed. It requires a commitment to social uplift—to ensuring that all people have access to the basic conditions of a dignified life.
This is the moral responsibility that King’s words place before us. To build peace through social justice means to prioritize the well-being of communities over the projection of power. It means to invest in education, healthcare, and economic opportunity as seriously as nations invest in weapons. It means to recognize that the true measure of a society’s strength is not the size of its military but the quality of life it provides for its most vulnerable members.
A Call to Conscience
King’s warning is not a call to naivety. He understood that the world is dangerous and that nations must defend themselves. But he insisted that the pursuit of security through military means alone is self-defeating. A nation that continues to choose guns over butter, bombs over books, and war over welfare is not strong—it is slowly dying from the inside.
His words challenge us to ask uncomfortable questions: What are our true priorities? Who benefits from the current arrangement? And what would it take to build a society where the needs of the many are not sacrificed for the ambitions of the few?
Conclusion
Martin Luther King Jr.’s message is not a relic of the past. It is a living challenge to every generation. His warning about spiritual death is a reminder that the choices we make about how we spend our resources are not merely political decisions—they are moral ones. Building peace through social justice is not optional. It is our responsibility. And it is the only path to a future that honors the dignity of all people.
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
Urjii Festival to Represent Oromo Gadaa on the World Stage in Dubai
By Dhabessa Wakjira
ADDIS ABABA — The Urjii Festival, a celebration of Oromo heritage and the Gadaa system, is preparing to represent Oromo culture on the global stage, with organizers calling on all stakeholders to support and stand alongside the initiative. The festival is scheduled to take place on 15 November 2026 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Media Briefing Held in Addis Ababa
On Friday, 20 October 2026, a detailed media briefing on the Urjii Festival was held in Addis Ababa. In keeping with Oromo tradition, the briefing opened with blessings from Abbootii Gadaa (Gadaa leaders) and Haadholii Siinqee (women elders). The event was attended by invited guests, media professionals, and artists.
The briefing provided comprehensive information about the upcoming festival, which is being organized to showcase Oromo culture, traditions, and the Gadaa system to an international audience. The festival is expected to serve as a platform for cultural exchange and economic engagement between Oromia and the diaspora community in the UAE.
A Call to the Diaspora
The organizers have extended an invitation to the Oromo community in the UAE and neighboring countries to participate in the festival and take part in the various programs being prepared. The festival is designed to strengthen social ties and community connections among Oromo people in the region.
The Urjii Festival in Dubai will feature a diverse program, including:
- Community gathering and social networking events
- An Investment Forum
- A Coffee Trade exhibition
- Short film screenings
- A photography gallery
- Book displays
- Fashion and traditional attire shows
- Dance performances
- A major music concert featuring numerous artists
The festival will also highlight tourism destinations in Oromia, promoting the region as a place of cultural and historical significance.
Recognition of Gadaa on the World Stage
The organizers emphasized that the Urjii Festival represents the Gadaa system and Oromo heritage on the world stage. “The Urjii Festival is going to represent our Gadaa system and showcase our culture to the world,” the organizers stated. “Therefore, every stakeholder should support it and stand alongside it.”
The festival is being organized with the support of the Yaa’ii Gullallee multi-media and event organization, which has pledged its commitment to ensuring the success of the event.
A Moment of Pride for the Oromo Nation
The Urjii Festival comes at a time when Oromo cultural expression is gaining increasing international recognition. The Gadaa system, inscribed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016, is a source of pride for the Oromo people and a testament to their democratic traditions. The festival in Dubai will provide an opportunity for the global Oromo diaspora to celebrate their heritage, connect with one another, and share their culture with the world.
As the organizers prepare for the November event, the call has gone out to the community in the UAE and beyond: come, participate, and be part of this historic celebration.
For more information about the Urjii Festival, including registration and participation details, please contact the organizing committee at Elias Kiflu Tolera.
Oromo Community Melbourne to Honour Four Oromo Australians for Contributions to Oromummaa
By Dhabessa Wakjira
MELBOURNE — The Oromo Community Melbourne (OCM) has announced that it will formally recognise and honour four Oromo Australians for their significant contributions to strengthening and advancing Oromummaa.
The recognition ceremony, part of the 2026 Oromo Community Recognition Program, will be held on Sunday, 8 November 2026, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Ross House, 251 Flinders Lane, Melbourne.
A Recognition of Service and Commitment
According to a statement released by the Oromo Community Melbourne, the honorees have been selected by the Oromo Community Recognition Committee (USA), which has, over recent years, been evaluating and acknowledging—through various means—the Oromo Australians who have made significant contributions to strengthening and advancing Oromummaa in their communities.
This year, the Committee has selected four honorees from the region and has prepared certificates of recognition and appreciation for them. To make this possible, representatives have been dispatched to the local committee to officiate the ceremony.
“Just as they have stood with integrity to bestow honour and recognition, we too are invited to join them in delivering this message with respect and celebration,” the OCM statement read.
Event Details
The ceremony will take place at one of Melbourne’s well-known community venues, Ross House, located at 251 Flinders Lane in the heart of the city. The event is expected to bring together community members, elders, youth, and invited guests for an afternoon of celebration, reflection, and cultural affirmation.
- 📍 Venue: Ross House, 251 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
- 📅 Date: Sunday, 8 November 2026
- 🕑 Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm (AEST)
A Call to the Community
The Oromo Community Melbourne has extended a warm invitation to all members of the community and friends of Oromo to attend the ceremony and join in honouring the recipients.
“Oromo Community Melbourne (OCM) warmly welcomes you!” the statement concluded.
The recognition of these four individuals is a testament to the enduring commitment of the Oromo diaspora in Australia to preserving, strengthening, and advancing Oromummaa—a commitment that finds expression not only in celebrations such as this, but in the daily work of community building, cultural transmission, and service to the nation.
For more information, please contact the Oromo Community Melbourne on 0422 137812 or visit the event page of the community. All are welcome. 🎉
The Silence of the Press: Ethiopia’s Media Authority Suspends The Reporter Indefinitely
In a decision that rights advocates are calling a watershed moment for press freedom, the Ethiopian Media Authority has revoked the registration of one of the country’s most storied independent news brands — and the clock on its silence has no end date
By Daandii Ragabaa
—
ADDIS ABABA — For more than two decades, The Reporter has been a fixture of Ethiopian public life — a bilingual newspaper that carried investigative reporting, analysis, and the kind of scrutiny that powerful institutions rarely welcome. Its Amharic edition, its English edition, and its digital platforms together formed one of the few remaining spaces where Ethiopian readers could encounter reporting not calibrated to official messaging.
That space, as of this week, has been declared closed.
The Ethiopian Media Authority announced that it has indefinitely suspended the registration certificate of The Reporter — encompassing the Amharic-language Reporter, the English-language The Reporter, and the Ethiopia Reporter digital platforms — effective from the 23rd of the month. The suspension has no stated end date. The institution has been barred from all printing and publishing activity.
A Decision in Full
The Media Authority grounded its decision in the powers granted to it under Proclamation No. 1238/2013, invoking a year of content monitoring that it says confirmed “repeated violations of the law and professional ethics.”
The violations cited are sweeping. The Authority accused the publication of disseminating content contrary to the country’s national interest; of fomenting confusion among the public by inflating political and economic issues; and of spreading distorted information that exerts a negative influence on foreign investment, tourism, and diplomacy. It further stated that the publication had persisted in offering unbalanced reporting that tarnished the country’s image.
According to the announcement, the Authority had previously engaged with the media outlet’s owners and editors, held discussions, and issued final warnings in an effort to secure corrections. But no improvement was observed in the content, it said — and so the suspension was imposed.
A Familiar Script, a Higher Stakes
The language of the decision will be familiar to anyone who has followed Ethiopia’s media landscape in recent years. The Authority has used similar formulations to justify the suspension of other outlets — most prominently Tigray TV, which was shut down indefinitely in the aftermath of the breakdown of the Pretoria Agreement. Earlier this month, the Authority also indefinitely suspended the registration of another independent publication, Addis Standard.
What distinguishes the suspension of The Reporter is not the language but the institution. The Reporter is not a partisan outlet or a niche platform. It is one of the oldest and most established independent newspapers in the country — a publication that has, over the years, trained generations of Ethiopian journalists, hosted debate, and maintained a reputation for professional rigor that even its critics acknowledge.
The closure of a newspaper is never merely the closure of an office. It is the closure of a habit of reading, of a community of writers, of a memory of what independent journalism in Ethiopia can look like.
“National Interest” and the Moving Line
The Authority’s invocation of “national interest” is the crux of the matter, and the source of deepest concern among press-freedom advocates.
The concept is not defined in the announcement. It does not need to be. In practice, “national interest” functions as a moving line — one whose location is determined by the regulator, in the moment, according to criteria it does not disclose. A report on a security operation may be said to endanger national interest. An analysis of economic policy may be said to foment confusion. An investigation into official misconduct may be said to tarnish the country’s image.
The problem with such a standard is not that it is applied too strictly. It is that it cannot be contested. There is no counter-argument the accused can offer against a criterion whose content is never specified. The Authority’s decision cites a year of monitoring, but the monitoring methodology, the specific articles found wanting, and the reasoning connecting them to the cited violations are not made public.
The result is a regulatory environment in which a newspaper can be shut down without ever knowing exactly which words condemned it — and in which every other publication is left to guess.
The Wider Context
The suspension of The Reporter did not happen in a vacuum. It follows a pattern that has accelerated in recent months.
In January, Haymanot Zeleke was appointed Director of the Ethiopian Media Authority — a figure with a long career inside Ethiopia’s state media apparatus, who had previously enumerated the categories of content she considered violations: obscenity, content harmful to youth, disrespect toward women, unverified sourcing. The board of the Authority is chaired by Redwan Hussein, who simultaneously serves as Director General of the National Intelligence and Security Service — an arrangement whose implications for press freedom are difficult to overstate.
In September, Tigray TV was suspended indefinitely and barred as a source. This month, Addis Standard was suspended. This week, The Reporter. The sequence is not random. It is a consolidation — a steady, methodical narrowing of the space in which independent journalism can operate.
Meanwhile, the country’s political and security situation remains fragile: the collapse of the Pretoria Agreement, renewed fighting in the north, a restive Oromia, and strained relations with Eritrea. In such moments, the temptation to treat information as a weapon to be controlled rather than a public good to be protected is at its strongest.
What the Newspaper Leaves Behind
The Reporter’s closure will not be felt immediately in the way a power outage or a road closure is felt. Its absence will accumulate slowly, in the stories that go unreported, the questions that go unasked, the readers who gradually forget that a newspaper once held the powerful to account.
But for the journalists who worked there, the end is immediate. Their bylines are suspended. Their investigations — some of them months or years in the making — are frozen. Their sources, who trusted them, are left exposed. And their colleagues at other publications are left with a single, inescapable question: am I next?
The Authority has framed its decision as a matter of law and professional ethics. The newspaper’s defenders frame it as a matter of survival — of an independent press in a country that has never fully allowed one to flourish. Both framings can be true at once. What cannot be disputed is that a newspaper that existed last week does not exist this week, and that the decision to end it was made by an institution whose chairman also runs the country’s intelligence service.
The Reporter’s presses have gone quiet. The question now is how long the silence will last — and who will be left to break it.
—
The Ethiopian Media Authority’s decision was announced in an official statement. The Reporter has not issued a public response at the time of publication.
