Random Oromo history thread!

[Abba Sadacha]

Okay guys, since most of you seem to not know about your neighbors, the Oromos, I will be posting over the days random excerpts of our history. Stay tuned and here's a sample:


''In the 16th century, the migration and territorial expansion of the Oromo pastoral groups changed the territorial, social and the demographic structure of the Horn. Yet, there are controversial views concerning the interpretation of this migration.
While the mainstream of the historians interprets the Oromo migration as a great expansion to central, eastern and southern Ethiopia, Oromo intellectuals tend to believe that it rather was the reoccupation of land from the Amhara which had been inhabited by Oromo since time immemorial [Markakis 1998: 140].
However, as a consequence of the Oromo expansion, the center of Adal was transferred to Aussa in the Afar region, which became the new seat of the Sultanate.
The Oromos pushed Somali groups into the Afar territory, especially into the area around Aussa, which had an impact on the Saho population, because the Afar in turn pushed the Saho from the Bure-Peninsula to the north [Trimingham 1976 [10952]: 93-94; Greenfield 1965: 53-57; UllendoRF 1967: 75).
The Adoi-mara Afar had penetrated the Bure-Peninsula, previously a purely Saho-inhabited area, from the coast.
By no doubt, the Adoi-mara were pushed in this direction by the Asai-Mara Afar [Pollera 1996 [1935]: 158].
As a result, Afar-speaking groups populated the Bure Peninsula alongside with the original Saho dwellers.
They were from the Ankale, Bellessowa, and Damohoita sub-tribes, which were affiliated with the Hazo tribe of the Saho [Lewis 1969: 176].
The Saho sub-tribes were engaged in a pastoralist mode of subsistence at that time, living scattered between the Red Sea coast and the highlands.
While they were relatively independent from each other in their subsistence economy, they formed temporary alliances in order to face the threats of the central powers.
Some of the Saho groups who had settled in the highlands were also affected by new waves of immigrants coming from Tigray during the 16th century and after the demise of the Adal Sultanate.

''The great events of the middle 16th century led to a more rapid evolution of society in Eritrea...
Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of such families [displaced from central Ethiopia] entered the highlands of Eritrea.
Some were content to be allotted empty land by the Bahr Negash, and make the best terms they could with their new neighbors.
Others, in stronger force or higher pretension, seem to have taken a share- perhaps the lion's - of existing cultivation, and entered rather as masters than as refugees''
[Longrigg 1974 [1945]: 55].''

[The Saho of Eritrea: Ethnic Identity and National Consciousness
By Abdul Kader Saleh Mohammed, pages 175-176]

 

[Abba Sadacha]

'In the areas of cultivation and in cities, different ethnic groups have specific relationships of interaction and exchange of service.
This is especially the case in the Rahanwein and Digil inter-river area. Some of the groups interact as equals, others in a patron and client relationship.
Displaced clans or lineages of the larger Somali tribes are usually accepted as equals; clans or lineages surviving from tribes which have dwindled and disappeared are less accepted because of their weakness but have no disabilities or impediments to marriage in Somali customary law.
This includes the Akisho clan of the Oromos, who are scattered in small groups among the Habr Awal Isaaq.
The Isaaq intermarry with them and recognize their right to own land. These maintain their identity as Oromos but are accepted on equal status by the Somalis, being under the protection of Habr Awal lineages.
When an Akisho lineage wished to join a Habr Awal group, they were adopted without any protest save from the other Akisho who were losing members.
Oromos are generally accepted as related to the Somali because of their way of life rather than their physical or linguistic relationship; the WaBoni, whose language, like Somali and Oromo, is also Cushitic, are not so accepted because of their differing way of life.
The specific test of Oromo political and social status, however, is their ability to pay dia [blood money] without the aid of their protectors/patrons among the Isaaq; those who cannot may hold land only as tenants.''

[Area Handbook for Somalia: Co-authors: Irving Kaplan [et Al.] Research and Writing Were Completed on June 15, 1969
Front Cover
American University (Washington, D.C.). Foreign Area Studies
U.S. Government Printing Office, 1969 - Somalia - 455 pages
Page 93]

 

[Abba Sadacha]

''When the Yemeni Ambassador visited Gondar in 1648, he was greatly impressed by the Oromo as a powerful people.
He reported to his king in Yemen that ''the Oromos are exerting pressure on the Christians of Al-Habasha from all sides and borders of their territory, none of these regions being devoid of them.''
His report is an indication that, by the 2nd half of the 17th century, the Oromo had consolidated themselves, and there were few Pan Oromo operations against Emperor Fasiladas.
In addition, the Oromo strategy of engaging the Ethiopian army north of the Abbay River reduced expeditions to the south of the river. Their fatherland, Oromia, had been defended well.

On the other hand, frontier skirmishes, particularly in southern and southwestern Gojjam, continued under Fasiladas.
Greatly frustrated by the hit-and-run strategy of the Oromos, Fasiladas decided to mount a frontal attack on them, south of the Abbay. In 1645, he led a strong expedition to Guduruu, and defeated the Akabo [or Akaako?] Oromos at a placed called Sobe.
As usual, however, this did NOT stop the Oromo from putting heavy pressure on Gojjam in 1649 and 1650; they also attacked Enarya, Begemder, and Dembiya.
Around 1662, the Boorana attacked Gojjam, while the Barentu descended upon Bagemder.
While the Emperor was fighting the Boorana in Gojjam, the Wallo groups moved into Bagemder, where they met major resistance.

Fasiladas's son and successor, Emperor Yohannes [1667 to 1682], also attempted to check the advance of the Oromos into Gojjam, with no better results. His reign was filled with religious civil wars within the empire.
Being a very religious person himself, he paid much attention to church matters and to ways of regulating them; however, he led a series of expeditions against the Oromo, the Gumuz, and the Agaw of Matakkal.
But Oromo settlements in southern Gojjam seem to have been well established by then, with or without official royal permission.
Even more important, the Oromo settlers in these areas continued to have strong contact with their kinsmen south of the Abbay Riber. Encouraged by the early settlers, particularly the Oromos of Limmu and Amuruu, they moved north of the Abbay to settle in New Damot, Wambarima, Zigam, and other parts of southern Gojjam.''

[Integration and Peace in East Africa: A History of the Oromo Nation
By T. Etefa
Chapter 2, Oromo settlement]

 

[Timo Jareer and proud]

Cool fact: Menelik the second was a adopted Oromo child

 

[Crow]

While the mainstream of the historians interprets the Oromo migration as a great expansion to central, eastern and southern Ethiopia, Oromo intellectuals tend to believe that it rather was the reoccupation of land from the Amhara which had been inhabited by Oromo since time immemorial

Amhara never lived in the east.

This includes the Akisho clan of the Oromos, who are scattered in small groups among the Habr Awal Isaaq.
The Isaaq intermarry with them and recognize their right to own land. These maintain their identity as Oromos but are accepted on equal status by the Somalis, being under the protection of Habr Awal lineages.
When an Akisho lineage wished to join a Habr Awal group, they were adopted without any protest save from the other Akisho who were losing members.
O

Good to know.

 

[madaxweyne]

The oromo capture of the hararghe higlands during the adal wars led to the end of the adal dynasty as the agricultural highlands were taken and the Adals were left with semi arid dessert ports

 

[GeeljirePoet]

The oromo capture of the hararghe higlands during the adal wars led to the end of the adal dynasty as the agricultural highlands were taken and the Adals were left with semi arid dessert ports

They not only captured the Hererghe but also assimilated the Somali tribes with full force .A Qeero guy informed the existence of Ormosied Geri and Merahan in the midst of Afran Qallo tribes .I would roughly guess half of Afran Qallo being of Somali origin .

 

[Xanibacal bin Barqa]

interesting !

ever heard of Malik Ambar ?
Kings and Generals uploaded this very fascinating story a couple of weeks
ago , it's from the same era ,

 

[Abba Sadacha]

'The chiefs of Shawa did everything they could to block the smuggling of weapons into Oromoland. They kept the missionaries, such as Massaj and Krapf, in Shawa for the same purpose. According to Vivian:

Until recently the Abyssinians have taken great pains to prevent them (Oromo) from arming themselves, knowing very well that if once these (brave nation) came to realise their own strength, they would not acquiesce in further servitude. But now a certain French Count, whose acquiese I was privileged to make, has been entrusted with the task of drilling them, and reducing them to discipline. He is very sanguine about success, and I certainly agree with him that he could not possibly have any finer material to work upon.

The Oromo ''have been conquered, and are held in subjection by the help of firearms which their conquerors, the Shawans, take care they do not obtain, and by this device they are kept in a position of distinct inferiority and abject servitude. Herbert Vivian also asserted of the Oromos: ''If once they could obtain guns, even to a small extent, I believe they would soon make themselves masters of the empire.''
Modern weapons were a major factor for European colonization of Africa; here we have an African country awash with modern weapons and European advisors annexing fellow neighbors who had only traditional weapons and were thus easy victims.''

[Integration and Peace in East Africa: A History of the Oromo Nation
By T. Etefa, Page 187-188]

 

[Abba Sadacha]

interesting !

ever heard of Malik Ambar ?
Kings and Generals uploaded this very fascinating story a couple of weeks
ago , it's from the same era ,

thank you sir. yes indeed malik ambar was an oromo from what we know and read.

 

[Abba Sadacha]

''A broad coalition led by the Yajju Oromo noble Ras Marye Gugsa, however, invaded Tigray in 1831 and defeated the Tigrayan leader Ras Sabagadis--ironically, perhaps, using Oromo cavalry whose predations across Tigray lingered long in the memory--whereupon Ras Wube was placed in charge. Wube succeeded in achieving some degree of unity, not least by co-opting the family of the executed sabagadis, and dominated northern politics for two decades.''

[Frontiers of Violence in North-East Africa: Genealogies of Conflict Since C.1800, page 67]

''Sabagadis and his sons led an army against the allied forces led by the Yejju Oromos, and the battle took place at Mai-Islami, near Debra Abbaye, on the north bank of the tekezze river. At first, the people of tigre were victorious, and the brave young hagos slew ras marie himself, in single combat. But hagos was killed by the oromos, his sorrowing father lost heart, and the tigre army dispersed. Sabagadis was taken prisoner, and speared to death by his enraged enemies.''

[Macmillan's Magazine, Volume 18, page 90]

''After the Oromos had killed Sabagadis, Dori, brother of Mariam, led them in a body to Axum, pillaging and destroying the villages. On his arrival at Axum, Ras Dori of the Oromos was taken unwell, and knowing that to instigate the formation of parties in the interior, reports of his death would soon be carried thither, he saw the necessity of his return to the Amhara country.''

[Journal of Three Years' Residence in Abyssinia, page 396]

 

[Abba Sadacha]

a look back at the 2016 oromo revolution:

#OromoRevoluton
#BREAKING An Commander of TPLF's army in Awaday identified as Atsbeha Asgedom, has been killed by Oromoo soldiers under his command.
■■■■■■■■■■■
Ajajaan waraana Wayyaanee kan Awwaday goolaa jiru loltoota Oromo inni ajajuun tarkaanfii irratti fudhatameen ajjeefamee jira. Ummanni keenya naannawa sanii of eeggannoodhaan korommii Oromoo tanaaf tumsa barbaachisaa godhaaf.

 

[Abba Sadacha]

When the Afran Qallo Oromos resisted the Egyptian invasion of Harar in 1875...

''''Now Pasha Rauf of Egypt was in lands dominated by the Oromo. These people, not the citizens of Harar, were the local obstacle to an invader. Oromos had significant numbers of cavalry, and, although armed mainly with cut and thrust weapons, were deadly opponents. Bimbashi Muhammad Muktar described them as 'dangerous warriors, capable of rapid movement'. He goes on to report on their excellent choice of battle-fields, 'the Oromo might be savages,' wrote Muktar, 'but they knew how to make good use of terrain.'

Rauf expected the most resistance from Oromo groups about Harar. Their loose confederation, Afran-Qallo (four sons of Qallu), mustered several thousand troops, most of whom took up blocking positions in the hills near Iftur and Igu. Close to Harar, these featured ravines, gullies, and other cover that allowed Oromos to quickly close with their rifle-armed enemies. For two-hours on September 25th, Afran-Qallo soldiers hurled themselves at Egyptian squares, but were driven back to the 2nd position. At Igu, the resistance increased as Orfo Jilo Biko, the Oromo commander, directed attacks on both flanks. Muhammad Rauf's skillful use of howitzer and rocket fire ended the offensive, and allowed for an Egyptian victory.

On September 20th, Harari notables met with Rauf. Among them was Ali Abu Bakr, who offered to betray his cousins, the Emir of Harar, and submit to Egyptian authority. By the 10th of October, Rauf placed his artillery on Mount Hakim, which dominates the city, and demanded its surrender. Resistance collapsed and the Khedival standard flew over Harar.''

[Khedive Ismail's Army, pages 107-108]

 

[Abba Sadacha]

''There is great fear that if the Oromos gained their democratic rights, they might call for the independence of Oromia, with other regions to follow, to threaten the very survival of Ethiopia as a viable political entity. Perhaps as the result of the psychology of rising expectations, the Oromos are experiencing dramatically increased consciousness, and consequently Oromo nationalism is currently at its zenith after the overthrow of the mengistu regime in 1991. Culture and language have been the two rallying factors, which is a common phenomenon in the rise of nationalism. Under the general rubric of Oromo culture, there has been a rise of great interest in the Oromo indigenous methods of conflict resolution.''

[Traditional Cures for Modern Conflicts: African Conflict "medicine,'' pg 82]

 

[Abba Sadacha]

A British traveler, John Walter Gregory, describes us, the Oromos:

''The forehead is high and square instead of low and receding; the nose is narrow, with the nostrils straight and not transverse; the chin is small and slightly pointed instead of massive and protruding; the hair is long and not woolly; the lips are thinner than those of the negro and not averted; the expression is intellectual, and indicates a type of mind higher than that of the simple negro. Indeed, except for the color, it could hardly be distinguished from the face of an European. These traits prepare us for the fact that the Oromos are not African, but immigrants from Asia. This was impressed on me at the outset by their folklore, some of which had been collected by Bird Thompson.
He told me the Oromo story of the creation of the first man, whose name was ''Zamadi''--obviously a variant of ''Adam,'' so that apparently they still remember some of the primitive traditions of Western Asia.''
[The Great Rift Valley: Being The Narrative Of A Journey To Mount Kenya And Lake Baringo : With Some Account Of The Geology, Natural History, Anthropology And Future Prospects Of British East Africa. page 356]

 

[Abba Sadacha]

Possible origins of the Rendille, Gabbra and Sakuye people?

''The Yaaku were the earliest group of Eastern Cushites to come to Kenya. The Yaaku (also called the Mokokodo) began to move south about 1,000 years ago. After the Yaaku, other Cushitic groups such as the Somali and the Oromo came from Southern Ethiopia. When the Somali arrived from the north, the Bantu peoples were trying to expand from the southwest, but the Somalis defeated them.
In the 16th century the Oromo pushed the SOmalis out of the area. It is thought that the Somali split into three smaller groups at that time. One of the groups moved north and inland. This group perhaps became the Rendille, the Gabbra, and the Sakuye peoples. The Rendille continued to speak the Somali Cushite language, while the other two peoples adopted the Oromo language. Today some clans of the Rendille say that they were originally Somali, and some use Somali brands on their camels.
Ethnographers are not sure, however, that this is the true origin of the Rendille. Some historians think that camels were brought to East Africa by Arabs about a 1,000 years ago. Others say that the Rendille were already herding camels in Kenya before the Arabs brought their animals.

[Rendille, by Ronald G. Parris, page 14]

 

[Cam]

@Abba Sadacha
Are you Afran Qallo? What is your origin?

 

[Abba Sadacha]

@Abba Sadacha
Are you Afran Qallo? What is your origin?

No brother, I am from the sadacha sub clan, which is apart of the larger maccaa oromo clan family.
we live in the south, central and western parts of oromia, so


jimma
wallaga
illubabor
and parts of shawa around the capital city
and in small numbers in benishangul gumuz.

 

[IftiinOfLife]

Afran Qallu oromos are 4 somali tribes who brought Islam to those Oromos, they are Somali who use the Oromo
Language in that part of the Horn.

 

[Cam]

No brother, I am from the sadacha sub clan, which is apart of the larger maccaa oromo clan family.
we live in the south, central and western parts of oromia, so


jimma
wallaga
illubabor
and parts of shawa around the capital city
and in small numbers in benishangul gumuz.

Very interesting. Who is the common ancestor a lot of Oromo's claim? We have Samaale for example, but what do you guys claim?

Afran Qallu oromos are 4 somali tribes who brought Islam to those Oromos, they are Somali who use the Oromo
Language in that part of the Horn.

Some are Somali in origin, some are not. I feel very sorry, but that is what happens in conquests. Just like the Irish language shifted to English.