By Iddoosaa Ejjetaa | June 15, 2013

The Oromoo people have unfinished businesses yet. In June 2013, a conference was organized for Ethiopian Muslims in Minneapolis, Minnesota where Mr. Jawar Mohammed made a speech and broadcasted by Oromoo TV has created tremendous waves of reactions from different Oromoo corners including myself. I have watched and listened to the video on YouTube and read responses. I found that I was not alone who disappointed by the speech. Many Oromoo had expressed their disappointment, frustration and feeling that they have been cheated once again. The proponents of the speech expressed their complacencies in different ways. After reading the opinions from both sides about the speech, I have decided to put opinions together from the perspective of Oromumaa vs. Islamummaa for critical analysis, genuine and civil discussions.

I hope that this paper initiate honest, genuine and knowledge-based discussion by diverse social, political and religious groups of the Oromoo people and scholars so as to forge unity of purpose that is based on authentic Oromummaa. It is my hope that all reader of this paper would be thoughtful and genuine broker to close the rift that created as consequence Mr. Jawar Mohmmad’s controversial speech, June 2013.

Duran durseen nahoofkalchaa isnin jedha, let me start from the commentator who has lost trust and suspicious about the speech made by Mr. Jawar Mohammed and provide some analysis to it and will use similar pattern of analysis throughout this paper.

… Islaamni tooko mucaa isaa otoo Oromoomaa hinabrssidin Quraana barsiisa. Maqaa isaalle Oromoo dhiisee maqaa arabaa basaaf. Fkf, jawar Mohamad manna otoo Fayissa Angassaa otoo jedhanii oromuummaa ni jabeessa ture. … Christannummaanis akkasuma. Namni maqaan isaa Petros Yohaanis jedhamu ofiin Oromoo ofiin haajedhu malee ani kuni oroodh, waa nagargaara jedhee amanee itti siquun hedduu nadhiba. Walitii dhuffuu baaannan moo waliraa fagaachuu, wal sodaachuu, wal iraanfachuu, wal jibuu fi wal loluufii wal irrati duulanii wal ajeesuun lee nijira!!Kanaaf Islaaamummafi Christaanummaan orommummaaa nii tokkumma Oromoo laafissan malee bua’ tokko Oromoof hinfinne. [Wajiraa]

Wajiraa has a feeling of worry that he/she suspicious of what is gonging on in that conference where Mr. Jawar Mommmed was a speaker. Both religions, Christian and Islam about equally shared in role of sending Oromoo people into slavery. Christian never sold or bought Christian. In the same, Islam didn’t sell and/or buy Islam. The victims of slave trade were those Oromoos who used to practice their own indigenous Oromoo religion, Waaqeffannaa. There accounts on this matter in written form by many social scientists or scholars including Oromoo scholar Professor Merkura Bulcha. Person’s name is his/her identity. Ilmaan Gadaa Oromoo is brothers and sisters for being an Oromoo, but not because of following specific religion or cult. As Wajiraa said, it is self-evident that Islamummaa and Khristaanummaa were/are wreaking Oromummaa.

As Mula’ata put it, “Rejecting Oromoo religion means rejecting your culture and identity. That is why you go with foreign name which not only weakened but Rejecting Oromoo religion means rejecting your culture and identity. That is why you go with foreign name which not only weakened but almost destroyed your Orommumaa. There is nothing left you can pass to your children other than afaan Oromoo. I am not suggesting you give up your religion, but you can never reconcile foreign religions with Oromumaa!”

Guta has brought also a philosophical perspective to Oromoo nationalism and liberation struggle. He wrote, “Both Islam and Christian have diluted oromumma and confused it. However, realistically I accept the idea of tolerance, even though any foreign culture or language is contradictory to nationalism, similarly religion theoretically cannot accept any nationalism. Religion has no boundary, thus Jawar is confusing.” This has been reflected in the speech of Haji Najiib (Adaree) on the conference when he said “we all are Islam, and let he/she come from the Mars, we all are brothers as long as he/she is Muslim.” He had also reminded his audience what had been tolled: Tribalism stink and do not get close to it”. Haji Najiib was teaching the Musilm Oromoos to distance themselves from Oromummaa or Oromoo identity. Instead, he has persuaded them to make Islamummaa to replace Oromoo identity. In other words, Haji Najiib launched a minimum level of war against Oromoo nationalism and identity on the forum that a group of agitated Oromoo set up for him.

I have read very interesting and long comment made by Duula. I took some of his/her statements as it was with few words edition. Duula recognizes the right to self-expression and so do I. He wrote that he [Jawar Mohammed] has a right to do whatever he deems right to him, but as Oromoo nationalist we do not have the luxury of appeasing every one when we could not even appease ourselves. We do not have time to make media round, and talk about world peace when we have been denied peace on our own land Oromiyaa (biyyaa Oromoo). The world community will never rescue us it’s our responsibility to rescue ourselves. World community will never fight for us it’s our obligation to fight for ourselves, and the fight of media round alone will never liberate a nation either especially when you validate the superiority of your enemy.

Duulaa’s second point: I do understand this forum was organized by Muslim religious group, and he [Jawar] was invited as a guest speaker. However, one must be very diligent when attempting to associate religion and political affairs. The issues of religion and political affair are very sensitive issues. One has to be very clear in terms of what exactly they are saying, and explain it well so that it will not be murky and confusing to the audience. But, let’s make one thing very clear here, we will never be Islamic Republic of oromiya, we will never be christian Republic of Oromiyaa, and we will never be Waaqeffannaa Republic of Oromiyaa, we will only be INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATIC GADAA REPUBLIC OF OROMIYAA. We must always separate religion and state, so that we are not creating any confusion for our nation. We want a nation that respects every religion, but the interest of a nation always comes first. Everyone will have a right to practice their religion without the interference of the State, and at the same time religion should never interfere in the State affairs either. Thus, when taking stage and speaking about State and religion, one must make sure that people understand what exactly we are talking about, and we also have to make sure we are not confusing people. I think Jawar has failed to do that in this speech. I am sure his intention might be to make his audience in the auditorium feel comfortable, and tentative, but in tern he has raised many eye brows outside the auditorium. Also, we must not carry away/bogged down by this religion issues/agenda that TPLF has crafted/created for us simply to keep us busy. It’s one thing to creating our own agenda, but it’s totally different thing and very dangerous proposal to get mixed up in what Abyssinian has set up for us. Our primary goal is to be free from Abyssinian colonialism, so that we can do whatever we want within Independent Democratic Gadaa Republic of Oromiyaa. Once we free our nation from this brutal occupation, then everyone will be free to practice any religion they desire. But, right now, religion is not our top priority, but liberation of Oromiya is our top priority. I am not saying we should not talk about religion here, all I am saying is Independence comes first, and everything else comes next. [Duulaa]

Danygaaraa has written extensively in afaan Oromoo to sooth the tensions and concerns of Oromoos on the other side by trying to explain what Mr. Jawar Mohammed intended to say. He wrote: Muslima, Kristiyaana,Waaqeeffataa hundinuu nuuf walqixa. Ammoo yoo rakkoon Muslimarra gayaa jiruu kan ulfaatuufii hammaatu ta’a san olkaasanii irrati dubbachuun Oromoomummaa diiguu nati hinfakkaatu. Akkuma beeynuti Oromoon Muslima waan Oromoo Kristiyaanaatirra adda godhu nijria; kuniis Oromoon Muslimaa gabrummaa gruguddoo gara lamaatiitu irra ture ammallee irra jira: Tunis: gabrummaa sabummaa akka Oromooti (ta Oromoon hundi jala jirtu) akksumaas gabrummaafii cunqurfama amantii Islaamaa. Kun kan nama agarsiisu Oromoon Muslima curqursaa lamaan tana jalaa bahuuf qbasoo bilisummaa Oromoo cinati qabsoo amanti isaa kabachiisuutiis iti fufuu qaba. Yaadni kabajamaa Oromooticha ilma Oromoo obboo Jawar Mohamadiis kanuma ibsuu barbaade. [ Danygaaraa].

Danygaaraa, has taken a positive approach toward the speech and did his best to explain the intention of Jawar’s speech, which is commendable. From the opponents of the Jawar’s speech, however view differently with deep concern. They have genuine concerns and believe that Oromummaa and Islamummaa are not the same. The philosophical differences are very huge: Waaqeeffannaa, for example, is one of the components of authentic Oromummaa and world view while Christian and Islam are originally the world view of Middle Eastern Society. Christianity and Islam became the world major religions by taking advantage of power balance during slave trade and colonial era. Significant number of Oromoo had converted to Islam and Christian because of the power abuse, brutality and barbaric act against them by Abyssinian Kings such Menilk II and Yohannis II who were the follower of Christianity and guardian of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

It has well documented in the work of Jon Abbink (1998) those first followers of prophet Muhammadas were immigrated to Axum of Abyssinia, present northern part of Ethiopia to seek protection from the persecution of Quraysh trib in Mecca. The Christian king of Axum granted them safe heaven though the Quaryashy pursued to capture and take them back to Mecca. This historical fact has either implicit or explicit impacts on Muslims in Ethiopia including Oromoo when we address the issue of Abyssinian/Ethiopian colonization of Oromiyaa. The Oromoo Muslims have been marginalized and experienced double layer, if not more, oppressions. For example, Muslim Oromoo women have not double, but triple layer of oppressions: as an Oromoo , as Muslim and being women.

One must recognize, however, there was time in history when the Oromoo men and women had enjoyed freedom in their homeland known as independent Oromoo Gadaa Republic, Biyyaa Gadaa Oromoo. Before Christianity and Islamic influences the Oromoo Gadaa Society had had well-organized belief system, Waaqeffannaa, and well structure self-governance, the Oromoo Gadaa Government.

Gadaa Deebisaa has argued strongly that Oromummaa and Islamummaa are not complementary. Instead, both are inherently conflicting. According to his interpretation, Oromummaa is an indigenous identity while Islamumaa and Khristanummaa are exogenous identities that were imposed involuntarily referring to perhaps the era of slave trade when the Oromoo people accept both Islam and Christian to escape from slavery. I think Oromummaa has seen or understood as a unifying factor for contemporary diverse Oromoo nation in terms of religion, political ideology and social status. Most people understood the politics of Oromummaa in the context of being Oromoo, speaking Oromoo language (afaan Oromoo) and/ or supporting ongoing liberation struggle for Bilisummaa or Independence of Oromia. For these Oromoos it does not matter if they are practicing Christian, or Islam, or continually having foreign names for themselves and their children, dismembering themselves and families from the Oromoo Gadaa Institutional practices and age classes. To foster an authentic Oromummaa, all Oromoo social groups must be loyal to the authentic Oromoo Gadaa institutions, cultural traditions and religious practices. In this context, we need to rethink the true meaning of Oromummaa and identify culturally relevant variables and redefine it in meaningful ways so as to foster Oromummaa as shared value by all or majority Oromoo population.

I am convinced that being an Oromoo and speaking Afaan Oromoo simply do not foster the true meaning of Oromummaa and the integration of the Oromoo people. Language is a vehicle that transports values of the native speaker. For example, a written Bible or Quran in afaan Oromoo helps the Oromoo literature to advance. However, this does not necessary means it advances the Oromoo values. Many young Oromoo men and women go to the Pentecostal Church (widely known as Penxxee) because they mistakenly believed the evangelists in Oromiyaa foreign agents speaking afaan Oromoo and using it as a vehicle to transport the European values and life style within the Oromoo Gadaa Society at the expense of Oromoo Gadaa culture, tradition and beliefs.

Evangelists teach Oromoo children erroneously as if Oromoo Arts and Music are objects of sin and they have to distance themselves from it. The same is true for Oromoo who are the followers of Islam, except for their relative appreciation and enduring the Oromoo arts and music. Nevertheless, they also mistakenly believed that preaching Islam in afaan Oromoo would advance Oromummaa.

In practice, however it advances Isilamummaa just like Khirstanummaa. It seems to me offensive to the Oromoo tradition to hear that when a Muslim Oromoo elders invited to open or close Oromoo Community meetings or conferences in diaspora or in Oromiyaa set a tone by saying “Allahu Akbar” , which was once Arabs military marching song in 1950s; meaning “God is Great”, in English. This is not the way Oromoo Gadaa forefathers (Abbootti Gadaa Oromoo) had executed blessing traditionally. Thy start and end with Afaan Oromoo starting with Hayyee and ending with Hayyee!

I believe that we have to get out of such complacency. This is about honest debate. If we want have God given freedom, self-governance, we must strive for everything that is ours particularly the one that has inherent conflict with Oromummaa. We cannot mix chemicals that cannot be mixed together because it might cause life threat agent. I think Mr. Jawar Mohammad has mixed unfriendly elements, politics and religion, and he should not mix them. The reason why the Western world afraid of Iranian regime is the politics and religion in Iran are highly mixed and seen as one and the same by rulers. As the Oromoo cause, it seems self-contradictory and Hippocratic to say “all Muslims are brothers” when we have been the victims in the hand of neighboring Muslim countries. Let’s accept the fact that Oromoo are majority in Ethiopia as ethnic group and as Muslim. This does not mean that Oromiyaa is seeking for the membership of the Arab league. Oromiyaa shall seek to become the member of United Nations raising Black-Red-White [Gurraacha-Dimmaa-Adii (GaDAa)]. If being Muslim pays off why on earth the Somalis’ armed forces who are overwhelmingly Muslim have killed and evicted hundreds of thousand Oromoo communities from their forefathers’ homeland, Eastern Oromiyaa in May 2013? Why the Oromoo Liberation forces denied shelter and support from neighboring Muslim country if being Muslim makes us brothers by default?