Lets Talk Bout Hip-Hop

I realize that the gist of all my blogs have been about Oromo, bilisumma and the dream of Oromia. Let us changes tracks only for a while. It is never good to focus on only one topic; for now, lets talk hip-hop!


I read a blog about how songs these days are propagating devil worship. This blog talks about Rihanna's song Umbrella  and the hidden message. I know how insane it sounds, but read what this blogger had to say and see if you still find yourself holding the same opinion!

But nevertheless, the song will still sound the same - addictive!

Enjoy this blog:- http://vigilantcitizen.com/musicbusiness/occult-and-prophetic-messages-in-rihannas-umbrella/

The Wonder of Siqqee

Whenever I read the history of the Gaddaa system, I am always left astonished. Not that I am astounded at our magnificent history. Despite the attempts of the Abyssinian Empire at wiping away the golden age of  our Oromo era, they were disappointed to realize that history of honorable pedigree can never by erased as hard as one may try. Today, I was at awe when perusing written research about another indigenous system of ours – ying to the yang-Gaddaa institution. The arrangement is called the Siqqee system.

I was alien to this gender-tailored arrangement until I read a detailed essay by a person by the name of Asafa Jalata concerning Oromo history. The literary work discusses about how the Siqqee system was a check-and-balance mechanism meant to ensure harmony among the sexes. Seeing that the Gaddaa system was a male-dominated institution, the purpose of Siqqee was to maintain a degree of equilibrium and counteract the inequality that empowering only one gender causes. The root word being self-explanatory, this system was symbolized by a traditional stick (the meaning of the word) handed down from mother to daughter in a ritual held after being married off. The symbolism held by this instrument is very powerful; the stick is a tangible remainder that, although no longer a maiden under the protection of her family, the bride is never to be powerless even if her husband was to attempt to overstep his bounds and wield his dominion over her. She was still entitled to her rights as a woman - married or unmarried!

If ever an Oromo woman was to be wronged by her husband, or women's rights  transgressed past the point of tolerance (a sin according to Oromo belief), this sisterhood movement would leave their homes to convene a meeting under a symbolic tree called qilxxu (similar in appearance to a cedar tree). This was the traditional venue for reconciliation meetings held by male elders and the aggravated women in question. Settling these issues were of grave importance – the reason being that there was nothing worse than the wrath of furious Oromo women then. The rewards for testing their patience were plenty from cursing the transgressing man to attacking him, verbally and physically. It was also spiritually sacrilege to upset women, the act of which was seen as creating an imbalance in the Godly order.

The object of my admiration is that we had systems of gender balance similar, if not the same, as that that exists in the Western world, today. This was an ancient system that existed for millennia, and set us millennia ahead of or time. It is no wonder that this system, a source of Oromo pride, including the Gaddaa system, was targeted by the Abyssinian Empire – something this great merits not only my admiration but international recognition.

Again, I would like to thank Asafa Jalata for writing such a marvelous piece of work. I look forward to more eye-opening essays as this.

Note: The essay in question can be read at the following address :- http://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=utk_socopubs&sei-redir=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.co.uk%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Dgadaa%2520and%2520oromo%2520women%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D26%26ved%3D0CFQQFjAFOBQ%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Ftrace.tennessee.edu%252Fcgi%252Fviewcontent.cgi%253Farticle%253D1005%2526context%253Dutk_socopubs%26ei%3DYCdNT7DeH6nqmAWjvYz_Dw%26usg%3DAFQjCNG5G5M0nQ0UJDEAjXwnEWogdkgf8A#search=%22gadaa%20oromo%20women%22

The Importance of Knowing Afaan Oromo

Today's blog goes out to all the tech-savvy teenagers, 20-somethings and Oromo youth in general living in the comfort of serene suburbia.  It doesn’t matter whether you are from the States, Europe or Australia, and even less that you carry their passports. I want to talk about the importance of learning the mother-tongue and this is from personal experience. I am not standing on any high pedestal or high horse. I am sure that most of you reading this are better off, compared to me, when it comes to our precious language. I will be the first to admit this: I AM OROMO, yet ashamed to say I do not know my own language as I should, have remained distant from my fellow Oromo brethren as far as I can remember and an outsider despite the Oromo name I carry. Unfortunately, I am not the only person who has been beset with this dilemma.

Some of you might be thinking, "What is the point of learning a language that serves us no good in the country we reside?" and from their perspective, they do make a point when you think about it. We have dispersed and diverged throughout the West, and the indigenous Westerner will not communicate in anything else but his mother-tongue. We, as a result, have succumbed to the pressures of adapting to this environment. But, as part of an immigrant populace, why should we conform to the ways of the Westerner? Yes, they might have welcomed us to their country and given us harbor from the suffering we fled, but respecting their rules and regulations, being contributing citizens, paying our taxes, etc. should be enough as a token of our appreciation. They speak their tongue among themselves, so why should we act any differently? It might seem too late, now, you all being adults leading demanding lives, but as long as you draw breath, be true to what you are.

The mother tongue is an integral part of our culture which comes in its own perfect package made up of our, shared, deep-rooted history, beloved traditions and rich literature. Remember that, centuries ago, our Oromo forefathers died to preserve our traditions, culture and way of life. Imagine the insult of this state that we the people of Ummata Oromo living in a free society of the 21^st Century do not pay homage to the fallen heroes with even the simple gesture of speaking Afaan Oromo? Still not convinced?

Then we are but ashamed of ourselves, not only our language. We are a disgrace to our brilliant ancestors, architects of the democratic Gaddaa System; we are a shame to a nation that is as old as Ancient Egypt, as civilized as Ancient Greece and as glorious as the Empire of Rome. We were worshipping the True God, while the human race was busy bowing down to idols and animal deities. We should be gracious that we are part of a bloodline with such honor and esteem, with a history unlike any other race to grace E. Africa, if not the mother continent as a whole, Mama Africa.  Show your pride in everything that says you are Oromo. Let not only your spirit be Oromo but also your speech…..Galatoomi!

What Has Become of Our Struggle?

This Friday, a day of rest and reflection for me, was spent pondering many stuff. A half-hour spent skimming every single news event of the week; watching Youtube videos; chatting on Facebook (a holy ritual of sorts to me). I was doing everything I could think of, seizing all the free time this glorious sabbatical offered. While doing so, I came upon many Oromo websites preaching the importance of seeing out this struggle till victory comes. Forgive my cynicism, but this was the case for the past 4-5 decades. I am the last to give up the fight, but what i wonder is this: are we - the diaspora Oromo - fighting for a cause that our compatriots at home really desire? Could it be that the Oromo populace is not as determined about self-determination as they should be? We have seen the spark of uprisings and the call to revolution sound throughout the normally-dormant Arabian region. Tens became hundreds which grew to thousands which finally evolved to million-man marches until discontent manifested itself into an unstoppable, united movement, be it armed or civilian. North Africa was overtaken by the Arab Spring, yet it is a shame that their east African counterparts remain apathetic about their own destiny. Again I ask, have we reached a stage in our fight where no-one cares anymore?

My memory is still fresh with memories of jubilation the days of Red Terror were officially over and the Dergue was gone for. In fact, that point of time was marked by twin, simultaneous falls of two despotic regimes infamous for oppression and murder, i.e. the fall of Mengistu Haile Mariam and Ziad Barre in '91. Everything seemed certain – freedom had come for the people of E. Africa, a long time coming for our Ummata Oromo. The celebratory mood was infectious until we were dealt the worst hand and the OLF was to remain a rebel movement instead of a leading political entity for Oromos. The first consolidated step taken by the new government – the TPLF – to secure the "artificial union" aka Abyssinia was taken; the regime implemented the federal system of governance in the hope that the flame of separatist sentiment would abate. Largely, this end has been achieved.

The effect has been that the OLF has lost its long swathes of control and has become a movement of the Diaspora. When was the last time we saw OLF activity in Ethiopia? Yes, you will see homegrown Oromo activists write articles on local media about human rights violations against Oromo-Ethiopians and transgressions here and there, but I have yet to come across an article making calls to Oromo self-determination. I could be wrong but then again it could be a sign of dwindling support for the once great OLF. Testament to that would be the emergence of many other secessionist movements.

In my opinion, the time has come to make radical changes to our policies. To me, there are two options left: either we up the ante and mount our attacks, militarily and political, against the Abyssinnian colonial machine; we simply need to have a greater presence in Ethiopia. Orommuma and the fight must be implanted in every Oromo's mind. I remember stories back in the day where my own Somali relatives gave their children Oromo names in solidarity of their Cushitic brethren. There cannot be any excuse of Oromos not taking part what is supposed to be their fight!

Or we fight for Oromo's share in Ethiopia and take what is rightfully ours while leaving in place the state of Ethiopia as it is. We should, I personally think, take example from the Shiites of Iraq who have arisen from nowhere to the heights of absolute power. Democracy is the "rule of the majority" and us being the majority would give us that right. A hegemony by the minority makes my blood boil, especially when it robs us of our rights. The Shiites did not stand for it, and neither should we! Eitherway, we are at a crossroads and change is desperately needed, lest we lose a war we have been losing for the past 20 years..

Let's Connect Ummata Oromo

It is a Friday today. Quite boring as usual because there is no-one to pass time with added to the fact that everyone is too beat or exhausted to bother phoning friends. That is quite understandable; except the special girl in my life and close friends, I never usually contact anyone on this day of the week. I find it too demanding - finding a topic to discuss and discussing it when your mind is crying, "SLEEP GOD DAMN IT! WE BOTH NEED REST YOU FOOL!" This time, I am paying no heed to what my mind relentlessly tells me; I am following my HEART and taking this day to get to know my Oromo peeps all around the world. 

The reason I say this is that, truthfully, I never had Oromo friends in the not-so-distant past. I am a person who once disassociated himself from his people for many years. Blind I was, simply following other races and ethnicities while denying my own. Living in the UAE all my life, I was made to be ashamed of even my name - the symbol of my very identity. I called myself a different name to "fit in". Yet, as much as I tried, there was no way I could become anyone but myself. There was no point, actually; a leopard has never changed its spots nor can it. God has never made anything but perfect choices in regards to his creation. I am Oromo - PROUD, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. My name is Magarsa M.Q. Wedaaye. Laugh at me, giggle at my name! I am impervious to words for my soul is, now, iron to the core. In my moments of self-criticism, I berate at my old self. However, history belongs to the past as garbage to the dustbin - something to be thrown away but not to dwell upon. 

I want to take this golden opportunity and get to know my Oromo brethren. What's past is past, but I can still make up for my past mistakes. Making better choices is in the realms of the present. I know we are a dispersed folk: we live in all corners of the world - from America, Africa, Europe as far as the isolated continent "Down Under". We have all flown our separate paths like birds of flight. Yet, it is vital to remember that we were all hatchlings of the same nest. There is no shame in a bird returning to its nest once in a while. Enough with the metaphors I guess: lets seek our roots by first connecting with our own!

Make not my mistakes and, if you do, cut out the habit of denial. I propose setting a day for us to chat together. Make friends, and even find love in our Oromo Forum. Let's call this day and other Fridays to follow, "Friends Meet" Friday. I do not know how many people are following this, but I am lucky, nevertheless, to get in touch with even one follower. For that was more than a not-so-distant past when foreign to me were my own people!  

A Message to My Oromo Peeps

Starting off with my name and an intro about myself - well, what more can I say that is not already evident from my title. The name is Magarsa Mukhtar. I am an Oromo individual, born into a mixed household - half Somali, half Oromo. But there are no ambiguities where my loyalty lies. I am a true believer in the Oromo cause; the torch was passed down to me by father, as was given to him by his father. I stand here, the torch in my hand with even a glimmer of hope as my ammunition. Because we Oromos, like it or not, are all born in a war we have a duty to fight. To the uninformed reader, Oromo and non-Oromo alike, if you are perturbed about the fight I am talking about, it will serve you well to follow this blog. 

Thousand of years ago, we - the Oromo race - were the indigenous people of E. Africa (although there are claims they settled as far as Zimbabwe). We lived in peace and trainquility until the arrival of the Semites - Amharas and Tigrays included. Upon us has fallen the greatest calamity with the capture of our lands and the colonialization of our people. This is the current status quo and has desisted, despite the valiant struggle put up by the Oromo freedom fighters and the regime that tries desperately to quash it & conceal it. A fight, whether just or otherwise, will only end in the following scenarios - peace or victory/defeat. We have given them the chance and turned the other cheek countless times. All that is left is to declare war.

Now, when I say war, do not misconstrue my statement to mean a rally to arms - though that itself cannot be ruled out as an avenue to victory. War can be waged on many fronts, but no war has ever been won without a dedicated army. In Islam, the word for fight would be jihad. Before anyone takes me for a fundamentalist, any struggle against oppression, by word of mouth and sword, constitutes jihad or war. This is familiar territory even with the Western titans; the most powerful weapon used by Western powers is propaganda.  We have to support the cause with all our might and power. Let us not get caught up with the "good life" for those who think they live it. Ya ummatu Oromo, we are the foot soldiers, the generals, the admirals. Wherever you stay, the dignity of the Ummata Oromo is the dignity of yourself. Lensa, Ibsitu, Ayantu, Ibsa, Ayaana, Roba.....these names are the badges you wear so proudly, statements of your identity. But if do not strive to protect our very name as a people, what is the point of claiming it? As it would be a disgrace to wear tattered clothes, a disgraced people is quite the same. A defeat to the cause is a disaster to the name of Oromo and Orommuma, and no-one can deny it like removing clothes. A leopard cannot change its spots and we can never change identities, God forbid! 

My concluding statement ( but not the last one) is this: Anything and everything that would serve our cause my fellow Oromo is indispensable - for all is fair in love and war...and this has been too long a war!