Oh My Fellow Oromo.....What Have You Done Today to Make the Nation Proud?

I start this blog with the following question:  What have you done today to make you feel proud? What spurred me to put forward this question, you ask?  I came upon this question while listening and watching London's pitch for the right to host this year summer's Olympics. The Heather Small song – Proud – had a tantalizing tune, but more importantly, its lyrics spoke to me (as it must have did to the selection committee). I found myself rhythmically repeating the words of this song. I, then, posed the question to myself – what have you done today to make you feel proud? There was no immediate answer, and so I paused trying so desperately to find one; I took a good amount of time (whatever was required) to deliberate. What have you done today to make you feel proud? Me being an Oromo nationalist, I rephrased the question, giving it another dimension: What have YOU done today to make the Oromo nation feel proud? Have you left your mark on this earth for you to be remembered eternally by your mother nation? When in doubt, its best to follow the example of the success stories before you.

I recall the stories told as a young child about the iconic marathon runner, Abeba Bikila. This Oromo hero became the first Sub-Saharan African to win the gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome ₍₁₎. The son of a modest shepherd rose to stardom by not only setting an Olympic record; my admiration is not only due to the fact that he put Africa on the map, but his achievement was testament to the fact that we are a nation of greats! No-one in the history of marathon sport has run barefoot and won gold at the same time. Playing the song I mentioned would be a befitting tribute for this Oromo legend. He made his nation proud!

This is not to mean, however, that anyone seeking to emulate our heroes should take their trainers and win us gold to merit our appreciation. Not everyone was made to run.  Taking a pen and telling the world what the Oromo nation is; writing an essay, a poem or a blog like Lensa and I are doing is no less an honorable deed. If God has given you the gift of writing, follow the path our own star poet has paved – the notable Boonna Mohammed.

He is the talented Oromo poet that has been dubbed the "voice of a generation" with his outlandish performances that have won him accolades such as the 2007 CBS Poetry Face Off "Best New Artist" Award ₍₂₎. He is also a role model, preaching the word of Islam to sophisticated, Muslim youths disillusioned and detached from their faith. Memoirs of a Slave, When the World Changed and other poetic masterpieces by this Oromo great. He made his nation proud!

Everyone that attempts to leave their mark in this world and the nation he/she was born from is, in my books, an Oromo hero. However, international success is not the sole criterion and the next example will show why. Days ago, in numerous cities of Oromiya, The National Youth Movement of Qeerroo hanged the OLF flags in public areas and the main road of Naqamte, Gedo ₍₃₎. Now, I don’t know where that place is, but what I do know is that their bravery should have cost them their lives, and so they deserve the highest honour from all the following examples. 

My message, overall, is that an Oromo brother or sister deserves to be bestowed the greatest honor for any gesture made for the cause. But seeing that not all Oromo youth are willing to join the fight, I would encourage my fellow Oromo brethren to never shy away from showcasing your talent. That is not only self-gratifying but does service to the Oromo name in general. We are a nation with greatness rooted in our history and engrained in our DNA! But, you as an Oromo should always lift the bar to attaining that honor to greater, glorious heights. Make your Oromo brothers and sisters proud of you as they should be of their Oromo ancestry. Always seek to become the pride of thyself and Ummatu Oromo!

References

1. The Biography of Abeba Bikila, Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abebe_Bikila

2.Boonna Mohammed Facebook Page, Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/BoonaaMohammed?sk=app_2309869772

3. Flying OLF flag high in many cities of Oromiya is our sign of resistance to TPLF dictatorship and struggle for democracy, Qeerro. Retrieved from: http://qeerroo.com/2012/03/01/flying-olf-flag-high-in-many-cities-of-oromiya-is-our-sign-of-resistance-to-tplf-dictatorship-and-struggle-for-democracy-qeerroo/