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The Oromo are the largest single ethnic group in Ethiopia and make up about 40% of the population.
The Oromo is the 3rd most spoken language in Africa and the first in Ethiopia.
The Oromo horsemen at the Battle of Adwa
The origin of coffee
The world best athletes
The egalitarian society
The astronomical calendar of the Oromo
The origin of the human species – Ethiopia
Ethiopia is the third largest jailer of journalists on the African continent, with at least 10 behind bars on December 1, CPJ’s 2015 prison census shows.
People: Notable Oromos
Art & Literature
Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin – Poet Laureate
OBS TV – ደማቆቹ ኮኮቦች: የአለም ሎሬት እና ባለ ቅኔ ጸጋዬ ገብረመድን (ሉጫ ሮባ ቀዌሳ)
The New York Times [March 9, 2006] – Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin, Ethiopian Poet Laureate, Dies at 69
“Born in the small mountain town of Boda, near Ambo, Mr. Tsegaye became one of his country’s most prominent literary figures as well as an international emissary for its culture.”
“His native tongue was Oromifa, but he was also fluent in Amharic, several other African languages and English.”
“In 2002, the newly formed African Union adopted one of his poems as its anthem.”
Encyclopedia Britannica – Biography
“Oda Oak Oracle (1965) is Tsegaye’s best-known verse play written in English. Like his other English plays, it is based on Ethiopian history and focuses on religious conflict.”
“After returning to Ethiopia, he served as director of the Haile Selassie I Theatre (now the National Theatre) from 1961 to 1971. He later founded Addis Ababa University’s theatre department.”
Open Democracy [September 10, 2007] – An Ethiopian hero: Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin (1936 – 2006)
By Richard Pankhurst
“On returning to Ethiopia, he devoted himself unreservedly to the development of the country’s National Theatre – which institution last week staged an impressive memorial for its former director.”
“Besides compositions of his own Tsegaye translated Shakespeare (Hamlet and Othello being the most popular of these works), as well as Moliere’s Tartouffe and Doctor Despite Himself, and Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage.”
“In later years he concerned himself increasingly with questions of peace, human rights and the dignity of humanity.”
Sport
Abebe Bikila -Athlete
The Guardian [April 25, 2012] – 50 stunning Olympic moments No24: Abebe Bikila runs barefoot into history
“Bikila was the first athlete in history to win the Olympic marathon twice.”
“He was the first Sub-Saharan African to win an Olympic gold medal.”
The Guardian – 50 stunning Olympic moments: Abebe Bikila’s 1960 marathon victory – in pictures
General Tadesse Biru
BBC [December 9, 2013] – The man who taught Mandela to be a soldier
Ali Birra
Tilahun Gessesse
Abdisssa Aga
Alamu Aga – Orthodox song singer
Tirunesh Dibaba
Meseret Defar
Derartu Tulu
Genzebe Dibaba
Kenenisa Bekele
Bealu Girma
Abune Petros
