THE OROMO

The Oromo are the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia, where they  constitute about 30 million of the 75 million inhabitants. Their territory, known as as Oromiya, stretches from Addis Ababa to northern Kenya. They have a strong and distinctive culture and a long history. About 95% are settled agriculturalists and nomadic pastoralists; the rest live in towns. Before the colonial period, they governed themselves by their own system of democratic councils, known as the Gadaa system. It is a uniquely democratic political and social institution that governed the life of every individual in the society from birth to death. They also developed their own calendar,  based on astronomical obervations of the moon in conjunction with seven particular stars or constellations.

The Oromo worshipped God by the name of Waaq or Waaqa. Today 47% of the Oromo follow Islam,   30% Orthodix Christianity and 17.7% Protestant Christianity, while the remainder follow the traditional religion; but many Oromos regardless of background keep up some traditional religious practices.   

The Oromo have produced a number of notable athletes, among them:

Kenenisa Bekele - Ethiopian long distance runner, 3 Olympic Golds, 6 World Golds, Olympic champion, double world record holder.
Tirunesh Dibaba - 2 Olympic Golds, 9 World Golds, Ethiopian long-distance runner, multi-Gold winner at World championships
Derartu Tulu - 2 Olympic Golds, 1 World Gold, Long Distance runner and Gold Winner at the Olympics.  
     
The Oromo were colonised during the last quarter of the nineteenth century by the Ethiopian Empire, with the help of the European colonial powers of the day.  Others were colonised by the British in what became northern Kenya. Today because of conflict between the Ethiopian Government and anti-government movements, many Oromo find themselves refugees outside the borders of Ethiopia. Most of these are civilians. They need our help to survive and rebuild their lives.