Oromo Videos & News

According to a local online-based newspaper named Addis Standard, Mr. Abadula Gemeda, the Speaker of the Ethiopian House of Peoples’ Representatives, has resigned from his position. Addis Standard, through its Twitter account, broke the news a little an hour ago, at 9:49am local time (with the Ethiopian traditional day-hour counting, it was 3:49 in the morning when the news came). Here’s the Twitter published by @addisstandard, and its Facebook post.

UPDATED: The online-based newspaper indicated that one of the reasons for the resignation of the Speaker was his protest over the federal government’s handling of the security issues in the Oromia-Somalia border; the border crisis had resulted in the displacement of more than 50,000 people in the Oromia-side alone.

Twitter:

Breaking News: Abadula Gemeda resigns as speaker of parliament – https://t.co/DKLWqrfONK … the move signals deepening crisis within #EPRDF pic.twitter.com/dlygcOibc7

— Addis Standard (@addisstandard) October 7, 2017

Facebook:

Thousands of Oromo and other celebrants marched in procession to Hora/Lake Gafarsaa during the morning hours of Sunday, October 8, 2017, to thank Waaqa (The Almighty/The Creator) for the transition from the rainy and gloomy Winter season to the bright and bountiful Spring season. Hora Gafarsaa is located in Buraayyuu, a city located just 10km outside of the capital, Finfinne (Addis Ababa), Oromia. This particular Oromo Thanksgiving holiday is called Irreecha Malkaa Ateetee; it’s the second biggest Irreecha celebration held in the Spring season – next to the one in Bishoftu, and it comes a week after Bishoftu’s grand Irreecha celebration.

During Irreecha, celebrants use the space to express political and nationalist speeches due to the suppression of such speeches elsewhere. Such speeches include holding and decorating in the OLF’s flag (the colors of “red-green-red”), which has, over time, become a symbol of Oromummaa (Oromo nationalism). Some celebrants also show the sign of the #OromoProtests, i.e. arms crossed over one’s head. The other combination of colors popular at Irreecha is “black-red-white” – which represents the UNESCO-recognized Oromo Gadaa system of governance; the Irreecha holiday was also recognized by UNESCO in 2016 as an element of the Gadaa system. At this year’s event, funds were collected for the relief and rehabilitation efforts of the displaced people in the Oromia-Somalia border crisis.

Here are some photos from today’s Irreecha Malkaa Ateetee in Buraayyuu; all curated from Social Media.

Mr. Abadula Gemeda, the former President of the Oromia National Regional State and the Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives, Ethiopia’s Federal Parliament, confirmed at a press briefing on Sunday, October 8, 2017, that he had submitted a letter of resignation from the position of the Speaker of the House. At the press briefing with state media houses, Mr. Gemeda also stated that he would continue as a regular Member of Parliament through the end of his term in order to serve his constituency. Ethiopia holds its elections for the Federal Parliament every fives years; the next one will be in 2020.

Here is the press briefing in Afaan Oromoo and Amharic:

‘Irreecha Malkaa’ takes place at the banks of rivers immediately following the end of the rainy season, and it is celebrated in late September or early October when the rainy season subsides giving way for Spring (Birraa). The Oromo people celebrate ‘Irreecha Malkaa,’ not only to thank Waaqa (The Almighty/The Creator) for the blessings and […]

By Mekuria Bulcha (Prof.)* THE ‘NINE LIVES’ OF OROMO LITERACY – QUBEE AND THE BIRTH OF A GENERATION PART II DEFYING A TRADITION THAT DEMONIZES OUR IDENTITY, OUR LANGUAGE AND ALPHABET Introduction In the first part of this article, which was published on websites on July 15, 2017, I have described briefly the humble beginning […]

News in Brief/Summary (watch the full segments below): OMN Afaan Oromoo: Onk. 9, 2017: OMN Amharic: Oct. 9, 2017: OBN: Onk. 10, 2017: ESAT Afaan Oromoo: Onk. 10, 2017:

OMN Afaan Oromoo: Onk. 10, 2017: OBN: Onk. 11, 2017: OBN: Onk. 11, 2017: ESAT Afaan Oromoo: Onk. 10, 2017:

Various on-the-ground news sources are reporting of fresh protests in Oromia, Ethiopia’s largest regional state – which has seen massive protests against the Federal Government’s systematic repression of the region over the last two years. Here’s a summary of the latest news coming from Oromia – compiled by OPride.com. Massive anti-government protests signal Ethiopia’s deepening […]

– Read the Full Article (pdf file)

The following is a report by OPride.com. ———– #OromoProtests in Ethiopia take an unexpected turn (OPride) — At least 8 people were killed and more than 30 others injured on October 11, 2017 in renewed protests across Ethiopia’s restive Oromia state. Peaceful protests were reported again on Thursday in several Oromia towns, including Woliso in […]

Breaking News: Abadula Gemeda resigns as Speaker of Parliament, Addis Standard reports

“Abadula’s resignation solidifies Oromo unity and OPDO’s bargaining power,” OMN panel

Taaddalaa Gammachuu: “Saba Koo Gadaan Keenya” [Weekend Oromo Music Selection]

In Pictures: The 2017 Irreecha Malkaa Ateetee at Gafarsaa in Buraayyuu

Abadula: “I will continue as Member of Parliament through end of my term”

Irreecha Malkaa and Irreecha Tulluu: Holistic Expressions of the Oromo Gadaa System

Memorial for #Irreecha2016 and fundraising for Eastern Oromia held in Pennsylvania (via Dagalee Media)

The Colorful Irreecha Malkaa Ateetee 2017

(Part 2) Mekuria Bulcha (Prof.):- The ‘Nine Lives’ of Oromo Literacy – Qubee and the Birth of a Generation

Oduu (News/Zena) – Onk. 9/10, 2017 (OMN, OBN, ESAT)

Caalaa Bultuume: “Yaa Jaal Qabsoo” [Oromo Music]

Isqiyaas Mazammir: “Koo Ta’ii” [New Oromo Music]

Oduu (News/Zena) – Onk. 10/11, 2017 (OMN, OBN, ESAT)

Breaking News:- Fresh protests in Ethiopia’s largest regional state Oromia

Famous Oromo and Ogadeni artists release new song of solidarity

Dammituu Onnataa: “Godaannisa” [New Oromo Music]

Yoseph Mulugeta Baba (Ph.D.):- Dr. Merera Gudina’s Political Philosophy (article in Amharic)

Bayisa Wak-Woya:- Where Are We Heading? (article in Amharic)

Abarraa Worquu: “Baafadhu Gumaa” [New Oromo Music]

#OromoProtests activists distance movement from Wednesday’s deadly rallies in Oromia