“Idaw Gebs” or “Idaw Nebs”? Don’t Mess With the OLF (Freedom Mindset of the Oromo)!
By Fayyis Oromia*
Some Amhara elites with a Neftegna mindset bragged in this manner as they waged a devastating war against the Tigray people about three years ago. They believed that defeating the TPLF would be difficult, but dealing with the OLF in particular—and the Oromo people in general—would be as easy as “idaw gebs new” (as easy as brushing off grain husks). Now, having encountered the intelligent, nonviolent resistance rooted in the Oromo mindset of Bilisummà (freedom), represented by the OLF, they have begun crying out for their nebs (soul) or hiliwunnà (survival).
Similarly, some Tigrayan elites with hegemonist attitudes once dismissed the OLF and the Oromo people by saying, “ye zinb bizat mesob ayikeftim” (many can’t open a basket, despite their number). This was a condescending suggestion that the Oromo—Ethiopia’s largest population—lacked the power to remove a minority Tigrayan-led regime from the palace in Finfinné (Addis Ababa). But now, both hegemonists and Neftegna forces have become relics of the past, unlikely to return to power in Finfinne. They’ve learned the hard lesson: don’t underestimate or mess with the OLF.
Henceforth, the Oromo’s Bilisummà mindset must focus on dismantling Dr. Abiy Ahmed’s hybrid regime—a regime committed to preserving the legacy of Amaranet/Amharic domination by obstructing the rightful elevation of Oromic and Oromummà to a leading role in Ethiopia.
Read more: https://orompia.wordpress.com/2023/06/0 ... iltsigina/
Re: “Idaw Gebs” or “Idaw Nebs”? Don’t Mess With the OLF (Freedom Mindset of the Oromo)!
The answer is simple: the QR did not target the Amhara people. Instead, it focused on overthrowing the brutal TPLF regime (Dagimawi Derg). The QR never demeaned Amhara political forces or the Amhara public. In contrast, the FM launched its struggle by attacking three core pillars of Oromo identity:
Onegawinet – the beloved symbol of the Oromo liberation movement;
“Galla Invasion” – using a highly offensive, derogatory term;
Oromummà – the foundational identity and inclusive ideology of the Oromo people.
With this misstep, the FM revealed a lack of political wisdom and leadership capable of winning Oromo hearts and minds—despite the fact that the Oromo are the most consistent and determined opponents of Biltsigina (Salisawi Derg
Onegawinet – the beloved symbol of the Oromo liberation movement;
“Galla Invasion” – using a highly offensive, derogatory term;
Oromummà – the foundational identity and inclusive ideology of the Oromo people.
With this misstep, the FM revealed a lack of political wisdom and leadership capable of winning Oromo hearts and minds—despite the fact that the Oromo are the most consistent and determined opponents of Biltsigina (Salisawi Derg