The two Types of Ethiopianists: Amapianists vs Oropianists!
By Fayyis Oromia*
It is interesting to observe that almost all elite politicians in Ethiopia are slowly but surely becoming Ethiopianists. The only difference they have is in the type of Ethiopia they want to foster. There only two options: in the form of Amapia (Amaranet dominated country) and Oropia (Oromummà led state). The third option as compromise solution is Confepia (confederation of free nations in Ethiopia, which is unlikely stability). Six years ago, both Dr. Abiy and Dr. Lema entered Finfinne palace being supported by the whole Oromo in particular and the whole Ethiopians in general, Both are die hard Ethiopianists dedicated to keep national unity and territorial integrity of the country. Their difference is in the type of Ethiopia they have in mind. Dr. Abiy’s Ethiopia is the hitherto Amapia, whereas Dr. Lema’s Ethiopia is the henceforth Oropia. That is why they had different positions during the formation of Amapianist Biltsigina party. Dr. Lema opposed the process, while Dr. Abiy pushed for the formation. Now, the anti-Oromummà Biltsigina party is committed to keep the ongoing Amarigna domination by hindering the legitimate promotion of Afàn Oromo to the primary working language of federal institutions like the palace, parlament, cabinet, court, military and security.
Oromo elites can be categorized roughly in to three: Amapianists, Unionists and Oropianists. Amapianist Oromo elites, who are comfortable by maintaining the existing domination of Amaranet/Amarigna, are dying natural death and belong to the past. They are elites with slave mentality to rever Amarigna instead of giving deu respect to Oromiffà. They are examples of all Oromos, who think that speaking Amharigna is a sign of being educated and using Afàn Oromo is only for the illitrates. We find such slave Oromo in many families of ours. The difference between Amapianist and Amarianist is that the first use the Ethiopiawinet mask to keep the domination of Amaranet, whereas the second try to maintain the domination overtly. Fortunately, Unionist Oromos, who believe in colorful rainbow Ethiopian union, seem to gain momentum and hopefully they can be used in this transition phase from the rule of dictatorial Amapianists to adminstration of democratic Oropianists. Sure is that at the end of the day, the vision of Oromianist and/or Oropianist elites shall prevail: we will either liberate Oromia from Abyssinia or transform Ethiopia to Oropia.
Oromo liberation movement has got victory over all Amapianist rulers up to Meles Zenawi. Unionist Oromos and others tried to save Ethiopia and Ethiopiawinet dominated by Amaranet in the last six years. Oromo nationalists gave Abiy Ahmed benefit of the doubt thinking that the PM might transform Ethiopia in Oromo terms. But, it seems that Abiy prefered to keep dominance of Amaranet at the cost of Oromummà. By imprisoning Jawar and other Oromo nationalists, Abiy fell in to trap of the [ deleted ] Amapian elites, who tried their best to separate him from his Oromo support base. They were successful to some extent. Then, Abiy lost significant Oromo support he had. He could rely only on Amarians for survival. Can they yet save him from the ongoing Oromo revolution? Time will show us.
As far as I am concerned, Abiy already spoiled his opportunity to be the first Oromo leader to transform Ethiopia. He even persuaded the Oromo to take more distance from Ethiopia and Ethiopiawinet, which is difficult to separate from Amharanet. It seems that the failing of this PM is an end for Ethiopia and beginning for the birth of sovereign country, be it in form of an independent Oromia or an integrative Oropia. Oromo elites have the best chance to foster one of the two based on self-determination vote of the Oromo.
For conservative Amarianists (the Habeshanized Cushites), Ethiopia is the land of the Solomonized (Semeticized) peoples like the Amhara and Tigaru with their typical Habesha culture. So they see, Ethiopia = Abyssinia, of course disregarding all the other 80 nations in the Country. Fortunartely, this plan of equating Abyssinia to Ethiopia is now slowly, but surely dying. To hinder the total death of such dictatorial Ethiopia, the Amarianists do every thing under the sun againist democracy and freedom, the two virtues which can fasten the death.
For true Ethiopianists, Ethiopia = Cush with all its more than 8000 years cultural heritage and history. The main elements of this Ethipia are Cushitic languages like Afàn Oromo, Cushitic religion (e.g Hige-Libona of Agaw and Wàqefannà of Oromo) and all other Cushitic cultural heritages, of course such Ethiopia can exist accomodating also the other non-Cushitic cultures, languages and religions in the country.
For Orom/pianists, Ethiopia is the country which either will give birth to Oromia (the map of the OLF) or will be transformed, in a long run, to Oropia (the current map of Ethiopia). Because of the fact that the rule of the game in the future will be democracy, freedom and development, this phenomen seems to be inevitable. The political trend of the globe favours these progressive virtues, which will promote the vision of the Oropianists; thus in a future process, Ethiopia will be either equivalent to Oropia or will disintegrate into smaller nation sates!
When we observe, the Ethiophilic Amarianists and the Ethiophobic Oromianists, both of them are acting based on their view regarding the dying Habeshic Ethiopia, not on anticipating the re-emerging Cushitic Ethiopia. Both groups are in illusion concerning the future. Actually Amarianists had to fear and hate the coming Ethiopia and Oromianists had to love and promote this future Ethiopia = Oropia. The trend is more in favour of the transformation to Oropia, on the grave of Amariansts’ very assimilative Habeshanization program of the dying old Ethiopia = Amapia. Abiy failed to realize this project.
Thus, in the future, as envisioned by the Oromianist elites, Oromia = formerly Ethiopia is a union in which the following five points (FADOB-score) will be implemented: F = Freedom from the system of domination; A = Afàn Oromo as a working language of federal government; D = Democracy as rule of game in the union; O = ‘Oropia’ instead of ‘Ethiopia’ as name of the union; and B = Black-Red-White as Cushitic flag of the Union. This Upper Nile country called ‘Oropia’ by the native owners of the land is used to be named as ‘Abyssinia’ by the Portuguese; ‘Cush’ by the Jews; ‘Alhabesh’ by the Arabs; ‘Punt’ by the Egyptians; and ‘Ethiopia’ by the Greeks. I hope Oropianists led by Jawar Mohammed will opt for such bigger Oropia instead of the smaller Oromia.
Galatôma!
Read more: https://orompia.wordpress.com/2017/03/1 ... thiopia-2/