Ethiopians Are Multilingual Cushites, But Not Necessarily Multi-national!
By Fayyis Oromia*
It is gradually becoming clear that Ethiopians in particular, and the peoples of the Horn of Africa in general, are Cushites—contrary to the classifications imposed by Eurocentric “scholars” who divided them into Semitic, Cushitic, Omotic, and Nilotic groups. In reality, the peoples of Ethiopia and the Horn are Cushitic by origin, and their ancestral nation is the Oromo. Simply put, they are all Oromo who, over time, began to speak different languages. They are multilingual Oromo (Cushites).
This is why Oromo nationalists are increasingly interested in a united Ethiopia and an integrated Horn of Africa. It is essentially another way of reuniting and integrating the Oromo people who speak different languages across the region. Nearly all the peoples of Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia, and Kenya are Cushites—Oromo by origin—who now speak various languages. That is why I dare say that Ethiopians in particular, and Horn Africans in general, belong to one nation speaking different languages.
We can refer to this common national identity as Ethiopian, Cushite, or Oromo. All languages spoken in this region stem from the Oromo. We must nurture and develop all of them within their respective linguistic areas. For this purpose, it would be beneficial to establish a language-based federation in the Horn of Africa, under the leadership of Afaan Oromo. The question is: Is Dr. Abiy Ahmed’s Medemer philosophy serving this purpose? Time will tell.
The Cushites (the Oromo) are the original Ethiopians, having lived in eastern Africa for thousands of years. The process of “Abeshanization” of northern Cushites began with the arrival of the Agazians; “Bantunization” of the southern and western Cushites came through Bantu influence; and “Arabization” of the eastern Cushites resulted from centuries of Arab invasions and cultural influence.
It is becoming increasingly evident that the Horn of Africa has been home to Cushites (the Oromo) for approximately 10,000 years. Therefore, the region may rightfully be called Biyyakush (Kush Country or Cushland). Note: The Oromo are the root (or stock) of all Cushitic nations, including the “Solomonized” groups who now speak Amharic and Tigrinya. This process of “Solomonization” of Cushites from the northwestern part of Biyyakush began around 3,000 years ago. That era, referred to as “3,000 years of Ethiopian history,” is often mythologized through the tale of the Queen of Sheba and Solomon, leading to the birth of Menelik I. This legend metaphorically illustrates the cultural and linguistic hybridization (Habeshanization or diqalanization) of Cushites with Semitic elements. The Solomonized Cushites were less affected biologically, but heavily influenced—particularly linguistically.
Interestingly, the father of Queen Sheba (known as Candake) was named Aaga-Buus, which in Afaan Oromo means “bring down what is good” (melkam awurd in Amharic). This suggests that she was of Oromo (Cushitic) origin.
The emergence of Islam and the subsequent cultural shifts in the southeastern part of Biyyakush led to the Somalization of Oromo identity—where Arab influence shaped the Oromo language and culture, leading to the transformation of Afaan Oromo into Af-Somaali. These Somalized Oromo began to see themselves as descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, just as the Solomonized Cushites saw themselves as descendants of King Solomon.
Thus, while the Christian Axumite empire adopted a Solomonic (Jewish-rooted) identity, distancing itself from the Cushitic Wàqeffata religion, the Muslim Ajuran empire claimed Arab origins rather than embracing its Oromo roots. This process of Solomonization and Somalization of the Oromo continues today. For example: the Tigrayanization of Raayya, the Amharization of Yejju, and the Somalization of the Garri.
This systematic use of the Oromo people as a base identity to build both the Habesha and Somali identities must come to an end.
Thanks to the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), this process is now slowly but surely reversing. This is why the OLF fought against both Habesha and Somali armies in the Hararge mountains since the 1970s. What is often called the 16th-century Oromo migration was in fact a liberation movement—a resistance against both Solomonization and Somalization.
The Wàqeffata Oromo were labeled Gàllà (derived from the Arabic Qàlla, meaning “nay-sayer”) due to their refusal to adopt foreign influences—whether from the northwest or the southeast. We remain hopeful that this 3,000-year-long process of Solomonization and the 1,500 years of Somalization of the Oromo will come to an end.
If not, let it be known: not only Abyssinia and Somalia, but even ancient Egypt belongs to the Oromo (Cushites).
Galatôma! (Thank you!)
Read more: https://orompia.wordpress.com/2023/06/0 ... -national/