The Oromo Commemorating Adwa on Our Terms Is a Step in the Right Direction!
By Fayyis Oromia*
The Oromo beginning to commemorate the Victory of Adwa on our own terms is a step in the right direction. I have long advised Oromo nationalists to strategically engage with Ethiopiyumma (Ethiopianism), because the Oromo have played a foundational role in building and preserving Ethiopia—what I call Oropia if led by Oromummà—as a nation-state. It is now appropriate and empowering that we are reclaiming Adwa’s history and adopting the green-yellow-red flag as a shared symbol among the diverse nations of this country.
What still remains for us to accomplish is the promotion of Oromic to the position of primary language, replacing Amharic. The essential mission of future Oromo nationalists must be twofold: to consolidate political power (Àngô) in the Finfinné palace, and to promote Oromic as the working language of all national institutions. Amhara elites in particular—and pro-Amharanet elites more broadly—must be challenged. These groups are currently seeking a return to power in Finfinné, using unity and territorial integrity as a pretext.
I trust that Oromo nationalists are not naive enough to cede even limited power to Amhara elites. Undoubtedly, Oromo Republicans in both the OFC and OLF will be strengthened to prevail and cooperate with the OPP to achieve these two core objectives: consolidating Oromo power and elevating Oromic.
Read more: https://orompia.wordpress.com/2023/02/2 ... direction/