Peace Loving Ethiopians
October 8, 2019
Following the celebration of the Oromo people’s “Irreechaa” festival in the Capital city of Addis Abeba for the very first time in Ethiopian history, Aljazeera English falsely reported to their twelve million Facebook followers that the Oromo people celebrated their festival in Addis Abeba “for the first time in 150 years”, falsely implying that the festival was celebrated there, as Oromo extremists exclaim, before it “was forbidden” by the ruling Amharas who, they fraudulently insist, conquered indigenous Oromos on the land and “massacred millions”. Irreechaa is a pagan religious annual ritual historically celebrated in Bishoftu, a town formerly known as Debre Zeyit. Never in the history of Ethiopia had the festival been celebrated in the Capital. This utterly unfounded claim is one that has a political purpose: to claim the Capital City for Oromos’ ethno-state called “Oromia”.
The Oromo were indigenous to Somaliland and northern Kenya and were totally absent from Abyssinian Territory prior to the late renaissance era. They invaded Shewa, the historical province wherein the Capital, Addis Abeba, lies, in the late 16th century under the leadership of their Lubas (leaders), Robale and Harmufa. At the time, the Amhara people and other Ethiopians – including ones now utterly extinct due to the Oromo invasion and its indiscriminate and brutal slaughter, such as the Semitic Gafat people – defended their kingdom, transferring their political center northward, in Tana and Gondar, to protect their dominion. Ever since, until the advent of Menelik II, Ethiopia’s kingdom has fought perennially against the Oromo forces to restore the lost province of Shewa and the Kingdom’s old Capital, known as “Barara” at the time of the invasion and war, and reclaimed in 1886 by Menelik II with the new name of Addis Abeba. The Oromos who had settled in the destroyed and ruined city of Barara in the 17th century were not the Oromo tribe that celebrated the Irreechaa annual ritual, much less, Oromos being indigenous to the region and celebrating the festival in Addis Abeban territory 150 years ago.
This is without mentioning that Addis Abeba was not even founded 150 years ago in order to “forbid” them from practicing their religion at that time since the city was only founded by Menelik exactly 133 years ago. If Irreechaa is being celebrated in Addis Abeba for the first time in 150 years, who stopped Oromos from celebrating it there for seventeen years from the time they supposedly stopped 150 years ago until Menelik II founded the Capital city in 1886? There is absolutely no evidence in history that Oromos celebrated Irreechaa in Addis Abeban territory 150 years ago, let alone that the Kingdom forbade them to celebrate any longer. Al Jazeera also claimed that Menelik slaughtered 5 million Oromos when invading the southern region of Ethiopia. This was at a time when Ethiopia’s population as a whole did not exceed 5 million. At the time that Menelik reintegrated the southern regions of the nation, the entire Oromo population did not even surpass a million. The claim that Menelik massacred millions of Oromos to expand his empire is therefore purely fictitious and only serves to incite a new round of inter-ethnic conflict and possibly genocidal acts, which Aljazeera and other media are playing their part in.
Furthermore, In reality, Ethiopia’s ethnic federalist system has divided Ethiopia by arbitrary ethnic territories, fueling ethnic wars, mass displacement, ethnic cleansing and an apartheid-like system where citizens who do not belong to the ethnic group of the ethno-state are downtrodden, have no political representation, or are downright targeted and persecuted. Oromo extremists are politicizing Irreechaa to claim the Capital City as part of their ethnostate, Oromia, and instill Oromo supremacy over others based on a fictitious claim that they are indigenous to the land. If they achieve this end, millions of non-Oromos who have lived in Addis Abeba for generations would be subjugated, treated as 2nd-class citizens, or even driven out of their homes and indiscriminately massacred, as has already happened surrounding the Capital city. And Aljazeera English, a foreign Qatari media propagating the utterly unfounded and false claims of Oromo extremists regarding Addis Abeba, is participating in the instigation of genocide in Ethiopia.
All Ethiopians standing by the truth demand an official apology from Al Jazeera English for spreading false information about Irreechaa being celebrated in Addis Abeba for the first time in 150 years, and the unfounded and counterfeit, utterly false claim that Menelik and Amharas slaughtered 5 million Oromos. We request that all other media who oppose oppression, inter-ethnic war, ethnic cleansing, genocide, and apartheid condemn Oromo extremists and Al Jazeera English.
Academic References:
“The Abyssinians” by David Buxton; “Native Peoples of the World: An Encylopedia of Groups, Cultures and Contemporary Issues” by Stephen L. Danver; “Futuh Al Habasha” by Arab Faqih; “The Ethiopian Borderlands: Essays in Regional History from Ancient Times to the End of the 18th Century ” by Richard Pankhurst
Sincerely,
Peace-loving Ethiopians who stand for truth
Editor’s note: The writing was first published in the personal facebook page of Tedla Melaku
Ethiopians are simply fast asleep while the country is ravaged by ethnic violence!! when will they wake up is a million dollar Q!!
The so called Ethiopians/diaspora libachew eyaweke , beteley Benesa ager lai eyalu andim yetenkesakese yelem beferhat. Bezu bezu neger madreg yechal neber. Endewem besobachew, yabesha libse, wig, 1kilo makeup. Enate, bezare, ityooia hezb eyetegedele, eyeterabe, ageritu not shiret lai eyalech, ewnet yemicheferibet/yemishebrekerebet gize now? B/kerestian yelebs competition gize niw? Sewu lamlaku selam agerachin ena lerasu chigir yemiseleyebet gize enji? Yemetafesewen genzeb leterabew lemigedelew beteseb lemin ayderegim? Enezih mediawochis genzebu lenesu meksesha, le omn meksesha ayhonim? Wagahen eyagegneh now hezb!
Torinet ketejemere bemilion is sedetegnam yegorfal? Hezb yederaj. Yemiwaga, hero yiwaga, yemiyaderaj sewu yaderaj, hulum beyemesku. Betertare yeminor, lerasum ayhon lehezbem ayhon
Faulty Evidence on Ethiopian History by Adugna Koroso
I am tempted to write this article as a result of reading a book that altered my view on Ethiopian history, and answered some of the questions I had in mind.
OLF and its sympathizers have made it a motto to say that Emperor Menelik killed 5 million Oromos and Menelik was responsible for atrocious acts against the Oromos. On the other hand, I have also read responses claiming that the atrocious acts were in fact the acts of Oromo generals under Menelik, such as Ras Gobana Dache. This is a contentious issue, but what baffled me the most was the “5 million” figure. In the 1890’s, there was no population census and even the leaders of the time did not know the exact population of the country, maybe except the rough estimate of soldiers they can mobilize for wars. I always wondered how anyone can assert with full confidence that 5 million Oromos were killed by Menelik. Neither mass graves of that magnitude have ever been discovered in Ethiopia nor were such estimates given in history text books.
My question was not answered until last night, when I had a chance to read Alexander Bulatovich’s Ethiopia through Russian Eyes, which gives a detailed eye witness account of the 1896-98 era in Ethiopian history. The book is filled with vivid descriptions of the time. From the languages, customs, and religions to the history of the various groups in the South and Southwest Ethiopia, the author attempts to give complete descriptions.
In his first part of the book, Bulatovich states that:
The dreadful annihilation of more than half the population during the conquest took away from the [Oromo] all possibility of thinking about any sort of uprising.
Further in the book, Bulatovich adds:
Without a doubt, the [Oromo], with their at least five million population, occupying the best land, all speaking one language, could represent a tremendous force if they united. But the separatist character of the people did not permit such a union.
These two paragraph were used by OLF and its sympathizers to come up with the “5 million” number. With a simple logic that, half of the population was lost, and the population at that time was estimated at 5 million, hence 5 million people must have been killed.
These simple but faulty conclusions have misled a generation of Oromos and constrained the relation among Amharas and Oromos. No one can deny that thousands of people were killed on both sides in the battle between the neighboring regions of Shoa, Arussi, Harar, etc… However, extreme groups such as OLF have taken things out of context and use faulty information to push forward their extremist agenda.
I would like to outline some of the reason as to why I consider the conclusions made by OLF and its sympathizers faulty:
– First, in his introduction Bulatovich explicitly and humbly states that:
I know very well that my conclusions are in many ways inexact and that a more detailed study of the country will reveal that this account is not without errors.
– Second, Bulatovich’s description of the Oromo people was out of line, and accepting the “5 million” figure based on his estimate validates some of the extreme accusations he made of the Oromo people. As an Oromo or Ethiopian for that sake, everyone should be offended of these accusations and should not validate the book by selectively choosing a single fact for political purpose which indirectly gives credibility to the other misrepresentations about Oromo people.
For those who have not read the book, I have listed some of Bulatovich’s misrepresentations of the Oromo people. For the sake of it, I have redacted the pejorative word with Oromo whenever appropriate:
– First the author explicitly states that he is aware that the people call themselves Oromo, but call them with the pejorative word
– Second, he gives this generic characterization:
o In conversation with a person of higher station, the [Oromo] begins his speech with the word duguma, which means “this is true.” This must be because, in general, they often lie.
– Third, he describes the character of Oromos as:
o This [quicker bent for blood] makes the [Oromo] dreadful to such a point that he doesn’t notice danger.
o There is no general concept of “patriotism” [for Oromos].
o In the recent subjugations of the [Oromo] by the Abyssinians, the most violent fighters in the ranks of the Abyssinians were themselves [Oromo].
o The [Oromo] passionately wants to kill somebody or something in war or in a hunt to have the right to grease his head with butter and to return home with songs. But you can defeat a [Oromo] without risk.
o The [Oromo] is a beggar, sooner generous than stingy, sooner good than bad.
o It is worthy of note that the [Oromo] call all Abyssinians “Sidamo,” not seeing the differences between the two nations.
o The Abyssinians consider war with [Sidama] much more difficult than with the [Oromo].
I hope the evidence presented in this article show that the “5 million” number presented by Bulatovich is just a very rough estimate and cannot be taken of face value. If anyone want to claim the “5 million” number is the correct estimate for the loss of life at the end of the 19th century, then one needs to be careful as validating Bulatovich with this estimates also gives credibility to his wild claims about the Oromo people. The facts presented by Bulatovich are conflicting at best, and actually can be used to exonerate Emperor Menelik as the author stated that:
o In the recent subjugations of the [Oromo] by the Abyssinians, the most violent fighters in the ranks of the Abyssinians were themselves [Oromo].
Reference
1. Ethiopia through Russian Eyes. Alexander Bulatovich. samizdat.com/entotto.html
Thank you for this well-put article. I think it’s time Amhara and Tigray resolve their differences and establish the old Abyssinia with/without Oromo nationalists. The old province of Shewa needs to be part of it. Otherwise, we are looking at the end of the great green, red, and yellow flag.
I’m Tegraway. If the Oromos are not not stopped they will take over all the way to Eritrea. They are already saying that Cushitic ppl are in Eritrea. This Cushitic madness they are on, us v. Them mentality. First they will eliminate the Amhara. They have already fragmented the southern ppl, by making them fight against each other. Then the Amhara, then Addis Ababa, then Cut off and starve Tigray. Then Eritrea. Unless the Amhara elite stop their aggression against Tigray, stopping their rhetorical of’ we will starve tigray’, then the tegaru will not come with coalition with Amhara. Please stop your hate. Please let bygones be bygones. Yes many mistakes have been made, but unless we move tigether as Abyssinians, as Ethiopians, then Axum will become Aaxxaaasummaa, with pagan Ireecha festivities replacing Maryam Zion. We are running out of time fast.
What kind of weapon the King used to kill 5 million Oromo maybe a Nuclear bomb ? When he only had 3000 rifles. Oh, if Amhara and Tigrai come together and have a change of heart that would be the last time we see Oromo extremists and the end of their dreams forever.
God bless The Oromo people and our beloved Ethiopia.
Awaj Awaj!
Afar bewech hail eyetewesede niw, even as we speak! Afar ye maeden habtua bekutitir sir bewech hail eyehone niw!!! Abay wenz, bekirbu bewech hail sir lihon niw! Yemisema yisma. Ahun torinetun eyafatenu yalut ye ityiopia hezb Abay ena Afar meret endayasib niw. ers bersu eyetetala wede Afar/Abay endanatekur niw. Aby kalchale lelela meri yastelalif. Ahun enesun liteku kemichilu, minalbat ene Ezema, baschquai shigigir mengist yemta weyem moderate yehonu gileseboch: Beyen Petros, Merara Gudina, lema, megersa, Arena, Adp, Abn, etc baschequai kehulum mahbereseb yetewtata mengist yekum, giziawim bihon, hezben aand yemiyaderg. Aschequai awaj awtetew, wenjel heg yadrgu manegnawem ye zer/gosa sidib endyakomu. legizew hulum beyekelelu tegto, sira fet yehonew wetat meret wediyawenu tesetot, meret malmat/mares yejemir leterabew hezb baschquai endiderese. sira at hone timirtbet yemihed bemulu eske 15 amet wend/set sail lewetederena siltena yesemaru. minim zer, gosa saybal. ityopia lai already torinet tejemerual. Diasporaw baschquai tekelakel, weyem, bemanegnawem huneta erda. yewech telatochin be international abetuata madreg, kuch bileh atitegna eske 28 amet tegadmehal tekofeseh. socail media gleseboch bemekefafel keketelu endikesesu madreg, gin yalachewen erdata le ityopia hezb yestu. mediawoch kuch belo aselchi weray kemaweyayet, programachehun astekaklu, degaf le ityopia hezb mestet.
Yewech hail strategic partner Tigray/Amara aydelem. Oromo niw. ye Amara/Tigray meret lewech hail yefelegal. maedenu/Abay betaam yefelegal. Shabia/tplf coordinator niw lezih gudai
Western media with the support of belligerent leaders they want to see us killing with one another and vanished from the face of earth on the account of civil war they they selves created .
This act has been seen in other countries. Read carefully the history of some other countries who were united and powerful and end up being divided into tiniest thing on earth. look at what is happening in the world at present and in the past . All this chaos is created by outsiders who created fake intruders and handing weapons and looking from a far as if they donot know anything about it .
Media is mostly telling the artificial and well censored account of an event. Donot expect to find the truth from these medias.
Let me remind you what some news agencies reported about 47 Eritreans and 31 Ethiopians deported from Norway. according to these media: these people were deported because they told to authorities that they came to Norway to work. Nobody tells to officers that he came to work.
This article purposefully portrays the Oromo people in a negative light, and any Oromo person that sees this will be pushed to defend themselves. So it isn’t aljazeera that’s inciting violence it’s you!