Oromia: An Introduction to the History of the Oromo People

This book is not a definitive history of the Oromo people, but an attempt to provide an account of the struggle of the Oromo people to affirm their place in history. The Oromo people make up a significant portion of the Horn of Africa population. They account for approximately half of the population of Ethiopia. Oromia is a title used to refer to the Oromo as a political, cultural and social entity. The Oromo people living in the Horn of Africa share a common language and a homogeneous culture. During their long history the Oromo developed their own cultural, social and political system known as the Gadaa system. It is a uniquely democratic system governing life from birth to death. Ecologically and agriculturally Oromia is the richest region in the Horn of Africa. Livestock products, coffee, oil seeds, and spices are the center of the economy. Mineral resources also are a part of the Oromo economy, and wild life is abundant in their homelands. Living in East African nations, the Oromo people are largely unknown to most of the world; this work lifts up the people, their culture and their struggles. Political turmoil in Ethiopia and elsewhere in East Africa has resulted in a large Oromo population dispersed around the world. It is a community bound together by a concern for their homeland -- Oromia. Book jacket.