A thread to debunk this narrative of Oromos being colonized by “Abyssinians” when it’s a historical fact that the Oromo invaded in the 16th & 17th C. from present day Borana & Guji.
This occurred after the Ethio-Adal wars changing the demographic of Ethiopia forever.
This occurred after the Ethio-Adal wars changing the demographic of Ethiopia forever.
Manuel d’Alemida states the invasion began in 1537.
Bali was the 1st province to be captured.
Within 50 years the Oromo were waging wars against organized states & conquering lands 500 miles away from their original homeland.
Bali was the 1st province to be captured.
Within 50 years the Oromo were waging wars against organized states & conquering lands 500 miles away from their original homeland.
The Oromo historically did not keep any written
Their migration is well documented in the chronicles of Ethiopian Kings, Portuguese Jesuits, the Muslim state of Adal as well as eye witness accounts by the 16th C. Gamo monk Bahrey who wrote extensive works on their history.
Their migration is well documented in the chronicles of Ethiopian Kings, Portuguese Jesuits, the Muslim state of Adal as well as eye witness accounts by the 16th C. Gamo monk Bahrey who wrote extensive works on their history.
The oral traditions of the Oromo themselves shows remarkable agreement with each other & written evidence with virtually all accounts indicating an origin in the Borana region near Mt. Wolabo which was confirmed by the Oromo of Shoa & the Oromo of Arsi
(Herbert, S. Lewis 1966)
(Herbert, S. Lewis 1966)
The inhabitants of the conquered regions were either wiped out, enslaved, or assimilated and turned into tax-paying serfs.
There are entire indigenous groups who no longer exist like the people of Damot (present day Wollega) that were wiped out completely.
There are entire indigenous groups who no longer exist like the people of Damot (present day Wollega) that were wiped out completely.
Simultaneously, the Barentu Oromo groups attacked the Adal Sultunate & only a few groups of Muslims were able to escape to Zeila and the greater part of the Somali & Harari populations of Adal were assimilated by the Oromo.
The city of Dire Dewa was originally called Dir Dhabe after the Somali tribe Dir, this city was penetrated and the local Gurugura clan was also assimilated.
The Somali of the Hararghe highlands were assimilated & confederated into the Afran Qallo Oromo clan.
The Somali of the Hararghe highlands were assimilated & confederated into the Afran Qallo Oromo clan.
During the Luba of Harmufa & Robale in the 1570s the Oromo attacked Shewa & Gojjam & for the 1st time devastated core province of the Ethiopian empire.
Despite the attacks core provinces remained in Ethiopian control & Emperor Sersa Dengel retaliated.
Despite the attacks core provinces remained in Ethiopian control & Emperor Sersa Dengel retaliated.
When Menelik campaigned in the south, he was reclaiming lands once invaded.
Furthermore, it was Oromo generals like Ras Gobana, Jote Tulu, Abba Jifar, & Kumsa Moroda who conquered the south & were praised for putting an end to inter-tribal wars within the Oromo community.
Furthermore, it was Oromo generals like Ras Gobana, Jote Tulu, Abba Jifar, & Kumsa Moroda who conquered the south & were praised for putting an end to inter-tribal wars within the Oromo community.
So the question remains who colonized who? The victim narrative is getting played out don't you think?
PLEASE DO NOT take my word on it & blindly believe what I write. Read for yourself.
Something as elementary as Wikipedia has an entire page devoted to the Oromo migration.
PLEASE DO NOT take my word on it & blindly believe what I write. Read for yourself.
Something as elementary as Wikipedia has an entire page devoted to the Oromo migration.
This is not an attack on the Oromo people in any way, they are an integral part of Ethiopia.
Many of our emperors, bravest warriors, and brightest stars are Oromo.
However this narrative of Ethiopia colonizing Oromos is a joke & we won't ignore history to appease nationalists
Many of our emperors, bravest warriors, and brightest stars are Oromo.
However this narrative of Ethiopia colonizing Oromos is a joke & we won't ignore history to appease nationalists
For those that are genuinely interested in reading history for yourself there are numerous papers that detail the origin of the Oromo and the migration:
This paper by HS Lewis in the Journal of African history is a great place to start
cambridge.org/core/journals/…
This paper by HS Lewis in the Journal of African history is a great place to start
cambridge.org/core/journals/…
