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The Gazira Press

Walaloo Obbo Usmaayoo Muusaa haadha warraa isaatiif

January 19, 2014

"Wa’eela too takka
Haati maatii waatii
Naaf osoo fiigduu tii
Dhabde lubbuu siitii

Rabbi araaramiif
Isii naa rahmatii
Haadha abbaa gootee
Yatiima kan kootiif

Galanni khee hin badin yaa Mootii
Hunda fedhiin teetii
Galanni khee hin badin yaa Mootii
Hunda murtiin teetii"

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An Afternoon with Nadhi Gamada and Abba Yusuf, Mogadishu (1985)

December 25, 2014

Photo of Mogadishu, Somalia - 1980's "I brought you a guest today" said Abba Yusuf as he entered and greeted my father. Abba Yusuf was the organizations envoy in Mogadishu for almost 20 years. He was practically raised by the organization and was in charge of all of it's dealings in the city. On this occasion he was hosting the OLF's Head of Political Affairs, Nadhi Gamada, who was in Mogadishu to officially open diplomatic relations with the Somali gov't. The meeting was brief and they agreed to meet again the next day for lunch. When Nadhi arrived in Mogadishu he was briefed by Somali National Security, who told him that he was free to move about in the city. But they placed undercover agents outside of his hotel to watch him. This was done so that they can identify and gather information on OLF members in Mogadishu (incase relations went bad and they needed to round them up in the future). However, Abba Yusuf came up with a clever plan and they were a...

Reshape the Culture: Oromummaa & Ideology

March 12, 2021

Oromummaa & Ideology Political ideology and ethnicity are two separate things. Ras Gobana, Habtegiorgis Dinegde, Ras Ali, Balcha and their states/armies are no less Oromo than the states they fought to subdue in their allegience with Menelik. Dismissing them as simple lackeys with no motives or agenda of their own, which Oromo nationalists tend to do, is a simplistic way of looking at their history. Similarly, saying that they hated Oromos and killed people because they’re Oromo doesn’t make sense. Their ideology was one that centred around the Orthodox church and Christianity, not ethnicity. So although they came from Oromo tribes and Oromo regions, they identified with the church and the state more than an Arsi Oromo or Wallagga Oromo who was not even a citizen of that state at the time. Similarly, under the rule of Haile Selassie when Oromo officers formed the Maccaa-Tuulamaa Self-Help Association (MTA) they were allowed to operate legally, until it was discovered that the ...

The Revisionary Emir of Harar: Muhammad Ali Mayu (1856-1875)

December 08, 2013

By Jilcha Hamid When reading the history of Harar the Emir who stood apart from the rest is Muhammad Ali (1856-75). Before his rule it can be said that Harar was no more than an isolated city-state suffering from political instability, and a vulnerable economy. Some of the major changes implemented during the rule of Emir Muhammad were that he strengthened ties between the town and the Raba Dori administration of the Afran Qallo Oromo; symbolized by his adoption and title as 'ilma gosa' (or 'son of the clan'). His relationship with the Afran Qallo Oromo brought the town the much needed stability and gave the Emir the political and diplomatic leverage to transition Harar into a new era, and establish a state with the Oromo clans. Harar in the 19th century was a town inhabited predominantly by the Gey Usu or 'people of the city', while the territories outside of the walls were inhabited by Oromos. The Afran Qallo Confederation periodically elected a Raba Do...