temam hajiadem

This is the study of Baaroo, praise-hymn of the Arsi Oromo. The main function of Baaroo is to praise the Arsi Oromo saint, Sheikh Hussein, who lived in the twelfthcentury at Anajina in Bale. Since some of the Arsi Oromo have been Islamized from the middle of the nineteenth-century, the importance of Baaroo hymns has also increased. The Arsi Oromo were originally followers of Waaqeffanna religion. However, gradually Islam
spread among them. Consequently, the Arsi Oromo began to follow two religions in a syncretistic manner. It was from this phenomenon that the Baaroo genre developed having diverse functions. This distinctive Baaroo genre developed by the Arsi Oromo was not sufficiently studied by scholars. It is this shortcoming that led the writer of the paper to do
more investigations on it. The data which were used to reconstruct the Baaroo history came from interview carried out by the researcher in four places (Amigna, Balee Gasgar, Anajina and Ghinnir) as well as from analysis of collected Baaroo hymns and some written documents. Based on these data, the writer concludes that the functions of Baaroo hymns
are diverse. Some of these are historical narration, repository of Arsi music and poetry, and above all expression of the feelings of rage against a political oppression and domination exerted by Gabbar-Naftagna system. Moreover, the Baaroo hymns have played important
roles in the development of Arsi Oromo self-consciousness and morale in the resistance against socio-cultural contempt and humiliation they sustained under exploitative systems for many years.

The Arsi are one of the largest subgroups of the Oromoo, the largest single ethnic group inhabiting parts of Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. The Arsi Oromoo originally were believed to be the followers of traditional indigenous religion known as Waaqeffanna but gradually at least since the eleventh-century some clans of Arsi Oromoo were in touch with Islam. In due course of time what social scientists called a syncretistic religious and cultural feature exhibiting both Oromoo and Islamic religions and cultures have start to emerge. This phenomenon was not discussed by many Ethiopian and foreign scholars. Based on the syncretic cultural approach established by U. Braukamper, this article discusses some of the major features of Islam and Waaqeffannaa and the syncretic features evolved between Oromoo and Islamic religions later among the Arsi Oromoo. However, after the Islamization of Arsi Oromoo the basic Oromoo cultural remains relatively intact. This phenomenon makes Orommumma, Oro...

Ethiopia is a land of diversity both in terms of ethnicity and religious affiliations. Even though Islam studies and Islamic issues now getting some attentions than before by scholars, it is comparatively far below Christianity studies. Many aspects of Muslim lives and Islamic issues need more investigations. Particularly the works of Muslim 'ulama and saints who contributed a lot to their fellow community and country need more research in order to bring to light their achievements. One of the famous 'saints' who lived in the twenty-century Arsiland was Sayyid Roba Garbi. Sayyid Roba was a saint, prophesier, social leader, supporter of the poor, jaalalloo (friend) of Sheikh Hussein and Sof Umar. During his life time he involved in many sensitive socio-cultural dealings and even symbolically in the political sphere including the issue of identity. Like few foresighted individuals, he struggled for the betterment of human-beings particular for the Arsi Oromoo as well as even for animal rights throughout southeastern parts of Ethiopia. His life history is the product of the writer's Ph. D research fieldwork carried between 2014 and 2015 in Arsiland involving interviews of his family as well as his friends and common people. The writer also observed some places related to his life and also analyzed many chants known as sarmadee and zeekkaraa to reconstruct his life history and contributions. Based on these data and their analysis, the writer concludes that Sayyid Roba Garbi life history epitomized the suffering Arsi Oromoo faced during Naftanga-Gabbar period and also their socio-cultural and religious conditions. Moreover, Sayyid Roba activities such as opening up Sof Umar pilgrimage sites of Hammarra and Hulluqa in Bale, spreading Islam, helping the poor and the needy Arsi Oromoo through material and spiritual activities and giving hopes when no institutions did not care for them during that period had even earned him the title of 'saint' from the Arsi Oromoo. The writer also appreciates his ability to command traditional Oromoo knowledge such as storytelling, sayings, anecdotes, usage of diverse hymns and its usage in his daily activities which contributed greatly for the survival of Arsi Oromoo indigenous knowledge and development of Oromoo consciousness.

The roles of women in any society were the focuses of many researchers. Some of them compared with the role of men in the development of human rights and conflict resolution concluded that the women role was limited. But this is not true for Oromo women. For this reason, this paper briefly discusses the roles of Atete Oromo women deity in socio-cultural lives of the Oromo nation. The research explores how Oromo women used this deity to defend their rights and solve the arising conflict in society peacefully. It also outlines special cultural and ritual objects women used to promote peace, human rights, social justice; to overcome natural disasters through prayers and to strike cosmos balance between the creator and creatures. There is a dearth of written material which deals with Atete, the researcher, therefore, depend on some data that come from interviews, informant narration, Atete hymns and observation of the ceremony for many years. Later, these sources were cross-checked with...

Ethiopia is a land of diversity both in terms of ethnicity and religious affiliations. Even though Islam studies and Islamic issues now getting some attentions than before by scholars, it is comparatively far below Christianity studies. Many aspects of Muslim lives and Islamic issues need more investigations. Particularly the works of Muslim 'ulama and saints who contributed a lot to their fellow community and country need more research in order to bring to light their achievements. One of the famous 'saints' who lived in the twenty-century Arsiland was Sayyid Roba Garbi. Sayyid Roba was a saint, prophesier, social leader, supporter of the poor, jaalalloo (friend) of Sheikh Hussein and Sof Umar. During his life time he involved in many sensitive socio-cultural dealings and even symbolically in the political sphere including the issue of identity. Like few foresighted individuals, he struggled for the betterment of human-beings particular for the Arsi Oromoo as well as even for animal rights throughout southeastern parts of Ethiopia. His life history is the product of the writer's Ph. D research fieldwork carried between 2014 and 2015 in Arsiland involving interviews of his family as well as his friends and common people. The writer also observed some places related to his life and also analyzed many chants known as sarmadee and zeekkaraa to reconstruct his life history and contributions. Based on these data and their analysis, the writer concludes that Sayyid Roba Garbi life history epitomized the suffering Arsi Oromoo faced during Naftanga-Gabbar period and also their socio-cultural and religious conditions. Moreover, Sayyid Roba activities such as opening up Sof Umar pilgrimage sites of Hammarra and Hulluqa in Bale, spreading Islam, helping the poor and the needy Arsi Oromoo through material and spiritual activities and giving hopes when no institutions did not care for them during that period had even earned him the title of 'saint' from the Arsi Oromoo. The writer also appreciates his ability to command traditional Oromoo knowledge such as storytelling, sayings, anecdotes, usage of diverse hymns and its usage in his daily activities which contributed greatly for the survival of Arsi Oromoo indigenous knowledge and development of Oromoo consciousness.

The Arsi are one of the largest subgroups of the Oromoo, the largest single ethnic group inhabiting parts of Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. The Arsi Oromoo originally were believed to be the followers of traditional indigenous religion known as Waaqeffanna but gradually at least since the eleventh-century some clans of Arsi Oromoo were in touch with Islam. In due course of time what social scientists called a syncretistic religious and cultural feature exhibiting both Oromoo and Islamic religions and cultures have start to emerge. This phenomenon was not discussed by many Ethiopian and foreign scholars. Based on the syncretic cultural approach established by U. Braukamper, this article discusses some of the major features of Islam and Waaqeffannaa and the syncretic features evolved between Oromoo and Islamic religions later among the Arsi Oromoo. However, after the Islamization of Arsi Oromoo the basic Oromoo cultural remains relatively intact. This phenomenon makes Orommumma, Oromoo-ness rather than Islam the inspiring ideology for common good with the other Oromoo groups. Based on the historical accounts and the fieldwork the writer finally underscores that the syncretized nature of religions and cultures evolved between Waaqeffanna, the traditional Oromoo religion and Islam enabled the Arsi Oromoo to unite as a collective cultural group to withstand Menelik invasion for about a decade and also contributed to the survival of Oromoo culture and identity among Arsi Oromoo. This paper also forwarded the idea that the common value shared between Waaqeffanna and Islam among the Arsi Oromoo of Ethiopia called for more investigations about a common source of their origin and later on about their diffusion throughout the Horn of Africa since the immemorial period.

The roles of women in any society were the focuses of many researchers. Some of them concluded women role in any society was minimal. But this is not true for Oromo women. It is for this reason that this paper briefly discusses the roles of Ateetee Oromo women deity system in socio-cultural lives of Oromo nation. The research explores how the Oromo women used this deity system to defend their rights and solve arising conflict in the society peacefully. It also outlines special cultural and ritual objects women used to promote peace, human rights, social justice; to overcome natural disasters through prayers and to strike cosmos balance between the creator and creatures. Since there is a dearth of written material which deals with Ateetee, the researcher therefore depend on some oral traditions and anthropological investigation carried out for many years. Based on the investigation and analysis of these sources, the writer concluded that the Oromo society developed a highly sophisticated Ateetee system to safeguard women rights and protect the rights of the weak group at least from the time of Gadaa advent. Ever since, they also used it for solving arising conflict in Oromo society peacefully. Moreover, contrary to many writers the focuses of Ateetee system were not only confined to fertility matter but also focused on many issues that affect all Oromo groups including male as my investigation established.