O-Dispatch 24-C - A Vision for the Oromo Nation: Education, Language, Culture, and A National Renaissance

(Published as part of the “Oromia Rising: Essays on Freedom and the Future” series. Everyone is invited to contribute. Send your contributions to bantii.qixxeessaa@gmail.com.)

By Bantii Qixxeessaa

🎧 Listen to the Audio Version (8 minutes)

Introduction: Freedom Means Nothing Without Knowledge of Self Independence is not only political—it is cultural, intellectual, and psychological. For over a century, the Oromo people have endured systematic cultural suppression, forced assimilation, and intellectual erasure. Our language was silenced. Our history rewritten. Our institutions dismantled and replaced by imperial systems designed to dominate—not to liberate. Even during the so-called federal era, our schools rarely taught our story. Our children were told they were free yet were educated to forget who they were.

True freedom requires more than political sovereignty. It demands the right to learn in our own language, preserve and evolve our culture, and imagine our future on our own terms. Independence must deliver not just self-rule, but a national renaissance—a revival of Oromo identity, thought, and imagination.

I. Education as Liberation

A free Oromia must establish an education system that liberates minds rather than indoctrinates them.

1. Afaan Oromo at the Center

• Make Afaan Oromo the primary language of instruction at all educational levels.
• Ensure multilingual access to other key languages—English, Arabic, and regional languages—for global and regional integration.
• Develop comprehensive scientific, technical, and humanities curricula in Afaan Oromo to support both identity and innovation.

2. Decolonized Curriculum

Revamp curricula to include:

• Oromo history—from antiquity through resistance to present-day movements.
• The Gadaa system, indigenous knowledge, oral literature, and philosophy.
• Contributions of Oromo intellectuals, women, artists, and freedom fighters.
• Remove Eurocentric and imperial-Ethiopian narratives that distort or diminish Oromo identity.

3. Access and Equity

• Guarantee free public education through the secondary level.
• Prioritize outreach to rural, pastoralist, nomadic, and marginalized communities.
• Invest in mobile schools and flexible educational models tailored to nomadic lifestyles.

An independent Oromia must build not only classrooms, but spaces for critical thinking, cultural pride, and civic imagination.

II. Language: The Soul of the Nation

Language is not just a means of communication—it is a repository of memory, identity, and worldview. Without control of language, we lose control of our narrative.

1. Official Language Policy

• Declare Afaan Oromo the national and official language of Oromia across all public domains—government, judiciary, education, and media.
• Uphold functional multilingualism for communities that speak Somali, Sidama, and others within Oromia’s borders.

2. Language Standardization and Innovation

• Fund institutions for language development, translation, publishing, and lexicon expansion.
• Promote technological development in Afaan Oromo, including AI tools like speech recognition, text-to-speech, and machine translation.

3. Broadcasting and Media

• Ensure that national and regional media outlets broadcast primarily in Afaan Oromo.
• Invest in Oromo-language television, film, literature, radio, podcasts, and digital content to create a self-sustaining cultural ecosystem.

III. Culture: Resistance and Renewal

Oromo culture has withstood empire, war, and attempts at erasure. But survival is not enough—we must now thrive.

1. Oromo Cultural Institutions

• Establish a National Oromo Museum, Archives, and Library System to preserve oral traditions, manuscripts, and historical materials.
• Build regional cultural centers, theatres, and storytelling hubs that celebrate local diversity within a united Oromo identity.

2. Reviving Gadaa Infrastructure

• Recognize Gadaa councils and spiritual leaders not as symbolic remnants, but as living institutions of ethics, governance, and generational continuity.
• Document and modernize Gadaa laws and practices to ensure relevance and accessibility for the youth.

3. Art, Music, and Performance

• Create public arts funding for musicians, poets, visual artists, dramatists, and dancers rooted in Oromo identity.
• Host national art festivals and diaspora cultural exchanges to showcase the richness and diversity of Oromo creativity.

IV. Reclaiming Memory and Healing Trauma

A nation that buries or distorts its past cannot move forward with clarity or unity.

1. Memorialization

• Construct national monuments and memorials to honor victims of massacres, cultural repression, and land dispossession—Irreecha Massacre, Qalitti prison, Batte Urgessa, and others.
• Name public institutions after Oromo heroes, intellectuals, artists, and martyrs of the struggle.

2. Public History Projects

• Support community-led storytelling and memory preservation initiatives.
• Publish oral histories, resistance archives, and family testimonies to reclaim collective memory.

3. National Holidays and Rituals

• Institutionalize holidays like Irreecha, Yaadannoo Guyyaa Goototaa, and Guyyaa Oromoo as moments of reflection, unity, and renewal—not mere celebration.

V. Cultural Pluralism and Inclusion

Oromo culture must lead with integrity—not dominate with arrogance. Oromia is home to diverse ethnic, linguistic, and religious communities.

• Guarantee all communities the right to cultural expression, language use, and religious practice.
• Protect sacred sites, traditional lands, and community identities.
• Embrace pluralism not as a threat, but as a strength—within a unifying, Oromo-led national framework.

A renaissance rooted in cultural pride and tempered by humility can unify a diverse and democratic republic.

VI. Diaspora and Global Cultural Exchange

The Oromo diaspora holds a wealth of knowledge, creativity, and lived experience. It must be a central partner in Oromia’s cultural renaissance.

• Partner with diaspora communities to archive music, literature, and historical records developed abroad.
• Create artist and academic exchange programs that allow diaspora scholars, students, and creators to contribute to nation-building.
• Use embassies and cultural centers to globally represent Oromo identity with dignity and confidence.

Conclusion: A Nation That Knows Itself Cannot Be Broken

Empires tried to erase us by silencing our language, distorting our stories, and severing us from our memory. But we endured.

Now, we must do more than survive—we must reclaim, restore, and reimagine.

An independent Oromia must not only defend its borders—but elevate its soul.
It must not only protect its people—but awaken their potential.
It must not only remember its past—but build from it—with pride and purpose.

This is the renaissance our people deserve.
Let us begin it—through language, learning, and culture.

 

O-Dispatch 24-B - A Vision for the Oromo Nation: Justice, Reconciliation, and Building the Rule of Law

(Published as part of the “Oromia Rising: Essays on Freedom and the Future” series. Everyone is invited to contribute. Send your contributions to bantii.qixxeessaa@gmail.com.)

By Bantii Qixxeessaa

🎧 Listen to the Audio Version (8.5 minutes)

	Introduction: A Nation Cannot Be Built on Broken Bones The Oromo people have endured generations of brutality, dispossession, and impunity under successive Ethiopian regimes. Massacres have gone unpunished. Torturers have been promoted. Courts have served rulers—not the ruled. Every promise of justice has been betrayed, and every cycle of violence recycled.

But independence offers Oromia more than just an escape from empire—it offers an entrance into justice. It presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to construct a legal system that reflects our history, values, and aspirations. Not just courts and codes, but a national ethic rooted in accountability, reconciliation, and human dignity.

This second installment of A Vision for the Oromo Nation is intended to provide a foundation for scholars and legal experts to explore how Oromia can build a justice system that heals past wounds, safeguards rights, and empowers all its people.

I. From Punishment to Accountability: Reversing the Imperial Logic of Law

In Ethiopia, law has long functioned as a tool of oppression. Under Haile Selassie, it upheld monarchical absolutism. Under the Derg, it justified mass executions. Under the EPRDF, it masqueraded as federalism while crushing dissent. Under Abiy Ahmed, it has been used to silence Oromo voices, imprison opposition leaders, and shield state violence.

An independent Oromia must break from this legacy. It must reject law as a mechanism of domination and embrace it as a vehicle for justice. This means laws created by the people, enforced fairly, and applied equally—regardless of status or power.

II. Foundational Principles of Oromo Justice

The justice system of a free Oromia should be anchored in five core principles:

• Universal Legal Equality: No citizen, official, or institution is above the law.
• Due Process and Fair Trials: All accused persons have the right to defense, appeal, and impartial judgment.
• Community-Based Resolution: Incorporate Gadaa values of consensus-building and restorative justice.
• Truth and Memory: Past atrocities must be documented, acknowledged, and taught—not erased or denied.
• Reconciliation Over Revenge: Justice must aim to heal, not to reopen old wounds.

III. Transitional Justice: Confronting the Past

Independence cannot erase the trauma of Qalitti, Ma’ikeliawi, Ambo, Dembi Dollo, the Irreecha massacre, or the assassinations of Hachalu Hundessa and Batte Urgessa. But it can provide the authority and legitimacy to address those crimes openly, honestly, and with dignity.

1. Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC)

·         Collect testimonies, investigate abuses, and publicly report on human rights violations committed under Ethiopian rule.

·         Prioritize national healing, institutional reform, and moral clarity—rather than punitive retribution.

2. Victim Compensation and Memorialization

·         Establish a national reparations fund and build public memorials to honor victims of state violence, land dispossession, and cultural erasure.

·         Provide public recognition and material support to survivors and families most affected.

3. Conditional Amnesty

·         Offer amnesty to low-level perpetrators who fully disclose their actions and commit to reconciliation efforts.

·         Deny immunity to those who orchestrated systemic abuses.

IV. Judiciary and Legal Institutions: Building from the Ground Up

To deliver justice, institutions must be independent, accessible, and trusted.

1. Independent Constitutional Court

·         Empowered to review laws and government actions for constitutional compliance.

·         Judges selected through a non-partisan, merit-based process and confirmed by Parliament.

2. People’s Courts at the Local Level

·         Resolve disputes using customary Oromo law (Aadaa Seeraa) and Gadaa practices.

·         Ensure inclusion of women and youth in community justice mechanisms.

3. Office of the Ombudsperson

·         Investigate abuse, discrimination, or violations of procedural justice committed by public officials.

·         Operate independently and report findings to Parliament and the public.

4. Legal Aid System

·         Provide free legal representation to those who cannot afford it—especially in cases involving land disputes, gender-based violence, and abuses by the state.

V. Policing, Prisons, and the End of State Terror

A just society cannot tolerate police and prisons that function as tools of repression.

1. Demilitarize the Police

·         Replace paramilitary forces with civilian-led, community-based public safety institutions.

·         Train officers in Oromo law, language, and human rights.

2. Close and Reform Detention Centers

·         Shut down informal prisons and sites of torture.

·         Develop a rehabilitative prison system focused on reintegration, not punitive suffering.

3. Oversight and Complaint Mechanisms

·         Establish civilian review boards with authority over police conduct, detention procedures, and use of force.

·         Enforce national standards to protect rights and prevent abuse.

VI. Legal Education and Public Trust

Laws are only meaningful when they are understood—and believed in.

1. Public Legal Education

·         Disseminate legal knowledge via radio, TV, and social media in accessible language.

·         Integrate civic education into school curricula from the primary level onward.

2. University Reform

·         Build Oromo-centered law schools focused on constitutional law, human rights, customary law, and transitional justice.

·         Encourage a new generation of legal professionals committed to public service and justice.

3. Translation and Accessibility

·         All laws must be published in Afaan Oromo and other local languages.

·         Legal documents should be written in clear, understandable terms—not in obscure legal jargon.

VII. Regional Inspiration and Global Legitimacy

Oromia need not start from scratch. Other nations have walked similar paths from trauma to justice:

• South Africa showed how truth-telling and forgiveness can underpin national reconciliation.
• Rwanda’s hybrid Gacaca courts demonstrated how local traditions can support accountability after genocide.
• Tunisia enshrined civil liberties and judicial independence through constitutional reform after dictatorship.

Oromia can draw from these global experiences—while rooting its justice system in Gadaa values—to build institutions that are both authentically Oromo and globally respected.

Conclusion: A New Covenant With the People

A just nation is not one without wrongdoing—it is one where power is constrained, rights are protected, and dignity is restored. For Oromia, independence is not only a political goal—it is a moral one.

We will not replicate the empire’s courts. We will build courts where every citizen stands equal.
We will not forget the blood that was shed. We will honor it with truth and healing.
We will not seek vengeance. We will seek justice—with wisdom, compassion, and resolve.

This is the justice the Oromo people deserve.
This is the foundation upon which our freedom must rest.