• Africa,  African Great Lakes,  The Oromo people

    The Oromo people

    The Oromo people are one of the largest ethnic groups in East Africa, predominantly found in Ethiopia’s Oromia region and parts of northern Kenya. Their language, Oromo (or Afaan Oromoo), belongs to the Cushitic branch of the Afroasiatic language family, marking them as a significant Cushitic-speaking group. With an estimated population of around 45 million, they constitute a substantial portion of Ethiopia’s population. Historically, the Oromo people were semi-nomadic pastoralists. They migrated and expanded their territories significantly over time, establishing influential kingdoms and dynasties. Their social and political organization was traditionally governed by the gadaa system, a complex, democratic governance system where leaders were elected every eight years. This system…