It Is Not Just Who We Are, It Is How We Rise: Oromummaa!

It Is Not Just Who We Are, It Is How We Rise: Oromummaa!

In a world where identity is often used to define boundaries and draw lines of difference, the Oromo people have turned identity into a philosophy of unity, resistance, and progress. Oromummaa is not merely an ethnic label; it is a living force — an ethos that connects history to hope, culture to consciousness, and struggle to strength. It is not just who we are. It is how we rise.

Oromummaa: More Than Identity

Oromummaa is often translated as "Oromo-ness," but the concept reaches far deeper. It is a worldview, a moral compass, and a cultural foundation. Rooted in the principles of Safuu (moral integrity), nagaa (peace), and wal-qixxummaa (equality), Oromummaa defines the values that shape how Oromo people relate to one another and to the broader world.

This identity is not confined to language or lineage — it expresses belonging, duty, and pride in a heritage built on Gadaa. This democratic governance system predates modern political theory. It is a commitment to justice, community, and the survival of people who have too often been marginalised.

A Rising Identity

To rise through Oromummaa is to transform identity into agency. Across Oromia and the diaspora, generations of Oromo youth are reclaiming their roots not as a nostalgic gesture but as a forward-looking mission. They are artists, scholars, farmers, activists, and professionals who carry the torch of Oromummaa into every field — not just to be seen but to shape the future.

Rising with Oromummaa means rising with dignity and purpose, not in opposition to others, but in affirmation of the Oromo people's right to exist freely, speak their language proudly, and live according to their values.

Resistance and Renewal

The Oromo's history is marked by resilience. Colonial suppression, linguistic erasure, and political exclusion have all tried to silence Oromummaa, but each attempt to bury it has only deepened its roots.

Resistance is not merely protest; it is cultural preservation. It is teaching Afaan Oromo to your children in exile. It is singing traditional songs in the face of censorship. It is writing Oromo stories when publishers hesitate. Every act of survival is an act of revolution.

And from resistance comes renewal. Today, Oromo voices are rising in literature, academia, and politics, reshaping not only how the world sees the Oromo but also how the Oromo see themselves.

The Call of Our Time

This generation has a duty — to carry Oromummaa as an identity and a mission. It calls us to build, not just remember; to act, not just speak; to unite, not just name ourselves.

We must ask: what does Oromummaa demand of us today? It demands vision, unity, discipline, and the courage to lift others as we climb. It demands that we rise for ourselves and those whose voices have been silenced and whose dreams have been deferred.

Conclusion: The Oromo Future

Oromummaa is our inheritance, but more importantly, it is our launching point. It reminds us that we are more than our wounds — we are our will. And in a world that often pressures us to forget who we are, Oromummaa reminds us not just to remember — but to rise.

Because it is not just who we are. It is how we rise. Oromummaa!