The Oromo people have lost another elder. With the passing of W. Hundee Hurrisoo on 14 May 2026, we bid farewell to a man whose life journey mirrored many chapters of modern Oromo history itself: shepherd boy, teacher, student activist, journalist, prisoner of conscience, political leader, exile, mediator, author, and elder. He belonged to that...
Zegeye Asfaw Abdii (1941-2026): A Life of Principle, Humility, and Service to Humanity
A Personal Message by Abdi Badhadha Guyyaa Gootota Oromo as a Call for Unity and Collective Progress April 15 holds profound significance for the Oromo people as Guyyaa Gootota Oromoo, or Oromo Martyrs’ Day. It is a day dedicated to honoring the courageous men and women who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and dignity...
Oromo Martyrs Day, observed on April 15, is not just a moment of remembrance—it is a living testament to sacrifice, resilience, and an unfinished struggle. From the fallen leaders of 1980 to civilians, youth movements, and fighters of today, the cost of dignity remains ongoing. This day binds generations through memory, while raising an urgent question: what becomes of a people’s sacrifice when history is still being written?
We mourn the passing of Abbaa Gadaa Professor Asmerom Legesse, the Eritrean scholar whose rigorous work on the Oromo Gadaa system reshaped how the world understands indigenous African governance. Through seminal books including Gadaa: Three Approaches to the Study of African Society (1973) and Oromo Democracy (2000), he framed Gadaa as an Oromo constitutional democratic order with rotating leadership, codified law, and checks and balances. His legacy endures across generations.
Professor Hamdessa Tuso, a pioneering educator, scholar, and advocate for Oromo unity, dedicated his life to awakening, empowering, and uplifting his people. From the Arsi Basic School movement to global academic platforms, he championed Oromo identity, indigenous knowledge, and youth empowerment. His scholarship, activism, and mediation efforts shaped generations and strengthened the Oromo struggle for justice. Though he has passed, his legacy remains a guiding light for Oromia’s future.
In recognition of his enduring legacy, OROMIA TODAY solemnly declares this month of June as Hacaaluu’s Month.
Hacaaluu Hundeessa was not merely a musician. He was a living embodiment of Oromo hope and pride. Through his songs, he articulated the unspoken grief of generations, gave rhythm to the resistance, and sang dignity into identity. His artistry was more than melody—it was a medium of healing and awakening. We see now that his voice became part of the Oromo self, internalized by millions. His music didn’t just narrate life; it narrated their life.
April the 15th This day stands etched in the Oromo conscience as a day of solemn remembrance and unwavering pride. It is a day when time slows down for Oromo communities across the globe to honor the lives of our fallen heroes — courageous men and women who gave everything in the struggle for Oromia’s...
A year has passed since we lost one of Oromia’s brightest sons, Jaal Battee Urgeessaa—an icon of peaceful resistance, a visionary political leader, and a man whose gentle strength made him both beloved and formidable. His assassination on this day, on the Ramadan festive day last year, was not only a devastating loss to his...
Joanne Eisen, a Doctor of Dentistry, an advocate, and a friend of the Oromo, passed away peacefully on January 5, 2025, at her home in Alexandria, VA, due to a terminal illness. Joanne was adopted as an Oromo in a Guddifacha (adoption) ceremony at an OSA conference in Washington DC in the summer of 2013....
What a heartbreaking yet profoundly moving photograph—the family of the late Battee Urgeessaa, gathered together, embodying both the weight of sorrow and the fragile hope of new beginnings. Battee Urgeessaa, a renowned Oromo politician and tireless advocate for justice, was tragically taken from his family, community, and people on the night leading into Wednesday, April...
In Dedication to Our Hero Jaal Damissee K. Sardaa (1945-2023) April is a month when Oromo communities all over the world remember their heroines and heroes (hereafter 'heroes'). Particularly, 15th April has a special place in the Oromo struggle for freedom. It is on this particular day, in 1980, that the Oromo people lost a...
Obbo Demissie Kebede Sarda 1945-2023 It is with deep sadness and sorrow that we learn today the passing of Ob. Demissie Kebede Sarda Bora, who dedicated his entire life to the struggle of the Oromo people for freedom. Aged 77, Ob. Demissie was born on 27 September 1945 in Oromia, in Iluu district in the...
Source: www.oromoliberationfront.net (OLF) For Immediate Release 29 July 2016 It is with the deepest sorrow that the OLF announces the passing of Tarfa Dibaba on 29th July 2016 at the age of 76. Tarfa Dibaba was one of the founders and a senior member of OLF leadership. He was one of the early educated few...
