Oromantic’s Weblog

Any movement that does not include and celebrate Oromo values as equal is doomed from the start.

By now, everyone might have heard about the formation of a new political group headed by Dr. Berhanu Nega. The group is called Ginbot 7 Movement for Justice, Freedom and Democracy (MJFD). On some Ethiopianist websites, this moment has been coined as the new beginning of “Ethiopia.” In its Mission Statement MJFD states that it fights against using the “ethnic” card to attain political gains. However, its logo & Mission Statement are decorated with the tri-colors and the same-old-same “ONE Ethiopia – ONE Identity” stories that manifest the chauvinism of certain ethnic groups collectively known as Abyssinians. Therefore, it is clear that MJFD is a hypocrite from the get-go. For most non-Abyssinian groups of the Ethiopian empire, the Abyssinian tri-colors & the “ONE Ethiopia – ONE Identity” stories were imposed on them starting from the reign of Menelik; especially, the tri-colors did not, do not and will not represent non-Abyssinian world views. However, time and time again, Abyssinian political groups (including the fresh-from-the-oven MJFD) attempt to convince others that they are totally against “ethnic” dominance while it is clear which groups are lurking behind their tri-colors and the “ONE Ethiopia – ONE Identity” stories.

Here is an eye opener for Dr. Berhanu and his MJFD colleagues, a new Ethiopia can only be achieved when the Empire’s Abyssinian System of Domination is dismantled – no patching or brushing with fresh paint, but totally dismantled. MJFD is nothing but a new name for the same chauvinistic Abyssinianism – it is a let-us-try-MJFD-this-time-around endeavor to save the dying System of Dominance; one can tell that this is the case by looking at MJFD’s logo & reading its Mission Statement.

As much as Abyssinians adore their tri-colors, Oromos – the majority nation in the Empire – adore their Odda symbol that manifests the Gadaa System, which is the right solution to Horn of African political instabilities. The Odda symbol stands for the Gadaa System of Governance, a system that had been reduced into non-existence by Abyssinian colonial regimes. For now, Gadaa.com has taken the liberty of modifying MJFD’s logo in an attempt that it may bring a paradigm shift desperately needed in Ethiopianist camps.

For conclusion, here’s a great quote about the Gadaa System:

The Oromo tradition of Gumii Gaayoo*, which brings people together from all over (many many parts of) Oromoland is one of the most democratic institutions. And, I only wish that the Congress of the United States could operate in the democratic way that the Oromo Gumii Gaayoo operates … (Dr. Donald Levine)

* Gumii Gaayoo is the Congress of elected representatives in the Gadaa System.

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