»»» The following are Gadaa.com's exclusive interviews with Oromo-related newsmakers.
Contending Nationalisms – Interview with Prof. Asafa Jalata on His New Book and More
July 27, 2010 - Dr. Asafa Jalata, Professor of Sociology and Global Studies, and the
Interim Chair of the Africana Studies Program at the University of
Tennessee, has been one of the most prominent scholars in Oromo studies ever
since its advent in the 1980's. Oromo studies is an interdisciplinary
academic area devoted to the study of the history, language, culture,
religion and politics of the Oromo nation in the Horn of Africa as well as
the Diaspora.
Dr. Asafa Jalata has authored and/or edited eight books, published
several referred articles, and contributed chapters to quite a few books on
issues related to the Oromo people and Oromia.
Gadaa.com is honored to interview Dr. Asafa Jalata about his new
book, "Contending
Nationalisms of Oromia and Ethiopia: Struggling for Statehood, Sovereignty,
and Multinational Democracy," and the current state of the Oromo nation
with topics covering "Ethiopianism as oppressor nationalism," the roles of
Oromo in ending the Ethiopian political slavery, the economic
violence unleashed on Oromia (including the appalling land grabs), the human
rights violations against the Oromo people, the significance of an AFD-like
alliance, and the reconciliation efforts and future of the Oromo national
political leadership.
Read the Full Interview »»»
.
Jawar Mohammed: Oromo movement has achieved its objectives, but not
concluded its journey
March 12, 2010 - Gadaa.com conducted an interview with a young Oromo political analyst
and social commentator, Mr. Jawar Mohammed, about his childhood, political
views and visions. He also shared his views on the state of politics in
Ethiopia and the Horn, the Oromo struggle and the upcoming election. Here's
the interview.
Gadaa.com: Tell us about yourself.
Jawar Mohammed (JM): I grew up in Dhummugaa, a small rural
town on the Arsi-Hararge border in Oromia. I think of Dhummugaa as my hometown -
the place where I came of age and where I attended elementary school until I got
kicked out and left for Asella. There, I went to a Catholic school for a year
and Cilaalo secondary school for another year until I once again had to move to
Adama, where I took my high school national exam.
From there, I won a scholarship to attend the United World College of South
East Asia in Singapore, where I studied Afaan Oromoo and other subjects.
Upon completion of my studies there, I came to
Stanford for my
undergraduate degree and graduated this past June. Currently, I have just
completed an internship in Washington, DC; and I am now conducting an
independent research. I plan to start graduate school this coming September.
Read the Full Interview »»»
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Interview with Yassin Juma - the Journalist of the OLF Documentary
Yassin Juma reports from the rebel territory (NTV) |
"Most think the OLF documentary was the series of the year,
and it has been the talk of the town everywhere you go in Kenya, in the
parliament, on the streets, mosques and churches, coffee houses, you name
it." - Yassin Juma
August 28, 2009 - Yassin Juma is a Kenyan reporter working with NTV, a popular television
station in Kenya. In Kenya, he's known for his excellent reporting on the
conflicts in Somalia, among other areas of coverage. Late July 2009, NTV started
promoting Yassin Juma's upcoming documentary titled "Inside the Rebel Territory
- the Oromo Liberation Front." Soon after that, the documentary about his epic
journey into the rebel territory in southern Ethiopia gave rise to an epic
diplomatic row between Ethiopia and Kenya with the former demanding to silence
the series, and to an epic show of solidarity for free press from across the
globe. Read the Full Interview »»»
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Sensational Oromo Artist Habtamu Lamu Releasing Debut Album in July 2009
June 14, 2009 - Habtamu Lamu will release his debut album in July 2009
after almost three years in the making. Born in a small village called Kobor
in Begii, Wollega (western Oromia), Habtamu now lives and records his songs
in Canada. Some of the songs in his new album titled Kommee has
already introduced Habtamu to his growing fan base; the singles have
received two-thumbs-up reviews. His songs exhibit the confidence of
originality and are testimony of years of hard work. He collaborated with
renown Oromo artists, such as Elemo Ali and Addisu Karrayu in Kommee;
Awal Usman directed Habtamu's music videos. Habtamu has also used the
Internet to launch his music career and promote his works - probably, in a
way that has not been done by a new Oromo singer before. He has released his
singles on video on YouTube, and built FaceBook and MySpace profiles.
Intrigued, Gadaa.com interviewed Habtamu about his new album and music
career. Read the Full Interview »»»
.
Oromo Will March on April 20, 2009 in Wash., DC
- Interview with IOYA
President, Mr. Kitesso Chiri
April 8, 2009 - Gadaa.com conducted an interview with the President of the
International Oromo Youth Association (IOYA), Mr. Kitesso Chiri,
regarding the upcoming IOYA's peaceful rally (which will be staged on
April 20th, 2009 in Washington, DC) against human rights violations in
Ethiopia, and in the State of Oromia, in particular, the current human
rights situation in Ethiopia, and the immediate actions required to
improve human rights situations in Ethiopia. The April 20, 2009 March
starts at the State Department and ends at the US Capitol. 210 South
Carolina Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20515.
The President of IOYA, Mr. Kitesso Chiri, is the
founding member of the Oromia Youth Association and was a treasurer
(2001-2002) of the Pan-Afrikan Student Union at Augsburg College, from which
he graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Computer Science in
2003. He is currently employed with one of America's largest financial
companies as an Information Technology Professional and is pursuing his
Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Software Engineering at the University of
St. Thomas in Minnesota.
The International Oromo Youth Association (IOYA) was
formed to serve as an umbrella organization for all Oromo Youth Associations
and Student Unions around the world. IOYA was founded with the vision of
creating an effective network of Oromo youth from across the globe in order
to synchronize the efforts towards the alleviation of the economic, social,
and human rights deprivations of the Oromo nation.
Read the Full Interview »»»
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Meet Faiza Hargaaya, a student in Canada, a volunteer at an orphanage in
Oromia and a woman with determination to help the underprivileged
February 27, 2009 - Faiza Juhar Weday Hargaaya, a 23 year-old
student at the University of Winnipeg in Canada, decided to head to Oromia
to volunteer at an orphanage last summer. When Gadaa.com learned about
Faiza's story, it decided to share this exemplary and noble action.
Gadaa.com interviewed Faiza about her volunteer experience and her
initiative to help out the orphanage she worked at over the summer.
Born in Saudi Arabia and living in Canada since the age of 4, Faiza is
currently the President of the Oromo Youth Association of Winnipeg (Tokkumaa),
and the Social and Cultural Secretary of the Oromo Community of Manitoba (Gaaddisa
Oromoo Manitoba). Right after she graduated from high school in 2003,
Faiza begged her mother to take her to this place they called "OROMIA." Once
in Oromia, Faiza spent her time visiting family and sightseeing - how
beautiful the country was. At the same time, she could not escape the high
level of poverty that existed in the area; especially, seeing children in
that state was something she had not prepared for.
Read the Full Interview »»»
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