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ABSTRACT
The article examines the political and intellectual contributions of Baro Tumsa in forming the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and developing the Oromo national movement. After the Haile Selassie government banned the Macha-Tulama Self-Help Association (MTA) in 1967 and killed or imprisoned its prominent leaders and members, Baro played a central role in the Oromo national struggle facilitating the birth of the OLF. This organization has been mobilizing and leading the Oromo society since the 1970s and is becoming a major political force in shaping the future of Oromia and Ethiopia.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 I thank Ayetu Baro Tumsa, Baro's daughter, Addee Warqee Bulto, his wife, for requesting me to write about Baro, the great Oromo hero and national leader. This article is a part of a forthcoming book titled, Baro Tumsa: The Principal Architect of the Oromo Liberation Front. Ayetu shared with me notes and interviews she collected from six people on Baro. I also collected primary and secondary data through individuals and by interviewing twenty-four people who had relations with Baro.
2 Abiyu Galata's note, obtained by Ayetu Tumsaa, October 2005.
3 Zoom interview with Addisu Tolesa on June 4, 2021, by Ayetu Baro Tumsa.
4 Zoom interview with Addisu Tolesa on June 4, 2021, by Ayetu Baro Tumsa.
5 Telephone interview with Baissa Lemu, June 15, 2020.
6 Ibssa Gutama, interviewed by Ayetu Tumsa, no date.
7 Telephone Interview with Nagari Fayissa, June 20, 2020.
8 Telephone interview with Boru Bariso, June 14, 2020.
9 Telephone interview with Taha Abdi, June 18, 2020.
10 Telephone interview with Demise Serda, May 30, 2021.
11 Telephone interview with Getachew Baissa, June 15, 2020.
12 Interview with Xahai Tolossa, no date.
13 “Gudina Tumsa (1929-1979) Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus,” https://dacb.org/stories/ethiopia/gudina-tumsa/, accessed on 07/13/2021.
14 Ibid. p. 215.
15 Ibssa Gutama, interviewed by Ayetu Tumsa, no date.
16 Ibssa Gutama, interviewed by Ayetu Tumsa, no date.
17 Note of a Meeting Held on 8.6.36 at Gambella Attended by the Delegates of the Gallas (Oromos), PRO, FO 371/20206. The meeting took place on 8 June 1936
18 ‘Ye Mecha Na Ye Tulama Meredaga Demb,’ Metcha Tulama Association’s program,Tir 16, 1955, Ethiopian Calendar.
19 Telephone interview with Taha Abdi on June 18, 2020.
20 Ibid.
21 Zoom interview with Addisu Tolesa on June 4, 20021. Ayetu Baro Tumsa conducted this interview. Lubee Biru, ibid. Telephone interview with Demisie Serda, May 30, 2021.
22 Demisie Serda, ibid.
23 Interview with Getachew Baissa, June 15, 2020.
24 Lubee Biru, ibid.
25 Telephone interview with Lubee Biru, June 8, 2020.
26 Ibid.
27 Ibid.
28 Ibid.
29 Ibid.
30 Telephone interview with Fiqadu Waqjira, June 12, 2020.
31 Telephone interview with Taha Abdi, June 18, 2020.
32 Telephone interview with Getachew Baissa, on June 15, 2020.
33 Ibid.
34 Ibid.
35 Ibid.
36 Abiyu Galata's note, requested by Ayetu Tumsaa, October 2005.
37 Ibid.
38 Ibid
39 Ibid.
40 Ibid.
41 Ibid.
42 Ibid.
43 Ibid.
44 Ibid.
45 Ibid.
46 To protect the privacy of this person, Abiyu Galata did not mention his name.
47 Ibid., p. 6.
48 Ibid.
49 Telephone communication with Tesso (Tsegay) Namarra on 08/05/2021.
50 Ibid.
51 Ibid.
52 Ibid.
53 Ibid.
54 Ibid.
55 Ancient Ethiopia and the current Abyssinian/Ethiopian Empire are not geographically coterminous, but the latter occupies a subset of the area of the former. Recognizing the political significance of the name Ethiopia and especially its Christian Biblical connections, Abyssinian leaders claimed an Ethiopian identity and argued that their territories once included all regions that classical geographers and historians described as Ethiopia. In actuality, the official adoption of the name Ethiopia for the Abyssinian Empire occurred in the early 1930s. In 1931, Haile Selassie officially changed the name Abyssinia to Ethiopia in his constitution. Few Africans and members of the African diaspora know the difference between ancient Ethiopia and contemporary Ethiopia (former Abyssinia).
56 Ibid.
57 Telephone interview with Deressa Kitte on January 2, 2022.
58 Leenco Lata's note, requested by Ayetu Tumsa, no date.
59 Telephone interview with Mohammed Ibrahim (Boru Bariso) on June 14, 2020.
60 Baaroo Tumsaa: Qabsoo barattootaa hanga qabsoo hidhannoo ABO, Naqamtee hanga gammoojjii Harargee,"https://www.bbc.com/afaanoromoo/oduu-55920688?at_custom4=2E8197A8-9EDE-11EB-B7A6-EE4516F31EAE&at_medium=custom7&at_custom1=%5Bpost+type%5D&at_custom2=facebook_page&at_campaign=64, accessed on 11/8/2021.
61 Telephone interview with Getachew Baissa, June 15, 2020.
62 Telephone interview with Demise Serda, May 20, 2021.
63 Telephone interview with Deressa Kitte, March 8, 2023.
64 Dheresa Kitte, Ibid.
65 Ibid.
66 Ibid., p. 73.
67 Ibid., pp. 78-79.
68 Abiyu Galata's note, requested by Ayetu Tumsa, no date.
69 Telephone interview with Faqadu Waqjira, who is a member of the Oromo Liberation Front from the early 1970s to today, June 17, 2020.
70 For instance, see The Oromos: Voice Against Tyranny, Finfinnee, May 1971; The Oromo Liberation Front Program, Finfinnee 1974.
71 Fiqadu Waqjira, ibid.
72 Ibid.
73 Oromo Democratic Front, ibid., p. 82.
74 Abiyu Galata, ibid.
75 Ibid.
76 Deressa Kittee,ibid.
77 Oromo Democratic Front, ibid., p. 77,
78 Ibid., p. 90.
79 Ibid.
80 Ibid.
81 Ibssa Gutama, ibid.
82 Leenco Lata note, requested by Ayetu Tumsa, no date; Oromo Democratic Front, ibid., p. 91.
83 Telephone interview with Bayan Asoba on November 11, 2021.
84 Ibid.
85 Telephone communication with Warqee Bulto on March 10, 2023; telephone interview with Deresa Kittee, March 8, 2023.
86 Ibid.