Oromo

Oromo (Afaan Oromo / Oromiffa / ኦሮምኛ)

Oromo is a Cushitic language spoken by about 30 million people
in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Egypt and is the 3rd largest language
in Africa. The Oromo people are the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia
and account for more than 40% of the population. They can be found all
over Ethiopia and particularly in Wollega, Shoa, Illubabour, Jimma,
Arsi, Bale, Hararghe, Wollo, Borana, and the southwestern part of Gojjam.

Until the 1970s Oromo was written with either the Ge’ez
script
or the Latin alphabet Then during the early 1970s the Oromo
Liberation Front (OLF) chose the Latin alphabet as the official alphabet
to write Oromo. Between 1974 and 1991 under the Mengistu regime
the writing of Oromo in any script was forbidden, though limited
usage of the Ge’ez script was allowed.

On 3rd November 1991 the OLF convened a meeting of over 1,000 Oromo
intellectuals to decide which alphabet to use to write Ormo. After
a many hours of debate, they decided unanimously to adopt the Latin
alphabet.

Source: www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/Hornet/Afaan_Oromo_19777.html

Oromo alphabet (Qube Afaan Oromo)

Afaan Oromo alphabet

Sample text in Oromo

Namooti hundinuu birmaduu ta’anii mirgaa fi ulfinaanis wal-qixxee ta’anii
dhalatan. Sammuu fi qalbii ittiin yaadan waan uumamaan kennameef, hafuura
obbolummaatiin walii-wajjin jiraachuu qabu.

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They
are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another
in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

books  
Parlons oromo (Oromo course in French)

Links

Information about the Afaan Oromo language and alphabet
http://ethnomed.org/ethnomed/cultures/oromo/alphabet.html
http://www.lmp.ucla.edu/Profile.aspx?menu=004&LangID=211
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oromo_language

Online Oromo lessons
http://www.oromoenglish.com
http://www.digitaldialects.com/Oromo.htm

Oromo dictionaries
http://www.shenpres.org/FellowshipICare/Oromifa.htm
http://www.freelang.net/online/oromo.php

Online Oromo radio
http://www.orto.gov.et
http://www.kfai.org/oromocommunityradio
http://www.voanews.com/oromoo/news/
http://www.awr.org/en/listen/program/11
http://www.3zzz.com.au/program-guide/oromo/1259499600/

Oromo names
http://babynames.merschat.com/index.cgi?function=Search&origin=Oromo
http://sites.google.com/site/afropublic/oromo-common-names

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