Arroollee Fiichee: The Symbol of Resistance and Heroism among the Karrayyuu Oromoo

Abstract

The Karrayyuu have long been varyingly described as a confronting group, a marginalized and drought
affected people, consequently what they accrued for humanities have become the subject of distortions
and the dearth of research access. This paper is an exposition of the vivid images and portrayals of
Arroollee Fiichee, a hero fighter and a protagonist of Oromoo patriotic, who represented the figurine of
resistance and heroism among Karrayyuu. Arroollee is said to have been born in the early 1890s and
died in 1976. The study was conducted by undertaking a historical methodology of analytical narrative
and interpretative approaches. Findings of the study indicate that Arroollee initially started his military
life in the 1920s as a lolee (common fighter) and assumed important positions in the military wing of the
Gadaa system throughout his life. After being raised into a special class of warriors, Leencota
Karrayyuu (the Lions of Karrayyuu), he was then promoted to qondaalaa (trophy owner) and earned the
highest military title, Abbaa bitawoo in the 1950s. In his marital life career, Arroollee has served at
different military offices and roles in the Karrayyuu gadaa system such as abbaa waraanaa (commanderin-chief), abbaa jajjabii (head of peace and security), warra toomaa (head of the gadaa governance
center) and top counselor. Results of the study indicate Arroollee was special superman, who had
engaged in several battles, scored many victories over the enemies and collected more numerous boots
than his contemporaries. Subsequently, he is a renowned hero for whom a memorial kaabaa (paved
graveyard) was built in honor of his bravery on Karrayyuuland at a place called Ilaala Qaraarii. He is
also recalled in songs, and yet a rite of slaughtering goats dedicated to his heroism around his
graveyard. The paper concludes that Arroollee was the greatest unrivalled hero who is praised as the
symbol of resentment against subjugation. The researchers recommend that exposition of such heroic
men like Arroollee enable us to acclaim and sing for whom, history has never yet sung.
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