The Harmful Effects of the Suppression of Oromoo Indigenous Knowledge System on Oromoo Identity The Role of Oromoo Intellectuals

Abstract

Africans have not been consumers of European knowledge at all times. They have their own indigenous knowledge systems like all human societies elsewhere. In their attempt to dominate the minds of Africans and thus subjugate them in perpetuity, European colonialists imposed their own knowledge, belief systems and culture on the people they colonized. Post-colonial African governments ignored their indigenous knowledge and institutions and became mere consumers of European knowledge. Under Ethiopian Empire State, before coming under the influence of modern European education, the different people had to go through Amhara ruling elites’ coercive assimilation and the consequent weakening of their own indigenous knowledge and identity. The Oromoo had been one of the main victims of the aggressive assimilation policy as a result of which their knowledge system and identity have been significantly undermined. Oromoo belief systems, knowledge and cultural values have been deliberately despised and portrayed as backward with a view to dismantle Oromoo self-respect and identity. Having lost their individual self-respect and self-perception, many western educated Oromoo lost their intellectual self-confidence and identity which constitute key components of Oromoo identity. This article looks at the existing practices among the Booranaa Oromoo that are indicative of the harms resulting from the weakening of Gadaa institutions and indigenous knowledge system. The article mainly aims at drawing the attention of Oromoo scholars towards ending the threat being posed against Oromoo identity as a consequence of the weakening of Oromoo indigenous knowledge system. The article proposes that there is a need to reclaim and revitalize Oromoo indigenous knowledge which is the foundation of Oromoo identity and wellbeing. As a people, we cannot create a robust, materially and morally virtuous society without Oromoo indigenous knowledge which is the basis for Oromoo identity.