User talk:Isayas Legese
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Oromo people (Oromo: Oromoo, are an ethnic group inhabiting Ethiopia. They are the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia and represent 48.5% of Ethiopia's population.[7] Oromos speak the Oromo language as a mother tongue (also called Afaan Oromoo and Oromiffa), which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family. The word Oromo appeared in European literature for the first time in 1893 and then slowly became common in the second half of the 20th century.[8][9]
Regions with significant populations | |
---|---|
Ethiopia | |
Ethiopia | 50,000,000 (2018)[1] |
Kenya | 1,000,000 (2010)[2] |
Australia | 50.000 (2015)[3] |
Canada | 50.000 (Including those of ancestry) (2016)[4] |
United States | 1,000,000 |
Languages | |
Mother tongue: Oromo Second language: English | |
Religion | |
Islam ~ 47.5%[5] Ethiopian Orthodox ~ 33%[5] and Protestants traditional religions | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Afar · Agaw · Amhara · Beja · Saho · Somali · Tigrayans · Tigre · Sidama · other Cushitic peoples[6] |
The Oromo people followed their traditional religion[10] and used the gadaa system of governance.[11][12] A leader elected by the gadaa system remains in power only for 8 years, with an election taking place at the end of that 8 years.[13][14][15] From the 18th century to the 19th century, Oromos were the dominant influence in northern Ethiopia during the Zemene Mesafint period. Various current estimates state that probably around 50-60% of Oromos follow Islam, 30-35% follow Christianity, and fewer than 3% have retained their traditional beliefs.[5][16] They have been one of the parties to historic migrations, and wars particularly with northern Christians and with southern and eastern Muslims, in the Horn of Africa.[17][18][19]