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PDFThe 2012 Gumii Gaayoo (the Legislative National Assembly) of Borana Oromo to Start on August 21
Note: The 2012 Gumii Gaayoo of Borana Oromo has been postponed to start on August 21, instead of the previously reported August 4.
According to information received by Gadaa.com, the 2012 Borana Oromo Gumii Gaayoo (the National Assembly) will start on Saturday, August 4 21, 2012.
The Gumii Gaayoo is held every eight years in the fourth year of the Gadaa period; it’s the National Assembly for all Borana Oromo, not merely the Gadaa class in power. It’s to be remembered that the current Abba Gadaa Guyyoo Gobbaa assumed power in an inauguration ceremony held in Badhaasaa, Arero district of the Borana zone in 2009.
It’s also during the Gumii Gaayoo that the next Abbaa Gadaa, who will assume executive power in 2016, takes up the mantle.
The 2012 Gumii Gaayoo comes a few days after the ongoing Woyane-instigated conflict between the Borana Oromo and its neighbors. Thousands of residents of southern Oromia are currently in camps as refugees in Oromia’s neighboring country, Kenya, due to the Woyane-instigated conflict.
What’s Gumii Gaayoo?
Gumii Gaayoo, the National Assembly, is one of the principal democratic institutions in the Gadaa system as a whole; it’s the legislative branch of the Gadaa system. Together with the Gadaa executive leaders, the Qallu ritual leaders, the Hariyaa military leaders, the Gumii Gaayoo forms the four branches of power in the Gadaa system.
Prof. Asmarom Legesse on Gumii Gaayoo:
“The Gumi is made up of all the gadaa assemblies and gadaa councils of the Borana – active and semi-retired – who meet, as a single body, once every eight years. It’s comparable to the great assemblies recorded in the history of the other parts of Oromoland, such as the Ch’affe of the western (Macch’a), central (Tulama) and eastern (Barentu-Arsi) Oromo. This assembly stands above all other Oromo institutions: it reviews all unresolved cases of conflict. It also evaluates the activities of the gadaa class in power, revises the existing laws and proclaims new laws. Over a period of four centuries of its history, the Gumi has made some fundamental changes in the laws that govern Oromo society.”
From Oromo Democracy: An Indigenous African Political System
Dr. Donald Levine on Gumii Gaayoo:
“The Oromo tradition of Gumii Gaayoo [this is the legislative branch of the Gadaa system], which brings people together from all over (many many parts of) Oromoland is one of the most democratic institutions. And, I only wish that the Congress of the United States could operate in the democratic way that the Oromo Gumii Gaayoo operates …”
6 Comments
Daniel said,
August 3, 2012 @ 6:10 am
Hi
Thanks for this greatest info
Please could you try your best to post the video of “gumii gaayoo”
Ceremony. I am very impressed about this pioneer of earth democratic
System.
Thanks
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Abdi Deqeeno said,
August 3, 2012 @ 6:04 pm
I find it very sad that such an historic event would not be broadcast live, or otherwise, at this day and age. I wonder if the Oromia TV reporters will be there to record.
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Kano Banjaw Dhowaa said,
August 3, 2012 @ 7:41 pm
Please have a look at my Power Point Presentations on “Natural Resources of Oromia” in this website. Just click on my name contained in the list of authors.
http://gadaa.com/oduu/14477/2012/06/29/the-natural-resources-of-oromia-2/
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Safuu said,
August 4, 2012 @ 4:31 pm
I share Daniel’s concern. How come oromia or any other nation has not yet produced a journalist who records the entire session and broacast live? Is it too expensive in 21st century or is it forbdden by Wayyanee? Historians and Oromos around world and are eager to learn how this world heritage works. If we miss such opportunities there is no way we can preserve our heritage and history.
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halkano halake[ kenyan] said,
September 5, 2012 @ 5:19 am
may i send congrates to all oromia sons and dauthers who are sendng updates through this vry important electronic ways,still my fingures of conratulation point to all my felow learned oromo who are concertrating to promote their original culture, in relation to what my brother safuu said had comented abaut,i think every body specialise in the carier whichsuits his or her almighty given talent,the field which u belive u can perform, as un up coming oromia journalist i realy like to thank you to chalenge and give us moral to inspire our comunity with our profesion,in aditon to this i have been in the kenyan bigest broadcasting station broadcastng my lovely mother laguage borana on air before i went back to my study,while i was their i tryied my best to promote my culture with what i investigate,kenyan oromo we know less abaut the gathaa system,and most of our cultural system, so i take my time to travel to our old elders who had knowledge abaut our culture thats the skills i use to gather and teach the kenyan oromo abaut culture,my dear brothers and sisters iam still studyng i promise you one day one time i will represent my comunity in world class level,love you kenya, love u ethiopia, oromia my father oromia my mother,united we stand divided we fall,baraana worjithat halkano halake from kenya back to you my people
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halkano halake[ kenyan] said,
September 5, 2012 @ 5:26 am
united we stand divided we fall,
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