By Ayantu Tibeso
When the New Year rolled around about six months ago here in the U.S., I wrote a note to myself that 2013 would be a year of discovery, renewal, and self recovery. At the time of the writing, I was not really sure exactly what I was to discover, only that I was ready to discover it. The note was a culmination of two years spent in extensive reading of 
Oromo scholarly works, attending conferences, engaging in online and offline discussions with many people on Oromo struggle for justice and equality, Oromo scholarship, identity, and transnational organizing. While these experiences were very challenging, and draining, they also served as an awakening force by uplifting and deepening the desire to discover more. The brief but rich encounter with Dr. Gemechu Megerssa has brought me to an even deeper recognition and appreciation that the process of discovery and self recovery is inextricably related with the quest for freedom, justice, and equality.
June 29 – July 6th was proclaimed OromoWeek by two Minnesota Mayors. During OromoWeek, the place some affectionately call “Little Oromia” was full of new faces, activities and events. One of these events was Oromo artist Ali Birra’s 50th Golden Jubilee celebration. Dr. Gemechu Megerssa, a close friend and compatriot of Ali Birra was in the U.S. to be a part of the celebration and give the keynote speech. A few days before the event, I had a chance encounter with Dr. Gemechu which resulted in an extended conversation that lasted over two days. Several people were part of this conversation. Several of the individuals present, including Dr. Ezekiel Gebissa, Professor of History at Kettering University, made an invaluable contribution to the rich and exciting exchange we had. Dr. Ezekiel, Dr. Gemechu, and I found ourselves several times in friendly debates, usually with Dr. Gemechu and me teaming up against Dr. Ezekiel.
Dr. Gemechu is a scholar who has lived among, worked with and “studied” the Oromo for more than 40 years. Throughout our discussions, Dr. Gemechu talked a lot about Oromo people’s need to discover the self that has been denigrated, forgotten, and almost diminished beyond recognition. As a people, he emphasized that it is critical that we discover the treasure left behind by our ancestors, who have overtime built a complex and beautiful understanding of self, other, time, love, peace, freedom, and justice among many things. Listening to Dr. Gemechu, it became clearer that self recovery is very much related to discovering the indigenous cultural heritage of our ancestors, the crucial socio-cultural resources from which many of us have been violently and unfairly separated. These are crucial to our survival as individuals and as a people.
Listening to Dr. Gemechu speak, I was deeply mesmerized. His talk transported me to the connections I have lost as a diasporan. What a breath of fresh air to hear new stories about Oromo people that I have had limited access to before. When asked about the role of young people in the Oromo struggle, Dr. Gemechu emphasized the importance of discovery, of learning about ourselves, of knowing ourselves. How can we be free without knowing ourselves?
The ongoing cultural genocidal policies of the Ethiopian State are intended to work against the flourishing of Oromo identity and cultural heritage. It is in spite of these policies that ordinary Oromos, as well as scholars, activists, artists and other cultural workers have attempted to keep alive the great system of knowledge of the Oromo people. As Dr. Gemechu noted, it is so crucial 1) to continue to find ways to gain access to the vast indigenous knowledge of the Oromo, and 2) to teach it to upcoming generations in a way that makes sense within their specific contexts.
The Oromo Dr. Gemechu knows and talks about are a people of pride, wondrous legacy, of well developed philosophy on religion, gender relations, on justice, and on how to govern every aspect of society. While the continued exploitation, marginalization and persecution of the Oromo in Ethiopia is very much real, Dr. Gemechu focus on the strength, on the beauty of our people, on their determination to survive against all odds, compels us to re-imagine the Oromo as more than victim. The Oromo in Dr. Gemechu’s observation are fighters, survivors, and lovers of mankind and peace. One cannot help but to be deeply moved by the Oromo Dr. Gemechu describes with such passion and reverence. As I listened to him speak, I could not help seeing myself in a different light, and in understanding my people in positively new and inspiring way that compels me to continue to learn, to discover, and to deepen the process of self recovery. I thank this encounter with Dr. Gemechu Megerssa for showing me the power of the stories we tell about ourselves and for propelling me towards a whole new way to understand myself, my people, and our struggle.
Dr. Gemechu Megerssa: A conversation on identity,knowledge & the colonizing structure part I
Click here to view the embedded video.
—————————–
*Ayantu Tibeso is a communications consultant and researcher based in North America.