Introduction
Brief History of Afaan Oromoo and Qubee Afaan Oromoo
Oromiya is one of the Regional States in the current Federal Government of Ethiopia that is
mainly inhabited by Oromo People. Oromo People speak their own native language known as
Afan Oromo. Afan Oromo, Oromo Language, is an Afro-Asiatic language, and the most widely
spoken of the Cushitic family. It is one of the major indigenous African languages that is widely
spoken and used in most parts of Ethiopia and some parts of the neighboring countries (Mekuria,
1994). Afan Oromo is spoken by 40 percent of Ethiopian population (Kebede, 2009). In Ethiopia,
Afan Oromo is spoken as a lingua franca by other people who are in contact with Oromo people.
According to Mekuria (1994) and Feyisa (1996), Afan Oromo is used by different nationalities
such as Harari, Sidama, Anuak, Gurage, Amhara, Koma, Kulo and Kaficho as a means of
communication and trade with their neighboring Oromo people. In connection to this, Amanuel
and Samuel (2012:32) stated that “It [Afan Oromo] is also used as a language of inter-group
communication in several parts of Ethiopia.” Besides, outside Ethiopia, Afan Oromo is spoken in
Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Tanzania (Tilahun, 1993). These make Afan Oromo one of the most
widely spoken languages in Africa (Bender, 1976). Afan Oromo has an officially decided writing
script known as Qubee, which is based on the Latin orthography (Girma, 2001).
Seensa
Seenaa Gabaabaa Afaan Oromoofi Qubee Afaan Oromoo
Afaan Oromoofi afaan waliigaltee Oromiyaa yeroo ammaa Mootummaa Federaalaa Naannolee
Itoophiyaa jiran keessaa tokko yoo ta'u, irra jireessaan Oromiyaatti dubbatama. Uummatni
Oromoo, afaan dhalootaa inni dubbatu Afaan Oromoo jedhama. Afaan Oromoo gosoota afaan
Afiroo_Asi'aatik ta'ee damee maatii Kuush keesaa afaan bal'inaan dubbatamudha. Afaanni kun
kutaalee Itoophiyaafi naannolee ollaawwan biyyattiifi afaanota dhalootaa Afiriikaa keessatti
baay'inaan dubbatamudha(Makuriyaaa,1994). Afaan Oromoo Uummattoota Itoophiyaa keessaa
dhibbantaa 40'n(40%) dubbatama (Kabbadee, 2009). Itoophiyaa keessatti Afaanni Oromoo
namoota biroo dhalattoota Oromoo wajjin walitti dhufeenya qaban biratti akka AFAANIITTI
dubbatama. Akka Makuriyaa(1994)fi Fayisaa(1996) Afaan Oromoo saboota kanneen akka Harari,
Sidaamaa, Anyuwaak, Guraagee, Amaaraa, Kommaa, Kuulloo fi Kafichoon akka walquunnamtiifi
daldalaatti fayyada. Kanaa wajjin kan walqabate, Amaanu'eeliifi Saamu'eel(2012:32) Afaanni
Oromoo kutaalee Itoophiyaa garagaraatti gareewwan afaan waliigaltees ta'ee nitajaajila. Kanatti
dabalees, Afaan Oromoo Itoophiyaan alatti Keeniyaa, Somaaliyaa, Sudaaniifi Taanzaaniyaatti
nidubbatama( Xilahun, 1993). Kunis Afaan Oromoo afaanota Afiriikaa keessatti bal'inaan
dubbataman keessaa isa tokko taasiseera(Bender, 1976).Barreeffamni Afaan Oromoo qubee
Laatiniin bocame sirna barreeffamaa qubee jedhamee beekamu qaba(Girmaa, 2001)
2. Factors that Delayed the Development of
Written Afan Oromo
Afan Oromo has long history of and well developed oral tradition (Feyisa, 1996). Despite of this
and the size of its speakers as well as its value as widely spoken language in the Horn of Africa, it
remained as unwritten language for long period of time. As Tilahun (2006:113) stated “Until
recently, Afan Oromo remained an oral rather than literary language.” This is because of different
factors.
Different interrelated factors have been forwarded by scholars for the delayed and clumsy
transition of Afan Oromo from oral to written language. For example, Tilahun (2006) indicated
that the transition was mainly delayed by Political factors. He further stated that rather than
promoting the development of the language, the past governments of Ethiopia discouraged the use
of Afan Oromo even from private conversations. Under the consecutive imperial as well as the
dictatorial regimes of Ethiopia writing in other natives languages except Amharic is strictly
forbidden. Supporting this, Mohammed (1994:86) stated “--- it was not permissible, to write,
preach, teach and broadcast in the Oromo language in Ethiopia until the early 1970s.” Other
linguistic groups are forced to read and write in Amharic by forgetting their own. Amharic was
declared to be the language of instruction, court and other governmental offices.
The Ethiopian governments had neglected and actively suppressed the development of Oromo
literature and other groups whose native language is not Amharic.
For this reason, Afan Oromo today lacks a developed literature and has less printed materials
(Mekuria, 1994: Mohammed,1994 ; Feyisa,1996). In addition to the prohibition of learning and
writing in Afan Oromo by law by the past Ethiopian rulers, Feyisa (1996) mentioned different
factors that impede the development of written Afan Oromo such as lack of trained linguists in the
language, lack of Afan Oromo training Academy and lack of suitable scripts.
SABABOOTA GUDDINA BARREEFFAMA AFAAN OROMOO LAAFFISAN
Afaanni Oromoo seenaa dheeraafi afoola bareedaa qaba(Fayisaa, 1996). Ta'ullee, baay'inni
dubbattootaa akkasumas Gaanfa Afiriikaatti baay'inaan dubbatamuun bu'aa qabaatullee, yeroo
dheeraadhaaf akka afaan hinbarrreffamnee ta'ee tureera. Akka (Xilahun 2006:113) ibsetti, hanga
yeroo dhihoo asitti, Afaan Oromoo barreeffama caalaatti afaaniin tajaajilamaa ture. Kunis
sababoota adda addaarraa kan ka'edha. Sababootni guddinaafi jijjiirama afaanii gara barreeffamaa
Afaan Oromoo boodatti harkisan hidhata qaban hayyootaan adda ba'aniiru. Fakkeenyaaf,
(Xilahun, 2006) kan agarsiisu, jijjiiramni ku boodatti kan harkifate sababni ijoon dhiibbaa
siyaasaati. Irra caalaatti, mootummootni darban guddina afaanichaa dagaagsuu caalaayyuu namni
dhuunfaan Afaan Oromoo hindubbanne dhorkaa akka turan ibseera. Jalaa mootummoota
impaayeraa walitti fufiinsaan dhufan akkasumas Mootummootni Itoophiyaa abbaa hirree Afaan
Amaaraan alatti afaanota biyyattii keessa jiran biroon dhorkamaa turan. Yaada kana deggaruun
Mohaammad(1994:86) hanga jalqaba 1970 ootaatti barreessuun, Afaan Oromoon lallabuun,
barsiisuufi tamsaasuun(raadiyoo) hin eeyyamaman. Gareewwan afaanii biroon kan isaanii
dagatanii Afaan Amaaraatiin barreessuufi dubbisuuf dirqisiifamu. Afaan Amaaraa afaan barnootaa,
afaan mana murtiifi afaan waajjiraalee biroo ta'ee labsame. Mootummootni Itoophiyaa guddina
Barreffama Afaan Oromoo fi gareewwan afaan dhalootaa isaan Afaan Amaaraa hin taane
tuffachaafi ukkaamsaa turan. Sababa kanaaf, har'a Ogbarruun Afaan Oromoo guddachuu dhabuun
wantoota maxxanfaman muraasa qabaate.(Makuriyaa,1994: Mohaammad,1994 ; Fayisaa,1996).
Mootummootni Itoophiyaa bulchaa turan Afaan Oromootiin barreessuufi barachuu seeraan
dhorkuu isaaniitti dabaluun (Fayisaa, 1996) guddina barreeffama Afaan Oromoo kan quucarsan
sababoota adda addaa fakkeenyaaf, hanqina namoota xiinqooqa afaaniitiin leenji'anii, Leenjii
Akkaadaamii Afaan Oromoo dhabuufi barruu/ iskiriiptii mijataa dhabuu ibseera.
3. Early Attempts Made by Oromo People and Foreign Scholars to Write in Afan Oromo
3.1. Early Attempts Made by Oromo People to Write in Afan Oromo
The development of written Afan Oromo goes back to the beginning of 19th century. As stated
above, different attempts were made by Oromos and foreigners to write Afan Oromo using
different scripts. Feyisa(1996) and Tafari (1999) stated that the first attempt to write in Afan
Oromo was made by Oromo themselves and the first script used was Arabic. This was come to
existence through the expansion of religion, especially Musilm among the Oromos.
Tafari(1999:113) stated that “After long period of Islamic education and Arabic literacy, the idea
of using Arabic alphabet for Oromo language was raised.” There are different to examples to
support this.
Concerning the use of Arabic script to write Afan Oromo, Feyisa(1996) illustrated that Wallo
Oromo have used the Arabic Alphabet to write religious poetry in Afan Oromo. Feyisa further
explained that since the beginning of 19th Century Afan Oromo was used as a correspondence
among all the Oromo kings and it was language of education in five Jimma States and in Wallo. In
addition, the Muslim Oromos in Arsi, Bale and Hararghe areas used Arabic script to write Afan
Oromo. The Arabic alphabet was used basically to write religious poems and praise poems for the
Muslim saints. With this regard, Tafari(1999) mentioned that scholars such as Sheikh Ahmed
Siraji, Sheikh Mohammad Asi Haba and Sheikh Mohammed Aliy Ta’oo used Arabic script and
composed religious poem and different materials in Afan Oromo. Thus, it can be said that Arabic
language and Islamic education made great contribution for the development of written Afan
Oromo, at less in its early beginning. But the unsuitability of the alphabet to Oromo language is
believed to limit the expansion of written Afan Oromo in 19th Century (Tafari,1999).
HAYYOOTA OROMOOFI BIYYOOTA ALAA DURAAN AFAAN OROMOON
BARREESSUUF CARRAAQAN
HAYYOOTA OROMOO DUR AFAAN OROMOON BARREESSUUF CARRAAQAN
Dagaaginni Ogbarruu Afaan Oromoo jalqaba jaarraa 19ffaarraa eegale. Akkuma gubbaatti tuqame,
Afaanni Oromoo hayyoota Oromoofi hayyoota biyya alaatiin barreeffamoota adda addaa
fayyadamuun Afaan Oromoon barreessuuf yaalameera. (Fayisaa, 1996) fi (Tafarii, 1999) akka
ibsanitti, yeroo jalqabaaf barreeffamni Afaan Oromoon barreeffame Oromoodhuma mataa
isaniitiin yoo ta'u, jalqaba qubeen itti fayyadaman qubee Afaan Arabaa ture. Kunis kan dhufe
sababa babal'ifannaa amantii keessumattuu muusiliimota Oromoota keessaan
uumame.Tafarii(1999:113) akka ibsetti, turtii yeroo dheeraatiif barnoota isilaamummaa
barachuufi Afaan Arabaatiin barreessuun booda yaadni qubee Afaan Arabaa Afaan Oromootiif
fayyadamuu jalqabe. Fakkeenyootni gara garaa yaada kana deggaran nijiru. Afaan Oromoon
barreessuuf qubee Afaan Arabaa fayyadamuu ilaalchisee, (Fayisaa, 1996) Oromoon Walloo
walaloo amantii Isiliimaa Afaan Oromoon barreessuuf qubee Afaan Arabaa fayyadamaniiru.
Fayisaan ittuma fufuun, erga jalqaba jaarraa 19ffaa irraa eegalee Moototni Oromoo hunda
gidduutti xalayaa Afaan Oromoon kan quunnaman ta'ee afaan barnootaa Mootummoota Gibee
Shananiifi Walloo ta'ee tajaajileera. Dabalataanis, Muusiliimotni Oromoo naannoowwan Arsii,
Baaleefi Harargee keessatti barruu Afaan Oromoo barreessuuf qubee Afaan Arabaa
fayyadamaniiru. Irra guddeessaan qubee Afaan Arabaa kan fayyadaman walaloofi
faaruu/mazumaa balchaawwan Amantii Musiliimaa barreessuufidha. Kanumaan walqabatee,
(Tafarii, 1999) akka jedhetti, hayyootni akka Sheek Ahimad Siraaj, Sheek Mohaammad Asii
Haabaafi Sheek Mohaammad Aliyyii Taa'oo qubee Afaan Arabaa fayyadamanii walaloo amantiifi
wantoota adda addaa Afaan Oromootiin of eeggannoon barreessaniiru. Kanaafuu, haxiqqaatuyyuu
malee, yeroo jalqabaatiif Afaanni Arabaafi barnootni Arabaa dagaagina barreeffama Afaan
Oromootiif kan gumaachedha. Haata'u malee, jaarraa 19ffaatti Afaan Oromoo qubee mijataa
dhabuun barreeffamni Afaan Oromoo akka hin babal'anne daangessuun isaa ni amanama(Tafarii,
1999).
3.2. Early Attempts Made by Foreign Scholars to Write in Afan Oromo
In addition to the attempts of Oromo people, foreign scholars write Afan Oromo using different
scripts.
According to Feyisa(1996) Bruce, a Scottish traveler, is the first European who collected a few
words and develop sentence structure in Afan Orom using Latin script. After Bruce, various
European scholars, who kept in
touch with Oromo in Africa and Europe and working with them, were interested to study Afan
Oromo and attempted to write Afan Oromo in Latin as well as Ethiopic scripts. One of the
attempts was made by a German law student, Karl Tutschek who was employed in 1838 as a tutor
of four young ex-slaves, three Sudanese and an Oromo named Akkafedhee(Mekuria,1994). After
his encounter with these ex-slaves, he developed an interest to
study their languages. This led to the beginning of Oromo studies in Europe.
Mekuria(1994) stated Tutschek was particularly attracted by the simplicity, euphony and
grammatical formation of Afan Oromo. Within a short period of time, Tutschek was able to speak
Afan Oromoo with Akkafedhee and other Oromo ex-slaves who arrived in Germany around 1839-
40. Based on the materials he gathered from the ex-slaves, Tutschek was able to complete his first
draft of Oromo-English-German dictionary by 1843. His sudden death brought the promising
work of Tutschek to an end. However, his Oromo manuscripts were organized and published by
his brother in 1844.
The other attempt to write Afan Oromo was made by Ludwig Krapf. He came to Ethiopia for
missionary activity and latter, he was highly interested to study and write about Afan Oromo
(Krapf,1840). On his way to Shoa(around 1939), he met several Oromo’s and gathered some
information on Oromo language, culture and religion(Mekuria,1994). Krapf recognized the
importance of Afan Oromo for missionary purpose in NorthEastern Africa. For this reason, after
he arrived at the court of the king of Shoa, he was interested to study Afan Oromo. While at the
court of' the Shoan king, Krapf began to study Afan Oromo with the assistance of his servant.
Hence, Krapf studied Afan Oromo in its natural surroundings. Then, he published a book in
1840(Mekuria,1994).
HAYYOOTA BIYYA ALAA YEROO JALQABAAF AFAAN OROMOON BARREESSUUF
CARRAAQAN
Yaalii Uummata Oromootti dabalee, hayyootni biyyoota alaa Afaan Oromoo qubee gara garaan ni
barreessu. Akka (Fayisaa,1996)tti Biruuk, Imalaa Iskootilaandi kanta'e, Awurooppaa keessaa
nama yeroo jalqabaaf jechoota muraasa sassaabee qubee Laatinii fayyadamuun himoota Afaan
Oromoo kan qopheessedha. Biruukiin booda hayyootni adda addaa Oromoota Awurooppaafi
Afiriikaa keessa jiranii wajjin hojjechuuf Afaan Oromoo baruudhaaf fedha waan qabaniif isaanii
wajjin hojjechuuf walquunnamanii Afaan Oromoo qubee Laatiniin akkasumas qubee
Itoophiyaatiin barreessuu yaalaniiru. Yaaliin jalqabaa kan taasifame biyya Jaarmanitti, barataa
seeraa kan ta'e Kaarl Tuushek bara 1888tti garboota dargaggeeyyii afur ta'an, sadii Sudaaniifi
dhalaa Oromoo kan taate Akka Fedhee Daallee akka barsiisu qacarame(Makuriyaa, 1994). Erga
isaanii wajjin hariiroo uumee dursee afaan isaanii baruudhaaf fedha horate. Kunis Afaan Oromoo
Awurooppaatti akka qoratamuuf sababa ta'eera. (Makuriyaa, 1994) akka ibsetti Tuushek, Afaanni
Oromoo keessumattuu salphaa ta'uun isaa, nama gammachiisuun isaafi seerlugni isaa akka inni
ofitti nama harkisu....(jedhee ajaa'ibsiifata). Tuushek bara naannoo 1839_40 yeroo gabaabaa
keessatti Akka Fedhee Daalleefi Oromoota biroo garbummaan Jaarman jiranii wajjin dubbachuu
danda'eera. Tuushek odeeffannoowwan garboota irraa guure/funaanne irratti hundaa'uun bara
1843tti Hiikaa Jechootaa Afaan Oromoo_Ingiliffa_Afaan Jaarman qopheessuu danda'eera. Du'a
tasaatiin abdiin hojii Tuusheek karaatti hafe. Haata'u malee, barreeffamni isaa Afaan Oromoo bara
1844 obboleessa isaatiin qindaa'ee maxxanfame.
Namni biraan Afaan Oromoon barreessuun kan yaalame Luudiviig Kiraapfiinidha. Inni jalqaba
Itoophiyaa kan dhufe sochii misiyoonotaaf yoo ta'u booda, waa'ee Afaan Oromoo qo'achuufi
barreessuuf fedha guddaa qaba ture(Krapf, 1840). Naannoo bara 1939 tti gara Shawaatti yommuu
imalu daandiirratti namoota baay'ee wajjin wal quunnamee odeeffannoowwan muraasa waa'ee
afaan, aadaafi amantii Oromoo sassaabeera/guureera/funaaneera/odeeffateera(Makuriyaa,1994)
Kiraapf barbaachisummaa Afaan Oromoo dhimma misiyoonii Kaaba-Baha Afiriikaatiif ibseera.
Sababa kanaaf, gara Addabaabayii Mootii Shawaa erga ga'ee booda Afaan Oromoo barachuuf
fedha qaba ture. Kiraapf yommuu mana murtii Mootii Shawaa jiru, gargaartota isaa wajjin Afaan
Oromoo barachuu jalqabe. Kanaafuu, Kiraapf Afaan Oromoo uumama naannoon walqabsiisee
qorateera. Kanabooda, 1840tti kitaaba maxxanse(Makuriyaa, 1994).
4. The Contribution of Onesmosi Nasib to the Development of Afan Oromo Writing
Onesimosi translated different materials to Afan Oromo. Mekuria(1994:94) mentioned the works
of Onesimos saying “Onesimos wrote and/ or translated most of them between 1885 and 1898.
During those thirteen years, he translated seven books, two of them with Aster Ganno. He also
compiled an Oromo-Swedish Dictionary of some 6,000 words.” However, the translation of The
Bible to Afan Oromo was the most significant contribution made by Onesimos. According
Mekuria(1994), his translation of the Scriptures is regarded by historians and linguists as a great
intellectual feat and a remarkable accomplishment for a single individual.
4. Gumaacha Onesmos Nasib Dagaagina Ogbarruu Afaan Oromootiif
Onesimos barreeffamoota adda addaa gara Afaan Oromootti hiikeera. (Makuriyaa,1994:94) akka
ibsutti Onesimos bara 1885_198tti irra caalaa isaanii barreessee ykn hiikeera. Waggoottan kudha
sadan sana keessa, kitaabota torba kan hiike yommoo ta'u, isaan keessa lama Asteer Gannoo
wajjin hiike. Akkasuma hiika jechootaa Afaan Oromoo-Siwiin jechoota 6000tti dhiyaatan
qopheesseera. Haata'umalee, hiikkaan Kitaaba Qulqulluu gara Afaan Oromoo isa olaanaafi
barbaachisaan Onesimosiin qophaa'e. Akka (Makuriyaa, 1994) tti hiikkaan Kitaaba Qulqulluu
isaa qorattoota seenaafi afaaniitiin akka hayyuu ga'umsa cimaa qabuufi nama dhuunfaa
dinqisiifatamedha.
5. The Contribution of Sheik Bakri Sapalo to the Development of Afan Oromo Writing
Like Onesimos, his teaching was both secular and religious issues. With this regard, Hayward and
Mohammed (1981:551) said that “In addition to religious education and philosophy his teaching
ranged over geography, history, mathematics, astronomy, Arabic, and the composition of writings
in the Oromo language.
Feyisa(1996:22) stated that” He devised scripts an indigenous and original system of writing as
part of his attempt to overcome problems of orthography in writing Oromiffa. He devised scripts
which were different in forms , but followed the symbol-sounds forming patterns of Geez system.”
Having developed the alphabet, the Sheik Sapalo taught it to all his students and to others as well.
Then, people began to exchange letters in the new alphabet. In addition to letters, Sheik Bakri
himself employed his alphabet for writing his poems and other works, and manuscripts of these
are also reported to be in existence. It is claimed that there are still people who can use it. After the
news of the development of the scrip of Afan Oromo was spread rapidly, it encountered negative
reaction from the officials of the area.
6. Gumaacha Sheek Bakirii Saaphaloo Dagaagina Ogbarruu Afaan Oromootiif
Akkuma Onesimosiin barnootni isaa kan dhimmoota amantiifi barnoota falaasamaa ture.
Kanumaan walqabatee, Hayiwaardiifi Mahaammad (1981:551), barnoota amantiifi
falaasamaarratti dabalataan barnoota isaa Ji'oogiraafiitii, Seenaa, Herrega, Astiroonomii, Afaan
Arabaafi Afaan Oromootiin wal makee gara Afaan Oromootti fide. Fayisaa(1996:22) akka ibsetti,
barreeffama keessatti hanqinoota dogoggora qubee qaama furu kan ta'e yaalii taasiseen qubee
biyya keessatti bocameefi sirna barreeffamaa jalqabaa Afaafaan Oromoo bobboca adda addaan
qubeewwan boceera/kalaqeera. Qubeen inni boce bifti isaanii adda adda. Garuu sagaleen
qubeewwanii bifa sirna barreeffama Giiziiti. Sheek Bakirii Saaphaloon erga qubee kana bocee
booda barattoota isaa hundaafi kanneen biroos barsiiseera. Kana booda namootni qubee haaraan
wal jijjiiruu jalqaban. Sheek Bakiriin Xalayaawwan dabalatee hojiiwwan isaa walalooleefi
kanneen biroo barreessuufi qubeewwan barreeffama harkaa akka qabu ibseera. Kun ammayyuu
itti fayyadamuu kan dada'an akka jiran ibasa. Guddinni Afaan Oromoo saffisaan guddachuunsaa
erga tatamsa'ee/babal'atee aanga'ootni naannoo irratti ka'uu jalqaban.
6. The Attempts Made by Oromos in 1960s until 1990s to Develop the Afan Oromo writing
System
In addition to the contribution of the above mentioned notable Oromos, different attempts were
made by Oromos, both at home and Diaspora, to develop the written Afan Oromo. One of such
attempts was made by Oromo students who were living abroad. They organized themselves into
groups aiming at study the Afan Oromo and develop/adopt the script of it. For example, Oromo
Students Study Groups which was formed in Europe in 1998 by Oromo Students living in
different parts of Europe and Soviet Union, conducted detail research on the growth and
development of written Afan Oromo, different scripts used in writing Afan Oromo and specifically
the merit and demerits of using Latin and Geez scripts.(Feyisa,1996). From the result of the
research, the students indicated that Geez Scripts had numerous short comings to write Afan
Oromo and they recommend the use of Roman alphabet instead of it.
6. Tattaaffii Dagaagina Sirna Barreeffama Afaan Oromoo Bara 1960ootaa hanga 1990ootaatti
OromootaanTaasifame
Oromoota guddina Afaan Oromootiif gumaachan bebbeekamoo gararraatti ibsamanitti dabalee,
Oromoota biroo biyya keessaafi diyaaspooraa adda addaatiin dagaagina barreeffama Afaan
Oromootiif yaaliin taasifameera. Gumaacha kanneen keessa tokko barattoota diyaaspooraa
Oromootiin kan taasifamedha. Isaan kun qorannoofi barreeffama Afaan Oromoo
qopheessuu/waaltessuu kan jedhuun wal gurmeessan. Fakkeenyaaf, Awurooppaatti Garee
Qorannoo Barattoota Oromootiin bara bara 1998tti barattoota Oromoo iddoowwan Awurooppaa fi
kutaalee Yuuniyeenii Sooviyeet kan jiraataniin barreeffamni Afaan Oromoo guddina isaarratti
keessumattuu qubee Lastiniifi Gi'iizii fayyadamanii barreessuun faayidaafi dhiibbaa inni qabu
qorannoon geggeeffameera( Fayisaa, 1996). Bu'aa qorannoo kanarraa, barattootni qubee
Gi'iiziitiin barreeffama Afaan Oromoo barreessuun waan nama rakkisuuf bakka isaa qubee
Roomaan akka fayyadamamu yaada furmaataa kennan.
7. The Adoption of Latin Script, Qubee, as Formal Orthography of Afan Oromo.
As described in the preceding section, Afan Oromo has been written for different purposes using
different scripts by various individuals before the coming of the current government. During the
previous governments, Afan
Oromo was not used as a medium of instruction. However, after1970s the Oromo Liberation Front
(OLF) began to use it as official language in the librated areas (Tilahun, 1993).In addition, after
1991, it was proclaimed that the native languages can be used as medium of instruction as well as
can be studied as a subject of a study. Thus, there is a need to develop one formal script that can be
used by all speakers of the language uniformly.
Around 1970s both Sabean and Latin were suggested to be the scripts of Afan Oromo.
Todo this there were debates about the suitable script furmaata Afaan Oromoo script. However, in
November 1991, five months after the downfall of Mengistu, OLF called Oromo scholars and
intellectuals a general meeting. Tilahun(1993:36) described the objective and the participants of
the meeting as “The purpose of the meeting was to adopt the Latin script that OLF had been using
or suggest an alternative.
Over 1000 men and women attended the historic meeting which met in the Parliament Building in
Finfinnee.”
After long hours of the discussion, it was decided that the Latin script was to be adopted. There
are different reasons for the adoption of Latin script. But the major ones are linguistic, pedagogical
and practical reasons.
7. Barreeffamni Afaan Oromoo Laatiniin (Qubee) Waalta'uu
Akkuma mata dureewwan darban keessatti ibsame, hanga sirna bulchiinsa mootummaa ammaatti
barreeffamoonni Afaan Oromoo dhimmoota adda addaatiif sirnoota barreeffamaa adda addaa
fayyadamuun namoota dhuunfaa adda addaatiin barreeffamaa turaniiru. Bara mootummoota
duraanii sana Afaan Oromoo Afaan barnootaa hinturre. Haata'u malee Addi Bilisummaa
Oromoo(OLF) naannoowan bilisa ba'anitti akka afaan hojii mootummaa ta'u taasise(Xilahun,
1993). Itti dabalees, bara 1991 booda afaanotni dhalootaa afaan barnootaafi akka gosa barnootaa
tokkootti akka barataman raggaasifame. Kanaafuu, sirni barreeffamaa idilee ta'ee dubbattoota
afaan isaanii kan giddu galeeffate ni barbaachisa ture. Kana gochuuf immoo walfalmiin waa'ee
sirna barreeffama Afaan Oromoo irratti adeemdifamee ture. Haata'u malee, Sadaasa, 1991 erga
Mootummaan Dargii kufee ji'a shan booda, Addi Bilisummaa Oromoo hayyootaafi beektota
Oromoo walga'ii waame. (Xilaahun, 1993፡36) kaayyoo walga'ichaa yoo ibsu, " Kaayyoon
walga'ichaa Addi Bilisummaa Oromoo sirna barreeffamaa Laatinii fayyadamaa ture fudhachuu
ykn filannoo biraa dhiheessuu ture. Walga'ii seena qabeessa ta'e Galma Caffee Finfinneetti
dhiirotniifi dubartootni 1000 ol ta'an hirmaataniiru. Marii sa'atii dheeraatiin booda sirni
barreeffama Laatinii akka ta'u murtaa'e. Qubeen Laatinii akka hojiirra oolu ta'uun isaa sababoota
gara garaatu jiru. Garuu ijoo kan ta'an xiinqooqa, mana barnootaafi hojiitti hiikuu/itti fayyadama
isaatiif fa'a.
