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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Myths and traditions concerning the origin of the Oromo people
Author:Ferenc, Aleksander
Year:1988
Periodical:Africana Bulletin
Issue:35
Pages:59-65
Language:English
Geographic term:Ethiopia
Subjects:ethnogenesis
Oromo
Abstract:The problem of the origin of the Oromo people, their first dwelling place and their arrival in Ethiopia, the roads along which they travelled, and the time when this took place, has not been solved so far. However, all Oromo peoples have a common system of ethnogenetic myths and traditions. This article analyses these myths and traditions concerning the origin of the Oromo as well as their arrival in the Ethiopian highlands, and comes to the following conclusions: their ancient dwelling place and cradle were the territories to the east and southeast of Lake Abbaya, in today's southern Ethiopia; from this area they dispersed over the country, crossing the frontier of the Empire probably around the year 1522, and occupying with time vast territories which extend today from the Tigray province in the north to the Bal¯e province in the south and from the Wellega province in the west to the Harerge province in the east. Notes, ref.
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