Yejju Oromo
Encyclopedia
Yejju Oromo is a tribe of the Barentu
branch of Oromo people. They are one of the northernmost tribes of the Oromo people
, which is the second largest ethnicity in Ethiopia
.
The Barentu (also Barento/Barentuma) is one of the two moieties of the Oromo people, the other being the Borana. Yejju Oromo is often categorized inside the Barentu branch and other neighboring tribes include the Wollo Oromo and the Raya Oromo. Due to Oromo migration to the north, these northern Oromo communities are minorities and they are found in the ethnic Amhara
and Tigray dominated regions of northern Ethiopia.
During the 17th century, the Oromo Yejju dynasty ruled much of the Ethiopian empire during the Zemene Mesafint
or "Age of Princes", changing the official language of Amhara people to Afan Oromo, including inside the court of Gondar
. Throughout the era, different ethnic groups, clans and communities made short-term alliances to acquire economic advantage and political power.
Currently, the territories of these northern tip Oromos is officially located inside Amhara Region
and Tigray region
while the boundaries are rejected by Oromo nationalists, including the Oromo Liberation Front
Barentu (Oromo)
Barentuu/Barentoo or Baraytuma is one of the two moieties of the Oromo people. The other moiety is Borana. The Barentu Oromo inhabit the eastern parts of the Oromia Region in Ethiopia...
branch of Oromo people. They are one of the northernmost tribes of the Oromo people
Oromo people
The Oromo are an ethnic group found in Ethiopia, northern Kenya, .and parts of Somalia. With 30 million members, they constitute the single largest ethnic group in Ethiopia and approximately 34.49% of the population according to the 2007 census...
, which is the second largest ethnicity in Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
.
The Barentu (also Barento/Barentuma) is one of the two moieties of the Oromo people, the other being the Borana. Yejju Oromo is often categorized inside the Barentu branch and other neighboring tribes include the Wollo Oromo and the Raya Oromo. Due to Oromo migration to the north, these northern Oromo communities are minorities and they are found in the ethnic Amhara
Amhara people
Amhara are a highland people inhabiting the Northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Numbering about 19.8 million people, they comprise 26% of the country's population, according to the 2007 national census...
and Tigray dominated regions of northern Ethiopia.
During the 17th century, the Oromo Yejju dynasty ruled much of the Ethiopian empire during the Zemene Mesafint
Zemene Mesafint
The Zemene Mesafint was a period in Ethiopian history when the country was rent by conflicts between warlords, the Emperor was reduced to little more than a figurehead confined to the capital city of...
or "Age of Princes", changing the official language of Amhara people to Afan Oromo, including inside the court of Gondar
Gondar
Gondar or Gonder is a city in Ethiopia, which was once the old imperial capital and capital of the historic Begemder Province. As a result, the old province of Begemder is sometimes referred to as Gondar...
. Throughout the era, different ethnic groups, clans and communities made short-term alliances to acquire economic advantage and political power.
Currently, the territories of these northern tip Oromos is officially located inside Amhara Region
Amhara Region
Amhara is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, containing the homeland of the Amhara people. Previously known as Region 3, its capital is Bahir Dar....
and Tigray region
Tigray Region
Tigray Region is the northernmost of the nine ethnic regions of Ethiopia containing the homeland of the Tigray people. It was formerly known as Region 1...
while the boundaries are rejected by Oromo nationalists, including the Oromo Liberation Front
Oromo Liberation Front
The Oromo Liberation Front , or OLF, is an organization established in 1973 by Oromo nationalists to promote self-determination for the Oromo people against what they call "Abyssinian colonial rule". It has been outlawed and labeled as a terrorist organization by the Ethiopian government...