July 13 is marked every year by Oromo nationalists around the world to celebrate Finfinne, and to commemorate the heroines and heroes who had fallen while fighting against the removal of Oromia’s Capital from Finfinne in the early 2000’s.
Finfinne used to be the home of Oromo tribes/clans of Gullallee, Galaan and Ekaa, to name a few, before it fell under Abyssinia’s rule in the late 19th century, and got renamed as “Addis Ababa.” Before its fall, Afan Oromo used to be the official language of Finfinne to conduct political duties of the then Gullallee Gadaa government. Since the late 19th century, Afan Oromo has been banned as the official language of Finfinne. Currently, there is a campaign to reinstate Afan Oromo as the official Working Language of the Federal Government seated in Addis Ababa (Finfinne). Culturally, the inauguration of the Oromo Cultural Arts and National History Center in Finfinne earlier this year has been lauded as a historic milestone. The Center has already become the focal point of the resurgent Oromo culture and arts in Finfinne.
The photos below show the historic Finfinne with its rich Oromo Cushitic roots as well as Finfinne’s new Oromo Cultural Arts and National History Center, and this brief look at Finfinne can’t be complete without Haacaaluu’s latest music about Finfinne (watch below). Photos were gathered from Qeerroo.org and the social media.
Naannoo Horaa bara 1892 (The Hot Spring now named Filwuha in 1892):
Naannoo DAALLATTII (now named Arat Kilo):
Naannoo Birbirsa Gooroo Bara 1897 (the area now named Arada or Piazza in 1897):
Naannoo Birbirsa Gooroo Bara 1917 (it shows Odaa Ya’aa Gullallee – the area now has the Statue of Menelik):
Other neighborhood in Finfinne (now named Addis Ababa):
Other neighborhood in Finfinne (now named Addis Ababa):
Formerly, Qa’ee Tufaa Munaa (now the Arat Kilo Palace):
Finfinne’s Oromo Cultural Arts & National History Center – From the music video of Caaltuu Naannessoo’s “Imaltuu Seenaan Ta’e” (2015):
Finfinne’s Oromo Cultural Arts & National History Center – From the music video of Caaltuu Naannessoo’s “Imaltuu Seenaan Ta’e” (2015):
Finfinne’s Oromo Cultural Arts & National History Center – From the music video of Caaltuu Naannessoo’s “Imaltuu Seenaan Ta’e” (2015):
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