Ayub Abubakar was one of the first Oromo journalists to defy Emperor Haile Selassie’s ban on Oromo-language media by launching a clandestine radio broadcast in the 1960s. His assassination in 1967—brutally stabbed to death by Haile Selassie’s agents in Mogadishu, Somalia—marked a pivotal moment in the struggle for Oromo voice and visibility.
1. The Birth of Oromo Radio: Defying Linguistic Oppression
The Ban on Afaan Oromo
Under Haile Selassie’s rule (1930–1974):
- Afaan Oromo was banned in education, media, and government.
- Speaking Oromo in public institutions risked imprisonment or violence.
Ayub Abubakar’s Underground Radio
- Location: Broadcasted from Mogadishu, Somalia (beyond Ethiopian state control).
- Mission: To counter regime propaganda and unite Oromos across borders.
- Content:
- News on Oromo resistance (e.g., Bale Revolt).
- Cultural programs promoting Oromo history, music, and language.
2. The Assassination (1967)
How He Was Killed
- Date: 1967, Friday afternoon.
- Location: Lido Beach, Mogadishu (while swimming in the Indian Ocean).
- Assassins:
- Haile Selassie’s imperial guards (including a white foreign agent).
- Likely coordinated with Somali collaborators.
- Aftermath:
- Body discovered two days later, buried hastily in Mogadishu.
- No official investigation; the killers never faced justice.
Surviving Comrades (Last Living Witness: Shantam Shubbisaa)
Ayub’s team included:
- Abubakar Musa
- Dr. Sheikh Muhammad Rashad Abdullah
- Abdi Hussein
- Hindia Ahmed (Shantam Shubbisaa’s wife)
- Shantam Shubbisaa (the only known survivor today).
3. Why His Legacy Matters
A. The First Oromo Voice in Media
- Ayub’s radio paved the way for later Oromo broadcasts (e.g., Radio Bilal, Oromia Media Network).
- Proved that censorship could be broken.
B. A Symbol of Regime Brutality
His murder exposed:
- Haile Selassie’s fear of Oromo awakening.
- Transnational repression (Ethiopian agents operating in Somalia).
C. Inspiration for Today’s Oromo Media
Modern Oromo journalists (Jawar Mohammed, Eskinder Nega) stand on Ayub’s shoulders.
4. Unresolved Justice & Honoring Ayub
Demands
- Official recognition of Ayub as a martyr of free press.
- Documentation of his work in Oromo historical archives.
- Investigation into his killers (if still alive).
How to Remember Him
- April 15 (Oromo Martyrs’ Day): Include Ayub in commemorations.
- Journalism awards in his name for courageous Oromo media.
“Ayub Abubakar did not just broadcast words—he broadcast resistance.
His microphone was a weapon. His voice, a revolution.”
Qabsoon itti fufa! (The struggle continues!)
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