A photo of the gathered community, with a focus on Jaal Dhugaasaa Bakakkoo addressing the crowd or a group shot with the Oromo flag.

In Edmonton, the Oromo New Year (Amajjii 1) and World Brotherhood Day (WBO) were marked by more than tradition—they were a powerful statement of institutional endurance and collective will.

The OLF Edmonton Konya’s celebration was graced by the presence of a foundational leader, Jaal Dhugaasaa Bakakkoo, a former WBO executive and senior OLF figure. His attendance symbolized a vital bridge between the struggle’s history and its living, active diaspora heartbeat.

The core of the gathering was a shared focus on “jabeenya jaarmiyaa”—the strength of the institution. Attendees engaged in constructive dialogue (yaada ijaaraa waliif qooduu), understanding that the organization itself is the bedrock of the long journey to freedom.

Crucially, the event’s organizers were honored for a specific, vital duty: ensuring that “support and sustenance for the freedom struggle continues to receive continuity.” This reframes diaspora community work as a direct, indispensable lifeline.

As one attendee powerfully stated, the act of organizing such a program is itself a declaration: “By organizing this, saying ‘we are here!’ (ni jirra!) is a duty and a task that must continue.”

From the Canadian prairies, the message is clear: Our presence is our promise. Our organization is our strength. The struggle continues, fueled by unity and unwavering resolve.

Baga guyyaa Amajjii 1 geessan! ✊

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