Mootuu Ayyaanoo Secondary School: A Legacy of Education and Sacrifice
Legacy in Learning: World Food Prize Laureate Professor Gebisa Ejeta Honors Mother with New School in Hometown
EJERSA LAFO, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA – In a powerful tribute to maternal sacrifice and the roots of education, a newly constructed secondary school in the rural heartland of Ethiopia now bears the name of a mother whose vision changed a family’s destiny. The “Mootuu Ayyaanoo Secondary School,” named in honor of Professor Gebisa Ejeta’s late mother, was officially inaugurated in Ejersa Lafo, West Shewa Zone.
The state-of-the-art facility, built at a cost of over 60 million Ethiopian Birr, stands as a permanent monument to the enduring power of a parent’s belief in education. The school is equipped with modern classrooms, laboratories, and facilities designed to provide quality education for the community.
Professor Gebisa Ejeta, a globally renowned plant geneticist and 2009 World Food Prize Laureate, was born in the nearby village of Holonkomii in 1950. In numerous interviews, he has consistently credited his mother, Mootuu Ayyaanoo, as the foundational force behind his academic journey. He has recounted how she sold firewood and walked vast distances to markets to earn the funds necessary for his early schooling, instilling in him the values of perseverance and the transformative power of knowledge.
“It is the deep wish of every child to honor their parents. We are profoundly moved and grateful that this school, a place of learning and future-building, carries our mother’s name,” said Professor Ejeta, reflecting on the inauguration. He and his family have long championed the critical importance of education for rural development.
The school’s inauguration is more than a local event; it is a symbolic closing of a circle. The boy who walked dusty paths from Holonkomii, propelled by his mother’s sacrifices, has become a world-leading scientist whose work on drought-tolerant sorghum has improved food security for millions. Now, his legacy ensures that children from his homeland will walk into a modern school bearing the very name that set him on his path.
“For us, this is the fulfillment of a long-held hope,” said a community elder during the celebrations. “Professor Gebisa has not forgotten his home. This modern, clean, and high-standard school is a gift that will change generations. We are overjoyed.”
Local residents expressed immense pride and gratitude, highlighting that the “Mootuu Ayyaanoo Secondary School” is a beacon of inspiration. It serves as a constant reminder that from the humblest beginnings—fueled by love, sacrifice, and education—global leaders can emerge.
The naming elegantly weaves together personal history and national progress. It honors a mother’s silent labor while investing directly in Ethiopia’s most vital resource: the educated mind of its youth. As students begin their studies within its walls, they will learn not only from textbooks but from the story embedded in the school’s very name—a story of unwavering belief and the seeds of greatness sown by a mother’s hands.
Australia’s Crackdown on Migrant Exploitation
EXCLUSIVE
MAJOR BORDER FORCE OPERATION NETS FOUR IN FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND CRACKDOWN ON MIGRANT EXPLOITATION SYNDICATES
CAIRNS, QLD – Australian Border Force (ABF) officers have launched a major offensive against criminal networks profiting from the illegal exploitation of migrant workers, detaining four high-priority targets in Far North Queensland in a sweeping operation.
The Department of Home Affairs-led operation, which targeted immigration non-compliance, visa fraud, and labour trafficking, marks a significant escalation in efforts to dismantle sophisticated syndicates preying on vulnerable workers and undermining the integrity of Australia’s migration system.
“This operation sends a strong message that Australia will not tolerate the abuse of our visa system or the exploitation of people who come here to work,” a senior ABF official stated. “Regional communities do not want this criminal behaviour in their backyard, and we are acting decisively to disrupt it.”
The Detained:
According to ABF sources, those apprehended include:
- A suspected fraudulent migration agent and his partner, who allegedly targeted workers from the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. They are accused of charging exorbitant fees to lodge invalid Protection Visa applications, leaving workers in legal limbo and severe debt.
- An unlawful non-citizen alleged to be a key facilitator, trafficking illegal migrant workers to local businesses while providing unlawful immigration assistance.
- An individual accused of using violence and coercion to control vulnerable migrants, funneling them into illegal work while subjecting them to substandard housing and appalling working conditions.
Cracking Down on “Modern Slavery” in Plain Sight
The operation highlights a growing national focus on what authorities describe as “modern slavery in plain sight” within certain industries. Criminal syndicates are suspected of using complex visa fraud, deceptive recruitment, and intimidation to create a cheap, compliant, and illegal workforce.
The exploitation of PALM scheme workers, a government program designed to support Australia’s agricultural and regional sectors through legal, protected labour, is of particular concern. The alleged actions of the detained migration agent represent a direct attack on a vital bilateral program, jeopardising the welfare of workers and community trust.
Community Vigilance Crucial
Authorities have praised the role of the public and regional communities in reporting suspicious activity, which directly contributed to the intelligence-led operation.
“Members of the public continue to play a critical role,” the ABF emphasised. “Their reports help us build a picture of these exploitative networks and take action.”
The ABF urges anyone with information on visa fraud, illegal work, or worker exploitation to report it anonymously via the Border Watch program online. The public is reminded that illegal workers are often victims themselves, ensnared by deceptive promises and crippling debt.
The four individuals are now in immigration detention pending their removal from Australia. Investigations into the wider networks involved are ongoing, with the ABF warning that further enforcement action is expected.
Burtukan Mideksa’s Journey: A Political Memoir Unveiled
Feature Commentary: “መመለስ” – The Return of a Voice and the Resonance of Memory
In the rich tapestry of Ethiopian political life, few contemporary figures command the blend of unwavering principle and administrative acumen quite like W/ro Burtukan Mideksa. Her journey—from the bench to political leadership, from imprisonment to international diplomacy—has been a defining narrative of Ethiopia’s turbulent recent decades. The recent ceremonial launch of her Amharic-language memoir, “መመለስ: ቦጌ ትውስታዎቼ” (“Return: My Bogé Memories”), is therefore more than a literary event. It is a significant political and cultural moment, a formal re-entry of a pivotal perspective into the nation’s ongoing dialogue about its past and its future.
The title itself, “መመለስ” (Return), is profoundly evocative. On one level, it refers to a physical and spiritual return to Bogé—a place steeped in personal and national history, likely referencing a period of reflection, struggle, or origin. On another, it signifies the return of Burtukan Mideksa’s own voice to the public sphere in a new, enduring form. After years of being analyzed, quoted, and defined by others—as a judge, an opposition leader, a prisoner of conscience, and most recently as the Chairperson of the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE)—this book represents her opportunity to define her own narrative, to “return” the story to its source.
The launch event, as reported, was fittingly dignified, attended by a host of guests and featuring readings by prominent figures like Abba Balcha and Konjit Seyoum. The participation of intellectuals and analysts such as Soliana Shimelis, Worqneh Tefera, Hirut Tefaye, Tewodros Aylaw, and Dawit Birhanu underscores the book’s perceived weight. It is not treated as a mere personal account but as a primary source document, a contribution to the collective understanding of Ethiopia’s political evolution over the last thirty years.
The book’s structure—37 chapters spanning 292 pages—suggests a comprehensive and detailed reckoning. For students of Ethiopian politics, the promise lies in the granular, firsthand account of critical junctures: the fraught 2005 elections, the experience of political imprisonment, the internal dynamics of opposition politics, and the complex challenges of leading an institution like the NEBE in a polarized environment. It offers a rare, insider’s view from a figure who has operated at the highest stakes of the country’s democratic struggle.
However, the publication of “መመለስ” arrives at a deeply complex moment. Ethiopia is a nation still grappling with the wounds of a brutal civil war, severe internal fractures, and an uncertain political transition. In this context, a memoir by a figure of Burtukan’s stature is inevitably a political act. It will be read not just for its recollections, but for its judgments, its silences, and its implicit commentary on present-day actors and crises. It has the potential to reframe debates, validate certain historical narratives, and challenge others.
Ultimately, the significance of “መለሰ” extends beyond its immediate political insights. It represents the power of personal testimony in a national story often dominated by grand ideologies and collective movements. By sharing her “Bogé memories,” Burtukan Mideksa does more than recount events; she invites a conversation about resilience, principle, and the personal cost of public life in Ethiopia. Whether as a tool for historical clarification, a mirror for the present, or a guide for future leaders, this “return” of memory to the public domain is a vital addition to the fragile architecture of Ethiopia’s national understanding. Its true impact will be measured not just in book sales, but in the depth and quality of the dialogue it inspires.
The Truth Behind the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
Feature Commentary: Untangling the Nile – Correcting the Record on Africa’s Renaissance Dam
In the global discourse surrounding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), facts have often been submerged under waves of political rhetoric and historical bias. A recent intervention by former U.S. President Donald Trump, laden with sweeping inaccuracies, serves as a stark case study in how misinformation can poison complex transboundary issues. By examining his ten central claims, we can separate hydroelectric reality from hydrological fiction and recenter a conversation that is fundamentally about development, sovereignty, and dignity.
The False Financial Ledger
The assertion that “The United States paid for the dam” (Claim No. 1) is not merely incorrect; it is an erasure of a national endeavor. GERD stands as a monument to domestic sacrifice, funded by Ethiopian bonds, civil servant contributions, and public mobilization. This narrative of external funding subtly strips Ethiopia of its agency, reframing a sovereign project as a foreign-sponsored venture. The truth is more powerful: Africa’s largest hydropower plant is being built by Africans, for Africans.
The Hydro-Logic of Power, Not Theft
The core technical misrepresentations reveal a fundamental misunderstanding—or deliberate mischaracterization—of how a dam functions. GERD does not “stop the Nile” (Claim No. 2) nor did Ethiopia ever “cut off Egypt’s water” (Claim No. 3). A run-of-the-river hydropower plant generates electricity from the flow of water, which then continues downstream. It is not a reservoir of contention but a conduit of energy. Repeating the fiction of water theft does not make it fact; it manufactures a crisis where none exists.
The Colonial Claim vs. The Geographic Truth
The most historically loaded falsehood is that “The Nile belongs to Egypt” (Claim No. 4). This claim is a relic of colonial-era agreements from which Ethiopia was excluded. Over 86% of the Nile’s water originates in the Ethiopian highlands. A nation does not seek permission to use a river that springs from its own soil. Sovereignty over natural resources is not granted by historical habit or downstream hegemony.
Sovereignty, Not Permission
This leads directly to the paternalistic fantasy that “someone allowed Ethiopia to build this dam” (Claim No. 6). Ethiopia, a sovereign state, did not request nor require an external permit to develop its infrastructure. To frame GERD’s existence as something that was “allowed” is to deny the very essence of self-determination. Similarly, labeling national development as a “crisis Ethiopia created” (Claim No. 5) inverts the moral framework. The crisis is the persistent expectation that African nations should forgo electrification and growth to preserve an untenable status quo.
Weaponizing Rhetoric vs. Generating Watts
The rhetorical escalation to call GERD “a weapon” (Claim No. 7) or a direct threat to “Egypt’s survival” (Claim No. 8) is dangerous alarmism. The dam is concrete and steel, producing megawatts, not conflict. Egypt’s water security challenges—rooted in population growth and resource management—predate GERD. Blaming an upstream dam is a political diversion from difficult domestic reforms.
The Fallacy of the Outsider Savior & The Apology That Is Not Owed
Finally, the twin falsehoods of a solitary “powerful outsider” capable of solving the dispute (Claim No. 9) and that “Ethiopia must apologize for progress” (Claim No. 10) are two sides of the same coin. They suggest African agency is insufficient and that development is an offense. Sustainable resolution will come from good-faith negotiation among the Nile Basin nations—Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia—not from external diktat. And using one’s own resources to lift millions from energy poverty warrants celebration, not contrition.
The Real Dam Blocking Progress
In the end, GERD is not the problem. Ethiopia’s pursuit of development is not the problem. The problem, as this list of false claims makes abundantly clear, is misinformation. It is the circulation of outdated narratives, the weaponization of technical ignorance, and the refusal to acknowledge a simple truth: that the long-overdue renaissance the dam’s name promises is for Ethiopia, and its light need not dim any other nation’s future. The path forward is lit by facts, not fiction.
Australia Mourns Bondi Victims with Light and Silence, as Communities Reaffirm Hope
January 22, 2026 | AUSTRALIA – Today, Australia stands still in a sombre moment of national unity, observing a National Day of Mourning for the 15 lives taken in the devastating terrorist attack at Bondi’s Jewish community centre last month.
The Day of Mourning has been declared as a time for collective reflection, with all Australians called upon to join together in grief and solidarity. “It is a day for all Australians to come together to grieve, remember, and stand against antisemitism and hate,” a government statement affirmed.
In a series of formal tributes, flags are being flown at half-mast across federal and Victorian government buildings. As evening falls, iconic landmarks throughout Victoria will be illuminated in white—a powerful visual symbol of resilience, peace, and the collective determination to move forward.
At exactly 7:01 PM, the time the attack unfolded on December 14, 2025, the nation is invited to pause for a minute of silence—a shared moment to remember the innocent victims whose lives and futures were violently cut short.
Personal Acts of Remembrance Echo National Resolve
The official day of mourning is mirrored in the private homes of Australians from all walks of life, where the national tragedy resonates with personal histories of loss and resilience. For some, the act of remembrance is profoundly intertwined with their own experiences.
“At 7:01 PM, my family and I lit memorial candles for a minute of silence,” shared one community member, speaking from Melbourne. Their reflection wove together the national moment with a deeply personal journey: “We found the peace and freedom in Australia that was violated in our homeland, Oromia. Therefore, we condemn any act of hatred. We reiterated our hope that any darkness will be conquered by light.”
This sentiment underscores the profound significance of safety and social cohesion for Australia’s multicultural communities. For many who have sought refuge and stability, the attack strikes at the very promise of sanctuary that Australia represents.
A Nation’s Grief, A Shared Commitment
Today’s observances are more than ritual; they are a national reaffirmation of the values that bind a diverse society together. The minute of silence, the lowered flags, and the glowing white landmarks serve as public pledges against hate, offering a collective response to tragedy through unity and remembrance.
As candles flicker in windows and cities shine with light, the message echoing across the country is clear: from the depths of shared mourning arises a strengthened commitment to ensure that light—and the hope it carries—will always prevail.
Victoria Commemorates National Day of Mourning for Bondi Victims
Feature News: Victoria Joins National Day of Mourning, Illuminating a Path Forward from Bondi Tragedy
MELBOURNE, VIC – Today, Victoria stands in solemn solidarity with the nation, observing a National Day of Mourning to honour the 15 lives lost in the devastating terrorist attack at Bondi Beach’s Jewish community centre on December 14, 2025.
The Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet has outlined the state’s formal acts of remembrance, framing the day as both a moment for collective grief and a resolute stance against hate. “It is a day for all Australians to come together to grieve, remember, and stand against antisemitism and hate,” the statement read.
Across the state and the country, visual symbols will mark the day’s gravity. Flags will be flown at half-mast at all Commonwealth and Victorian Government buildings—a universal gesture of loss and respect. As dusk falls, the tribute will transform. Major landmark buildings across Victoria’s skyline will be illuminated in white, a deliberate symbol of light, peace, and resilience cutting through the darkness of tragedy. “A symbol of light, as we move forward as a nation,” the government statement noted.
The commemoration will reach its poignant peak at 7:01 PM, the exact time the attack unfolded. Australians are invited nationwide to observe a minute of silence, a shared national pause to remember the 15 innocent victims whose lives and futures were tragically stolen.
The coordinated national response, which includes similar observances from federal and other state authorities, underscores a unified commitment to social cohesion. By designating a National Day of Mourning, officials aim to channel raw community sorrow into a reaffirmation of shared values—condemning antisemitic violence and all forms of bigotry while honoring the victims with dignity.
Today, as buildings glow white and flags hang low, Victoria’s official acts of remembrance serve as a public covenant: to mourn deeply, to remember collectively, and to walk forward together, guided by light.
Strengthening Community Bonds: Social Cohesion Event
Feature News: Southeast Melbourne Councils Launch “Social Cohesion” Workshops, Seek Community Architects
GREATER DANDENONG, VIC – In a proactive move to strengthen the social fabric of one of Australia’s most diverse regions, three neighbouring councils are joining forces to host a unique community workshop. The City of Greater Dandenong, the City of Casey, and the Shire of Cardinia are calling on local residents to help define and build a shared vision for a stronger, fairer future.
The initiative, a facilitated workshop titled “Defining Social Cohesion,” aims to create a safe space for residents to explore what unity, belonging, and mutual respect mean in their rapidly growing communities today.
Turning Shared Visions into Reality
“Every voice matters,” states the joint announcement, framing the workshop as a foundational step in collaborative community planning. The goal is to move beyond abstract ideals and turn collective aspirations into tangible outcomes. The facilitated discussion will focus not only on defining social cohesion but also on the practical role each resident plays in shaping it.
“Together, we can turn our shared visions into reality,” the councils propose, positioning the event as a grassroots opportunity to directly influence the social landscape of Melbourne’s vibrant southeast.
A Call for Diverse Voices
Participation is specifically limited to residents of the southeast Melbourne area, ensuring the conversation is grounded in local experiences and challenges. With limited spots available, organisers are urging interested community members to register early.
Event Details:
- Date: Wednesday, 28 January
- Time: 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- Location: Dandenong Civic Centre – Training Rooms 1 and 2
- Registration & Info: Residents are encouraged to register promptly via their local council websites or contact the organising academic partner for questions at tmiletic@unimelb.edu.au.
Building Resilience from the Ground Up
This workshop comes at a time when communities nationwide are reflecting on social harmony and resilience. By facilitating these conversations locally, the councils of Greater Dandenong, Casey, and Cardinia are investing in a community-led model for social planning, recognizing that the strongest cohesion is built from the ground up, one conversation at a time.
The event represents a significant opportunity for residents to become active architects of their community’s future, ensuring the southeast continues to be a place where diversity is not just acknowledged but is the very source of its strength.
Australia Observes National Day of Mourning After Bondi Attack
SYDNEY, Thursday, 22 January 2026 – The nation will come to a standstill in quiet reflection today as Australia marks a National Day of Mourning for the 15 innocent lives lost in the tragic anti-semitic attack at Bondi Beach last month.
On 14 December 2025, a devastating act of violence shattered the community of Bondi, targeting its Jewish community centre and leaving a nation in mourning. Today, Thursday, 22 January, is dedicated to honouring the victims, their grieving families, and all communities scarred by the tragedy.
A Nation’s Symbols at Half-Mast
As a mark of solemn respect, the Australian Government has directed all flags across the country, including on government buildings and naval vessels, to be flown at half-mast from sunrise to sunset. The visual gesture represents a nation’s collective grief and solidarity.
The official commemoration will reach its poignant peak this evening. Australians in every state and territory are invited to join in a shared national moment: lighting a candle at 7:01pm AEST—the time the attack unfolded—and observing one minute of silence.
“This simple, powerful act is a symbol of our remembrance and our unity,” a government statement read. “It is a light against the darkness of hate, a silent promise to stand together.”
Community and Coalition Stands in Solidarity
The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA), the peak national body representing Australia’s multicultural communities, issued a powerful statement of solidarity.
“FECCA stands firmly with the Jewish community and all those affected by this horrific act of hate,” the statement said. “We call for unity, compassion, and responsible public discourse in our shared efforts to eradicate anti-Semitism, racism, and all forms of bigotry from our society.”
The call underscores the day’s dual purpose: not only to mourn but to reaffirm a commitment to social cohesion. Vigils and interfaith gatherings are being held in capital cities and towns nationwide, bringing together leaders from diverse faiths and cultural backgrounds in a show of collective resilience.
A Day of Reflection and Resolve
Today is more than a date on the calendar; it is a national pause. It is a day for Australians to reflect on the preciousness of life, the strength found in community, and the enduring values of tolerance and respect that define the nation.
As candles are lit in windows from Bondi to Broome, the message is clear: Australia mourns together, remembers together, and stands determined to ensure that light and unity prevail over hatred and division.
A Legacy in Melody – Dirre Dhawaa University to Establish Dr. Alii Birraa Music School
DIRRE DHAWAA, OROMIA – In a move set to transform the cultural and academic landscape of eastern Oromia, Dirre Dhawaa University has announced the foundation of a new institution dedicated to musical excellence: the Dr. Alii Birraa Memorial Music School.
The university made the formal announcement via its official Facebook page, outlining plans to establish the school in the legendary artist’s hometown. This initiative is not just about building a structure, but about rooting a center of artistic excellence in the very soil that inspired one of Ethiopia’s most cherished musical voices.
Bridging Institutions for a Harmonious Future
The project is already hitting the right notes through a powerful collaboration. Experts and lecturers from the renowned Yared Music School at Addis Ababa University are providing crucial initial support. According to the university, these seasoned academics are traveling to Dirre Dhawaa to share their expertise, helping to design curricula and establish foundational frameworks. This knowledge transfer represents a significant vote of confidence and a bridge between the nation’s premier music academy and this promising new venture.
A key driving force behind this collaborative spirit is Dr. Malaaku Yigzaw, Dean of the Yared Music School. The university confirmed that Dr. Malaaku has formally pledged his institution’s full professional support to ensure the successful establishment of the memorial school.
Honoring a Native Son, Investing in a Region’s Soul
The decision to name the school after the late Kabajaa Artist Alii Birraa is deeply symbolic. Born in the Dirre Dhawaa area, Alii Birraa was a monumental figure in Ethiopian music, celebrated for popularizing the Oromo musical tradition of Biftuu and singing powerfully about love, social issues, and identity. Establishing a music school in his name serves a dual purpose: immortalizing his legacy and actively nurturing the next generation of artists from his region.
President of Dirre Dhawaa University, Magarsaa Qaasim (PhD), emphasized this point, highlighting the area’s rich but often under-recognized artistic heritage. “Dirre Dhawaa is a wellspring of many renowned artists,” President Magarsaa noted, underscoring the school’s mission to cultivate this latent talent formally.
A Conductor’s Baton for Regional Development
The university stated that it is undertaking all necessary preparations for the project and has already begun receiving “favorable support” from various organizations. This suggests the project is resonating beyond academic circles, potentially attracting cultural and developmental partners.
The establishment of the Dr. Alii Birraa Memorial Music School is more than an academic expansion. It is an act of cultural preservation, a tribute to a national icon, and a strategic investment in the creative future of eastern Ethiopia. By transforming the memory of a single great artist into a living institution of learning, Dirre Dhawaa University is ensuring that the region’s melodies will not only be remembered but will continue to evolve, inspire, and educate for generations to come.
The Unbroken Seed – A Grandson’s Oath to Hundee
Feature Commentary: The Unbroken Seed – A Grandson’s Oath to Hundee
In the heart of every liberation struggle lies a covenant between the fallen and the living, a sacred trust passed down through blood and memory. It is not just a political cause; it is a familial debt, an amaanaa.
This truth burns at the core of a powerful testament written by Afandii Muttaqii, a grandson of the Oromo martyr known as Hundee—The Foundation. His words are not a dry historical account but a raw, personal reckoning that bridges generations. “Ani shanyii Hundeeti,” he declares. “I am the grandson of Hundee.” With this, he steps forward not merely as a commentator, but as a living vessel of an unfinished promise.
The story he narrates is one of deliberate, symbolic terror and unbreakable prophecy. In September 1974, the Ethiopian military regime executed a group of Oromo freedom fighters, including the iconic Elemoo Qilxuu. Among them was Hundee, born Ahmad Taqii. In a calculated act meant to crush the spirit of his people, the regime singled out Hundee’s body. They transported it to his hometown, Galamso, and publicly dragged it through the streets behind a vehicle. The message was clear: This is the fate of those who defy us.
The regime’s calculus was one of fear. They hoped the desecration would shatter the community’s will. But in the courtyard of history, they misjudged their audience. Hundee’s own father, the respected Sheikh Muhammad Rashiid, heard the news and responded not with a wail of despair, but with a prophecy of fierce resilience. He reframed the atrocity: “They are doing this to break our morale. But this is more astonishing than it is saddening. For them to drag my son’s body on the ground is a great thing. It means the seed of the Oromo liberation struggle has been sown. This seed, now planted, will grow and spread; nothing will stop it until it bears fruit.”
Today, as Afandii Muttaqii writes, that fruit is ripening. The Oromo struggle has indeed “spread.” But his commentary arrives at a critical juncture, asking a piercing question of the present generation: How do we honor the seed that was sown in such brutal soil?
His answer is the core of his testimony: the concept of Amaanaa—the sacred trust. He issues a thunderous, poetic vow, a litany of names that stretches from the martyrs of that day in 1974—Elemoo, Colonel Mahdi, Sheekh Jamaal, Suleymaan, Abdi Kaahin—across decades to fallen heroes like Mecha Tullu, Bakkalchaa, Baaroo Tumsaa, and the victims of more recent state violence. “Amaanaa Hundee hin nyaannu,” he repeats like a mantra. “We will not betray the trust of Hundee.”
This is the powerful pivot of his commentary. He warns against the ultimate betrayal: using the hard-won spaces of the struggle for personal gain, of “walking on the blood of Oromo martyrs to polish Abyssinian nationalism.” In remembering the specific, gruesome detail of his grandfather’s martyrdom, he fortifies a collective moral compass. The struggle, he insists, must remain pure to its foundational purpose—the liberation of Oromiya—lest the sacrifice of Hundee and thousands others be consumed and forgotten.
The image of Hundee’s body, that “seed” dragged to be destroyed, becomes the central, haunting metaphor. It was meant to be a final exhibit of power. Instead, as foretold by a grieving father, it became a source of inextinguishable life. Afandii Muttaqii’s commentary is a vital act of watering that seed. He reminds us that true victory is not just in territorial gains or political seats, but in guarding the amaanaa. The struggle continues not merely in protests and negotiations, but in the daily, conscious choice to refuse betrayal, to remember each name, and to ensure that the fruit of freedom, once borne, belongs wholly and justly to the people for whom the seed was sown.
The foundation—the Hundee—was laid in sacrifice. The grandson’s oath is to build upon it with integrity. The harvest is yet to come.
Oromedia 