By Dhabessa Wakjira

OROMIA – Across the highlands and valleys of Oromia, and within diaspora communities spanning the globe, the Oromo people are preparing to observe Ayyaana Amajjii—a day that is far more than a cultural anniversary. It is a living chronicle of resistance, a solemn vow of continuity, and a beacon of collective identity lit against a backdrop of enduring struggle. As one message proclaims: “AYYAANA AMAJJII BAGA GEESSAN!” – “Happy Amajjii Holiday!”

Celebrated for over 40 years, Amajjii commemorates a pivotal historical moment of defiance. Its roots lie in “a history of resilience in the Oromo freedom struggle and the heroism of Oromo fighters,” a day when a courageous few secured a landmark victory against formidable enemies. This singular event is etched into the Oromo consciousness not merely as a past triumph, but as an eternal wellspring of strength.

“Amajjii is a symbol of the endurance and perseverance that defines our entire struggle,” explains a community historian. “It is a holiday that surpasses all others, a flame we keep alive to illuminate the path to Oromo freedom from within the darkness of oppression.”

This year, the commemoration carries a particularly profound weight. The community gathers in what is described as “a time of difficulty and darkness,” marked by reports of severe hardship, drone strikes, militia violence, and widespread military crackdowns. “This brutal oppression wounds us,” the message states, “but without losing hope, we resist fiercely and honor our Amajjii, learned from our ancestors.”

It is precisely in such moments of intensified pressure, the tradition holds, that the history of Amajjii becomes most vital. The day serves as a crucial space—a sanctuary in time—to reaffirm unity, recommit to the quest for a dignified and egalitarian society, and honor the foundational values of respect and justice. The ceremony itself is a multi-faceted lesson in the Oromo liberation narrative.

The central, unifying ritual is the lighting of the Amajjii bonfire atop the highest hill. This “Xomboorrii Amajjii” is far more than a fire; it is the primary symbol of Oromo freedom. As its flames climb skyward, it is seen as broadcasting a powerful message: a message of true liberty, of emerging from subjugation, of unbreakable hope rising from the ashes of despair, and of light piercing a profound darkness.

“Amajjii is the day we remember the Oromo freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives without hesitation to liberate and protect Oromia and its people,” the commemoration note affirms. This act of remembrance is inextricably linked to the deep Oromo tradition of honoring elders and pioneers—those who preserve culture, offer guidance, and advocate for justice. Amajjii is, in essence, the national-scale enactment of this duty of respect.

The 2026 observance is therefore framed not just as a look backward, but as a strategic reaffirmation for the future. It is a time to “renew our pledge” to continue the struggle, bolstered by the conviction that Oromia will ultimately be a place where rights are asserted and the Oromo nation is honored in its unity and freedom.

From the ancestral hills of Oromia to community centers worldwide, the lighting of the Amajjii fire this year will be a potent, silent, and luminous declaration. It asserts that memory is resistance, that collective ceremony is a form of resilience, and that an unquenchable flame, passed down through generations, continues to light the way forward.

AYYAANA AMAJJII GAARII! – A dignified Amajjii to all!