By Dr. Abdulsemed Mohammed Sheik Muhammed Rashaad Language is a means of communication and a symbol of national identity. As a means of communication a language serves as a bridge to bring two sides together. As such, it can be used in at least two different ways namely, verbal and written communications. Verbal communication involves using spoken words, while written communication requires symbols representing the words. There is no doubt that every human language can serve its people in both these two ways. Unfortunately, not all languages in the world are written languages; there are many languages that still remain being a spoken language. Among those that remained as spoken language for many years, one was the Oromo Language. Despite rigorous efforts made to transform the Oromo language into a written language, evidences indicate that it was about 250 years ago when some among the Oromo started writing in Oromo language. The objective of this paper is to present a brief history of writing in Afaan Oromoo. A written language uses symbols that are systematically put in order to produce a message that can be understood. The symbols used to write with in a language are called the ALPHABETH. The alphabet of any language must have symbols representing all the sounds of that language. The symbols that make up an alphabet are expected to perfectly fit for the sounds they represent and must be easy to use. Before going to the core of the article it is fair to present the efforts of many scholars to transform Afaan Oromoo from spoken language to a written language. Evidences we have indicate that the first fruitful effort was done by Raayyaa Oromo during the time of the dominant clerics, Anniyyi and Daanniyyi. These clerics wrote the first books that go into the first line of Oromo literary works. The books contained poems, hymn and Islamic religious songs generally referred to as Menzumah. The authors used the Arabic alphabet with some symbols modified represent Oromo phonemes not present in Arabic language. They include sounds represented by the following symbols in the standard Oromo alphabet: (C, CH, DH, G, NY, PH). Copies were written by scribes (writers) by hand on animal skin and hide using locally made pen and ink. The pen is a sharp handy splinters made from a bamboo tree. Ink was prepared from a mixture of water, soot, natural gum, and other ingredients. Arabic Alphabet has another advantage for Afaan Oromoo. It has symbols and a writing system to represent short and long vowels as well as stressed and non-stressed consonants. For those already literate in Arabic learning to read and write in Afaan Oromoo became very easy. Oromo phonemes represented today by these two symbols X” and “Q” are basically different from the Arabic (ﻄ and ﻕ). Most Oromos pronounce those two Arabic phonemes: / ﻄ / as “X” and / ﻕ / as “Q”. Therefore, both were accepted not as similar sounds but as quasi close to each other. Until the use of the standard Oromo alphabet was declared by law all Oromo clerics wrote Afaan Oromoo using the Arabic alphabet. All books were written by hand because there were no typewriters and printing press available for Afaan Oromoo. In reality, it was absolutely impossible for several reasons, as there were no skilled manpower, no finance, and government to support the cause. Until recently, writing in Afaan Oromoo was illegal in Ethiopia and all efforts of Oromo clerics did not produce results. Shek Bekri Sephalo Bekri SapaloAmong the Oromo scholars who worked to create an alphabet for Oromo language the first and the biggest name that comes forth is Sheek Bakri Saphalo. Saphalo was a renowned scholar on Islam and Arabic. No doubt that he tried the Arabic alphabet first. And it was he who invented the sentence “Gaccaphii nyadhachoo” to show the deficiency of the Arabic Alphabet. The Saphalo alphabet is not borrowed, but invented in Oromiyaa by an Oromo. It is a symbol of pride that made the Oromo a nation that owns home made alphabet. As such all of us should be proud of it. It strengthens the psychology of Oromummaa and must be kept, honored and developed for it is a national treasure. Finally, I would like to say loudly and confidently that it is the only alphabet born in Africa. The Sabean alphabet was invented in Asia and not in Africa. It was brought to Africa by the people who migrated from Yemen. More evidences can be presented to expose the lie about Sabean alphabet. For the moment I’ll stick to the aim of the article and will return to the issue when it is required. The two alphabets (Arabic and Saphalo’s) are compared using the last two of the three criteria mentioned above the former was found in a better position than the later. Therefore, during his stay in Egypt Dr. Rashad chose to use the Arabic alphabet temporarily. He made some modifications to make it usable to write in Afaan Oromoo. Basically, he used similar methods used by Anniyyi and Daanniyyi with some additions. Even then one can use it to write with only by hand. Dr. Rashad was doing that for a purpose. He wanted to go back to the department of foreign languages by making a new claim. “The Oromo language has an alphabet; here is it.. Please allow that it can be taught in this University” His request was again denied. Lack of success in Egypt did not stop him from furthering his efforts to find an appropriate alphabet for Afaan Oromoo. THE MOVE TO SOMALIA News coming from home removes the entire desire to return back. Those who left the country in their own way and studied in foreign countries and returned back home were not received well. Some were prisoned; others were stopped and arrested and nobody knows their where about. Because these reasons returning back was understood as committing suicide. The only option remained was to move to neighboring countries and settle close to home. At that time Somalia was found to be better and moving to Somalia became mandatory. NOW MORINOO HAILE FIDA ABO RESHAD 1991 1939 1973 1976 1969 C Č Č C C CH C C CH CH DH Ḑ Ɗ D DH NY Ñ Ñ N NY X Ṭ Ṭ T TH SH Ṧ Ṧ S SH PH P P P PH NB: The alphabet the OLF used was borrowed from Hayle Fida,. But the letters (C, D, NY, SH, and PH) were modified to have a short line segment on top of them instead of the inverted accent chapeaux. Dr. Mohammed Rashad too used the symbol “TH” for what is today known as “X” until he met with some leaders of the OLF in Somalia. They liked the simplicity of using Dr. Rashid’s symbols which accepted. Finally after discussion on the matter both parties agreed to name the symbol “X” to represent the sound it represents today. The effort to find an appropriate alphabet for the Oromo language was as strong inside the country as it was outside the country. This was at full strength following the fall of the monarch. The military junta that seized power decided to use the Sabean alphabet for Afaan Oromoo. Bariisaa, the only independent Oromo newspaper was nationalized and made to continue to write using the Sabean alphabet. Bariisaa, since its inception was written in Sabean alphabet. But it used to publish pages written in Latin alphabet clearly showing the difference between the two to the general public. Writing Afaan Oromoo using the Latin alphabet was a crime under the Dergue. Doing that knowing its consequences, I should say, was a heroic action. It could possibly be the triggering factor for the action the government took against the newspaper. Similarly, the famous artist, activist and nationalist Dr. Ali Birra released his music on literacy in Afaan Oromoo. The relics were clearly calling for Latin based Oromo alphabet. An extract from the relic of that song reads as follows: A, B……. jennee-k-kaana; We shall stand by enchating A, B,.. Kanumaan jalqabna; We shall begin just with this Afaanuma keenyaan katabnee dubbifna. We shall write and read in our language The message of this song reached all corners of the Oromo nation and qubee began to be taught clandestinely . At that time the military government ruling the country launched a literacy campaign, known as “Development through cooperation”. High schools and colleges were closed and the students were sent to rural Ethiopia to teach basic literacy. Basically in Amharic and nominally in other languages including Afaan Oromoo. The Dergue chose and forced the Sabean alphabet for all the languages. However, concerned Oromo nationalists and scholars continued to tell the truth regarding choice of alphabet for Afaan Oromoo. Dr. Mohammed Rashad had the desire to share his knowledge with his people, and wanted to go back home, an action which was tantamount to committing suicide and could not be his choice. Instead, he decided to travel to a neighboring country Somalia, which at that time was relatively convenient to settle and help his people across the border. At that time Somalia just had a new government, led by an army general, by the name of Gen. Ziyad Barre, who seized power by overthrowing President Abdirashid Ali Shermarke. Ziyad Barre was a left wing politician and chose to led Somalia on the path of socialism. The new government decided to make the Somali language a written language and to be a medium in schools and a working language in government offices. The Latin alphabet was chosen and a committee guiding and implementing the policy was established. Some say that Shek Mohammed Reshad was a member of that committee, but so far I did not come across any document proving the truth of that statement. Upon reaching Somalia the first thing to do was to find a permanent place for settlement and to get used to the new country i.e. the people and the weather. Soon after that he got engaged to do things that he believed was good for his people. Dr. Rashad always wanted that his people should learn, know, understand and attain political consciousness. And he said that the path taking us there has to pass through a gate, and that gate is learning. To teach a people you need to reach that people. The Oromo people were living far away from where he was; but he always believed that it was possible to reach there by using the media. Therefore, it is absolutely important to develop the Oromo language into a media language. This means using the printing distributing newspapers, brochures, books,..etc. and reaching the people by radio and TV. Electronic media is especially suited to reach unlettered or illiterate audience such as the Oromo society that cannot read and write. We know we have to start with what we have, what we can, and with what we know. The first thing to do was to get air time for Oromo language. Shek Rashad said “I have some knowledge, no radio station and no money. I believe in my God I trust in Him; I have no doubt that, he helps me always. With that belief and trust in Allah, I went to meet the authorities of Radio Mogadishu. I requested them to give air time for Oromo language. They denied my request based on series of political and diplomatic reasons. They said it will create trouble with Ethiopia. It violates the rules and regulations of peaceful co-existence of neighboring countries. I did not accept their decision; giving up was not an option. I continued to return to them again and again engaged them by using different methods and reasons until finally I got what I wanted. I got air time for Oromo language in Radio Mogadishu. But, they did not allow that the word “Oromo” be used. Because of that we could not say “the following program is in Afaan Oromoo” Instead we were told to use the phrase “Afaan Qottuu”. To remember, here is how we said “This is Radio Mogadishu the voice of the Republic of Somalia; It is now time for Programs in Afaan Qottu”. We were broadcasting for one hour every day. In our program, we had “News, Health education, Religion, short dramas, music, comments, questions of listeners”. After some years it was changed from “afaan Qottu” to Afaan Galla” and when the regime started war against Ethiopia it was changed to “Afaan Somaali Abbo”. That radio program entertained and educated the Oromo people; it awakened them, made them conscious and to stand for their right. In general, it created a force ready for the subsequent struggles. The scholar who struggled and succeeded in making Afaan Oromoo a broadcasted language was Dr. Mahammed Rashad Abdullee. The efforts he did while he was in Somalia were a continuation of the effort he started in Egypt. The first step was to choose the right alphabet, that became the alphabet of the Oromo language. Before 1974, writing Afaan Oromoo using any alphabet was illegal. During the Dengue’s regime writing afaan Oromo in any alphabet except the Sabean continued to be illegal. Following the fall of the military junta in 1991, things started becoming favorable. Newspapers, magazines, and books were written, published and distributed. Soon, a meeting of Oromo scholars, elders and community representatives was called to discuss and decide on Oromo alphabet. Accordingly, Latin based alphabet was accepted unanimously, and the first congress of Caffee Oromiyaa put it into a law. Since then Afaan Oromoo has been a written language, a school language, and a working language. The effort carried out in diaspora too was not free from obstacles. Forces that opposed the decision of Somali government for choosing Latin alphabet for the Somali language started opposing the Oromo effort for choosing the Latin alphabet. They want the Arabic alphabet be used for Oromo language. The reason they provide is based on a wrong understanding of the Arabic alphabet which they believe to be an Islamic alphabet. No doubt that the Qur’an and all the other original Islamic teachings were written in Arabic using the Arabic alphabet. Arabic alphabet, however, existed and was in use prior to the advent of the religion. Similarly not everything written in Arabic alphabet was Islamic even today. Some of them used the corrupted meaning of the word “LATIN” in Arabic as “LA DEEN” which means “NO RELIGION”. Because of the love they have for Islam they believed that the Arabic alphabet serves as a vehicle for the dissemination of the religion. They failed to remember that Islam reached all corners of the world without using Arabic alphabet as a vehicle for its dissemination. The work of Dr. Shek Mohammed Reshad that helped to overcome the resistance against the use of Latin alphabet in diaspora is history we will never forget. He attended meetings and presented papers with sufficient explanations and reasons in favor of Latin alphabet. One scholar who attended those meetings was Mr. Taha Abdi, one of the founding member of the OLF, and a member of the leadership. When asked to comment on the contribution of Dr. Rashad, Mr. Abdi said the following: The pressure against Latin alphabet was mounting and reached its peak and everyone was frustrated. At that time Dr. Rashad came to me and said, “No one else has better experience in trying to write afaan Oromo using the Arabic alphabet. I know all the pros and cons of Arabic alphabet if used for Oromo language. At this time by comparing all parameters there is no alphabet which is better suited than the Latin Alphabet for Afaan Oromo. In this regard I will confront, debate and win all against Latin alphabet. Don’t worry !!!” “On hearing those words” Mr. Taha Abdi concludes “all of my frustrations and anger were totally removed. And he said, he won the debate and had the opposition openly accept Latin alphabet for Afaan Oromoo. The first book authored by Shek Rashad was “FURA AFAAN OROMOO”. It is a textbook on Oromoo Alphabet. It teaches how to read and write in Afaan Oromoo. It was written by hand in 1969, and printed two years later in Mogadishu. The book, however, was considered as an act of crime against the territorial policy of the government of Ziyad Barre, the policy of annexing the land of Ogaden, Eastern and Southern Oromia, and the NFD of Kenya to create Great Somalia. Because of that the book FURA AFAAN OROMOO which carries the name Oromo they decided that the book be removed from market and the author be arrested. Dr. Rashad chose to stay hiding for some time and avoided the arrest. Finally, some elders intervened and a negotiated settlement was reached. The Somali government wanted the title of the book be changed to Fura Afaan Abboo and was printed and distributed under the new title. Dr. MOHAMMED Reshad, authored many books. He was the first author to write children’s book in Afaan Oromoo. He was the first to translate the meaning of the Noble Qur’an into Afaan Oromoo available in both audio and text forms. Here is the list of some of his books: Hadiisa Afurtamman Nawawii, Seeraafi Naamusa Hajjii, Gadaa Islaamaa (Hundeelee Amantii Islaamaa), Tajwiida Qur’aanaa (Akkaataa Qur’aanni itti qara’amu), Manxiq (Logic), kkf. He also wrote many books on oral tradition, poems, and others. Because of all these it won’t be an exaggeration to call this man “the father of Oromo writings”. Shek Mohammed Rashad sacrificed all of his life for Oromo and Oromummaa. He suffered a stroke while he was in Saudi Arabia and was under treatment for many years. Finally, he went back home and lived in the cities of Adama and Dirre Dhawaa. Finally the divine call came and he passed away on April 25, 2013. May he attain the mercy of Allah and reside in the garden of bliss. Dr. Shek Mahammad Rashad is not a scholar who left his people empty handed. He put all his works on the Internet at his website he called “Bakka Rashad”. This too makes him the first scholar to build a web-site Reshad.org and left all his works for generations to come. You can find the Afaan Oromo version of this article here SAPHALO’S OROMO ORTHOGRAPHY Sapalo Script 2 7 Responses to HISTORY OF OROMO WRITING and the Contribution of Dr. Mohammed Reshad
Posted on: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 22:54:16 +0000
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