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Chapter 21: Blessings & Oaths

Boqonnaa 21: Eebba & Kakuu

Eebba (Blessings)

People who revere God, like the Oromo, attach great value to blessings. The root of a blessing is as follows: Let's say one person (A) does something for another person (B) without expecting payment. Person A does not expect to receive the reward for his work or his property from person B. Instead, person B tells person A that he will receive the reward for his work or property from God. In other words, a blessing is when one person asks God to repay another for their goodness.

According to Oromo culture, blessings are given with coffee. Here are some examples:

A) When elders bless children, they say:

  • "Waaqayoo si haa guddisu" (May God make you grow)
  • "Waaqayoon bakka guddaa si haa gayu" (May God bring you to a great place)
  • "Waaqni waan hamaa sirraa haa qabu" (May God keep evil from you)

B) When parents bless their children, they say:

  • "Deemi chufrii siif haa eehamtu" (Go, may everything be permitted for you)
  • "Waan feete chufa siif haa laatu" (May He give you all that you wish)
  • "Waan qabdu fi bakki ijatu chufa siif haa tolchu" (May all you have and all you see be good for you)
  • "Waaqni waan qabdu siif haa guddisu" (May God increase what you have)
  • "Waaqni waan fachaaste siif haa magarsu" (May God make what you have sown grow for you)

C) If one person helps another in need, the one who was helped blesses them, saying:

  • "Aboo, rakkoorraa si haa baasu" (Oh, may He get you out of trouble)
  • "Hamaan si hin argatin" (May evil not find you)
  • "Hawwiin tee siif haa guutamtu" (May your wish be fulfilled for you)
  • "Waaqni jiruu tee haa dheeressu" (May God lengthen your life)
  • "Waaqni waan qabdu siif haa ida'u" (May God add to what you have)
  • "Waaqni nagaya siif haa kennu" (May God give you peace)

D) Also, people invited to a wedding say:

  • "Mana quufaa haa ta'u" (May it be a house of abundance)
  • "Kan baranaa kan bara heegaree" (This year's and next year's)
  • "Bara-baraan si haa gayu" (May it last for you for years and years)
  • "Waaqni kadhaa kee si haa dhagayu" (May God hear your prayer)
  • "Waaqni si haa araaramu" (May God have mercy on you)
  • "Waaqni fedhii kee siif haa guutu" (May God fulfill your wish for you)

Kakuu (Oaths)

In Oromo culture, oaths hold a special place. There are many types of oaths; we will present a few of them here.

a) Kakuu Ragaa (Witness Oath)

When a person appears in court to testify, they take a witness oath. For example: "I, Boru Roobaa, appear to tell the truth in this matter; if I tell a lie instead of the truth, may God destroy me," he swears.

b) Kakku Abbaa Gadaa (Abbaa Gadaa's Oath)

When a person is elected as a ruler or a judge, they swear an oath to the people who elected them to perform their duties well and justly. For example, in the Gadaa system, the person elected as Abbaa Gadaa takes the Abbaa Gadaa's oath. The oath is as follows:

"An, Abbaa Gadaa, Biyya Oromoo diinarraa eeguuf, Seera Biyya Oromoo sirriitti deemsisuuf, Dinagdee Biyya Oromoo guddisuuf, Aadaa, afaanii fi amantii Oromoo bal'isuuf, Sirna Gadaa akka daran lalisuu godhuuf, Dandaytii fi humna kiyya dantaa Biyya Oromoof akkaan oolchuu, Kana bakkaan gayuuf, Waaqayoo na gargaari!"

(I, the Abbaa Gadaa, to protect the Oromo country from the enemy, to properly administer the Law of the Oromo Country, to develop the Oromo Country's economy, to broaden Oromo culture, language and religion, to make the Gadaa System flourish further, I will use my ability and strength for the interest of the Oromo Country, to accomplish this, may God help me!)

c) Kakuu Walaabummaa (Oath of Unity/Liberation)

Let's say, when Oromo people come together to do something important, each member takes an oath. For example, to establish a Guuza (association), to start an economic activity, to fight for the country's freedom, etc., all members take an oath.

At one time, after the Oromo country was colonized by the Abyssinians, some people came together and discussed the liberation of the Oromo country. Those people agreed to remove the Abyssinian government and also to dedicate their lives to the freedom of the Oromo country and swore an oath to each other. They named their oath "Kakuu Walaabummaa" (Oath of Liberation). The oath of liberation is as follows:

"Maqaa fi fedhii Waaqayootiinan! An, Ibsaa Mul'ataa, Aadaa Oromootii fi afaan Oromoo ol kaasuuf, Boona, namummaa fi ifummaa Oromoolaa deebisuuf, Biyyiti Oromoo akka biyya Oromoo akka taatu godhuuf, Haaqa Oromoo akka bakka isiitti dhuftuuf, Dandaytii, beekinsaa fi humna kiyyaan, Bilisummaa biyya Oromoof hojjaccuuf, Fedhii kiyyaan murtii kutadhee ka'ee hidhadhe, Kana hojjachuuf, Waaqayoo na gargaari!"

(In the name and will of God! I, Ibsaa Mul'ataa, to uplift the Oromo culture and the Oromo language, to restore the pride, humanity and self-reliance of the Oromo, to make the Oromo country an Oromo country, for Oromo justice to be restored to its place, with my ability, knowledge and strength, to work for the freedom of the Oromo country, I have made a determined decision with my own will, to do this, may God help me!)