A Little About West Shewa

An iconic image of young people packed together in excess of the shed of holy saycamore tree (odaa) to hear the leaders of Oromo Federalist Congress in rural countryside Jeldu is circulating on social media. The image has sparked hope that, even in such condition of a complete blackout, some success might come out of the upcoming election.

The image is fresh new but the people on the image has always been like it. The entire swath of land between Holeta and Gudar, for what I know, has shown repeatedly that it is not happy with the incumbent dictatorial regime. It is a Deja-vu to me, to be honest. In 2005 when Dr. Merera campaigned for the then Oromo National Congress (ONC), the people came out to his gatherings in thousands all around and his party won all seats but one in West Shewa.

West Shewa is occupied by Macca and Tulama sub-moiety of Oromo. As one gradually descends towards lowlands of Bako, the settlement shifts from predominantly Tulama to predominantly Macca. The area borders Gojjam to the north separated by Blue Nile River. The people of Gojjam and Oromo, before the arrival of Shewa-Amhara to stablish Addis Ababa, had fantastic working relationship. In fact, they had put army together against Abyssinian kings and defended shared territories. The Oromo crossed the river and settled in parts of Gojjam during this time. And at one point, most Gojjam used to speak Oromo. Even today, there are Oromo in Gojjam while names of locations is in abundance.

West Shewa has rich history in Oromo struggle.

Among many fruits, the conception of Macca-Tulama association is a product of relentless works of Saboontotaa of West Shewa such as Alemu Kitesa. People such as Ayelu Itisa who gave all her life to the cause of Macca-Tulama as a secretary was hailed from West Shewa. When General Tadesse Birru revolted against the King and later against Derg, he and his comrades fled to the jungles of West Shewa to start a guerrilla insurgency. Later in early 90s, after the disagreement and OLF pulled out of TGA and was forced to abandon its armed wing, it was West Shewa that put up stiff resistance against the regime  army. In fact, the likes of Legese Wegi havocked the regime army in West Shewa and Addis Ababa till his death in 2008.
Ambo has become household name among Oromos. It symbolises resistance, sacrifice, and hope for freedom. It is not just the 2014 massacre that showed the price Ambo is paying for the freedom of all Oromos. Following the demise of Derg, the arrival of Wayyaane Army to Ambo was not welcomed at all. Many TPLF fighters remember their bitter fight in Ambo not with Derg or OLF army but with the local people. The retaliation of TPLF by killing famous people such as Obbo Daraaraa Kafani in Ambo has only exacerbated its fight with the people of the city. Currently, the Ethiopian regime keeps large military presence in and around Ambo, as a contingent plan in case popular uprising of 2014 style emerges again.

What surprises most people regarding West Shewa is that most civil disobedience and popular uprising in the region appears to be coordinated whenever it erupts. Students join hands from corner to corner and chant freedom to the Oromo people. They also get important information through proper channels to the people. This can be a good example, an experience, and model to the rest of Oromia, in the struggle against century old Abyssinian colonial rule.

go to link https://reinventethiopia.wordpress.com/2015/05/03/a-little-about-west-shewa/