About Oromo Cultural Center


Oromo cultural center was established to work on research and development of Oromo culture, history, language and art.  It also works on preserving Oromo heritage. Accordingly the center has four major divisions. These are:Oromo Research Center:- comprehends four broad departments. Those are departments of history, language, culture and art researches. Due to diverse essentialities of specialization in the department, the language research division has accommodated four departments namely: (1) department of Afaan Oromoo folklore and Oral Literature, (2) department of Afaan Oromoo grammar study, (3) department of  Afaan Oromoo language codification and standardization and (4) department of Afaan Oromoo dictionary making. 

The others divisions of Oromoo Cultural Center are:

      v Oromoo Art Training and Development Center

v  Oromoo Library and Archive Center

v  Center  of Oromoo Museum 

          Socio-political Lifestyles

The folk-life of Oromo is basically established on social base. Based on communal understanding the people used to represent life with symbols, norms, and system and shared patterns of behavior, belief, knowledge, attitudes and values endowed in their system of living together. Gada System is a high profile socio-economic and democratic political system of Oromo society. The Gada System is recently registered by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of the people. It comprises various institutions such as: social, political, economic and religious. 

Gumaa (blood pay) is one of the peculiar conflict resolution mechanism that can totally hill the sense of death revenge. Kallacha, caaccuu, bokkuu, alangee (lichoo) are socially constricted symbolic utensils of truth which are used to undertake oath not to do wrong while they undertake GumaGuddifacha (adoption), moggasa (nomination) and harma hoosisa (brest feeding) are the tree ceremonial approaches in which the community give son-hood or relative-hood to any one from outside the tribe or society and make part of the society to make his/her life easier in a democratic sprit which ultimately gives a self-sense of family hood to the newly socialized fellows. 

  People and Culture


As indicated by different sources, Oromo people are one of the largest ethnic groups with diversified cultures in Ethiopia. The Oromo people speak Oromo language which is originally known as Afaan Oromo.  Afaan Oromo is the most widely spoken language in Ethiopia. It is also a cross boarder language which is widely spoken in Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, Tanzania, Sudan which makes it the third widely spoken Language next to Arabic and Hausa and the Second widely spoken in the context of African Languages.

Religion and Belief System


Oromo People believe in a supernatural being called ‘Waaqa Tokkochaa’ (meaning: One God). The Sprit through which the power of God manifested itself is called ‘Ayyaana’. The one who has given such a power called ‘Qaalluu’ (for male) and ‘Qaalliittii’ (for female). The belief system pattern of Oromo is similar to that of Old testament trend which might indicate its ancient actuality of the belief system prior to AD. 

Siinqee/Siiqee  As  Conflict  Resolution Mechanism

Obviously, the 21 century has become   an arena of misunderstandings and conflicts  in intra and inter international community which necessitates the importance of making use of  cultural conflict resolution  mechanisms and methods to avert its impending menace to peace and development. Hence, if not many ,most many traditional societies including  those in developed world have started  to retrieve their indigenous knowledge for the purpose.  Unless the increasing animosity, hatred, conflict and war being seen among the peoples of the world is resolved, inclusive & sustainable development is unthinkable.

Since time immemorial, the Oromo have been implementing various cultural conflict management settlement mechanisms and practices which still is intact and operational under Oromo Gada System. To mention few of them

Oromoo Research Center


The Oromo research and publication center was mainly established to conduct research on Oromo Language, literature, folklore, art, culture and history. Furthermore, it can also offer a bid of research projects that are desirable to be undertaken on outsourcing base. This initiative had been started by Oromia Culture and Tourism bureau and handed down to Oromo Culture Center. Accordingly, the accredited beginnings by OCTB resulted in to the presence of some books that have been published and disseminated to the society. Recently, Oromo Culture Center inherited the above activities that were beginning by OCTB.


The center has a comprehensive library that renders services to readers and researchers from different academic background. It has also an archive center, which is currently under assemblage, and liable to serve as a source of information, for any researcher from anywhere but interested in conducting a research on issues related to Oromo Society

Oromoo Museum

The regional museum had been opened and give serves for both local and foreign tourists and visitors.  The artifacts collected from 10 cultural zones were arranged and displayed in various show rooms in different clusters and made accessible for public visit. Since the beginning of its service, the museum has been visited by students, from kindergarten up to universities, professionals, researchers, Ethiopian nations and some foreigners..

Art and Theater

The art and theatre center has three subsections and respective services. These are (1) Music training and performance services, (2) film and theatre production and staging services and (3) pictures and handcraft training and gallery services. The theater hall has started its functions, and has hosted some musical and theater shows. It has rendered services to governmental, nongovernmental and other civil societies. It also has served artists and Oromo authors on different induction ceremonies.

Contact Us

(+251) 115-580-262