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Afaan Oromoo poems, songs and words — glad you're here.
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Born 29 September 1950, Dire Dawa · Died 6 November 2022
Called the father of modern Oromo music. He recorded the first album in Oromo music history in 1971 and sang in Afaan Oromoo for over fifty years — in decades when singing in the language at all was an act of pride.
His story, from Wikipedia: born Ali Mohammed Musa in Ganda Kore, Dire Dawa, he joined the Afran Qallo cultural group at thirteen, and the first song he ever sang on stage — “Birra dha Bari'e” — gave him his name: Ali Birra, “Ali the Spring”. After the group was banned he moved to Addis Ababa and was recruited as a solo singer with the imperial Kebur Zabagna band, alongside Mahmoud Ahmed and Tilahun Gessesse. He went on to sing in Amharic, Arabic, Harari, Somali and Afar as well as Afaan Oromoo, and Jimma University awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2010.
Best-known songs
Album · Ammalele
Album · Ammalele
Born 1986, Ambo · Died 29 June 2020, Addis Ababa
The voice of a generation. His poetically eloquent songs became the soundtrack of the Oromo protest movement and helped carry the change that swept Ethiopia in 2018. He was killed in June 2020, and his songs are still sung everywhere Afaan Oromoo is spoken.
His story, from Wikipedia: born in Ambo to Gudatu Hora and Hundessa Bonsa, he was arrested at seventeen for his activism and spent five years in prison — where he wrote most of the songs on his first album, Sanyii Mootii (2009). His second album, Waa'ee Keenyaa (2013), became the #1 best-selling African music album on Amazon, and his songs played a significant role in the 2014–2016 Oromo protests that led to Abiy Ahmed becoming prime minister in 2018. He was shot dead in Addis Ababa on 29 June 2020; a foundation in his name was founded in 2021 to support young artists.
Album · Maalan Jira (2015)
His first album, Sanyii Mootii (2009), was written in prison and holds nine songs — their titles were never published in a catalogue we could check, so only the title song is listed above.
Album · Oromummaa (2011)
Album · Waa'ee Keenyaa (2013)
Died 18 January 2022 · born 1938 or 1939 — sources differ
Nuhoo Goobanaa — a pioneering singer-songwriter and guitarist whose revolutionary songs became a weapon of the liberation struggle. By his own account he wrote some 380 songs across dozens of albums, from the early 1970s to 2013.
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A singer who built his career in exile — first album in Djibouti around 1982, then albums recorded in Saudi Arabia, Italy and Canada, where he is based. His 1989 album Jabeessa Aadaa Teenya is called his finest, and Leelloo Tiyya (1998) won him a Canadian music award. His song for the martyrs of Tiro is still quoted:
Dhigni Keessan Yaa'ee Carcar Xirroodhattii
Dhagatti Goggogee Ititee Biyyattii
Margaa Meyra inni hinbiqilchinee?
Ummata Dammaqsee Sossoose Qabsotti
Album · Leelloo Tiyya (1998)
Died 14 October 2023, buried in Adama · born around 1960, Dire Dawa
Hallo Dawe — a symbol of perseverance. She sang with Afran Qallo, then Biftu Bari, and released 23 cassettes over more than forty years — through prison and seven years of exile in Somalia and Djibouti, her songs never stopped.
Died April 2023, aged 63 · buried at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Addis Ababa
Zarihun Wadajo — the singer who first popularised the Wallagga folk song “Iyyase”, and whose songs carried the Oromo struggle for decades. His last big hit, “Hin Oolu!” (2015), told his people in English translation: “I am not dead, I am bringing up a generation.”
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Born 25 December 1949, Dire Dawa
Born Mohamed Ibrahim Waday. Alongside Ali Birra, a pillar of modern Oromo music in the late twentieth century — his stage name “Shantam” (“fifty”) comes from a song whose chorus he sang in five languages: Arabic, Oromo, Somali, Amharic and Harari.
Qamar Yuusuf — the classic voice of Hararghe and Dire Dawa, singer of “Oromiyaa” and of the protest classic “Minilik Bineensa”. Kemer Yusuf and Qamar Yuusuf are the same singer — his own posters and pages use both spellings, so he appears under both names in this list.
Album · Naannawee (1999)
Album · Gumaata (2000)
Album · Shaggoyyee Master (2004)
Tadele Gemechu — a Shewa singer whose “Utubaa” (2026) passed a million views, and whose “Bara Baraan” is among his most-played tracks.
A Norway-based singer of the new generation — his “Bilillee” has passed 20 million views, and his album Ayyaantuu (2024) drew reviews for its poetry.
Album · Ayyaantuu (2024)
Best-known songs
More from Ayyaantuu (2024)
Singles
One of the most loved Oromo singers of the modern era — joyful, big-hearted songs that fill weddings, celebrations and diaspora gatherings alike.
His story: a young Oromo artist who blends folk melodies with modern beats. His 2017 song Raada Garree (“Heifer”) became an iconic resistance song at the peak of the youth protests, and his Beelbaa — a song of homecoming and reconciliation released just after the 2018 change of government — has been studied by scholars of Ethiopian music and society. He tours widely, playing to Oromo audiences at home and across the diaspora.
A rising singer of the new generation — her “Dhayi Jalaa” (2025) passed 1.3 million views in its first year.
Abush Zeleke — born and raised in Hageremaryam, in the Borena/Guji country of the south. He sings in more than six languages, made his Coke Studio Africa debut in 2019, and his albums include Menalali and Jaljilo.
Galana Garomsa — a leading voice of the “Qubee generation” of protest singers. His album Baallii was launched in Finfinnee, his “Duraanuu” has passed 12 million views, and scholars have written a whole journal article about “Wal Agarraa” — printing its full lyrics.
Best-known songs
Nan geerara aarii koo
kan na keessaa boba'u
Yoo gaalee ta'e malee
Supheen gaachana hin ta'u
Leencca ta'e dhaladheen
kodhoollemmoo ta'a ree
namni bakakkaa beeku
Dibbefimmo nannahaa ree?
Ijoollee biyya kootii
Gugurraa mataan furaa
Eenyutu eenyuun haale
Maal irbuun gaafa duraa
Osoo birbirsi jiru
Maaltu faarsa miciree
Guddaan gaanfa Afrikaa
Oromookoo mitiiree?
Oromiyaa mitiiree?
Sirna gadaa mitiiree?
Oromummaa mitiiree?
Gadaa fi dhugaadha kallachi keenya (x2)
Jifuu fi safuudha kabajni keenya (x2)
Gadaa malee hin faarsinu gadoo
Lubaan bullaa hin qabnu madoo
Nan gala hin jedhu namni osoo hin geenye
Fala hin argatu namni faloo hin beekne
Na nyaartulle hinnawu gonkaa
Dhugaa irraa maaltu na dhorkaa
Eessatti kufee namni dhugaaf gulee
Galgalli hintoluu namni sobaaf duulee
Egaa ergan kudhan obsee
Kudhan dhoqsee kudhan numan gorsee
Hima didnaanan gubuuf itti dabsee
Obsii daangaa darbu qabaa
Harkii bokkuu qabee bodees numa qabaa
Natu sii baataa siituu of dadhabaa
Obsuufi dhoksuu koo dabuma seetee?
Ni beektii garaan koo akka na gootee
Sibiilallee sibiilatuu qaraa
Dhugaan namaa galggala galaa
Hadhaba cabsaa inni karaa beeku
Haqatti hingamuu namnii haqqii beekuu
Sangaan usnaan iyyite qacceen
Beekaa riphnaan dhaadatti dawween
Eenyutu na'aaf bubbutaree nyaara
Keessi hin mul'atu beeki garaan dhiiraa
Maaf na nyaaraa na nyaaru kanarra
Maalan aarasi hin aaru kanarra
Maalan boo'a hin boo'u kanarra
Yoo jiraanne, birraa wal agarra (x2)
Yoo jabaanne, birraa wal agarra
Yoo wal taane, moonee wal agarra (x2)
Wal agarra garraa, Wal agarraa garraa (x2)
Wal agarrees jirra (x2)
Walis arguuf jirra (x2)
Wal agarra!!
Birraa wal agarraa
Yaa ijoollee…yaa ijoollee…
kan jenne hin oolle (x2)
Yaa ijoollee…yaa ijoollee…
Ammas na foolee(2)
Gadaa malee hin faarsinu gadoo
Lubaan bullaa hin qabnu madoo
Nan gala hin jedhu namni osoo hin geenye
Fala hin argatu namni faloo hin beekne
Nanyaartulle hinnawu gonkaa
Dhugaa irraa maaltu na dhorkaa
Eessatti kufee namni dhugaaf guulee
Galgalli hintoluu namni sobaaf duulee
Dhugaan qaxxisa tiratti
Akka arge hineemtu karaadha filatti
Gaafa olbaatu tulluudha nimul'atti
Gowwaan hosseen karra cufa
Namni kufuu hawwe teessumatti kufa
Gara kuteessatti dukkanni ni ifa
Obsuufi dhoqsuu koo dabuma seetee?
Ni beektii garaan kooakka na gootee
Sibiilallee sibiilatuu qaraa
Dhugaan namaa galggala galaa
Hadhaba cabsaa inni karaa beeku
Haqatti hingamuu
Sangaan usnaan iyyite qacceen
Beekaa riphnaan dhaadatti dawween
Eenyutu naaaf bubbutaree nyaara
Keessi hin mul'atu beeki garaan dhiiraa
Gaafa dhiiraa lubbuun haa dabartu
Eessa abbaashii silas du'a hin haftu
Gaafa giitii lubbuun haa dabartu
Eega Haacaaluu lubbuun nan marartu
Eega dhiiraa lubbuun haadabartu
Gaafa giitii lubbuun haadabartu
Gaafa gootaa lubbuun nan marartu
Gaaf dhugaa kee lubbuun nan maratu
Wal agarraa garraa (2)
Wal agarrees jirra
Walis arguuf jirra
Birraa wal agarraa
Atileee yaa doloolloo Riqicha kajeeltekaa Raareef riqicha ijaarree Galaanni akkam haata'u Atillee yaa keessumma Ol darbuu kajeeltekaa Golaaf boolloon kan abbaa Keessummaan diinqa hin ga'u Boodee abbaashii shiran qaba Kan diree keessaa dhahu Du'eetaan bada malee Keessummaan diinqa hin gahu Du'a abbaakoo haa ta'u Dubbiin kun icciitumaa Odaan guyyaa hin daraaru Ormi gateettii sobaa Gadaa beelbaas hin nyaaru Raabaaf dooridha qabu Taankiif jeettidhaanis dhuftu Dhaloonni qubee kuni Sodaa qawwee hin qabu Ajjeesetu dibataa Du'us gumaa isaa hin dhabu Garaa laafuun hammeenyaa Diina nutti ta'ekaa Harreedhaaf hokaa haamnan Garbuu malee jettekaa Kan quba itti qabantu Quba namatti qabaa Qaaraa harkaan dhaabanii Booddenshii nama gubaa Nama haaloo hin baafanne Dugdarraa na dhukkubaa Siin dhaama yaa namana Yaa namicha firakoo (2) Yaa diimaa diinaaf dibbee Tulluun siin jiguumoo Namni siin jiguu wayyaa Afaan namaan dubbattaa Akka tamboofi gaayyaa Duutuus awwaalcha hin qabdu Baddus barbaacha hin qabdu Nu lammiikee siif wayyaa (2) Gogombisi irra marsii Gogombisii irra marsii Gogombisii irra marsii Gogombisii irra marsii Nan dhufa jedhee yoom hafee Nan lola jedhees yoo rafee Dheeraatuus karaan na nambisu Yoon rafe garaan narraffisu Diinakee irraa roorristuu Akkamiin lammiitti callistuu Boorataan kan booree qabuu Kormatu lagaa bookkisaa Lafti yoo barii dimimmisaa Hantuuta lubbuudhan jirtuu Bofatu jiraa liqimsaa Diinni haqa keenya dhidhimsaa Dandeenyu hundeen buqqisnaa Yoo didde ilmoo itti guddisnaa Diina buqqisuudhuma qabnaa Kan gaaf duraallee Gumaan hin bane jedhe goonnii Dubbiin jabaattee Mirgaaf biyyaa falma dhaloonnii Har'uma jabeessii Bullaan lafee taati tiruunii Mirga uumamaallee Nurraa muulquuf jirti jarreenii Ulaa hin baninii bobaa jalaan seenti gadheeni Dallaa jabeessii abbaadhumaan tolti qe'eenii Ijaarsakee tolchi jedhiinii Abbaadhumaan tolti qe'eenii,jedhinii (2) Gumaas hin nyaanne maallaqaanii Ajjeefnee baafanna dhiiganii Sodaa qawwee hin qabnu jedhiinii Of kabachiisu gumaanii jedhiinii Xinnoo hin qabduu diina hin tuffatiinii Gaayyoonuu dhiira okkolchiisaa Hin amanin alagaan bineensaa Bishaan si nyaachisa kofalchiisaa Nu callisnaan arba ciise seetee Nu dammaqnaan boolla meeqa buutee Akka nuu kaasteen silaa dhumneerraa Gamtaan lollee kanumaan cimneerraa Harki mirgakootii cabnaan Mee harki bitaa maal harkaa Sana hubataatuu argaa Hormi yoo dhiichifatu cidha Keenyahoo lammiin mana hidhaa Hormi yoo burraaqee kolfu Koo garaan dide gammachuu Gootatu gumaa baafataa Gaafa ajjeeses dhaadataa Kan du'e seenaan yaadataa (2) Gowwaa bineensaa Boollaa tookkotti sagal waraanuu Wayi lugna taanee Tooftaa nu baasturra duraanuu Hayyuun wal taatee Biyyaaf alaa walitti hasaasaa Lubbuu hin sodaannee Harka qullaa mormaan raasaasa Onnees jennaanii SanyiiTaaddeti bar dhaloonnii Kan gama icciitii Sadaam Saadootii bar fakkeenyii Sodaa qawwee hin qabnu jedhiinii (2) Of kaabachiisufi gumaanii Damma of dibdani afaanii Maaliif nu sossobdu malaanii Haraaraakee hin fedhu jedhiinii Ajjeefnee baafanna dhiiganii Sitti jiguuf jira bar gaarrii Bilisummaa keenya haraarrii
One of the most streamed Oromo singers of the streaming era — her “Waadaa” alone has passed 5.6 million views.
A traditional-style singer whose “Saglii” was nominated for Best Artiste in African Traditional at the 2022 AFRIMA Awards.
Best-known songs
Ee tiya yayee ee tiyaa yee
Ee tiyaa eetiyaa
Chora Nonno blBunnon bayee
Ilubaboor yo deemte beenyee
Yoo deemte beenyee(2)
Hiddinaan Hiddi malee yaa korma koo maal maqaan axanxarii
Sirbinaan sirbi malee yaa daama koo maal maqaan na gabarii
Gurralee sayyan boruu yaa korma koo
goticho barii dule.
Innan bo'uuf suma yaa daalitti
dallitti kome lulee.
Ilubbaabor...oooye
Ilubbaabor.. oooye
Ilubaabor fardi booraa
Ajeessan faachuma koora
Ilubaabor fardi koraa
Ajeessan faacha koora
Koora malee hin yaabani
yaa kiloolee sirbii malee
Irra keessa qootannaa sangaan kenya batalli
Bar sangaan kenya battalii
irra kessa kofalaa garaan kenya gargarii
Garaa dhiraa hin beekanii
Kannisi farsoo hin sortuu yaa dama kooyee
Damma bifaatti sontii
Mancufeen daamaa irraa hin tessuu korma koyyee
Eeraquuf daamaa kortii
Borrii hin booraa Ajeesan faacha kooraa
Abbaan koo duru jagnaa sagliin durba hin muudanii
Afaan kee duruu dammaa maa soogidda cuubanii
Abbaan koo duru jagnaa sagliin durba hin muudanii
Afaan kee duruu dammaa maa soogidda cuubanii
Dhas Godhii sirbii kulle yaa dammakoo hortee warra Daallamee
As asi dhiisii as kommee yaa damma koo argaafin si beellamee
Deemnulle waa nun arquu yaa korma koo bilaa kichuu muranii.
Waan baanef sila tanee yaa damma koo gamessa hin takalanii.
Saefattuu kulashii sooneen mudhiin sabbataa
Soneen mudhiin sabbataa
Yoo sirbituk sirbashii onneen maa na dhitataa
Onnen maaf na dhitataa
Warraa waaccuttin sirbuu yaa damma kooyee aallee argaan
Naasisuu
Sirbituun silaa Dikkoo yaa korma koo dabana na ceesisuu.
Borri hin booraa Ajeesan faacha guuraa.
Yaa tumaa shangoo meexxi
been goolen bilatuudha
Waan taane sila taane
kan sichi malachuudha.
Kalaamaayee kalaamaa ija booruu
Turuu sirraan oluu
Ababesa kee jala horasa budufatu
Dargagessa kee jala dhirri lama hin dubbatuu
Baddaa keessa kaatani maqaa gurren geeraruu.
Gabatamoo hin dhuftaree jalataan garaa hiniruu
Abidde gorma golee kan qaroon didimatu.
Argita atuu kot malee korma dhugaaf booratuu.
Ijaareen kaaba kabaa doggiin gaadisaam duruu
An deemee nagaa nagaa shaggee korri irraa tooluu
Saan abbaa jiruu dhaltee sanbatte narraa fudhuu
Kan abbaa jiruu ta'ee waan badee barbaadadhhuu
Eee.. tiyyaaa ... Eee tiyyaaa
His debut album Irree Aadaa came with a printed booklet of his words — the old way, on paper.
Album · Irree Aadaa (debut)
Dawit Mekonnen — after 27 years abroad he came home in September 2026 to a hero's welcome, and sang at the Grand Irreechaa Concert in Finfinnee and Bishoftu that October.
Born 1962, East Wallagga · Died 6 September 2026 — aged 63 or 64, sources differ
Ilfinash Qannoo — the voice of a generation. She sang with the Guddattuu Wallagga cultural troupe and at the famous January 1977 National Theatre show, and recorded more than ten albums. Her “Ilmaan Haadha Tokkoo” — Children of One Mother — is one of the most important Oromo songs ever written.
Album · Dannaabboo (2007)
The same singer as Kemer Yusuf above — his own posters and pages use both spellings of his name. His full album lists are under “Kemer Yusuf”; his newest songs are here.
The fuller Qubee spelling of Jambo Jote — the same singer, listed the way you wrote his name. His albums and songs (Belba, Kamisee and the rest) are under “Jambo Jote” above; here is the finder under this spelling:
A geerarsa singer of rare courage: in December 2015 she released a single attacking the Addis Ababa Master Plan and the killing of protesters — and was detained and tortured by federal police for it. She kept singing.
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