Oromoofi Irreecha: Xiyyeeffannaa Margaafi Keellootiin

Barruun kun dhimmoota Irreechaa keessaa maqaa sirnichaas, mallattoo ayyanichaas kanneen ta‟an margaafi keelloo irratti xiyyeeffata. Yaadrimeefi yaaxinoota kallattii ogummaa fooklooriin ayyaaneffannaa irratti xiyyeeffataniin deegaramee jira. Akaakuun qorannichaa sanyaabsa ta‟ee, ragaan qorannichaa tooftaa hirmaatanii daawwachuufi afgaaffii gareen bara 2013-2017ALI keessaatti walitti qabamee jira. Ibsi akeeka (model) Dundes (1980) fayyadamuun sadarkaa duraatti kennamee jira. Itti aanees, ibsi sadarkaa kalattii akaakuuwwan „fakkoommii sirna keessatti argamaniin (Mircea E., 1987) dhiyaatee jira. Sadarkaa sadaffatti, hiikni haalawaa aadaa Oromoo (cultural Context) bu‟ureffate dhiyaatee jira. Bu‟aan argames, margaafi keelloon ayyanichaaf oolan, fakkoommii jiruufi jireenya Oromoo ta‟un isaanii mul‟atee jira. Kunis, beekumsa Oromoon, ofii isaafi addunyaa keessa jiraachaa tureefi jiru irratti hundaa‟ee horate ta‟uun wanta tilmaamameedha. Oromoon, „du‟aan ayyaana hinqabu‟ akkuma jedhu marga gogaan hinirreeffatu, galatas hingalchu. Akka hubannoo Oromootti margi irreechaa jiidhaaa ta‟un isaa fakkommii lubbuun jeenyaati. Qarri, angafaafi angafummadha. Jirmi hortee Oromooti (gosa, balbalaafi ijaarama sabichaati). Margi Irreechaa yeroo bona jirmaan lafa qabatee turuun isaa, ciccominaafi dandammannaa Oromoon qabu ta‟e muul‟ateeta. Malkarratti maraafi keelloo waliin qabatee ittiin irreeffachuun sun, fakkoommii dhala lamaan bu‟ura hormaataa ta‟aniiti. Kana irraa ka‟uun Margaafi Keelloo Irreecha keessatti eenyumma waloo (collective Identity) Oromoo qabu muul‟ate. Irrechi dhaloota ammaaf gaaddisa waloomaa ta‟e osoo jiruu namoonnii dhalootaan Oromoo ta‟anii, Irreecha balaaleffatafi ayyanicharraa of qophan, hawaasummaan hidhamanii yoo ta‟e malee, dhimmoota margaafi keelloon calaqqisiisan kana ala ta‟u wanta danda‟an miti. Fuulduraaf, irreecha irrattis ta‟e, yaalii adeemsa deebisa aadaa Oromoo (cultural revival) keessatti wantoonnii danqaa ta‟u dand‟an qorannoon osoo adda bahanii furmaata wajjin kaa‟amanii gaarii ta‟a.   English title: Oromoo and Irreechaa: Irreecha Grass and  Kelloo flower in Focus This article explores the symbols of irreechaa grass and kelloo flower, which serve as both the names and emblems of the irreecha ritual. Emphasizing their symbolic roles within ritual contexts, the study examines various conceptual issues and theories related to folklore. An ethnographic research approach was employed, based on extensive fieldwork and group interviews conducted from 2013 to 2017 E.Cacross different parts of Oromiyaa. The analysis incorporates Dundes‟ (1980) concept of “textur” in folklore data description and Mircea Eliade‟s (1987) classification of symbols in ritual settings, situating the findings within the Oromo cultural framework. The objects identified—such as the lush, blooming grass and flower—represent life, vitality, youth, and hope for growth, reflecting cultural values like angafaa and angafummaa (being first). The proliferation of grass throughout the year symbolizes Oromo kinship and genealogy, while the withstanding nature of the grass during dry seasons signifies resilience of Oromoo in harsh conditions. When the grass and flower appear together at the „malkaa‟ (water‟s edge), they symbolize both sexes that up come with fertility. All these, embodies inherited knowledge from ancestors that defines collective Oromoo identity. Some individuals from Oromoo, that disregards or abstains from Irreecha, unless bound by socialization of the situation living in, it seems that they can‟t be out of domin of Oromoo‟s world view. To counter act cultural erosion, it is essential to understand motives to foster Oromo cultural revival and reinforcement of communalinstitutions.