Galma dukkanaa keessa, barumsaan bariisa. (In the house of darkness, education is the dawn.)
In the rich tapestry of the Oromo culture, Walaloo (poetry) is not merely an art form; it is the heartbeat of the nation. It is a vessel for history, a weapon for justice, and a lantern for knowledge. Among the myriad themes explored by Oromo poets, one stands out as the cornerstone of communal survival and individual prosperity: Barumsaa (Education).
Ilma kee sooreessuu barbaadde? Barumsa kenni. (You want to enrich your son? Give him education.) Walaloo Afaan Oromoo Waa 39-ee Barumsaa
"Afaan keetiin hin baranne, sammuun kee morma hin cee’u." (If you do not learn in your own tongue, your intellect will not cooperate.)
Kitaabni qalamaa, hadaawwan samii gad buusan. (The written book is rain falling from heaven.) Galma dukkanaa keessa, barumsaan bariisa
Barnoota malee namni beellada keessatti bineessa. (Without education, during a crisis, a person becomes a wild animal.)
Verses 6 through 39 would continue this rhythm, covering science ( Saayinsii ), history ( Seenaa ), geography ( Lama Dachee ), and civic duty ( Toleettii ). The Role of Afaan Oromo as the Medium of Instruction A critical debate within Walaloo Waa’ee Barumsaa is the language of education itself. Many modern poems are protests against the historical marginalization of Afaan Oromo in schools. A powerful line from a famous living poet, commonly shared in the Oromo diaspora, states: Among the myriad themes explored by Oromo poets,
Qubee Afaan Oromoo dubbisi; aadaan hin du’u. (Read the Oromo alphabet; the culture will not die.)