Yejju Oromo in Ethiopia

The Yejju Oromo have only been reported in Ethiopia
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Unlike other Oromo's who trace their lineage to Borana or Bareentu, the 2 patriarchs of the Oromo Nation; The Yejju are a Semitic people that were assimilated into the Oromo people. According to accounts from Ethiopian Orthodox historians, A large Yemeni tribe migrated to the Sultanate of Adal, which was based in Eastern Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somaliland. They became a key part of the advancement of the Adalite army that conquered all but the Christian Highlands of Western Ethiopia. This became fatal, as the Christian Ethiopians regrouped and annihilated all Muslims in the surrounding lowlands, pushing them back to Harar, their capital. The Yejju on the other hand, fled south into Oromo territory, where they were adopted into the ethnic group and converted many to Islam. They lost their language and adopted Afaan Oromo, though traces of their original culture are prevalent still today.


Where Are they Located?

The Yejju are the most northern dwelling Oromos. They live in the state of Gojjam (Western Ethiopia) just south of Lake Tana. Lowland Yejju live around north Shewa (Central Ethiopia) and Wello (North Eastern Ethiopia).


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Yejju have very different lifestyles depending on their location. The Yejju of Gojjam live as farmers and pastoralists. They are predominantly Orthodox Christian and many are Amharic speaking and are usually mixed with Amhara's blood. The lowland Yejju of Shewa and Wello are almost wholly Sunni Muslim. They live either as urban city dwellers or nomadic herders and traders. They speak Afaan Oromo or other languages to make trade easier with neighbors (Arabic, Afar, Somali, Harari, Agrobba).


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Yejju are mostly Sunni Muslim but there are Orthodox Christian majorities within the Yejju residing in Gojjam or cities with predominant Amharas/Tigrais populations like Addis Abeba.


What Are Their Needs?

The Yejju and the Oromo in general, have been heavily persecuted by both Christian and Muslim peoples. They are called strangers of the land due to not orginially being from Ethiopia but migrating from Northern Kenya around the 16th Century. Though present day, the Oromo's are not mistreated like older times and in fact Ethiopia's largest ethnic group.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Oromo, Wollo / Yejju in Ethiopia.


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

People Name General Oromo, Wollo / Yejju
People Name in Country Oromo, Wollo / Yejju
Natural Name Yejju Oromo
Alternate Names Azebu; Raya
Population this Country 652,000
Population all Countries 652,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 13
PeopleID3 15952
ROP3 Code 110930
Country Ethiopia
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 32  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Widespread.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Ethiopia
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 32  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Widespread..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Oromo, Wollo / Yejju in Ethiopia
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.40 %)
1.30 %
Ethnic Religions
18.70 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
80.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Oromo, West Central (652,000 speakers)
Language Code gaz   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Oromo, West Central (652,000 speakers)
Language Code gaz   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Oromo, West Central

Primary Language:  Oromo, West Central

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1841-1981)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1876-1995)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1899-1998)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Oromo, West Central Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Walking with Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Oromo Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible app: Oromo Ethiopic Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible app: Oromo, West Central YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Oromo, West Central YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Sarine Arslanian - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group location: Joshua Project. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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