Staged public music performances of the Oromo of Ethiopia

Based on the author’s field research and other documentation, this paper explores the transformation of traditional Ethiopian Oromo ethnic music into a national and public scene. It traces the history of domination to which the Oromo were subjected, and describes how music and other arts were used as a means to reclaim their voices. Through this process, some very local repertoires began to appear on highly politicized and publicized stages. In the 1990s, some music and dance troupes emerged with the goal of promoting Oromo heritage, reflecting the aims of the Oromia government culture offices. These “cultural troupes” constitute a complex phenomenon on many levels: they may be a type of “folk revival,” they aim to represent the larger cultural group, they are used to promote Oromo culture and tourism, and they have become a symbol of Oromo cultural identity to Ethiopians all over the country