The Oromo in Exile: From the Horn of Africa to the Suburbs of AustraliaThe movement of thousands of refugees from the Horn of Africa to Australia has only recently begun to attract interest among the media and general public. Perhaps the least known among these refugees are the Oromo people who have fled continued persecution in Ethiopia. By the year 2002, more than fifteen hundred Oromo had found their way to Australia. In this totally original book, Greg Gow provides a privileged insight into the values and meanings of lives that could easily be seen as marginal. Packed with insight and imageful observation, The Oromo in Exile communicates some of the vibrancy and complexity among these people from the Horn of Africa who are now living in Australia.Arising out of a series of dramatic and sometimes startling encounters, the book addresses the question of identity and place by giving voice to the pain of exile-not only among the Oromo but displaced people more generally. As Gow narrates, although now 'free' in Australia, the Oromo experience anguish and divided loyalties as the dominant values of individualism, privacy and self-advancement in mainstream Australian society conflict with their longing for cohesion and community.Gow discovers that 'home' does not necessarily exist physically, but the overriding desire to construct 'home' even away from 'home' is pervasive. The Oromo are a people committed to creatively performing 'home' while in exile-a process the book both reflects and contributes to. |
Contents
Millennial Conversations | 6 |
Startling Encounters of the Personal Kind | 20 |
MourningYearning | 44 |
Copyright | |
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The Oromo In Exile: From the Horn of Africa to the Suburbs of Australia Gow, Greg No preview available - 2013 |
Common terms and phrases
Aannolee Abbaa Abyssinian According activities afaan Oromoo African Amharic appeared arrived Arsi Australia became Birraa blessing called celebration centre child close collective colonial continued described Djibouti English Ethiopia event exile experience expressed face feel gathering give given household identity important inside Islamic language later Liberation linguistic living looked male means Melbourne Melbourne's Oromo mother Nairobi nationalist never occasion organisers Oromiya Oromo community Oromo cultural Oromo nation Oromo women participants past performance perhaps person play political popular practices present recordings referred refugees regarded relations religious remained represent rite ritual role rural sense singing social song space speak spoke status story struggle symbols throughout Tofik town traditional transformed various viewed wanted woman writing young