Bale Oromo in Ethiopia

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

Introduction / History

The Bale Oromo are a subgroup of the large number of Oromo people who live in the Horn of Africa. The Oromo people who live in the Bale region of Oromia in Ethiopia.

There has been much unrest and violence for the Bale Oromo people in the last few decades. Even though the Oromo make up over half of the population of Ethiopia, they have a secondary status beneath the Amharic and Tigrinya peoples who live north of Oromia. The official language of Ethiopia is Amharic even though many more Ethiopians speak an Oromo language. The two main languages for the Bale Oromo are Oromo and Borana-Arsi-Guji. Many Oromo want nothing to do with the central Ethiopian government, which is made up of non-Oromo people. Another factor is religion. The Oromo peoples are primarily Muslim while the Amarhara and Tigray are mainly Orthodox Christians.


Where Are they Located?

The Bale Oromo live in south central Ethiopia and are part of the larger Oromia region of west and south Ethiopia.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Only 11% of the Bale Oromo have electricity according to a recent survey. This fact gives you an idea of the poverty that most Bale Oromo face. They are famers and pastoralists who grow crops like cotton, maize, wheat, peanuts, coffee, and various fruits and vegetables. The region where they live is prone to drought, which leads to famine. Their main form of transportation is the horse. Most Bale Oromo are unable to read and write. A complete Bible is available in Oromo. Another regular problem for the Bale Oromo is the thousands of Somali refugees that have come to live in their land trying to escape violence in Somalia. This taxes their limited resources.

Marriage to one wife is the norm for most Bale Oromo men. A wealthier man may have up to four wives. A man's wealth is frequently measured by how many cattle he owns.

Bale Oromo marry within their Oromo people. Families arrange marriages. The new wife goes to live with her husband's family. Families live in round huts made from juniper and eucalyptus wood with a thatched roof. Couples have many children but many do not live past the age of five due to the lack of modern medicine. The average life span of the Bale Oromo adult is only 54 years. The Bale Oromo eat meat except for pork, since they are Muslims.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The vast majority of the Bale Oromo are Sunni Muslims. Their Islam is mixed with folk religion. Islam is a major world religion that is based on five essential duties or "pillars": (1) A Muslim must affirm that "there is no god but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet." (2) Five times a day one must pray while facing Mecca. (3) One must give an obligatory percentage (very similar to tithes) on an annual basis. (4) One must fast during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim year. (5) One must try to make at least one pilgrimage to Mecca in his or her lifetime. Muslims are also prohibited to drink alcohol, eat pork, gamble, steal, use deceit, slander, and make idols.
The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah. There is a tiny group of believers among the Bale Oromo.


What Are Their Needs?

The Bale Oromo have vast needs. They need peace in the land where they live. They need access to schools to educate their children. The need the benefits of modern medicine and electricity. Most of all the Bale Oromo need to hear and understand the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. Only Jesus can give the Bale true peace.


Prayer Points

Pray the Lord sends medical workers and teachers to the Bale Oromo.
Pray that a strong movement to Jesus will bring whole Bale Oromo families and communities into a rich experience of God's blessings.
Pray that God will overthrow spiritual forces of darkness opposing the spread of His Gospel among the Bale Oromo.


Scripture Prayers for the Oromo, Bale in Ethiopia.


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/21551/ET
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bale_Zone
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bale_Province,_Ethiopia


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Oromo, Bale
People Name in Country Oromo, Bale
Natural Name Bale Oromo
Alternate Names
Population this Country 2,354,000
Population all Countries 2,354,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 47
PeopleID3 21551
ROP3 Code 118358
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)
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)

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Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.07 %)
1.50 %
Ethnic Religions
10.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
88.50 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Oromo, Borana-Arsi-Guji (2,354,000 speakers)
Language Code gax   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Oromo, Borana-Arsi-Guji (2,354,000 speakers)
Language Code gax   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Oromo, Borana-Arsi-Guji

Primary Language:  Oromo, Borana-Arsi-Guji

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1870-1966)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1875-1979)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1967-2022)
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
Audio Recordings DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Oromo, Borana-Arsi-Guji Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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, Borana-Arsi-Guji YouVersion Bibles
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, Borana-Arsi-Guji YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Oromo, Borana-Arsi-Guji Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Photo Source Rod Waddington - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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