By Nicholas Kimble 

As an African Affairs researcher deeply invested in East Africa's dynamic political and cultural landscape, I've spent years exploring the region's histories and cultures. Having authored over 15 articles, my work has often returned to one powerful constant: the resilience and richness of its people. 

East Africa, in particular, holds a personal gravity for me. Having lived there and engaged deeply with its diaspora communities, I've been drawn to its pulse, its layered histories, living traditions, and the everyday wisdom of its communities. The Oromo people have left a lasting imprint on my scholarship and my spirit. I've published two articles exploring Oromo culture and political life, and I've even written a poem about the sacred Oda Tree, a symbol that continues to anchor the Oromo imagination. The Oda Tree, a significant symbol in Oromo culture, is believed to be a meeting place for the Oromo elders and a symbol of unity and strength. 

Last summer, I witnessed that spirit in motion at the Oromo Sports Federation in North America (OSFNA) tournament, an annual gathering that is much more than a sporting event. Held in Minnesota, home to over 40,000 Oromo Americans, OSFNA 2024 felt like both a celebration and a homecoming. It was a cultural renaissance infused with music, memory, and the fierce pride of one of Africa's oldest and most resilient peoples. 

A People Whose Story Echoes Through Time 

The Oromo, numbering over 40 million globally, are Ethiopia's largest ethnic group. Their historical legacy includes the Gadaa system, an indigenous democratic governance structure that predates many Western political systems. 

Despite enduring systemic marginalization, the Oromo people have held onto their language (Afaan Oromo), their spiritual practices, and a cultural fabric built on the principle of tokkummaa or unity. It's a value that shaped the atmosphere at OSFNA 2024, where every drumbeat and dance move seemed to echo the proverb: "Tokkummaan humna." Unity is strength. 

More Than a Game 

At the core of OSFNA is the soccer tournament, a dynamic, emotional, and deeply symbolic experience. Oromo teams across the U.S., Canada, and Europe faced off, not just in pursuit of trophies but also as ambassadors of a shared identity. 

Players took to the field draped in the Oromo flag's red, green, and black. Each goal was more than a point; it was a proclamation. A declaration that across oceans and generations, the Oromo spirit endures. From the stands, I watched as elders cheered beside youth and chants of unity rose skyward. 

Music as Memory and Movement 

If the matches were the heart of OSFNA, the music was its soul. When Oromo music legends like Gutu Abera, Muktar Usman, Tadele Gemechu, and others stepped on stage, the atmosphere shifted. Their voices carried both longing and love, and each note was a reminder of homeland, struggle, and pride. As he sang, I saw tears in the eyes of elders. I saw young people dancing with ease. I saw the Oda Tree on t-shirts and scarves dancing in the wind. 

Culture in Motion 

OSFNA is not just about celebration but also a space for cultural education and critical dialogue. From traditional dances like the Shaggooyyee to panel discussions on Oromo history, language preservation, and youth empowerment, this was a living archive in motion. I listened as children learned stories in Afaan Oromo, watched artists paint live murals of Oromia, and witnessed spontaneous drum circles erupt between food stalls and poetry readings. These weren't side events; they were the essence of the festival: memory made manifest. 

A Living Legacy 

What I experienced at OSFNA 2024 confirmed what I've long believed in my research and writing: the Oromo diaspora is not just surviving but thriving. In a time of political uncertainty in the Horn of Africa, the festival was a powerful reminder that cultural preservation is a form of resistance. 

This was not merely a celebration; it was a movement. A bridge between past and future. A message to the world that the Oromo identity is not only alive but ascendant. As the final sunset bathed Minnesota in gold, I stood in quiet reflection. I thought of the proverb again: "Tokkummaan humna." Unity was in the games. In the songs. In the painted cheeks of children and the clasped hands of elders. 

The Oromo story is still being written across continents, in every language, on every stage. And I am honored, both as a researcher and as a witness, to walk alongside it.

Nicholas Kimble is an international affairs researcher and graduate student at Cornell University, holding a bachelor's degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Seton Hall University. He is a U.S. Department of State Fellow and has authored policy papers on political participation in East Africa for institutions such as Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, he has published over 15 articles on African geopolitics and contributed to peace development initiatives on South Sudan.