Borana Oromo Borana Oromo The name Borana means friend or kind person. The The name Borana means friend or kind person. The Borana are closely related to the Arsi and Guji Borana are closely related to the Arsi and Guji Oromo and are the southern-most of the three. Oromo and are the southern-most of the three. The Borana are nomadic and raise cattle, sheep and The Borana are nomadic and raise cattle, sheep and goats. Young men do the herding. They have sturdy goats. Young men do the herding. They have modular houses which consist of interwoven sturdy modular houses which consist of interwoven branches thatched with grass all the way to the branches thatched with grass all the way to the ground and are constructed by the women. They are ground and are constructed by the women. They in groups of 10 to 30 houses. They move three or have groups of 10 to 30 houses and move three or four times a year. four times a year. Their literacy rate is 10%. Some parts of Borana society are beginning to be Their literacy rate is 10%. Some parts of Borana society are beginning to be educated and employed in other fields. educated and employed in other fields. The Borana do not mix with other people groups as much as some Oromo The Borana do not mix with other people groups as much as some Oromo groups. There is sometimes conflict with other nomadic groups. They are groups. There is sometimes conflict with other nomadic groups. They are increasingly dependent upon help from relief agencies, which is repugnant to increasingly dependent upon help from relief agencies, which is repugnant to these proud people. these proud people. The Gada system structures the social, political and economic life of the The Gada system structures the social, political and economic life of the Borana. A democratically elected leader, the Abba Gada, presides over the Borana. A democratically elected leader, the Abba Gada, presides over the system for an eight-year term. Every aspect of their culture is captured in system for an eight-year term. Every aspect of their culture is captured in song and handed down from one generation to the next. Education and song and handed down from one generation to the next. Education and enculturation occur through music. enculturation occur through music. The Borana traditional religion is The Borana traditional religion is monotheistic; they worship Waaq (or monotheistic; they worship Waaq (or Waaq, Waaqa or Wak). Communication is Waaq, Waaqa or Wak). Communication through intermediary priests or "Qualla." is through intermediary priests or Islam has become influential in Borana "Qualla." Islam has become influential in society in the last 80 years, but only about Borana society in the last 80 years, but 50% of Borana have had superficial only about 50% of Borana have had contact with Islam. There has been some superficial contact with Islam. There has receptivity to the gospel. been some receptivity to the gospel. Some of the threats to the Borana include: increased population, decreasing Some of the threats to the Borana include: increased population, decreasing availability of grazing land due to low rainfall and poor land, which leads to availability of grazing land due to low rainfall and poor land, which leads to conflict with other groups; disease including malaria and HIV/AIDS due to conflict with other groups; disease including malaria and HIV/AIDS due to promiscuity which is encouraged; and lack of medical care and education. promiscuity which is encouraged; and lack of medical care and education. Prayer Points Prayer Points ➣ Pray for the Ethiopian churches ➣ Pray for the Ethiopian churches in the diaspora and in Ethiopia in the diaspora and in Ethiopia Alternate Name: Boran Alternate Name: Boran to mobilize their people and to mobilize their people and Population: About 1,177,00 resources to reach the Borana Population: About 1,177,00 resources to reach the Borana Language: Oromo, Borana- Language: Oromo, Borana- Oromo for Christ. Oromo for Christ. Arsi-Guji Arsi-Guji ➣ Ask God to raise up prayer ➣ Ask God to raise up prayer Location: South Oromo Location: South Oromo teams for the Borana. teams for the Borana. region, Oromio, in Southern region, Oromio, in Southern ➣ Ask God to give wisdom and ➣ Ask God to give wisdom and Ethiopia but some are also in Ethiopia but some are also in favor to the church planters Kenya and Somalia favor to the church planters Kenya and Somalia that are focusing on the Religion: Ethnic religion that are focusing on the Religion: Ethnic religion Borana. % Christian: 2% Borana. % Christian: 2% ➣ Pray that Oromo believers will Evangelical: 1.2% ➣ Pray that Oromo believers will Evangelical: 1.2% be bold in sharing the gospel. Christian resources be bold in sharing the gospel. Christian resources ➣ Ask God to save key leaders available: Bible, Audio/Oral ➣ Ask God to save key leaders available: Bible, Audio/Oral among the Borana and to Bible, Global Recordings, God's among the Borana and to Bible, Global Recordings, God's bring forth a triumphant Story video, Jesus Film bring forth a triumphant Story video, Jesus Film Borana church. Borana church. ➣ Pray for discipleship of new ➣ Pray for discipleship of new believers and leadership believers and leadership training. training. Information from www.joshuaproject.net; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Information from www.joshuaproject.net; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Borana_Oromo_people; http://strategyleader.org/profiles/borana.html; Borana_Oromo_people; http://strategyleader.org/profiles/borana.html; http://www.irinnews.org/report/32688/ethiopia-special-report-on-the-borana; http://www.irinnews.org/report/32688/ethiopia-special-report-on-the-borana; and http://ardajila.com/?page_id=7 and http://ardajila.com/?page_id=7 “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the As it is written ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Romans 10: 14 - 15 good news!” Romans 10: 14 - 15 For information on adopting the Borana Oromo For information on adopting the Borana Oromo http://www.hornofafrica.org www.hornofafrica.org www.engagers.org www.engagers.org.