A popular Ethiopian nursery rhyme goes አበበ በሶ በላ። Abebe, the most common name for boys in Amharic, eats beso, a traditional breakfast meal made out of barley. In the second line, Caala, equally common a name for boys in Afaan Oromo, grabs …a dagger!

The two revolutionary musical artists on which my discussion will focus on were born in opposite regions of Oromia. One was born in eastern Oromia, the other in the west.