The Oromo is the largest single ethnic group in the Ethiopian Empire and the largest of the Cushitic peoples in East Africa. The Oromo population in Oromia is estimated to be between 50 and 60 million, excluding the Oromos who reside in the areas incorporated into the other Regional States of Ethiopia and the large Oromo communities in Kenya, Somalia, and other East African states.

The Gadaa System, practiced for thousands of years, is a UNESCO inscribed heritage of humanity, is an indigenous and democratic socio-political system of the Oromo nation of East Africa.

An African scholar Professor Asmarom Legesse describes the Gadaa System "one of the most astonishing and instructive turns the evolution of human society has taken."

An American scholar Professor Donald Levin's comment on the Gadaa is that “it is one of the most complex systems of social organization ever devised by the human imagination."

Broadly speaking, the Gadaa System is the zenith of integrated social, political, cultural, and spiritual thoughts, and the epitome of popular democracy, pure republicanism, and minimalist government.

Gadaa laws protect the environment, women, children, elderlies, wild animals, pets, domestic animals, and naturalized aliens who choose to live among the Oromo.

Under this rich and complex system, the mechanism of checks and balances between the distinct government branches and secular and religious institutions were elaborately devised long before the rest of the world developed democratic institutions.

Ref: https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/gada-system-an-indigenous-democratic-socio-political-system-of-the-oromo-01164

Under this rich and complex Gadaa system, the mechanism of checks and balances between the three branches of government (Lubaa class, Yubaa class and Gumii) and between secular and religious institutions (Gadaa and Qaalluu offices respectively) as well as between Siiqqee and Gadaa institutions were elaborately devised long before the rest of the world discovered democracy.

The Gadaa system has been the guiding principle of the social, political, and economic life of the Oromo nation for centuries. In particular, it remained highly effective for four centuries after it was reformed and restructured between 1519 and 1522 at Madda Walaabuu in Bale region of South Oromia, until early 20th century at which point it was interrupted by colonisation. Since 1522, the Gadaa system had also been reviewed and updated five times in the course of the years at Odaa Bulluq in North Oromia, Odaa Nabee in Central Oromia, Odaa Robaa in the South, Odaa Bultum in the East and at Odaa Bisil in the West.

The centuries-old Gadaa System was revised and re-enforced by an assembly of representatives in 1519 and was put into practice in 1522. It took the Assembly or the GUMII over six months to overhaul their ancient system to address the challenges of their time.

2022 marks the 500th anniversary of the Gadaa Renaissance. The Oromo nation is getting ready to commemorate this 500th year anniversary by organizing public educational programs on the essence and values of the Gadaa System as a source of national inspiration and to re-interpret it as a possible solution to the collective problems the Oromo nation is facing today.

The nation is to be mobilized to celebrate the landmark in its history despite the fact that Oromia is in the midst of an undeclared war and is under military siege/”Command Post”. Besides, Oromia is gripped with a severe famine as the result of prolonged drought and war-induced catastrophes.