The Biblical Origins of the Oromo: A Link to Kush

Yeshitila Mechi Gurmesaa

Oromo people, Kingdom of Kush

This article establishes the historical and biblical connection between the Oromo people and the ancient Kingdom of Kush. The Kingdom of Kush, based in Nubia (modern Sudan), is mentioned throughout the Bible as a powerful and noble African civilization. The Oromo, the largest Cushitic-speaking people in Africa, are direct descendants of the biblical Cush. This connection is supported by both linguistic and cultural evidence, including the Gadaa system, and by biblical references that describe Cush as a land of mighty people to the south of Egypt—geographically consistent with the Oromo homeland. The Bible, particularly in books such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Zephaniah, honors Cush as a chosen and respected nation. Therefore, the Oromo are not just linked to Kush—they are a living continuation of that ancient civilization. Recognizing this biblical heritage restores the Oromo’s place in African and world history Genesis ( 10:6–7)

https://doi.org/10.31871/WJRR.20.6.6