Philological Inquiry on the History Manuscript of šayḫ Bakri Saphalo (Abubakar ŸUsmān) (1895-1980) Kitab Irsal As-sawarīkh ýIlā Samāý At-tawārīḫ fi kašf Ÿan tārīḫ Oromo
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Date
2012-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This thesis inquires the teaching career and contributions of Šayı Bakri Saphalo to the Oromo
history. It is a content description of a manuscript composed by the Šayı entitled kitāb Irsāl As’-
s’awārĭkh Ilā samā’ At-tawārikh fi kašfi ‘an tārikh Oromo ‘A book sending a missile to the sky of
history revealing the history of the Oromo”.
The thesis deals with the biography and works of a prominent Muslim scholar who worked
throughout his life for the betterment of the Oromo people and the literary works related to this
people. In fact, this thesis is devoted to one of his works which demonstrates the intellectual acumen
and political sagacity of Šayı Bakri. He as apolitical activist generally and deeply reflect the
culture and wisdom of his people giving emphasis to the importance of education as a powerful
means for those in search of social justice.
The thesis shows what truly motivated šayı Bakri and ultimately dominated his long literary
works. Through many years of selfless efforts, Šayı Bakri had brought his immense skill, energy,
dedication and motivation to develop literacy among the Oromo of Hararghe region. To this effect,
he developed a unique writing system for Afaan Oromo in the early 1950s. Šayı Bakri had realized
that the contemporary Oromo elite (both Muslims and Christians) hardly know a writing system
which fits for the Oromo language and invented a writing system that could communicate the
Oromo language precisely. In fact, this is an innovation that surpasses the context of introduction
of Qubee afterwards. In so doing, a descriptive method of analysis is employed and find that šayı
Bakri studied the past history of the Oromo, their proverbs, their parables, their political and
studied their wits. He was a most influential scholar and historian, who had left a strong rise of the
Oromo political consciousness particularly in the vast areas of Hararghe. As a philological work a
content analysis and linguistic description of the manuscript are modestly treated.
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Keywords
šayḫ Bakri Saphalo