Oromia (sometimes spelled Oromiya and spelled Oromiyaa in the
Oromo language) is one of the nine
ethnic divisions (kililoch) of
Ethiopia. Covering 353,632 km² from the east to the southwest of the country, its population was estimated in
2002 at about twenty-four million, making it the largest state in terms of both population and land area. It includes the former
Arsi Province along with portions of the former
Bale,
Hararghe,
Illubabor,
Kaffa,
Shewa,
Sidamo, and
Welega provinces. Its current capital is
Adama; other important cities and towns include
Ambo,
Asella,
Debre Zeit,
Dembidolo,
Fiche,
Gelemso, Gimbi,
Goba,
Jimma,
Metu,
Negele Boran,
Nekemte,
Shashamane and
Waliso. Prior to the
twenty-first century, the Regional
capital of Oromia was
Addis Ababa, also known as Finfinne (the original name in the
Oromo language). The relocation of the regional capital to
Adama sparked considerable controversy. Critics of the move believed the Ethiopian government wished to deemphasize Addis Ababa's location within Oromia. On the other hand, the government maintained that Addis Ababa "has been found inconvenient from the point of view of developing the language, culture and history of the Oromo people."
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