Lead Review (Oromay)

• Book: Oromay
• Location: Eritrea, Ethiopia
• Author: Baalu Girma, David DeGusta (Translator), Mesfin Felleke Yirgu (Translator)

Review Author: tripfiction

This is a thrilling tale of politics, love and war. It was first published in 1983 but was immediately banned. Then in 1984 Baalu Girma vanished and was never seen again, in all likelihood he was killed in retaliation for this novel.

This is in many ways passionate and alarming portrayal of the Red Star campaign by the Ethiopian government to end the Eritrean insurgency in 1981, seen through the eyes of Tsegaye Hailyemaryam, a journalist who heads propaganda for the Ethiopian government.

Essentially set in Ethiopia, this is a story of tension and mistrust, political exploits, with an overlay of universal themes and a love element thrown in.

It is a riveting read, informative about time and place and proves a valuable read to gain understanding of the country and people. It feels like an important novel.

Back to book