Ibrahim Haji Ali, Journalist, linguist, singer, songwriter, & guitarist, passed away recently while receiving medical treatment. Among his stellar legacies, Ibrahim was one of the few founders of the second generation of the famous Afaan Oromo music band Afraan Qaallo in mid 1970s along with giants of Oromo music such as Ali Birra, and Abdu Shikur. He was well known for his single “Askoottu asin jira.” In addition to his career as a journalist and musician, Ibrahim also contributed immensely to the study and development of Afaan Oromo language. He was also one of the first journalists to join FanaBC’s Afaan Oromo broadcasting service launched in 1994 where he was producing the segment. He was one of the founding members of of “Barissa” Newspaper, the first newspaper published in Afaan Oromo using the Ge’ez alphabet, which was first published circa 1976.
Rest in peace Ibrahim Haji Ali
