Samuel Komicha

Teacher

Samuel Komicha is an Afaan Oromo expert with more than three decades of experience as a teacher, Interpreter, and translator. One of the most notable contributions of Mr. Komicha to the Afaan Oromo language is his active role and participation in the successful implementation of Afaan Oromo as an instruction medium in 1992 – 1998. Within this period of time, he has been part of the team and contributed his part for the successfulness of a new curriculum. As a teacher he worked hard with the team of African Development Aid Association /ADAA/ and Daallee Dambal school and Eekkaa community of surrounding villages for the effectiveness of the new Afaan Oromo curriculum. As a result, Daallee Dambal school could became a model for the best performance of Afaan Oromo during this period in North Shawa, Barrah-Alaltu district. Among the long list of areas of his accomplishments of Afaan Oromo that includes but not limited to: 

• Learned Afaan Oromoo in Latin Scripts in 1974-1975 in Mount Cilaaloo
• Was member of Arsii Cultural team in 1977 who took part in the First Oromo Cultural Festival in Finfinnee
• Joined Robe Teachers’ Training Institute in 1985
• Taught “Qubee Afaan Oromoo” to the community in Robe-Bale, 1991 – 1992
• Taught Afaan Oromoo 1992-2005, at Daallee-Dambal Primary School
• Worked hard in the development of Cultural Renaissance of the Oromo Language with the staff, students and parents in his life time.

Besides his educational background, Mr. Komicha is an Oromo Teacher, Educator and Activist. His active involvement in the Oromo struggle resulted in his arrest 1978 – 1981 and he was an IDP for more than two decades and eventually led to his exile in 2005. After moving to Kenya, he supported his community by teaching Afaan Oromoo and English to refugees with other volunteering Oromos. He served as the Secretary for the Oromo Community of Nairobi. Also, He worked for Canadian High Commission, Nairobi, as a translator and interpreter to determine refugees’ application for resettlement to Canada. 

After his resettlement to Canada, he took the initiative to facilitate a situation for the Oromo kids to have the space to learn Afaan Oromoo language and Culture. After connecting with the Canadian Multiculturalism program, he encouraged the Oromo community in Hamilton to send their kids to Afaan Oromo class; and thought them for two years in collaboration with Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School board. He outlined his own curriculum and used it to teach and connect children with their tradition. Beside this intensive teaching learning task of Afaan Oromo, Samuel graduated from Mohawk College in Social work and joined Wesley Urban Ministries and the Salvation Army in Hamilton. With his profession, he assisted newcomers in having a smooth transition to a new life in Canada. 

Last but not least, Samuel is devoting himself in promoting the goal of teaching Afaan Oromo to younger kids with OLLAA education program. He believes, it is only possible to connect the younger generation with their root by teaching them vernacular language. Hence, he has decided to join OLLAA as an Afaan Oromo Educator and continuing to do what he loves best and used to do throughout his lifetime. Using this opportunity, Mr. Samuel is sending heartfelt thanks to OLLAA for providing him this opportunity and the Oromo living in the diaspora to seriously exploit it.