The speaking fauna, flora, and phenomena : personification in the oral literature of the Walisoo Liiban Oromoo

This article discusses personification in oral literature among the Walisoo Liiban Oromoo in Oromia (Oromiyaa). The paper explores the social and natural basis of personifications among the target community in cultural, historical, and environmental contexts. It also analyzes the structures and functions of personification among the target community. The paper employed a qualitative research method for data collection, mainly through interviews. The findings of this study reveal the existence of a range of personified items in the culture of the target group. These include wild beasts, natural and social phenomena, food and drink items, and domestic animals and plants. The findings further indicate that the personification of events and objects heavily relies on specific natural, cultural, and historical contexts. Personification communicates information on the social, historical, political, and economic life of the Liban Oromoo. Accordingly, the items of personification change with the changing social and natural environment. The communication entails expectations, emotions, feelings, complaints, hatred, problems, happiness, criticisms, and pieces of advice. The cultural and moral values and ecological and season-based personal preferences of some objects are also part of the communication. These communications predominantly suggest the values of hard work, attentiveness, and a more considerate life, while they discourage the opposites, such as negligence and extravagance. Finally, we recommend an in-depth investigation on the use of Oromoo oral literature in literary works, for local cultural development may serve as a base for the indigenization of literary works.