... Based on empirical evidence and relevant theories of nationalism Mekuria Bulcha convincingly argues in this book that the pre-colonial Oromo were a pre-modern nation. He revisits the representation of Oromo identity in Ethiopian history and proposes the innovative and stimulating thesis that the 16th century Oromo ‘invasion’ of the Ethiopian highlands was the result of a conscious effort to regain control of a territory that was lost and contended since the 14th century Abyssinian expansion into the region. Mekuria Bulcha’s presentation of new evidence of the Oromo resistance to the 19th century conquest, his description of the international appeals by the Oromo elite in the colonial phase, his analysis of the activities of Oromo social movements for cultural and linguistic rights in the 1960s, and his account of the history of rebellion and armed struggle from the 60s, up to the current ethnic federalism are likely to make this book a classic reference for studies on ethno-nationalism. ... Marco Bassi, Ph.D. Research Associate, African Studies Centre, University of Oxford, UK ... This book is an important contribution to the study of identity politics, a subject hotly contested by many Africanists. Bulcha’s discussion of the state-centered bias in much of the academic work on Ethiopia and its denial of the history and pre-colonial autonomy of indigenous non-Abyssinian peoples ought to lead to some serious debate. ... Kajsa Ekholm Friedman, Professor Emeritus, Lund University, Sweden ... ‘This work by Mekuria Bulcha is the most comprehensive and innovative work on the Oromo of Ethiopia ever to be written. Identity politics, he argues, can be a positive challenge to the development of the state. As it has been the case of Southern Sudan - states can also evolve, disappear and change. This work outlines the history, traditions and politics of the Oromo people summarizing and critically assessing all scholarly work done previously. It will remain a seminal work for scholars of Africa and the Oromo for many years to come. It is a master piece and sets new challenges for all of us researching on the Oromo nation and people. I will be the first one to consult this work many times. ...