Oromo is spoken by the Oromo ethnic group, native to Ethiopia and Northern Kenya.  With a population of 45 million, they make up 34% of the Ethiopian population.  Oromo is one of the official languages of Ethiopia, but it has only been a language of instruction in Ethiopia since the 1990s, and only in a few areas.

The Oromo people traditionally used the gadaa system of governance; a new leader is elected every 8 years.  Most Oromos are Muslim or Christian, though around 3% still practice the monotheistic traditional religion of Waaqeffanna

There are two branches of the Oromos.  The Borana Oromo live in Northern Kenya and southern Oromia (Ethiopia), and the Barentu Oroma enhabit the central parts of Oromia in Ethiopia.  Within those branches, there are four distinct dialects of Oromo spoken.