What Existence is Mine? Understanding the Oromo Protests (w/ Ayantu Ayanna)

Phd student of oral archival traditions, silences in written records/archives, and anti-colonial struggles, Ayantu Ayanna joins the WBI show to discuss the assassination of Oromo musician Haacaaluu Hundeessaa in June and what it means to contest official state narratives of Ethiopia through the archives. 

Transcript Available Here

**This interview was conducted in August 2020 as part of an deeper investigative look into the history and political climate of Ethiopia as it intersects with data and tech policy. In particular, We Be Imagining is concerned about the role of mis/disinformation on social media platforms like Facebook which fail to provide adequate content and context moderation. However, the slow scholarship this requires was outweighed by the urgency of the current political moment so we are sharing some of the stories recorded then. 

Please note, inclusion in this series in no way indicates agreement among each interviewee or is fully comprehensive of the political history, we  simply aim to provide more nuanced and thoughtful insight given the dearth of coverage. Links and notes are subject to change.

You can now support the WBI Podcast by becoming a Patreon member!

Host: J. Khadijah Abdurahman
Music: Drew Lewis

Links for the Episode:
The media's crisis on Ethiopia by Ayantu Ayanna