Language : Does that matter?

Some people think that language is independent of the people who speak it. It is just instrument or device on which people communicate. The truth of the matter is the language and the people who speak it are one and the same. It is their identity. If they loose their language , they will definitely loose their identity. So, preserving one's language is like preserving your identity. It passed through generations. Why do we ignore and submit it to futile. I personally want to keep, develop, and transfer my language Yem to my descendants,   the next generation.
What can be done about that?

1. teaching Yem language at home to children helps in preserving the language
2. providing course in Yem language at least in Elementary schools along with Oromiffa and Amharic
3. community radio (FM) might be transmitted in Yem language
4. church and mosque service can be provided in Yem language voluntarily

Do you have any more ideas to help this language develop and preserved ?

Population Matters

Why Yem people are so few in number? There are no concrete answers for this. However, some possible explanations are :

1. centuries of war and conflict with other ethnic groups in the area such as the Oromo, Hadyia, Gurage, and Kembata results in death of the young men
2. disease such as malaria, TB and others 
3. a culture that promote very  limited number of children
4. one man for one woman (monogamy)
5. high level of tolerance to other ethnic groups and integrating with them
6. 
   

Empowering Minority- Yem

How can a minority group like the Yem people  succeed in life both individually and collectively by keeping good relationship with the Oromo, Amhara, Tigre and other communities in ethiopia? There is no silver bullet formula to success for minorities in any nation. However, one may observe some communalites in other   countries.
Grabbing government power by a  small community like Yem is hard and demand extraordinay wisdom. However, it is a waste of time and money to get a full support from the majority. Hence, the best strategy for this kind of community is to succeed in other sectors.
Succeeding in business , having money , being wealthy , controlling the economy , is the most important area to success for the minority.
Dominating in art like writing books, directing films, innovating new things help minority to get a proper place in the face of the majority.
Stand up and have your own business, innovate something different, write books, direct films promote your culture and earn your dignity. Respect will be earned and will never be given by anybody.
http://www.diversitybusiness.com/news/diversity.magazine/99200805.asp

Where on Earth Yem people live?

The  map shows the southern Ethiopia and find out where the Yem people live.

What religion do the Yem people follow?

What religion do the Yem people follow?
There is no single religion followed by these people. Some are traditional orthodox christian, some are Protestant christian, some are muslims and even you may find traditional "pagans". However, the majority is christian in one form or another.Though in a differrent religion, the yem blood makes them one. They love each other because they have the same ancestor. They are proud of being Yem. They love Yeminano.

What language the Yem people speak?

Q . 1. What language the Yem people speak?
Yem people have their own language and it is called "Yemegna" or "Yemsa". However, majority of  yem people speak both Amharic and Afaan Oromo as well. More than 50% speak Oromo language.

Documentary - The people of Yem, Yemninano

Yemi-nano  means the people of yem in Yemsa language. The center of Yem people is found 259 km away from Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. On your way to Jimma city, you will find a town called SAJA ( the second largest village in Yem special district). You will find the center and the major capital of Yem called FOFA when you go like 27 km through SAJA. This place is 555km away from Awassa (Seat of the  regional government).

The Fofa area is really green and endowed with natural scene.  You will have the chance to breathe clean air. When you visit the area, you are a guest , the people will give you a special greeting “ EKU NEGA KOFSENI” which means “Welcome”.

The Yem people has inherited historical values, kingdom structure, music  and cultural appliances from their forefathers.

“Anger Fochara” is the area right in front of the Yem palace founded in 13th century.  This palace was built by the first king of Yem called Balam and the palace is called Yangeri Palace .

Three kingdoms  passed through this palace until the Ethiopian King called Menilik II conquered the area. These kingdoms are called Gama Kingdom, Gemello Kingdom, and  Mewa kingdom.  The last king from the Mewa kingdom who surrendered to Menilik II is known as Gerano Bogibo. The Yem people calls him “kemni” which means “our eye” because he contributed to the modernization of the area including establishing formal schools in the area.

Please, have a look at this documentary  under the following link:

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Documentary - The people of Yem, Yemninano

This video is an attempt by Ethiopian state TV to describe the people of Yem in Ethiopia : their culture, the kingdom they had, the tourist attraction , the house they live in etc.