(ayyaantuu.net) — Maccaaf Tuulamaa Association (MTA) comes back roaring to its humanitarian tradition. I witness this after attending the spectacular March 19, 2016 fundraising, Oromo Benefit Concert, event MTA organized in Silver Spring, MD in the vicinity of Washington DC, USA. Being a civic organization aimed at mitigating human sufferings, MTA has already reached out to victims of the heavy-handed brutality of Wayyaanee bullets on participants/suspects of the ongoing #OromoProtests in Oromia, and to compatriots who were caught-up between two fighting functions in Yemen .
According to the report, MTA reached out to individuals and Oromo Communities in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia and secured a sum of $75,000.00, out of which 80% was already directly dispersed. The contribution received also from Oromo in war-ravaged Yemen. What a dedication?
Another support structure that blends traditional Oromo responses to calamities is the sponsorship program underway by the Maccaa Tuulamaa Association. It is a situation where a member of the Maccaa Tuulamaa Association sponsors a family or an individual victim of Wayyaanee brutality on #OromoProtests. In the sponsorship program, the sponsor makes frequent communication with the victims and provide counseling and financial support as necessary. MTA has standard procedures to match sponsors and beneficiaries/victims.
The Association is run by volunteer executive members. Iftu Kebede, member of MTA, updated the attendees of the fund-raising event on accomplishments of MTA and future plans. In addition to providing details on financial sources and its destinations, Iftu also provided details on the MTA sponsorship initiative. A number of MTA sponsors provided testimony on the experience they had with those benefiting from the program.
Professor Asafa Jalata: President of MTA, explained the history of MTA and invited all attendees of the fund-raising event to become members of MTA and contribute financially, provide services and participate in sponsorship programs. Professor Asafa said that, “supporting MTA is critical and tantamount to the Oromo people”.
The event place was overcrowded. Definitely, the place was not appropriate for such large crowd. The music instrument players were so professional, the sound system was clear and the stage was well prepared. Oromo superstar artists, Haacaaluu Hundeesa, Jaambo Jootee, Abdi Nureesa and Tuujii Mudde performed unforgettable show.
Left to right: Kadir Martu (in tears), Yanet Dinqu, Shukri Jamal, Dawit Tasisa, Haachaluu and Zarihun Wadajo, March 19, 2016
The highlight of the event was the presentation of other Oromo superstars (Kadir Martuu, Shukri Jamal, Zarihun Wadajo, Yanet Dinqu and Dawit Tasisa – keyboard player) who arrived in the US on March 18, 2016. Haacaluu invited them onto the stage. The superstars made a brief speech. Zerihun said Qeerroo in Oromia has done a lot towards Bilisummaa and it is working on the last stage to the culmination of oppression in Oromia. The dramatic moment was a passionately moving speech delivered by Kadir Martuu who broke down to tears. A lot of us, in the crowd, also cried with Kadir Martu and shaded tears. It was a remarkable moment for all of us.
The performance of the Haacalu’s Maalan Jira song echoed with everyone was singing with him. All performances were very professional and world class standard.
Kadir Martu and Dawitee Makonnan
Skukri, Kadir and Haacaaluu
