Oromay: War, betrayal and espionage in 1980s Ethiopia: a classic of African literature that sealed its author's fate

by Baalu Girma, David Degusta (translator)

A journalist finds himself embroiled in a disastrous government campaign as well as a sweeping romance in this landmark English translation of Ethiopia’s most famous novel.

An engrossing political thriller and a tale of love and war for readers of John Le Carré and Philip Kerr.

December 1981, Ethiopia. Tsegaye Hailemaryam, a well-known journalist for the state-run media, has just landed in Asmara. He is on assignment as the head of propaganda for the Red Star campaign, a massive effort by the Ethiopian government to end the Eritrean insurgency. There, amid the city’s bars and coffeehouses buzzing with spies and government agents, he juggles the demands of his superiors while trying to reassure his fiancée back home that he’s not straying with Asmara’s famed beauties.

As Tsegaye falls in love with Asmara—and, in spite of his promises, with dazzling, enigmatic local woman Fiammetta—his misgivings about the campaign grow. Tsegaye confronts the horror of war when he is sent with an elite army unit to attack the insurgents’ mountain stronghold. In the aftermath, he encounters betrayals that shake his faith in both the regime and human nature.

Oromay became an instant sensation when first published in 1983 and was swiftly banned for its frank depiction of the regime. The author vanished soon thereafter; the consensus is that he was murdered in retaliation for Oromay. A sweeping and timeless story about power and betrayal in love and war, the novel remains Girma’s masterpiece.

Genres: Fiction, Africa, Historical Fiction, Ethiopia, War, Historical, Novels

388 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[Tesfatsion Shiferaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a TV journalist called Tsegaye who goes to Eritrea to report on a campaign (called Oromay) which was organized by the Derg government to wage an organized offensive against the force of Sha’biya (ሻብያ) with the aim of eliminating them for once and for all. Derg was the Provisional Military Government of Ethiopia from 1974 to 1987. Sha’biya was a military organization which was fighting for the independence of Eritrea. It was led by the current President of Eritrea Isayas Afeworki .

Tsegaye joined the Oromay campaign as an organizer and leader of the journalist crew which were assigned to work there for a brief period of time. Besides the historic aspect, the book has a romantic story which I don’t want to mention and spoil it to whomever is reading this.

Although the book was fiction, it vividly describes the historical record of what the then Eritrea looked like under the Ethiopian federation. It also talks a lot about the Derg government and the historical events took place during this campaign led by President (dictator) Mengistu Hailemariam. Reading this book, I was amazed by how the author was able to create such a fantastic story; then blend it with a historical reality and present it.

I read the book in Dec. 2020 right after the intense fighting between the Ethiopian Federal government led by PM Abiy Ahmed and TPLF was concluded. This recent war has a lot in common with the Oromay campaign which the book described in detail. We Ethiopians have a lot to learn from this book. This is one of the best amharic novels I read. I highly recommend it!

[The Bookish Elf · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the landscape of African literature, few novels have achieved the legendary status of Oromay. Published in Ethiopia in 1983, Baalu Girma's masterpiece caused such a stir that it was banned within days, and the author disappeared six months later – presumably murdered by the very regime he dared to criticize. Now, forty years later, this powerful work finally reaches English readers through a masterful translation by David DeGusta and Mesfin Felleke Yirgu.

The Story: Where Personal and Political Collide

Set against the backdrop of Ethiopia's 1981-82 Red Star Campaign to quell the Eritrean insurgency, Oromay follows Tsegaye Hailemaryam, a state journalist tasked with heading propaganda efforts in Asmara. What begins as a seemingly straightforward assignment evolves into a complex web of love, loyalty, and betrayal that challenges everything Tsegaye believes about both his country and himself.

Writing Style and Narrative Structure

Girma's prose is remarkable for its ability to shift seamlessly between intimate personal moments and sweeping political drama. His writing style combines journalistic precision with poetic flourishes, creating a narrative voice that feels both immediate and timeless. The author demonstrates particular skill in using weather and landscape as metaphors for the political climate:

"

The palm fronds sway in the wind, their sound a dirge:

"A mother's children
Driven apart by
Misunderstandings and mistakes
The peacekeepers are gone
only madmen remain"

The novel is structured in five parts, each building tension while peeling back layers of deception. Girma employs multiple perspectives, though primarily following Tsegaye, and occasionally breaks the fourth wall with an omniscient narrator who identifies as "the author." This technique, while potentially jarring in less skilled hands, adds depth to the story's exploration of truth and perspective.

Character Development and Relationships

Tsegaye Hailemaryam

The protagonist's journey from confident government propagandist to disillusioned witness of war's horrors is masterfully rendered. His character development feels organic, driven by both external events and internal conflicts, particularly in his relationships with:

- Roman Hiletework: His fiancée in Addis Ababa, representing stability and tradition
- Fiammetta Gilay: The captivating Asmara woman who challenges his worldview
- Colonel Wolday: A childhood friend whose fate becomes entwined with larger themes of loyalty and sacrifice

Supporting Characters

The novel's secondary characters are equally well-drawn, from the manipulative Silay Berahi to the complex Director Betru Tessema. Each brings their own motivations and secrets to the story, creating a rich tapestry of human nature under pressure.

Themes and Symbolism

Love and Betrayal

The central romance between Tsegaye and Fiammetta serves as a microcosm for the larger political conflicts. Their relationship highlights how personal and political betrayals mirror each other, while questioning whether true loyalty is possible in a world of shifting allegiances.

Truth and Propaganda

Girma's background in journalism shines through in his exploration of truth versus narrative. The novel constantly questions who controls the story and how "facts" can be manipulated for political ends.

Identity and Belonging

Through its exploration of the Eritrean conflict, the novel delves deep into questions of national and personal identity. Characters struggle with competing loyalties to region, nation, ideology, and personal relationships.

Historical Context and Relevance

While firmly rooted in 1980s Ethiopia, Oromay resonates with contemporary readers through its exploration of universal themes. The novel's depiction of government propaganda and media manipulation feels particularly relevant in our era of "fake news" and information warfare.

Critical Analysis

Strengths

- Masterful integration of personal and political narratives
- Complex, believable characters
- Rich atmospheric detail of Asmara
- Nuanced exploration of war's moral complexities
- Sophisticated use of multiple narrative techniques

Areas for Improvement

- The omniscient narrator device occasionally breaks immersion
- Some political discussions can feel didactic
- Certain minor characters could be more fully developed
- The pacing in the middle section occasionally lags

Translation Quality

DeGusta and Yirgu deserve high praise for their translation work. They successfully capture both the lyricism of Girma's prose and the complexity of his political discourse, while maintaining readability for English-speaking audiences. Their careful handling of Amharic and Italian phrases adds authenticity without confusion.

Impact and Legacy

The tragic circumstances surrounding Oromay's publication and Girma's subsequent disappearance have certainly contributed to its legendary status in Ethiopian literature. However, the novel's enduring power comes from its artistic merit rather than its historical significance. It stands as both a crucial document of its time and a timeless exploration of human nature under pressure.

Final Verdict

Oromay deserves its reputation as Ethiopia's greatest novel. Despite some minor flaws, it succeeds brilliantly as both a political thriller and a profound meditation on love, loyalty, and truth. The English translation finally allows a wider audience to appreciate this masterpiece of African literature.

[Whisper19 · Rating 4 out of 5]

review to come

[Max Mcgrath · Rating 4 out of 5]

African novel that doesn’t have anything to do with Heart of Darkness. Exciting battle scenes, political intrigue, and love affairs.

[Miki]

This story is so impactful, especially after I learned about what happened to Baalu Girma and what is assumed about his disappearance. His bravery and dedication to writing and publishing Oromay is profound and reminds me how important writing is, in spite of consequences. I wonder how this reading experience would affect me if I read Omar El Akkad's novel One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This next or in conjunction with Oromay.

My biggest annoyance was how the male characters/culture promotes loving a woman only based on her beauty alone. Perhaps this is an aspect that is "of-its-time," but it still annoyed me. At least it didn't describe the landscape like a woman's body as David Diop's narrator does in At Night All Blood is Black, which also annoyed me. Now I'm just complaining, so let's get back to Girma's novel.

If you're unaware of Ethiopia and Eritrea's 30-year war (1961-1991) during which Eritrea was fighting for independence from Ethiopia, then this fictionalized account of the war in 1981 will provide you with some insight about what happened. I'm ashamed to admit that prior to reading this novel I didn't know anything about the Eritrean-Ethiopian War. The writing in the novel isn't lyrical, and I get the impression that the Girma's original version in Amharic was lyrical but that the translaion wasn't able to capture Girma's lyricism. Of course, that's me speculating. If anyone has any insight about the writing and/or the translation, I'd love to hear from you.

If you're interested in the history of the Eritrean-Ethiopian War, historical fiction, translated fiction based on real events, and/or reading controversial texts, then this could be for you!

I read the hardcover and listened to the audiobook at the same time (both from the library), and it was a fantastic reading experience!

[Nikoleta L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oromay is not “an engrossing political thriller and a tale of love and war for readers of John Le Carré and Philip Kerr“. It is a beautifully written ode to (then) Ethiopia (more precisely Eritrea, even more precisely Asmara) and its people. It is a criticism of war, inefficient government and the nature of power. For me, this book is a mood, a feeling. A feeling of dread, of joy and wonder, a feeling of sea breeze and warmth. Pain and love, hope and fear.

More at Cheap Thrills, Guilty Pleasures.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I noticed this book in the "new fiction" section at my local library, but when I picked it up and read the blurb, I realized it is not new; it is newly translated into English from Amharic. Girma was an Ethiopian writer and the book was written in 1983.
This is a very intense and disturbing portrayal of the Red Star campaign by the Ethiopian government to end the Eritrean insurgency in 1981. It is told by Tsegaye Hailyemaryam, a journalist who is in charge of propaganda for the Ethiopian government. He is sent to Asmara in Eritrea with other government workers and agents for what is supposed to be a 3 month campaign. Tsegaye believes in the cause for a united Ethiopia but soon finds himself embroiled in bureaucracy, corruption, double agents, assassinations and the horrors of war. Plus he falls in love with an Eritrean woman which makes everything more complex. Just a few months after arriving in Eritrea, he is a broken man.
When the book was published in 1983, it was immediately banned by the ruling Derg dictatorship. Within a year, Girmu was "disappeared." It is presumed that he was kidnapped and murdered by the regime. Reading this on the book's cover is what compelled me to take the book home. I am not sorry that I did. I opened the book with very little knowledge of the history of these 2 countries or Eritrea's fight for independence. Now I know a little more especially after googling. Like any good piece of historical fiction, I was able to think about other historical events (such as the Vietnam War and Alexei Navalny) and even views of current events.
This is not an easy read, and it was made more difficult because all the characters have Ethiopian names that were so unfamiliar to me. After reading the first 50 pages (in which many characters are introduced), I made myself a cheat sheet which listed them with their roles. This definitely helped.
I am glad I discovered this "new book." Historical fiction has always been a favorite and this one took me someplace I had never been before.

[Hailey Zekarias · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I figured out this book had a translation available I instantly ordered this book. Oromay’s main plot point is about complex nuanced relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and the insurgency rising within Eritrea. It follows Tsegaye Hailemariam a journalist within the Derg regime and is role during a secret covert mission called Oromay. Reading this book and learning just a little more about my parents/grandparents life during the Derg regime was all I wanted but I left with so much more reading this book. Such an important book and even more impactful learning that Bailuu Girma was abducted by the Derg and presumed dead after writing Oromay.

[Betty · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was well written with a good story line and exposes a lot about ethiopian and eritrean politics during that specific time but too political for my taste and found it hard to keep up and follow the story through but overall an ok book.

[zack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you really suppose history will remember him, this foot soldier? Not really. Yes, battles will be chronicled, and from that history will be written. It will be in the news, on television and even in books. People will talk about it in bars and coffeehouses. However, the focus will be on the progress of the war, the strategy and tactics, with maybe a mention or two of the commanding officer and how bravely, courageously and strategically he coordinated his troops to wage the battle. But when it comes to the regular people, the foot soldiers, it is a different story. For them, history is unforgiving and merciless.

I stumbled across this at the library, and it really intrigued me. Admittedly, I've been trying to avoid war-themed books for the last couple of months, but I had to make an exception for this. And I'm glad I did.

While I can't exactly compare with the actual original text, I really enjoyed this translation. I could tell there was a lot of hard work behind it, and interest in the story and its author. As for the story itself, I really, really liked it. I'm admittedly not too familiar with Ethiopian and Eritrean history, so this was interesting both for the story and for its historical context.

Even without the proper background knowledge, this was a funny yet devastating satire that really does deserve a spot with the big political satires on the international top lists.

[Abdi · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good hes message is clear information about Ethiopia 🇪🇹 wars on 🇪🇷Eritrea

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amusing and interesting novel about a journalist caught up in Ethiopia’s “Red Star” propaganda campaign to try and squash the 1981 Eritrean uprising. At the same time, the journalist has left his fiancée behind in their hometown whilst he is involved with covering the war from the city of Asmara. He meets and falls for a local woman. He also insists on accompanying the soldiers into war along with his film team, only to discover that war is not as glamorous as his propaganda paints it to be.
There is bureaucracy, posturing, naïveté, and deceit, deliciously drawn and well narrated. I learned that the author was “disappeared” following the publication of this novel, and that was likely no accident….
My thanks to the author, publisher, @HighBridgeAudio, and #NetGalley for making the English translation available and for early access to the English audiobook for review purposes. Publication date: 27 May 2025.

[Hayden Renaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently translated to English from Amharic, "Oromay" is the true story told from the perspective of Tsegaye, head of propaganda/journalism for national unification campaign in the 80s. Upon release, "Oromay" was banned in Ethiopia and Baalu Girma was fired from his government role. The book is critical of the Ethiopian government and shines light on the strategies it used to eliminate rebel forces in Eritrea. I enjoyed reading a book from such a real and unique perspective and the plot lines about Tsegaye's love affairs kept things interesting!

[Yeshiwondim Eniyew]

am interested to read

[Jennifer Riggan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an important book in Ethiopian literary and political history. I wish the translation were better, but thrilled it is available in English.

[Mike Mutschelknaus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to like a narrator who is consistently cheating on his fiance.

[Holly Taggart · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Published in Amharic in 1983, (and then banned rapidly after publication) Oromay has now been translated into English in it's entirety. And as a BONUS - it is now out in a very listenable audio-book as well!
No Spoiler Summary (because spoilers are just the WORST) - Oromay ( an Eritrean word adapted from the Italian oromai meaning pointless or finished) tells the story of a fictional journalist's experiences embarking on a political and military campaign in Eritrea. (Eritrea is a country in East Africa.) Set in Asmara, the reader is embedded into all the wild nights, political intrigue and exploits and front line action in what was a long, bitter conflict occurring over decades. Girma was a journalist and it seems this very personal novel is a fictionalized account of the actual Red Star Campaign and true events.
I consumed the novel like a sweet delicious coffee. There's treachery, intrigue, gruesome battles, romance, and a dramatic ending that leaves the reader thinking about the nature of life and death for a long time to come.

The narration was performed by Beru Tessema and it was perfection. For many English readers- the amount of unfamiliar names with unusual spellings will be daunting. With Beru Tessema, these all rolled off the tongue naturally and kept the story moving forward. Some readers may find the way the story unfolds to feel a little slow- but I'm going to encourage readers to stick with it. The sort of slow measured feel seems to reflect how the campaign itself rolled out over Asmara. The novel pulls the reader in deeper and deeper, just as the officials were pulled into Asmara and Eritrea, not all at once, but slowly over a period of weeks. One warm evening at a time.
Did I find myself rooting for one character in particular? Not really- this isn't that sort of novel where a hero emerges out of rubble. Instead, as a reader I found that my understanding of life and death and the choices made in difficult times broadened with each unfurling chapter - making this a rather remarkable piece of fiction. It is a book in translation - David DeGusta and Mesfin Felleke Yirgu are the translators, and I did have to check a few times to be sure it was a translation. I can't speak to the accuracy, but I can say that it was very readable.
This novel is perfect for book clubs, students, readers of John Lecarre, and Phillip Kerr.

[Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprising novel, in that its reputation as a anti-dictatorship polemic that got its author killed belies a taut, cinematic, and entertaining thriller that is more of a constructive critique of the Derg regime that still hums with praise for the revolution.

Girma starts cheekily, with an epigraph introducing himself as the author as well as his main character Tsegaye, a journalist who has joined the government as a propagandist and must leave his fiancée in Addis Ababa to document the Red Star campaign against Eritrean rebels. He's of course modeled on Girma and his interactions with pseudonymous regime officials as the campaign ramps up is full of little character tweaks and the day-to-day life that make the town of Asmara feel wholly real.

Tsegaye meets a potential femme fatale, participates in praiseful meetings, and eventually goes off to horrific battle as side characters offer some lessons for the regime to learn about planning and to clean up some corruption. Girma breaks away to give a larger perspective of some rebels who have fled back to the regime (or have they), the intelligence chief, and others told in a plain, chummy style that really does make you feel like you're watching scenes an entertaining film, complete with characters voicing the themes, making strong stands, and plenty of melodrama.

Girma does have some strong moments, particularly a standalone chapter after Tsegaye has witnessed a horrifying battle. And it's apparently the telling of that battle, which was still classified, as well as the mild criticisms and caricatures of a very humorless regime which had him disappeared several months after publication.

His talent and ability to spin a thriller are undeniable. The book has humour, characters, pathos, setting, and feels engineered for entertainment with a solid, encouraging message underlying it. I'm very glad it's now available in translation. It should have a broad appeal.

[Bookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't remember what drew me to the book but saw that it was available in my library and was excited to pick it up. I am not familiar with Ethiopian politics and history, so this seemed like a good way to diversify my reading. Journalist Tsegaye Hailemaryam has been sent to the city of Asmara, where he is following the government's attempts to stop the Eritrean insurgents. Tsegaye begins to doubt the project when he is forced to witness the horrors of war.

I'll admit, I thought this was very, very dull. It could be that I am unfamiliar with the context of the story and its history, but it felt like a book where much of the story are the characters just talking to each other. I had been looking forward to watching a well-told story of a journalist being forced to rethink their priors and becoming disillusioned with whatever their assignment/project is.

It could be that the book is lost in translation for me, that was a war story it just wasn't something that was going to click (war stories don't) which is a pity. From what I understand, this book is based on the author's personal experiences and he has never been heard from again after this book's publication. It is widely believed he was killed over the book.

All the same, the book certainly has its importance as this is apparently the first time it has been fully translated into English. So I'm sure for the right audience this is definitely a must read, but overall I'd say this was a skippable one.

Library borrow and that was best for me.

[Courtney A.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am incredibly happy that this book has been translated and published in English.

Oromay is a beautifully written, poetic and political novel about a journalist who joins a campaign to drive back the Eritrean insurgency. He soon finds himself entrenched in danger, corruption and conspiracy-driven political drama where violence and death are a common means to an end.

In the midst of all of this is an intense love story of a man with a fiancé at home and a mistress who could put his life in danger.

The writing in this novel is at once concise and elegant. Detailed when necessary and purple on the topic of love and passion. Even in the most bureaucratic sections, I was fully engaged.

I could not pull myself away from the last section of the book.

I read the audiobook. I appreciated that the narrator had an accent that fit the culture of the novel. His speech is clear and articulate. In instances where Italian or Amharic were used, he switched easily. I never felt distracted by any of the narrators choices.

I found his vocalizations between characters not to be distinctive. There is a mild softening of his voice with female characters. This was not a significant problem for comprehension and following the story.

The narrator did a great job of adding emphasis where needed while never being over the top. The sound quality is great - no background noises, breaks or noticeable inconsistencies. I would listen to more audiobooks by this narrator.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of the audiobook. It will be available on May 27th.

[Prayash Giria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rare translation from Ethiopia, Oromay is a romance, thriller, and political commentary rolled into one undeniably engrossing package that serves as a much as an important historical record as it does as a piece of deft if formulaic cinematic prose. Set in 1982, the semi-fictional story centres on Tsegaye, an idealistic senior journalist working for Ethiopia’s then communist DERG regime. Deployed to what was then the province of Eritrea (now an independent country) to help publicise an (actual) anti-insurgency socio-military operation, Tsegaye begins a passionate affair with the enigmatic Fiametta, uncovers parts of a political conspiracy, and slowly comes to be disillusioned with the war-obsessed regime he serves. Eritrea itself, especially the capital city of Asmara, emerges as a supporting character, beautifully described as a stark but magnetic land. In lesser hands, this could be easily dismissed as an ‘African James Bond’ of sorts, but the tightly knit narrative makes it a far more rewarding read. It’s also worth noting that the author, Baalu Girma, served as a senior journalist with the Ethiopian DERG regime himself, before the publication of this book earned him a censure following which he mysteriously ‘disappeared’, believed to have been assassinated by the regime in retribution for his veiled criticism (but not before his contraband writings spread like wildfire across the country). All in all, its the kind of book that needs to be read at least once, and makes you rethink any preconceived notions you may have had about African literature.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oromay is the story of a journalist, Tsegaye, sent to Eritrea during the Red Star Campaign. His job? Spin the war into a success story, film the city, write glowing reports and keep the propaganda flowing. At first, he’s all in, but once he’s on the ground, things start to unravel as he spends more time in Eritrea. He sees the human cost of the war and the contradictions in the government's narrative and he begins to question everything.

Then there is Fiammetta, a mysterious local woman with sharp instincts and maybe her own agenda. The more time they spend together, the more tangled everything becomes as neither one trusts the other.

This is a novel about betrayal, disillusionment, resistance and the pointlessness of war. It also seems like a semi autobiographical story. The author, Baalu Girma, also a journalist, disappeared after writing this book. It’s presumed he was killed and the book was promptly banned due to its criticism of the Red Star Campaign. It was only published in English this year.

It’s a fascinating story and I found myself looking up the real events as I went along. There are some overly detailed parts which effect the pacing, but overall, it’s a good read.

[Terence Donnellan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would compel a middle-class, white man in America to read a novel about the Ethiopian government’s attempt to crush the Eritrean freedom-seeking rebels and revolutionaries in the early 1980s?

It is because of a librarian. The book was on the shelf of recommended books displayed at our Hell’s Kitchen public library. I picked it up, read the blurbs, read the first few lines, and then took it home with me.

What a discovery. Written in 1983, it was published for the first time in America in 2025. Baalu Girma, whom I had never heard of, is considered one of Ethiopia’s greatest writers. This book is a testament to why.

Girma, a journalist, novelist, and Minister of Information, felt so moved by what he was living through, and which he was a vital part of, that he wrote a veiled novel of his experiences. A sensation when it first came out, he would not, unfortunately, live to bask in its success. The novel was soon banned. He disappeared shortly after its publication, and his body has never been found. This is the power of what literature can do. This is also the power of how important libraries can be to bring writers' words to the wider world.

[Gautam Bhatia · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1983, the Ethiopian writer Baalu Girma published his sixth novel, Oromay. Within the week, Oromay was banned in Ethiopia, Girma was fired from his job at the Ministry of Information, and copies of the book were pulped at a sugar factory. Six months later, Girma disappeared, never to be heard from again. It is now common consensus that the writer was murdered on the instructions of the Derg regime, which ruled Ethiopia as a one-party State at the time.

Four decades on, Oromay – which grew to be one of the most famous and well-loved of Ethiopian novels, not least because of the circumstances around its publication, and its circulation underground through samidzat – now has an English translation, rendered from the Amharic by David DeGusta and Mesfin Felleke Yirgu, and brought out by Quercus Press.

Full review: https://anenduringromantic.wordpress....

[Paige Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I picked this up from the library because I had never read a book from Ethiopia, and as I read I realized I knew nothing about that country's history. I learned about the period of a socialist military junta in Ethiopia and conflicts with Eritrea, which was a part of Ethiopia at the time. It's a story about the horrors of war and disillusionment with apathy and poor planning of a corrupt regime that led to needless deaths, and it was so effective because it follows the changes of a journalist who is employed by the government for a propaganda project and his growing criticism of the regime. Tsegaye goes from totally convinced about his cause and the revolution to a disillusioned critic of the government who has lost everything. It was definitely worth the read.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ethiopean journalist Baalu Girma wrote this account of the campaign by the Ethiopean government in Eritrea in the early 1980s, informed by his role as head of propaganda for the campaign.

He manages to convey the chaos and bustle of the time, but also the brutality and incompetence that was part of it too, leading to his "disappearance" shortly after the book was published.

Despite that dark background, what this book is is an easily readable novel, a love story, a thriller of sorts, which shows a part of the world in great detail, with rounded, complex characters and illuminates a history that was completely unknown to me. An absolutely fascinating book.

[Jammin Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the author had a really good grasp of his subject matter which came through in his writing. The suffering of the people in Ethiopia while other in the capital get rich of their pain is an ongoing tale of class war, and in this time even more brutality. I loved the scenes where the family members would get together and talk about what was happening. I also loved the ending where the girl from the streets tells it like it is to the man from Addis. The narration was excellent. I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me an e-copy of this book, in return for an honest review.

[JJ Wu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up Oromay on a recommendation by Lawrence Debbs on TikTok and found the novel to be a fascinating, informative, and sobering read about a historical period I didn’t know much about. I appreciated the nuanced supporting characters and meaningful conversations about history, war, and storytelling, but I can’t lie, Tsegaye was sometimes a hard narrator to like, especially with how he treated the women in his life! Still, I sped through those final chapters, especially with the gut wrenching descriptions of the offensive at Nakfa. It took me a while to get into this book, but once I did, I was hooked. 3.5/5.

[Nolan W · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25* English translation

I’m sure some of the writing style is lost in translation.

I don’t know that my personally enjoyment would give the book this rating, but also knowing the story behind the book is important and any reader should go in knowing the story of Baalu Girma before starting this book.

[Wandering Sailboat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anyone who has read the original Amharic novel won't be too happy about this translation. However, it's still an engaging novel and definitely worth a read. It's best if the reader familiarizes themselves with the historical context, though, as doing so will add to the excitement and understanding of the novel.