Promotion through Publication

The autumn of 1993 brought along two significant events in the life of Professor Sumner, the author of Oromo Wisdom Literature: the first one was that his year-long hope of printing his first volume on Oromo Proverbs was shattered when a publication house in Nairobi, Kenya, defrauded the publication agreement of the first volume; the second event took place in his office at Addis Ababa University when GTF's leaders paid the author a visit. The meeting marked the beginning of a unique and fruitful relationship. For GTF it paved the way for the fulfilment of its vision of the promotion and diffusion of oral literature and culture, while for Professor Sumner it meant the realization of a dream that he harboured for twenty years--it was in 1976, in Africa Hall, that he first announced his intention of publishing his writings on oral literature.

Professor Sumner and GTF's leaders joined their efforts, and the search for funds to publish this monumental work in five volumes began. It took time and perseverance before donors, who could see the relevance of such an undertaking for development, could be found. The European Union and Bread for the World became groundbreakers--funds arrived and the printing work began.

The team, encouraged by its success, proceeded to organize a book launching event. The Italian Cultural Institute offered to be the host for the occasion. People from all walks of life gathered to hear Professor Sumner's public lecture on Oromo Proverbs. On that memorable day the mature fruit a long ripening came to its final maturity under the form of the first printed book on Oromo Wisdom Literature. Volume I Proverbs - Collection and Analysis. GTF's objective of organizing book launching events is twofold: on the educational level the heightened awareness of the local and international communities of the richness of oral cultural patrimony level, the ascription of income generated from the sales of books to sustain on-going projects.

Encouraged by the results effected at the launching of the first volume, GTF, in collaboration with the Alliance Ethio-Francaise, organized another book launching event for the French-speaking community. The book whose title is CHANSONS, PROVERBES ET CONTES. ANTHOLOGIE DE LITTERATURE OROMO was presented by Professor Sumner while the colour slides of the paintings of artist Lemma Guyya were projected. All these original paintings are now exhibited at the African Art Museum in Bushoftu town.

Reminiscing the past, GTF's leaders and Professor Sumner discovered that their friendship went as far back as the mid 1970s. The late Rev. Gudina Tumsa, in his efforts to establish the Council of Churches in Ethiopia, had become popular among the various denominational churches in Ethiopia. Professor Sumner vividly remembers how the ecumenical movement, which in those days was thriving under the atheist military government, brought him (a Catholic and a Jesuit) and Gudina Tumsa (an Evangelical Pastor) together. The Council of Churches and Gudina Tumsa were short-lived but memories still survive, and so does Professor Sumner. However, neither of the two men had the thought that one day, down in history, they would unite for the common purpose of arresting the ongoing rush of the stream of oral history in order to preserve it for all generations to come. This is the outcome of their collaboration seen from a cultural perspective; but on the humanitarian level both agreed with such alacrity to use all proceeds from the sales of his books to support the needy children of Fantalle.

The past eight years for GTF's publication project have been full of challenges and opportunities. Encounter with Professor Sumner has endowed GTF with a treasure of literature long hidden and abandoned. Out of the donated eight manuscripts five have already been published. To the local and international communities the publication of the books and the launching events have meant drawing from the wellsprings of oral wisdom. The author's multifaceted personality--his great sense of humour, the depth of the spiritual dimension of his whole life and professorial carrier, his generosity toward children and the poor--have rendered our collaboration a great joy indeed.

Looking ahead GTF plans to publish other manuscripts donated by authors who were inspired by Professor Sumner's big-hearted pioneering contributions. Expanding its horizon GTF intends to shed light on oral cultures of other people who had little or no public exposure. Spiritual writings, which reflect GTF's holistic dimension, are also under consideration. With its publication projects GTF hopes to enlighten the public as well as generate income to reach out to the needy.

Available Publications At Gudina Tumsa Foundation

(available in English & French)	(available in English, Oromo, French)