February 5, 1931-January 31, 2026
A Statement by the Oromo Studies Association (OSA)
It is with profound sorrow that we learn of the passing of Professor Asmarom Legesse, preeminent anthropologist, a fearless intellectual, and a pioneering scholar in Oromo studies. He left this world on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the age of 94, leaving behind a remarkable legacy that has profoundly altered global understanding of African social and political thought, particularly Oromo studies.
Born in Eritrea in 1933, Professor Legesse embarked on an academic journey that included his becoming a distinguished figure at esteemed institutions such as Harvard University, Northwestern University, and Swarthmore College. His scholarly expertise was extensive, but it was his profound, respectful, and rigorous engagement with the Oromo people of East Africa that etched his name into the legacy of enduring scholarship. His groundbreaking and foundational work on Oromo studies transformed the discipline, moving it beyond colonial-era misrepresentations to establish a rigorous, respectful, and sophisticated academic framework.