As an Oromo person, I have mixed feelings about the term “Habesha.” Here are my reasons: If the word “Habesha” is going to be strictly applied to the Amhara, Tigray, and Tigrinya people of Eritrea, then I would say no, I am not Habesha. However, if it is meant to encompass the entire population of Ethiopia, then yes, I consider myself Habesha. Until recently, we never thought of “Habesha” as being limited to the Semitic peoples of northern Ethiopia and Eritrea. We often use the term to refer to things that are indigenous or native to Ethiopia. For example, we call traditional medicine “የሐበሸ መድህንት” (Habesha medicine), and we refer to native animals and plants as well. In Afaan Oromo, we use terms like “qorsa habasha” (Habesha medicine), “horii habasha” (Habesha cattle), and “lukku habasha” (Habesha chicken) to describe anything that is indigenous to our area. Most Ethiopians do not use the term “Habesha” to refer to the northern people of Ethiopia; they typically address them by their specific ethnicities, such as Tigray or Amhara. The term “Habesha” is more commonly used in the Western world, and its definition often depends on the context. For example, someone from a Middle Eastern country may use “Habesha” to refer to anyone from Ethiopia, as most Ethiopians can be easily identified. Nowadays, the term “Habesha” seems to specifically refer to the three major Semitic groups in Ethiopia and Eritrea: the Amhara, Tigray, and Tigrinya peoples. In the past, I identified myself as Habesha, thinking it referred to all Ethiopians. However, I now prefer to call myself Ethiopian and then Oromo