Umar Bakkalcha (1953?–1980) was an Ethiopian nationalist and one of the early Oromo nationalists and martyrs well-remembered in the Chercher highlands of Harerghe especially for the heroic speeches he made at his death spot. His name had been Umar Sheikh Mohammed Rabi, but the people usually refer to him as “Umar Bakkalcha” or simply “Bakkalcha” (the downfall star).
Family
Umar was a son of Sheikh Muhammad Rabi, one of the outstanding Ulama (Islamic Scholars) of the West Harerghe, and Aisha Ibrahim whom the people of the town usually call “Ashe Ibro”. He was the third child of his parents but the second eldest of the boys.
Being a grandson of the famous Sheikh Umar Aliyye al-Galamsiyyi, a noted Islamic scholar of the Qadiri Sufi order, his father named him “Umar” in honor of this grandfather of him.
Early life and education
As he was born in a family known chiefly for propagation of Islamic teachings, Bakkalcha had a good access to learn Qur’an and other basic Islamic educations. Nassir Sheikh Muhammed Siraj, a cousin of Bakkalcha, told to the writer of this article (Aladdin Alevi) once that Bakkalcha had attended the Shafi’i Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) lessons until he completed a book called Baa-Fadl (the third Fiqh book in the Islamic teaching tradition that existed in Harerghe) but others dispute this and say rather Bakkalcha had attended more than that.
He was enrolled to the formal school (probably in the second half of the 1960s) and completed the primary education at the Italian built Mana Dheeraa (Originally Saint Michael Catholic Church but now Gelemso No.2 Primary School) which would become his prison as well. Then after, he completed the junior secondary education at Gelemso No.1 Junior Secondary School. Our sources say Bakkalcha had attended up to grade 10 but he couldn't continue more than that due to his increased participation in the Oromo national movements.
His friends describe that Bakkalcha was a well known sportsman of the town from the very begging. He was a good midfielder in the football (soccer) and a kick boxer of no rivals. However this didn't cause him to disrupt the right of others. He was a respectful and tolerant man of unequal quality. That is why he had many friends from all social classes of the town.
Struggle
Bakkalcha was enlightened in the Oromo National struggle from the very beginning. He had a good understanding of the quests of the Oromo causes far before many people. However, the most brainstorming incident that took him to decide giving up all of his belongings for the Oromo causes was the heroic death of the well known Oromo patriots and guerrilla leaders called Elemo Qilltu (Hassen Ibrahim) and Hundee (or Ahmad Taqi Sheikh Muhammed Rashid).
Even though Bakkalcha had only indirect involvement in the guerrilla's operations then, the death of those irreplaceable heroes made him to think about his people and his freedom day and night. So then, he made himself to immerse in the group founded hiddenly to promote the national agenda in the Chercher Highlands and to undertake military operations if possible. This group, called “Tuuta Bariisaa” (the Downfall Group) and led by Bakkalcha's hero uncle called Mohammed Zakir Meyra, had few members at its start due to the group's welfare strategy of the time. That means, it was not as such open to anyone because of the precautious measures taken by its leaders.