The screams of a new born filled the air as the infant tested the strength of her small but powerful lungs. The infant’s mother looked down at the child she cradled in her arms. She named her Hawecha.
Hawecha was a pensive little girl, always lost in her thoughts. Like other girls from the Oromo community, part of her duties at home included tending to livestock such as goats. She liked to escape the humdrum of her days through her imagination. In her mind, she visited new exciting worlds and had incredible adventures. She came to be known as “Hawecha the Dreamer”, floating through life with her head in the clouds. But with time, her dreams shifted from mere childhood fantasies to visions of a future yet to unfold.
Sadness engulfed little Hawecha’s life when her father, a strong proud Oromo clan leader, passed away. Soon after, her younger sister, Dhaki, also passed away. Hawecha and her mother mourned their loved ones, but Hawecha’s mystical powers became stronger after these losses.
With her power, came an extraordinary beauty, one of high cheek bones and dark curly hair. When she turned 18, she was betrothed to a man from her community called Juldess. Marriage was an important aspect of Oromo culture, and arranged marriages were customary. But Hawecha knew that she was destined to achieve more. She understood the importance of her visions and wanted to use them to help her community. Nonetheless, she proceeded with the arranged marriage and did her best to make it work, but her husband’s unfaithfulness was their ultimate downfall.
Despite all the unfortunate events that shrouded Hawecha’s life, her power of prophecy never wavered. Her visions often came to her in form of dreams, and gave her foresight about wars, diseases, and famine. Her abilities enabled her to assist her people prepare for these calamities. Many lives were spared and the Oromo enjoyed a time of stability thanks to Hawecha. In a patriarchal society where men had the final say and women hardly had a voice, Hawecha rose to become one of the most powerful prophets in all of Oromo history. She became a woman of unquestionable power and guided her people through difficult times.
The story of Hawecha the Dreamer has been passed down through generations, living on through stories. In 1986, the first school was set up in Marsabit by catholic missionaries. It was named Hawecha Primary School, in honour of the beautiful dreamer and prophetess.
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