Oromay opens with a race against time as journalist Tsegaye boards a plane carrying Ethiopian leaders, tasked with shaping public sentiment in wartime.
The story is set during the 1982 Red Star Campaign, providing a backdrop of state repression across Ethiopia, with chilling depictions of violence and fear.
Baalu Girma, the author, draws on his real-life experiences in the Ethiopian government, offering a unique blend of fiction and reality that critiques the propaganda of the era.
The novel's language powerfully conveys the danger of words, with the right or wrong phrases having the potential to incite or extinguish conflict.
Originally published in 1983, Oromay was quickly suppressed but became a sought-after item, amplifying its cultural significance and enduring legacy.