In the landscape of African literature, few novels have achieved the legendary status of Oromay by Baalu Girma. Published in Ethiopia in 1983, Baalu Girma’s masterpiece caused such a stir that it was banned within days, and the author disappeared six months later—presumably murdered by the very regime he dared to criticize. Now, forty years later, this powerful work finally reaches English readers through a masterful translation by David DeGusta and Mesfin Felleke Yirgu. The Story: Where Personal and Political Collide Set against the backdrop of Ethiopia’s 1981-82 Red Star Campaign to quell the Eritrean insurgency, Oromay follows Tsegaye Hailemaryam, a state journalist tasked with heading propaganda efforts in Asmara. What begins as a seemingly straightforward assignment evolves into a complex web of love, loyalty, and betrayal that challenges everything Tsegaye believes about both his country and himself. Writing Style and Narrative Structure Girma’s prose is remarkable for its ability to shift seamlessly between intimate personal moments and sweeping political drama. His writing style combines journalistic precision with poetic flourishes, creating a narrative voice that …