Borana

Borana is the name of an ethnolinguistic group within the Oromo, primarily inhabiting southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya. The Borana are traditionally pastoralists who have long relied on mobility and livestock herding. Their core homeland includes the Borena (Borana) Zone of the Oromia Region in Ethiopia, with cross-border communities in northern Kenya. The Borana speak the Borana dialect, a variety of the Oromo language, which belongs to the Cushitic branch of the Afroasiatic language family and forms part of the broader Oromo language continuum.

Culturally, the Borana preserve the Gadaa system, a historic age-set and governing framework that organizes political, military, and social life. Social organization is largely clan-based, and cattle hold central economic and symbolic importance. Religious practices are diverse, with traditional beliefs maintained alongside Islam and Christianity in various communities.

In modern times, Borana communities have faced pressures from drought, land-use changes, and political marginalization, leading to cross-border movement and engagement with national development efforts. The term Borana is also used in place names, most notably the Borena or Borana Zone in Ethiopia’s Oromia Region.

Overall, Borana denotes both a distinct Oromo sub-group and the regionally anchored community that shares a language, cultural institutions, and a pastoralist way of life.