(1) Publications
1.1. Hymnbooks
Faarsaa fi Weedu [(Oromo) Hymns and Songs]. Translated by Onesimos Nesib. Imkullu (Massawa): Swedish Evangelical Mission, 1886.
- 101 hymns; without music notation
» View book
» View music book (published in 2022)
Galata Waaqayyo Gooftaa Machaa [Praise God, Lord of hosts].
Edited by Martin Nordfeldt. Addis Ababa: Swedish Evangelical Mission, 1935.
- 116 hymns; based on the expanded edition left by Onesimus at his death in 1931.
» View book [reprint in 1960 A.D.]
1.2 Additional publications translated / edited by Onesimos Nesib
Kakuu Haaraa: Innis Kan Gooftaa Keenyaa Kan Fayisaa Keenyaaa KaYasuus Kiristoos Wangeela Qulqulluu Macaafota Ergamtootas [The New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ]. Imkullu (Massawa),1893.
- 639 p. Copy available at the Royal Library, Stockholm.
[EOD ready; expected price: SEK 2,017.00] - 2nd edition: St. Chrischona: Mission-Press,1899.
[View partial edition of the full Bible]
Macaafa Qulqulluu: Innis Macaafa ta Kakuu Moofaa fi Harawaa
[The Holy Bible: The Old and New Testament]. St. Chrischona: Mission-Press, 1899 (at the expense of the British & Foreign Bible Society).
- View Genesis – Deuteronomy / Joshua – Esther / Job – Songs of Songs / Isaiah – Malachi / Matthew – Revelation
Katekismos [Catechism]. St. Chrischona: Mission-Press, 1899.
- View book
1.3 Publications translated/authored by Onesimos Nesib in cooperation with Aster Gannoo
Jalqaba Barsiisaa: The [Oromo *] Spelling-Book [and Reader].
Imkullu: Swedish Mission Press, 1894.
- View book
Garaani Namaa Mana Waaqayyoo yookis Idoo Bultii Seexanaa
[Man’s Heart either God’s Temple or Satan’s Abode]. St. Chrischona: Mission-Press, 1899.
- View online (ALVIN Portal)
Si’a lama oduu shantamiilama Kakuu Moofaatii fi Kakuu Haaraatii [Dr. Barth’s Bible-Stories]. St. Chrischona: Mission Press, 1899. [Translated by Aster Gannoo, edited by Onesimos Nesib]
- View book
2) Manuscripts deposited in libraries and archives
University of Vienna: Department of African Studies
Oromo vocabulary and orature dictated by Onesimos Nesib to Dr. Adolf Walter Schleicher in 1894.
- See overview
University of Uppsala: Library
Oromo vocabulary, orature, and studies by Nils Hylander
(in cooperation with Onesimos Nesib, Aster Gannoo et al.)
- View online (ALVIN Portal)
SEM Historical Archives
“Brief anthology of Oromo love songs collected by the Swedish Mission around 1890.”
- Typed in Ethiosemitic script. SEM Historical Archives.
Ref. Code: EFS 1a P35 F1 (not yet available online).
University of Cambridge: Bible Society’s Library
“Svensson, A., Swedish missionary: letter from Asmara (Eritrea) 1892, about [Oromo].”
- British & Foreign Bible Society Archives, Univ. of Cambridge.
Ref. Code: GBR/0374/BFBS/BSAX/1/S
3) Manuscripts probably lost
Onesimos Nesib. Diary for the years 1928 to 1931 [i.e., the year he passed away].
- Quoted in M. Nordfeldt, “Axplock ur Onesimus dagbok”, Missions-Tidning Budbäraren 1933, 632-633 [Online available at SEM Archives]
Onesimos Nesib. Enlarged version of his hymnbook Faarsaa fi Weedu (1886), completed in Nekemte in 1927.
- Mentioned in Arén, Envoys, p. 330, fn. 136. [View online].
- According to a letter by Rev. M. Nordfeldt, he and his wife produced 50 copies of a selection of 24 hymns by hectograph in 1927 (25 copies for Nekemte, 25 copies for Najo)
Note: Where [Oromo *] is written in square brackets, the word “Galla” is found in the original. While this foreign designation was common in literature until World War II, it is now considered derogatory and should be replaced by the self-designation “Oromo.”