The Ethiopian Oromo people originated from Ethiopia. The majority of Oromo people in North America arrived the late 1990s, following the Eritrean–Ethiopian War.

Oromo, the language of the Oromo, shows its Semitic origin both in its alphabet and words shared with Hebrew and Arabic.

Since its introduction in the fourth century and the establishment of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Christianity has been a part of everyday life in Ethiopia. In fact, their ethnic identity is intrinsically tied to their religious identity. The majority of Ethiopian Oromo are Coptic Orthodox Christians. A smaller percentage are Muslim.

Ethiopian coffee, enjoyed throughout the world, is the Ethiopia’s main export. A good connection point with an owner or another worker in an Ethiopian restaurant in the United States is enjoying their food and asking to have a coffee ceremony, a treat in itself especially if the burning of frankincense is a part of the ceremony.