Traditionally, Walaloo is fluid. The same poem changes with each performance. However, scholars and cultural activists are now "fixing" these poems into written form to prevent loss. Projects by Oromo linguists (e.g., at Jimma University or Addis Ababa University) involve:

Walaloo gaddaa kan dhuunfaa keetiif irratti xiyyeeffate siif barreeffamu yoo barbaadde, maaloo maqaa ykn seenaa gabaabaa naaf ergi!

Walaloowwan kuni, akkaataa itti gaddaa keenya ibsannu, miira keenya itti tasgabbeessinuufi yeroo rakkinaa jajjabina itti argannu ta'u.

Transitioning toward hope, invoking Waaqayyoo (God) to receive the soul and grant patience ( obsa ) to those left behind. Why the "Fixed" Structural Format Matters

Using refrain lines to emphasize the cyclical nature of life and the persistence of memory. Sample Concept: "Boqochuu Gootaa" (The Hero's Rest)

Here is a short example of a Walaloo Gaddaa passage with Ibsu fixed into a textbook format:

The phrase “walaloo gaddaa ibsu” translates literally to “describing/expressing the plateau poetry.” But to the Oromo people, particularly those living in the lush, temperate highlands of Ethiopia, it means so much more. It is the act of giving a voice to the hills, the mist, the cattle trails, and the ancient rhythms of a pastoral and agricultural life.

That night, it is said that the first clouds in months gathered over the mountains. The people learned that while grief is a dark valley, the is the torch that helps you walk through it, rather than staying lost in the shadows. Walaloo Gaddaa fi Mudannoo Jireenya | PDF - Scribd

Gaddi, jireenya keessatti, akka waan tokko,Suuta suutaan, miira koo,Jajjabina argannu, yeroo rakkinaa.

Gaddi, akka bokkaa waarii,Onnee koo tti bu'ee, jireenya koo diigaa.Qalbii koo keessatti, suuta suutaan,Jaalallee koo, kan ani jaalladhu, dhabuun.

Oromo elegy often reflects on the transient nature of human life, comparing existence to fading grass or passing shadows.

Jechoota gadda cimaa ibsan (lafa dhiphattee, samiin dukkanoofte, onneen cabee) fayyadami.

Walaloowwan gaddaa ibsuun, akkaataa itti gaddaa keenya ibsannu, miira keenya itti tasgabbeessinuufi yeroo rakkinaa jajjabina itti argannu ta'u.

This poem focuses on offering strength to those left behind. Gadda Keessan Gaddineera

Walaloowwan gaddaa ibsuun, akkaataa itti gaddaa keenya ibsannu, miira keenya itti tasgabbeessinuufi yeroo rakkinaa jajjabina itti argannu ta'u.

is more than a keyword—it is a mission statement. It represents the tension between ancient oral fluidity and modern archival necessity. By fixing these poems of sorrow ( Gaddaa ) with clear interpretation ( Ibsu ), the Oromo people are ensuring that their voice sounds across generations.