A resident of Kaara Makkoo village in Oromiya’s western Wollega zone says he is 125 years old and remembers Ethiopia when Menelik ruled the nation.On a sunny day this week, he was carried on his bed from his village to the next town to be interviewed by VOA’s Jalene Gemeda.
Nagari Biloo told Jalene of the Afan Oromo service he has lived under seven consecutive Ethiopia's rulers, beginning with Emperor Menelik.Nagari has two wives, seven sons and five daughters and said he has more than 100 grandchildren and great grandchildren who live in many towns in Ethiopia.There are too many to gather them for a reunion, he said.
He spent most of his life farming coffee, tef and corn and remembers the first public roads and an elementary school that were built during the time of Emperor Haile Selassie.
He says one reason he has enjoyed a long life is that he drinks lots of cow’s milk.Asked about his usual diet, Nagari said he never tried to tell his wives what to fix for meals.“They all know what I want,” he said.“We understand each other very well.”