The Department of Afan Oromo and Literature was established in 2007 with the establishment of Wollega University. The issue of Afaan Oromo has gained importance as a language of instruction in primary and secondary schools following the Ethiopia's 1994 education policy. This has created the need for qualified Afan Oromo teachers and professionals. Therefore, the department of Afan Oromo and Literature has taken initiation to offer teaching and learning activities in regular, weekend, evening, summer and distance modalities to produce educators and experts in the area so that Oromo language and culture can be flourished. In addition to the undergraduate programs, the department started offering M.A program in Teaching Oromo Language and Literature (OLL) and Oromo Folklore in 2011 in regular, weekend and summer modalities. In 2015, the department expanded its level and launched a PhD program in Teaching Oromo Language and Literature (OLL) and Mother Tongue. In addition, the department is on providing PhD in Mother Tongue admitting 5 PhD candidates sponsored by Ministry of Education. Wallga University, through this department, is known in producing PhD in Afan Oromo among Universities in Ethiopia. In sum Afan Oromo and Literature Department is famous in hosting large number of students in all modalities in all ladders of education.
The department, together with Wollega University, is working actively to foster Afan Oromo and Oromo culture to bridge the need for professionals in the area of Oromo culture and heritage. For example, an Afan Oromo Academy is established in the university named after the legendary Oromo intellectual Dr. Haile Fida to study and document the language, culture, history and wisdom of Oromo People. Another milestone is the establishment of Journal of Accumulated Knowledge Resources or “Jornaalii Dilbii Qorannoo” which publishes articles in relation to Oromo language, culture, history and value. Currently, the department has 14 academic staffs (8 PhD holders and 6 M.A holders). The department actively engages in research, community services and impactful trainings.