Irreechaa, the colorful festival of the Oromo people, was celebrated last Saturday and Sunday at Hora Finfine and Hora Arsadii; Addis Ababa and Bishoftu. More than two million guests from inside the country and around the world celebrated the colorful Irreechaa at Hora Arsadii yesterday.
The Irreechaa Caravan travelers have crossed the border for three consecutive years. Our brothers and sisters from Kenya’s Tana River, Lamu, and Marsabit counties embarked on the longest Irrecah caravan journey. The succussesfully crossed the border, and they were welcomed by the Moyale Town. The Caravan team celebrated Oromia tourism week and the Irrecha at Hora Finfinnee as well as Hora Arsadii last Saturday and Sunday. The caravan team was welcomed with open arms by the Oromo people and by the Oromia Tourism Commission, said Lalise Duga, Commissioner of the Oromia Tourism Commission.
Thanks giving Day is more of a family tradition in Ireland and the USA, but in Ethiopia, it is a completely different experience, according to tourists who came for the Irreechaa festival, Jhon Chris, a resident tourist from the USA, said he came to Ethiopia three years ago with his family. He celebrated Irreechaa for three years at Hora Arsadii. “The Thanksgiving day of Ethiopians with its outdoor magnificence and the way the people dress, chant, and dance in groups is adorable.”
Nahili came from Ireland with his wife to celebrate Irrecha. He told The Ethiopian Herald that the festival was magnificent with the hospitality and cultural activities of the Oromo people.
People dressed in colorful but white cotton, singing and chanting in groups, have swarmed the streets of Hora Finfinnee, Addis Ababa, and Horra Arsedi, Bishoftu, the past Saturday and Sunday. The tourists from Europe and America found the hospitality and infrastructural developments in Addis Ababa and Bishoftu pleasant. The Irish tourist Nahili told The Ethiopian Herald that the corridor development in Bishoftu gives the town more visual value to its adorable landscape and weather condition.
The Oromo People’s Thanksgiving Day is part and parcel of the traditional democratic constitutional system of this particular ethnic group. They come out in masses to thank God for all the green, blue, and yellow (the grasses or plants, the water, and the yellow flower of Adey Abeba), and they ask for mercy from God. It is a celebration that embraces equality and synergy. Abush Yeshitela, an influential resident of Bishoftu town, said the Oromo people celebrate Irreechaa inclusively and welcome anyone from all around the world with open arms.
“The people are welcoming. Their dressing is fascinating. The singing, chanting, and dancing make the festival very unique. I can’t wait to tell my friends to come and observe the Irreehaa next year, said the Irish tourist.
Lalise Duga attended the festival at Hora Finfinnee, Addis Ababa, last Saturday and was also celebrating Hora Arsadii on Sunday. She said the colorful values of Irrecha need more promotion, and there is a lot to be done. Lalise also noted that “Even though the festival is more than colorful, there is not much done in promoting it. The Oromia Tourism Commission will exert maximum effort to promote this magnificent cultural value of the Oromo Gada system.”.
The Oromo Gada system is the oldest democratic system of the Oromo People, which leaders take eghit years of practical training and four years of active power. Irreechaa is one of the traditions of the Gada system, which the Oromo people dedicate the day to give thanks their Creator for all the abundant blessing, the green, the water, the rivers, the lakes and the entire ecosystem.
Bishoftu was more elcoming and colorful than the other times. The corridor development that the town followed suit from Addis Ababa has created a new image. Karen from Ireland said that other cities and towns must take the exemplary move of Bishoftu Town.
Bishoftu, with its wonderful rift valley lakes, amazing landscape, weather conditions, and people’s hospitality, is one of Ethiopia’s hospitality centers. Tourists who celebrated at Hora Arsadii said they felt at home in Bishoftu. They noted that they received a warm welcome from the residents, and hotel access was very nice.
Meanwhile, the Irreechaa festival still lucks promotion from the diaspora community. Its values that embrace nature, women, and people in need have not been recognized by the international community. The Gada system and its Irreechaa cultural value give big places for nature. For instance, wild animals are sacred, and anyone who kills one will be punished. It gives great value for women that if any man abuses one, he will get forty lashes. The Oromo people has many cultural values to share with the international community. The Oromia State is also realizing significant developments in various aspects. The government is discharging efforts for the development of the tourism sector in the region. The Oromia Region, in particular with its vibrant cultural heritage and breath-taking natural beauty, offers an ideal setting for MICE tourism. The region is home to numerous historical sites, scenic landscapes, and modern facilities that make it an attractive choice for international conferences, corporate meetings, incentive travel, and large-scale events.
Not only Bishoftu, but there are towns like Jima the popular place of Coffee, Adama, the place of hot spring waters, Arsi Asela, where all the famous, world record breaker, runners come from bale the world of wild beauty etc. is what Oromia holds. The warm a welcoming hospitality of the people with its rich cultural heritages, like the Irreechaa, makes Oromia the best place for tourists to land not only for few weeks but also make residential request and the Ethiopian government has always been generous or welcoming with open arms.
Horra Finfinnee and Arsadii are not the only places, which the Oromo thanks giving day is celebrated in. It will be celebrated everywhere in Oromia and with different traditions of the Oromo people.
Even though the Gada system has different laws in different parts of the Oromia State, it is a democratic system that prioratizes, nature, women and wild animals. Irreechaa protects this value. The whole world as well must celebrate and protect Irreechaa.
BY NAOL GIRMA
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 10 OCTOBER 2024
