You can find a metropolitan city with saturated infrastructure in one corner of the world; you may also pay a visit to a tiny but cosmopolitan city in other corner of the world. But if you want to witness a fast growing city with a melting pot of cultures and costumes as well as large and diverse diplomatic community, Addis Ababa is where you should bring your travel baggage to.
Over the last few months, there have been enough supply of festivals and carnivals in Addis Ababa, a metropolitan and an increasingly cosmopolitan city. Hosting all members of nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia and citizens of the world, Addis Ababa offers you unforgettable experience of diversity and the city is nothing shortage of a buffet of cultures.
Also notable is for its hosting of the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and diplomatic missions, Addis also home to diversity, reflected in numbers cultural festivals ,churches, mosques and museums.
Also having fascinating museums, ancient churches, marvelous array of local and international food and historical and cultural statues, Addis gives you a true joy with its cosmopolitanism.
These days, the city is hosting strings of must –see festivals. The vibe is the city is like enjoying all in one. The city certainly is a little Ethiopia and now with the Deputy Young mayor, it is also cherishing the country’s immense cultural and religious values.
Weekend to weekends, Addis is exhibiting cultural festivals whose residents love to watch and engage on. In not only do the residents enjoy, foreigners and diplomatic community experience Ethiopian cultures at one without traveling to other parts of the country.
Particularly, the city hosts series of festivals in the cold but enjoyable season of the country. There’s nothing as satisfying as coming to the city during the cold season where the city celebrates cultural festivals where beautiful traditions stand high.
Last week, the city hosted the celebration of Ashedeye, Shadey and Solel , a young girls festival mainly celebrated at Amhara State. And this week, Ashenda festival which is also a young girls holiday, will be officially celebrated in the city. The celebrations have been taking place in different parts of the city with young girls dressed elegantly and singing the cultural songs displaying unique version of the festivals.
In fact, celebrating the festivals is not a matter of will, it is living up to the standard of the city. Addis is not only a political city and diplomatic hub, it is also an epicenter of cultural diversity.
The deputy mayor is now leading such initiatives by dressing up on traditional costumes which display the peculiarity of the respective festivals.
Very soon, the city will also host the thanksgiving festival of Irrecha, an Oromo ,and part of Gada system registered as intangible heritage of the world.
And, if you are a kind of person fond of physical exercising, Addis will fulfill your wishes on monthly basis. The city brings together its residents in sporting activities held every month. And if you are into something ecofriendly activities who like to see a beautify and clean city you may join the prime minister in cleaning rubbishes.
In addition to the cultural festivals, the city also hosts the UNESCO inscribed Meskel celebration, the finding of the true cross. The city is also home to various historical and cultural statues and monuments are worth-visiting.
Public holidays which grace the city also include the victory of Adowa , Martyrs days which celebrate those who won a battle against foreign aggression and those who were killed in defense of their country.
The city is an eye opener to Ethiopian immense features with its national museum and Ethnological Museum. By visiting the national museum, you would be able to see the bipedal being, Dinkinesh, or Lucy, Lucy (Dinkenesh) of Ethiopia – our common ancestor.
In a stone’s throw away distance is also the Ethnological also museum which acquaints you with the ethnic groups , goes through the history and importance diversity and it also hosts an impressive collection of Ethiopian Orthodox paintings, triptychs, and Orthodox crosses and other souvenir and tools.
A must include list of thing is also paying a visiting to Merkato, Africa’s largest open market where you do not only find diverse people but also diverse marketable products.
It is not only a great place to buy but take a good look at the crowds of people and observe the business of life. The pleasant city which offers unforgettable experience is indeed proving its cosmopolitanism in a very unique ways.
The Ethiopian Herald August 30, 2019
BY DESTA GEBREHIWOT
