“We have counted centuries waiting and observing special bird types called ‘Yemeskel Wof ’ in our country on the month of September. They are of course time indicator for us that our fore fathers have thought us and what we have observed in our necked eyes. They only appear on mid-September more specifically during the celebration period of Meskel,” says Roman Yifru, resident at Addis Ababa whom The Ethiopian Herald approached for her opinion.
Indeed, birds and other animals wander due to seasonal variation and its influence upon habitat. Despite such bird types are doing the same, their occurrence is composed by changing of their colors which is so attractive and smart, Roman added. According to her, the reason for such bird species to be named “Yemeskel Wof ” in Ethiopia is due to their time of presence.
Traditionally people who show up once in a while are also referred to as Yemeskel wof, which indicates that they have been missed so much. This can illustrate how our culture is interrelated with the occurrences of this bird species, she explained.
Besides the changing of the rainy season to the green and bright season during September, there are also a unique occurrence of the golden yellow daisies called Adey Abeba and the sudden appearance of an attractive and a special type of bird locally known as Yemeskel Wof (a bird that appears on the day of Meskel).
As the crock of a cock is taken as a herald of starting new day, Ethiopians associate the coming of such birds as seasonal aspects. The birds well acclimatized itself with the festival when Meskel, Damera celebration is celebrated that is why Ethiopians named it “Yemeskel Waf ”.
According to Mengistu Waleto, Animal Biodiversity Director at Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, these kinds of birds are perennial. But they wear different colors in different seasons. They especially appear in various parts of Ethiopia in a beautiful color on mid September. As a result many Ethiopians refer to these birds as season markers, he explained.
He also added that, Yemeskel Wof is a common name which includes Viduidae and Ploceidae bird families. Northern red bishop (Euplectes franciscanus), Pin-tailed whydah bird (Vidua macroura), Long-tailed paradise whydah (Vidua paradisaea) and Village indigobird (Vidua chalybeeta) are amongst the well-known Yemeskel Waf species particularly in Ethiopia.
For instance, Pin-tailed whydah bird (Vidua macroura) species are amongst of the birds appeared during Meskel Season in Ethiopia. And mostly the male whydah birds doubled their feathers and changed their color just to attract the female bird for sexual intercourse.
Also, Village indigobird (Vidua chalybeeta) species which are commonly found at northern part of Ethiopia differs, however, in breeding plumage of male, in bill and leg colors and, usually, in song, and in some cases also in nestling mouth pattern and colors; up to four species occur sympatric ally, with no morphological evidence of interbreeding. Especialy most of Yemeskel Waf species changed their color during their reproduction period, which is September, Mengistu stated.
All in all, there is certain reason to say September is a special and an important month of celebration for Ethiopia. Following the end of three months of rainy season, all Ethiopians are busy in celebrating a New Year every September 11 or 12 in a leap year.
Not only the New Year, but also Meskel (commemorate the supposed discovery of the True Cross upon which Jesus was crucified by the Romans) and which is among the UNESCO registered world intangible heritage and a religious holyday by Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Irreechaa which is Oromo Peoples’ thanks giving festival, Wolayita’s and Hadiyas New Year (Gifata ang Yahode respectively) are among the celebrations coupled with the occurrence of Yemeskel Wof and daisy flowers.
The Ethiopian Herald September 28, 2019
BY HIZKEL HAILU
