The day on which the rights and equality of the Ethiopian Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ were fully guaranteed under Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Constitution was 8 December 1994. A decade ago, the House of Federation decided to celebrate every December 8/9 the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Day to promote their cultures, lifestyles and other values that strengthen their ties.
The day was designed to contribute to the effort of creating one political and economic community in the country and to celebrate it across the country. It affirms the necessity of respect for the fundamental rights of individuals and of the nations and nationalities of the country as well as development of the country’s various cultures and religions.
The day, in addition, has become an engine to boost tourism and investment in the host regions. Oromia State hosted this year’s festival at Finfinnee on 9 December 2019. Along with the 14th festival, there was a trade and bazar exhibition on which business persons from the regional states of the country have participated.
The trade exhibition was officially kicked off by Lomi Bedo, Speaker of the Council of the State of Oromia on 4 December 2019 at Oromo Cultural Center, Addis Ababa and lasts up to 10 December 2019. While approached by local media, she said that the trade exhibition was organized carrying out its own objective.
Though the main aim of the festival is not business issue and organizing such kind of trade exhibitions is not for immediate economic benefit, the bazar hits better target. It enables creating economic ties among the peoples of the country. To come up with this, the participants are invited from different states of the country, she noted.
As to the speaker, participants of the trade bazar, whether individuals, organized in micro and small enterprise or in the form of union, they are benefitted through displaying their products of agriculture or other products of technology. In addition to immediate sale of goods, the participants are benefited by promoting their products to new customers and providing their business cards or phone addresses for further trade relation. Similarly, visitors of the trade and bazar are also benefitted in learning about different kinds of products and receiving phone numbers for extra purchase in addition to immediate exchange with fair price.
“Beyond its economic benefit, the trade and bazar enables people learn about each other, draw close to each other, accommodate one another and develop mutual respect and love. This in turn enables the country undergo the current transitional situation of reform with endurance overcoming imposition of ill minded persons as they want to impose their own interest on others,” she said.
Abera Ayele, Head of Oromia Rural Development Affairs and member of the 14th NNP Day trade and bazar exhibition committee, for his part said that the committee is formed at regional state level aiming to make the festival successful in collaboration with other committees. Participants of the trade and bazar are officially invited by the committee from all states of the country via quota. As per this, traders and business persons from all states have participated on the trade and bazar.
As the quota was given for states not for nations and nationalities; individuals from different nations and nationalities residing in all regional states have presented their products. For instance, participants from Oromia are not necessarily all of them Oromo; rather anyone who is organized in a micro and small enterprise for the purpose of job creation; whether Oromo or not is attending the bazar, Abera said.
Regarding the impact of the trade and bazar, he further said that firstly it contributes for peaceful coexistence of the people and paves way for experience sharing among enterprises of different regional states. Secondly, it facilitates better market linkage as it is open for all people whether consumers or business owners especially for the large population of Addis Ababa.
One good example among the local products presented on the bazar is herbal medicine which is also export standard. It is good opportunity for both the owner to sell and promote his products and for the people who visit the medicine to immediate purchase or to make business agreement for further exchange, he added.
Concerning the uniqueness of the festival at large and the trade bazar in particular, Abera said that they serve as the manifestation of the unity among nations and nationalities regardless of cultural and language difference. This in turn contributes for the formation of firm state through better understanding of each other and building mutual trust by giving deaf ear to fake news spread over social media misleading as if there is no peace in the country.
Tesfaye Workineh, participant of the bazar presented leather products manufactured by micro and small enterprises. For his part, he said that the festival has to be celebrated in the way bringing friendship among the people and stability to the country. Part of the reason, this contributes for peoples’ peaceful coexistence and stabled economic activity.
Dr. Mehammed Fethi, owner of Selam Traditional Medicine and representative of Oromia Traditional Medicine Physicians’ Union Association for his part said that celebrating the festival is essential for togetherness of nations, nationalities and peoples. It also enables people learn about the culture and life style of one another and also erases rumors that there is no peace and unity among them.
Eden Baraki who came from Mekelle with cosmetics and detergents of her own products for her part said that the festival is beneficial for cultural exchange and promotion of different products. She suggested on wise usage of social media especially for the young people that they have to focus on its constructive side subverting the negative and destructive fake news in order to strengthen unison throughout the nation.
The Ethiopian Herald December10, 2019
BY BACHA ZEWDIE
