Having fulfilled the criteria of UNESCO’s requirement for intangible cultural heritage, very recently, Timket (Ethiopian Epiphany) has been recognized as one of the world’s intangible cultural heritage by UN Agency for Education Science and Culture.
UNESCO defines intangible cultural heritage as 1) traditional, contemporary and living at the same time; 2) inclusive; 3) representative; and 4) community-based.
Therefore, Timket has definitely met the aforesaid requirements for being recognized as the world’s intangible cultural heritage.
Indeed, such success story has shouldered all Ethiopians a big responsibility in terms of conserving the invaluable heritages of the country to the coming generations.
Hopefully, the pertinent bodies and the general public will exert their utmost efforts in making Timket as one of the world’s most tourist attractions as one of intangible cultural heritages of Ethiopia and globe as well.
It is worth noting that Timket is one of the most popular festivals in Ethiopia. Apart from its religious significance for Orthodox Christian faithful, Timket has tremendous economic and social values.
For instance, it is a bliss to see thousands of people, regardless of their religious beliefs, coming together and enjoying various social and traditional activities related to the festival at Jan Meda, a vast open gathering field in Addis Ababa and similar spots in other parts of the country.
Particularly, in today’s world when mass killings due to religious radicalization and religious confrontation have become the top headline news for mainstream media, celebrating such centuries-old popular festivals annually in harmony and peace as usual conveys crucial messages to the whole world how Ethiopians are blessed to live a peaceful life respecting each other’s religion for many thousand years.
During three-day long Timket festival, people from all walks of life make homage in droves to the places where the festival officially takes place throughout the country. Hence, for sure, putting in place the necessary infrastructure and facilities with a view to hosting several thousand tourists and visitors would play irreplaceable role in the efforts to make Timket as one of worldwide known festival.
It is true that the world could draw a lot of lessons from Timket festival as it clearly shows how multi-ethnic and religious society of Ethiopia celebrates the festival in unison in a very tolerable, considerate and festive mood as ever.
Moreover, no matter where he/she comes from, one could simply observe the cultural mosaic of this beloved nation by just attending the festival as various nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia stage their cultural dances side by side.
In fact, Timket’s recognition as world’s intangible cultural heritage would notably add inputs on the nation’s set goals of becoming one of the top tourist destination countries in the globe in the shortest time possible.
The good news is that as of more recently, Ethiopia has been able to get the registration of couples of intangible assets such as Timiket, Meskel, the Gadda System and Fichee-Chambalaalla, the New Year festival of the Sidama people, as world intangible cultural heritages by the UNESCO. That is one thing. The remaining hard works need to be done.
Every responsible citizen needs to maintain the uniqueness and the exact ritual of Timket festival under any circumstances. On the part of the government in general, and Ministry of Culture and Tourism in particular, they should be well aware of the hard works remaining to promote the uniqueness of Timket or the other intangible heritages to the world.
The Ethiopian Herald January 21/2020
