BY MESERET BEHAILU
Article 25 of the Ethiopian constitution states all persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law.
This statement safeguards citizen and most importantly allow women to exercise their rights to engage in every walk of life equal to men. Article 35 stipulates that “women shall, in the enjoyment of rights and protections provided for by this Constitution, have equal right with men.”
They are also granted the right to express their thoughts in a medium of their choice. This is clearly stated under article 29 which states that every citizen has the right to hold opinion, impart it through any medium of his/her choice without any interference.
Therefore, Ethiopians women are literally free to express themselves. In recent years such freedoms are getting due respect. Accordingly, they have become free to share their interests with the public. And they are also enjoying the taste of freedom in various arenas especially when they celebrate festivals.
Recently, Ethiopia has celebrated the 15th Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Day (NNPDs) in Addis Ababa. The sovereignty of the NNPs has been fully guaranteed by the constitution in order to cement people-to-people relation, cultural exchange, and the like. This annual cultural festival has been hosted in different parts of country.
Since the country is the land of diversity, the festival is important to promote and exchange culture, norms, lifestyle, and cuisine, among others. This enables participants to display their unique products to share with others freely.
Among the various events the country hosts are found Ashenda, Shadey also known as Solel– girls’ anniversary in Amhara and Tigray states. Such events help girls to express their feelings in different ways.
The picture posted here displays girls expressing their emotional feeling by singing and dancing adorned by costumes and hairstyle. They tie a long lash grass around their hips which creates an uplifting mood to the viewer when they start to dance. This happens in rhythm with the swinging of the grass as soon as they start dancing moving their hips. It is the hue of the event.
In the same event, girls appear with unique hair dressing styles. Accordingly, the styles tell whether the woman is married or not. It also indicates whether the girl has a fiancé or not. Therefore, the festival is not only a dancing occasion, but also an opportunity to meet with future life partner.
As it seen in the pictures, the girls are happy dancing together while they wear similar dresses and various jewelries. In the ceremony, a talented girl is selected to sing a song as a leading vocalist of her team accompanied by her friends.
Although the festival is mainly pertained to girls, boys also involve to share happiness and find the beloved ones. Thus, the boys appear to attract the girls wearing dresses made up of animal skin, shorts with boots while having stick in their hands.
The pictures illustrated that daughters and boys are exchanging their feelings without any interference. Therefore, the festival is an event where people celebrate it colorfully entertained by singing and dancing while meeting with future life partner side by side.
The Ethiopian Herald January 6/2021
