Nations across the world celebrate their New Year as the planet makes a full circle around the sun respective to their culture, religion and other circumstances that are found to be valuable and convenient. Ethiopia apart from being a country which has its own unique calendar, it is also a home for multi ethno-lingual groups who celebrate their New Year according to the respective importance of marking the day in relation to context, and objective realities, and geospatial situation of the diverse nation, nationalities and peoples.
Fiche Chambellalla is among the New Year celebration that has been marked every year by the Sidama people every year and registered as intangible heritage by the United Nation Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Jaggo Agegnew, Sidama State, Culture, Tourism and Sport Bureau Head said that Fiche Chambellalla is not only the heritage that represent, signify and dignify Sidama, it is rather a value of humanity that is celebrated with a sense of stewardship for environment and betterment of biodiversity. The cardinal point of celebrating the Fiche Chambellalla is raised from human values of patience, coexistence and forgiveness along with environmental protection. That is why cutting off trees is prohibited during the time of the festivity, said Jaggo.
Moreover animals are also among entities that are able to gain due concern in marking the festival. A prohibition of slaughter is another important feature that makes the festivity unique, he said. Cattle are proud guests with special concern and with the provision of Bole (salty soil) and stay on bloom grasses which remained reserved for them for the festivity.
According to the Head, the day had been celebrated warmly on the streets. However, following the COVID-19 pandemic, for the past two consecutive years, people are obliged to celebrate it confining at home. Most of all the unique feature of Fichee is forgiveness that the nations have able to take a good lesson and key component for nation building.
Sidama declares the celebration of the day observing stars mainly the relation between the moon and Bekalcho (the Sidama version of morning star) and through investigation of the lunar system. Hence efforts are under way to develop such indigenous knowledge in collaboration with the Ethiopian Space Science thereby passes to the posterity. Furthermore the Fiche Chambellalla celebration like other tourism sectors has not secured incomes from both domestic and local visitors ever since the world has been hit by the outbreak of the current pandemic, the head said.
According to scripts found from the then Sidama Zone now State, Fiche Chambellalla New Year celebration is one of the interesting holidays typical to Sidama people. It is celebrated for two weeks in colorful scenarios in a manner it leaves an everlasting impression in one’s mind. According to Sidama’s traditional calendar, the New Year’s day is determined by an astronomical process by observing the position of the moon and stars.
The “mootes” nominated administrators, would discuss with chemssa (that is elderlies) in mootesongo (that is a gathering chaired by the “moote”) then after, it would be announced on market days in every area to celebrate. Elders in every area would start fasting for fifteen days, and on their fasting break day, sofoteQetela (blessing and traditional dance would be performed). The celebration process starts from the elders blessing and dancing cultural dance. Next to sofoteQetela, adults and youths carryout traditional dance known as AdihaQetela (true Qetela) on all market days until Fiche.
As further stated in documents, Fiche Chambellalla is a New Year festival celebrated among the Sidama people. According to the oral tradition, Fiche commemorates a Sidama woman who visited her parents and relatives once a year after her marriage, bringing buurisame, meal prepared from false banana, milk and butter, which was shared with neighbors. Fichee has since become a unifying symbol of the Sidama people. Each year, astrologers determine the right date for the festival, which is then announced to the clans.
Communal events take place throughout the festival, including traditional songs and dances. Every member participates irrespective of age, gender and social status. On the first day, children go from house to house to greet their neighbors, who serve them buurisame. During the festival, clan leaders advise the Sidama people to work hard, respect and support the elders, and abstain from cutting down indigenous trees, begging, indolence, false testimony and theft. The festival therefore enhances equity, good governance, social cohesion, peaceful co-existence and integration among Sidama clans and the diverse ethnic groups in Ethiopia.
Parents transmit the tradition to their children orally and through participation in events during the celebration. Women in particular, transfer knowledge and skills associated with hairdressing and preparation of buurisame to their daughters and other girls in their respective villages.
“Ayidde Chmballalla”
BY LAKACHEW ATINAFU
The Ethiopian Herald may 11/2021
