December 8, 1994 was the day on which the rights and equality of the Ethiopian nations, nationalities and peoples were fully guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
A little more than a decade ago, the House of Federation decided to celebrate Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Day (NNPD) every December aiming to promote their culture, lifestyle and other values, and strengthen their ties.
The day was intended to contribute to the effort of creating one political and economic community in the country and reaffirm the necessity of respect for the fundamental rights of individuals, and of the nations and nationalities of the country, as well as the development of the country’s various cultures and religions.
Celebrated across the country on rotating basis, the NNP day has also become an engine that boost tourism and investment in the host regions. In fact, the date provides a vibrant and significant demonstration of the strong commitment and respect of the Federal Government and of its peoples for all the nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia, and their individual cultures, territories and modes of life.
Different regional states and autonomous city-administrations have hosted the festival each year since it started to be officially celebrated. Bahir Dar (Amhara State), Jigjiga (Somali State), Assosa (Benishangul-Gumuz State), Gambela (Gambela State), Harar (Harari State), and Semera (Afar State) have hosted the event respectively since 2012.
The 13th edition the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Day is set to be hosted here in the Capital, Addis Ababa for the second time since 2006, where the first NNP day was colorfully marked. Each ethnic group is invited to share their culture and creativity, particularly through live performances.
Speaking on the launching ceremony, the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said: “The Day is an occasion in which the Ethiopian Nations, Nationalities and Peoples make a solemn to develop their language & culture, and also forge strong cooperation.”
Every year, thousands of people representing all the nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia as well as senior officials participate in the celebrations, with modern and creative performances promoting the diversity of cultural expression in full display.
In 2018, the ceremonies will be attended by Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed and other high-ranking government officials, and members of the diplomatic corps. The House of Federation, each of the regional culture and tourism bureaus, and other pertinent agencies will also participate.
The Day is said to have a great impact on the development of inter-culturality and tolerance; also in creating a country in which its people could live peacefully and in harmony, thereby enabling the nation to realize its vision of creating one economic and political community.
Above all, Ethiopia is home to more than 80 nations, nationalities and peoples (NNPs) with respective cultural, linguistic, religious and other peculiarities. Having such dynamics with immense cultural resources, the existence of this diversity was unfortunately remained untold during the past regimes, and the peoples of Ethiopia were also deprived of equal rights in their own home land.
Cognizant of the significance of enjoying human and democratic rights, the incumbent adopted the current constitution of nations and nationalities of Ethiopia, which opens a new era of equality and consolidated unity. The Day provides all nations and nationalities with a double triumph: commemorating citizens’ victory over the tyrannical and undemocratic (DERG) regime, and honors the worthy of the struggle waged by determined martyrs.
In fact, the celebration of the NNPs Day has offered an opportunity for them to acknowledge their diversity as the source of their strength that maintains the internal stability of the country. Yet, many more challenges still lie ahead of them.
The peoples’ need to be vigilant to protect the federal system, deter any tendencies of destruction, and fight corruptions that can hinder the move towards nation’s renaissance, are chief among them.
In this regard, this writer goes through the remarks made by the former Speakers of the House of Federation as scripted in the previous editions of The Ethiopian Herald.
Obviously, among the former Speakers of the House of Federation, Degife Bulla (2005 to 2010), Kassa Teklebirhan (2010 to 2015), and Yalew Abate (2015 to 2018) presided the House since the celebrations of NNPs Day started in 2006.
While delivering opening remark back in 2008, Degfie said that the celebration of nations, nationalities and peoples’ day focuses on the importance of ensuring the rights of citizens, and accelerating the country’s national development. “The equality of nations nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia has been ensured enough to build a strong basis for development and progress to be achieved.”
Degfie also explained that the economic progress recorded so far can be attributed to the fact that equality of nations and nationalities is now fully respected. The day has served as a forum for the people to reaffirm their commitment to strengthen their unity and sustain national development.
Again in 2009, Degfie stated that the respect of the rights of nations, nationalities and peoples contributes greatly to the democratization process. He also added that the celebration of NNP day creates strong cultural ties among the peoples of Ethiopia, and the avenue to pass down this culture to generations to come.
In 2011, Kassa Tekle-birhan called on all nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia to strengthen their solidarity and perseverance in a bid to scale-up the ongoing development undertakings, consolidate the democratic processes, and to gear-up for the realization of Ethiopia’s renaissance.
In 2012, Kassa talked about the significance of NNPs day in serving the effort to create a single political and economic community in Ethiopia, and in ensuring equal benefit to all the people of Ethiopia.
Ethiopia is a country of diversity, where different religions co-exist together through tolerance. In the past, the effort to undermine this diversity has been the source of civil war, poverty, and backwardness, Kassa stressed.
For years, the Ethiopian people had been in a situation where they could not entertain their identity in confidence. Rather they have been made to be ashamed of their culture, language that the nature had offered them.
Today, all nation and nationalities of the country are equally proud of their respective culture, living together harmoniously by respecting one another. And the source of all this good is our constitution, Kassa said.
In 2014, Kassa called the FDRE constitution an exemplary constitution, citing the fact that it comprises individual rights in line with group rights. In this respect, it gives guarantee to all the nation, nationalities and people of the country that human and democratic rights shall be respected.
During the 2015 celebration of NNP day, Yalew Abate stated that a new Ethiopia with efficient and fair wealth distribution among its states is emerging, creating a unique economic community out of its advantages.
According to Yalew, the constitution of the FDRE focuses on ensuring the human and democratic rights of the nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia. And compared with the previous regimes, the incumbent has definitely opened a new era of equality and mutual cooperation to safeguard and ensure their common interests.
In this regard, each nations, nationalitiy and peoples in Ethiopia has the right to speak, write, develop and promote its culture and language. They have also the right to express, develop and preserve their history.
For him, thus, the federal system and the successive economic development of the nation have played significant role towards the realization of the Ethiopian renaissance.
Fast forwarding to the present time, we find that the current Speaker of the House of Federation Keria Ibrahim recently said the 13th Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Day will be celebrated today in Addis Ababa, with the aim of strengthening people-to-people relations.
According to the Speaker, the 13th Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Day would emphasize on bringing attitudinal change towards using scientific ways of dealing with conflict and enriching traditional values of arbitration to facilitate reconciliation and unity.
The day commemorates the endorsement of the constitution, which values the rights of Nation, Nationalities and Peoples, as well as provides wider protection for its diversity, Keria said.
To conclude, the day would be more meaningful if every Ethiopians stand together to protect their constitution and safeguard the rule of law diligently. They need to endure to live in harmony, and pass down the culture of tolerance and peaceful co-existence to next generations.
The recognition of diversity among humankind is pertinent to ensure peaceful co-existence and mutual respect. Dialogue is one important channel to build better understanding of each other.
Thus, whatever differences that exist in society, be it race, religion, culture or even political preference and ideology, Ethiopians must join together, as one, to face the challenges that lie ahead.
Herald December 8/2018
BY ZELALEM GIRMA
