BY YOHANES JEMANEH
Gada System is one of Ethiopia’s intangible cultural heritages registered in the UNESCO list. This traditional administrative system has been applied for years by the Oromo people through transferring power to successors in a peaceful and democratic way. This traditional democratic system has also various features and festivals. Irreechaa (the Oromo people Thanksgiving Day) is but to mention the salient one.
Oromia Prosperity Party Office Public Relations Head Taye Dendea believes that celebrating Irreechaa helps to strengthen people-to-people relations since the spirit of the festival is to promote social bond and thankfulness. It is better if all Ethiopians from various cultures come together and celebrate the day with their Oromo brothers and sisters.
Mentioning the tradition that the festival takes place at watersides, Taye expressed his desire to see a strong social bond through celebrating Irreechaa at the lakeside of Tana or the riverside of Baro or at similar other places across Ethiopia. Likewise, it would help to strengthen friendship among the people if Ashendeye (women festival in northern Ethiopia) and other public celebrations that take place in Oromia and other parts of the country. That is how we should develop sense of belongingness and utilize the festivals to realize unity, he indicated.
According to Abba Gada Jenbere Tessema, Irreechaa has a unique place in the culture of Oromo people. Understanding the festival is important to all Ethiopians since its core concept is about preaching unity, decency and coexistence. Celebrants who have been in conflict reconcile in this festival. This culture also enables orphaned children to get adopters among benevolent people nurtured in the Gada system, he stated.
The Thanksgiving Day takes place each year at the end of September to commemorate the end of the rainy season, to say prayers and to supplicate God to keep the people from drought and other natural disaster. This year, the Irreechaa has been celebrated in the capital and other parts of the country through blessings of elders, traditional rituals songs and dances, and panel discussions among others.
The Oromo people don’t believe a human being has the capability to accomplish everything by oneself. So that, they thank God for showing them the brightest season uncovering the foggy Summer, said Addis Ababa City Mayor Adanech Abebie in a panel discussion organized in the capital in line with Irreechaa.
“In this regard, we need to thank our national defense forces and all security organs keeping us safe paying every sacrifice.” Ethiopians have several potential cultures vital to promote unity so that they need to give due attention to preserve them. And the same is true for Irreechaa, she noted.
The Ethiopian Herald October 3/2021
