As a blessing in disguise, I was woken up by a noise emanating from next door. Getting up early in the morning I was targeting at getting myself involved in the 13th Nations, Nationalities and Peoples day celebration, which was to be held at the Addis Ababa Stadium.
The smile of the sun was thought-provoking. It was showering me with its kisses as a harbinger to the happy time that awaits me at the stadium.
People from every corner of the capital were heading straight to Addis Ababa stadium in a bid to celebrate the day. They were adorning themselves head to foot with mesmerizing and motley costumes of the spectrum of almost all ethnic groups of Ethiopia.
They were dressed to kill. They all had joyful reactions. Nobody felt ennui. Some of them were humming their favorite songs. The atmosphere and setting were more electrifying.
On my way to the stadium, I stumbled upon children singing the most known song entitled, Biher Biher Seboch (Nations and Nationalities). This song is played mostly once a year during the celebration of the day. It has the power of titillating hearts in the blink of an eye.
When I came within reach of the stadium, people were pouring into it. Foreigners can easily understand the fact that Ethiopia is a mosaic of a wide spectrum of beautiful traditions, cultures and norms.
In the stadium everyone was singing a variety of songs lauding the oneness of Ethiopians. Everybody was very emotional. They were all calling the name Ethiopia over and over again. They were entertaining themselves singing and dancing different songs from all corners of the nation.
All of a sudden, when dignitaries like Ethiopian president Sahle Work Zewide and Deputy Mayor of Addis Ababa Engineer Takele Uma showed up the audiences turned out to be very happy. Almost immediately, they embarked on expressing their love in different ways. Some of them were shouting at the top of their lungs while others were calling their name nonstop. The audience had no words to express the love they carried in their hearts and soul. They all welcomed them with uninterrupted love.
After the dignitaries had entertained the feelings of the audience in various ways, they set in motion addressing the audience. Their speeches revolved around Ethiopianism and unity.
In a message Dr. Abiy Ahmed released pertaining to the celebration of Nations, Nationalities and Peoples day he conveyed that “Ethiopia is irreplaceable. Nothing on earth could replace Ethiopia. Ethiopianism is the sum total of unity in diversity.
I would say, the different Nations, Nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia are parts which constitute the great Ethiopia. Ethiopianism is the sum total of all Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia. The merging of all creates a strong unity. Unity creates a great sense of accretion. But unity does not necessarily mean we are impossible to tell apart. ”
“Ethiopians are not foreign to one another. Though they differ in the language they speak, Ethiopianism makes them like peas in a pod. Our children who were born and raised across the globe speak the languages of others.
Though they are our compatriots in many ways, they differ in languages and cultures. But nobody could say they are foreign to us.
On the occasion, Engineer Takele said, “As there are a wide array of impediments orchestrated by quite a lot of displeased people with the purpose of pouring cold water on the unity and oneness of our country, citizens need to be very wise in foiling their efforts. We do not have to lay down our arms for backward thinking which weakens our unity.”
He continued: “As there are groups which make an effort to bamboozle people with fabricated stories and take the country to unwanted direction, we have not circumvented such challenges yet.
Therefore, all Ethiopians should endeavor to create a country with a budding democracy. What is more, we do not have to see unity in diversity as a threat but as a gift from God.”
“The celebration of Nations, Nationalities and Peoples day in black and white manifest Ethiopian unity signaling Ethiopia is moving to a new height of unity. It is the time that we give
our all for our beloved country,” he wrapped up.
The Ethiopian president Sahle-Work Zewde for her part said, “The very first day when I took office, my focus was on peace, unity, women, growing together, among others. To make the dream of building a big country a reality, there is no option except attaching significance to peace and togetherness.”
Herald December 9/2018
BY ADDISALEM MUALT
