Eid to Eid Great Ethiopian Homecoming is the second part of the initiative forwarded by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) calling one million Ethiopians, Ethiopian origins and friends of Ethiopia to come to Ethiopia following the Gregorian New Year to celebrate Christmas and epiphany (Timket) in their country. Eid to Eid Great Ethiopian Homecoming was also made public during the Prime Minister addressed to the parliament calling for ‘The Great Eid Prayer in Ethiopia’, a document from the Ethiopian Diaspora Service revealed.
The document further emphasized that the call was made to Ethiopians, friends of Ethiopia, and citizens of neighboring countries including the Middle East countries to celebrate Eid in Ethiopia. As ‘Eid Al Fitr’ and ‘Eid Al Adha’ fall within the call, a national committee that comprises six sub committees was formed to coordinate these grand events in two phases.
Accordingly, Phase one stays from April 11- May 11, 2022 and Phase two from July 1- August 10, 2022. Events ranging from Grand Open Space Iftar, Grand Eid Prayer, symposiums and conferences, Exhibition and bazaars, visits to Industrial Development Parks (IDP), historic Islamic sites and development projects have been arranged. The call is expected to encourage sustainable diaspora engagement, showcase Ethiopia’s contribution to the Islamic world, its diversity and harmony, its attractiveness to investment and its potential to be a tourist destination.
So then, great number of Ethiopian Diasporas is expected to flocking to their homeland in response to the Eid to Eid Great Homecoming Challenge. The coming of Ethiopian Diasporas to mark this year’s Eid al-Fitr in home country would enable the Muslim World to realize Ethiopia is a special place for all religions and its much-cherished culture of religious equality coupled with exalting the national economy, scholars said.
Speaking to The Ethiopian Herald, a prominent Islamic scholar and Ethio-Arab Relations Researcher, Assistant Professor Adem Kamil stated that Ethiopia has an age-long history of accommodating people of various religions that was manifested by welcoming Companions of followers of Prophet Muhammad in the first Hijra.
Noting the Muslim community has made tireless efforts to host such a sacred celebration in an unorganized manner, Adem highlighted that the endeavors couldn’t get positive response due to the wrong perceptions of the previous regimes. The coming of the Diaspora has also a pivotal role to revive Ethiopia’s investment and tourism sectors. Thus, a conducive environment should be created for visitors to be aware of the country’s untapped business potentials, he noted.
By the same token, the grand event is instrumental in countering smear campaigns that have been disseminated by some corporate media informing the global community about the country’s objective reality, he emphasized.
Presiding over the meeting with the committee members, Birtukan Auano, State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia recalled the spectacular success of the #Great Ethiopian Home Coming last December and underlined the need to make the Eid al-Fitr to Eid al-Adha call reflective of Ethiopia’s immense cultural, religious, and historical values.
Ustaz Abubakar Ahmed, overseeing the committee along with Ambassador Birtukan Ayano, said the program would help build the country’s image and relations with others besides promoting Ethiopia’s Islamic values, tourism potential, and economic activities.
He further said regarding the ‘Eid to Eid great home coming that Ethiopians can well introduce their country, culture, social and religious coexistence as well as other crucial assets to the rest of the world and the Muslim community, as well, taking the event as a great advantage. He also underscored that the call is seemingly important to stimulate the national economy of the country it allows the member of the Diasporas to invest in any of many investment areas and opportunities in Ethiopia.
Unlike the smear campaigns that have been disseminated by some western media, Ethiopian Diasporas are flocking to their homeland in response to the Eid to Eid Great Homecoming Challenge, the coordination committee said, adding that it has welcomed the latter since last couple of weeks.
The initiative, launched by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, aims to build the image of the country through promoting religious coexistence, Islamic values, history, culture and Islamic heritage in Ethiopia.
Within this scope, several social and economic events are planned to provide opportunities for the diaspora to participate in national development and growth activities. Furthermore, the homecoming initiative will further be a scene of a large iftar, a dinner to mark the breaking of the daily fast, as well as the planting of seedlings, trade fairs, discussion forums and visits to tourist attractions.
A similar initiative was organized by Ethiopia last year in December that witnessed many Ethiopians returning home to celebrate Christmas and Epiphany. The event is also an opportunity for Ethiopia to display that the country is stable and to counter the negative image generally drawn by Western media outlets.
Thousands living in the Ethiopian diaspora have begun arriving in the Horn of Africa country, responding to the government’s call for a “great Ethiopian homecoming.” Kanita Edris, 42 who have been abroad for a long time and who believe in the unity of Ethiopia is amongst the Diasporas who responded to call for homecoming. She has a trucking business in Maryland, and came from the Oromia region’s town of Assela.
Moreover, she explained that this golden opportunity gave her a chance to see her country after 19 years and she has also underscored that she will be engaged in one of the manufacturing industry in Ethiopia as soon as possible coupled with putting her finger print in rebuilding the destroyed infrastructures. For her, apart from the chance to meet with her relatives, and friends, she is very delighted for the opportunity she got to invest in her homeland, Ethiopia.
One goal of the initiative is to boost Ethiopia’s economy, battered by COVID-19 and the Tigray conflict. It had been the region’s fastest-growing economy, expanding by an annual average of 9.4 percent for nine years ending in 2019-2020, according to the World Bank. The Ethiopian diaspora has sent nearly more than 9 billion Birr in remittances over the past three years, documents from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.
Hailemeskel Gezu, an economist said the diaspora members would be encouraged to help rebuild war-torn infrastructure during their stays. They should focus on development, rebuilding the destroyed houses, and helping the homeless.
Acknowledging the Ethiopian Airlines for its discount for flights to the country between April 25 and May 15 in a way to promote participation, he suggested the member of the Diaspora to not to miss the chance to meet their relatives and helping the national economy as well.
While visiting Industrial Parks, historical places, and destroyed infrastructures, it will open the way for the members of Diasporas to play their role in supporting the national economic growth. Their flowing to Ethiopia is also significant to increase the foreign exchange capacity of the country. As they are exchanging their foreign currency legally from Banks, it will be as such momentous for the development and devaluing the black market.
As to him their visit to some tourist destinations in Ethiopia is also vital to stimulate the tourism sector. During their visit, they can buy different traditional or cultural items, they will make entrance fees while visiting different tourist destinations, transportation and hotel service revenue is also an advantage for the country earns from the members.
Wishing a happy Eid al-Fitter for the Muslim parishes across the globe, scholars called up on the Muslim communities living abroad to respond to the call and put their foundation stone for the national economy. While they are responding to Eid to Eid home coming challenge, they are killing many birds with a stone. Celebrating the holyday together with Ethiopians, supporting the national economy, building nation’s positive image are amongst the opportunities of the challenge.
BY HIZKEL HAILU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 24 APRIL 2022
