HAWASSA-Fiche-Chambalala, a UNESCO registered New Year’s festival among the Sidama people, embraces various assets and values that strengthen nationalintegration, peace, and harmony,said Sidama State Chief Administrator DestaLedamo .
Thus, the celebration of the festival serves as an input to promote the country’s development, he underscored
It was learnt that the Sidama People celebrated yesterday Fiche-Chambalalacolorfully for the first time after accomplishing statehood.
On the occasion Desta indicated that such ancient tangible and intangible heritages of the country witness that it is home to numerous homegrown knowledge and assets.
“Our forefathers/mothers deserve recognition for inheriting this valuable social value without losing its content. We will also work jointly to conserve and inherit the values of Fiche-Chembelala for the next generation,”he said.
Oromia state Chief Administrator ShimelisAbdisa said that it is time to work jointly onrealizing the country’s peace and development through countering all odds.
At the event ,the administrator wishedpeace and stability to the people of Sidama and Ethiopia in connection with the New Year.
For his part, Culture and Sport Minister KejelaMerdasa said that the ministry is working strenuously on developing and harnessing the country’s diversified cultural assets’ potentials such as Fiche-Chembelala.
“Fiche-Chembelala is the manifestation of the country’s ancient civilizations and numerous cultural assets. While celebrating Fiche -Chembalalaelders preach peace and reconciliation that contribute a lot in nation building,” he said.
Minister of Tourism NasiseChali said that the country is undertaking wide promotion of its cultural assets to generate more income from the tourism sector.
Tourism is among the five pillar focus areas of the Ethiopian government development strategy.
Therefore, the Ministry is working hand in hand with stakeholders to harness the sector potentials through properly developing and conserving the country’s tangible and intangible heritages as well as promoting tourism investments, she noted.
Participants of the celebration express that Fiche -Chembelalabrings new hopes and aspirations among the Sidama community to renew commitment towards peace and unity.
Accordingly, Sidama’sNew Year festival Fiche -Chembalalahas been inscribedby United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO) in 2017.
Thecelebration took place in Gudumale after two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic impact with the presence of senior government officials, city residents as well as representatives of various nations, nationalities and peoples from neighboring zonal and state administrations.
BY TEWODROS KASSA
The Ethiopian Herald 30 April 2022
