BY KFLEEYESUS ABEBE
One oral tradition recounts the word Kambaata translates to “this is the place” (where we live), which was given by the first inhabitants of Kambata. Indeed this is the place, a place of captivating landscape, humble people and delicious foods. Along the way from Addis Ababa, I have visited the beautiful Gedeo; remarkable culture, thick forests and such hospitable people. I thought this is the best of it. I won’t be surprised anymore but it was the opposite. The wonders of south Ethiopia persisted till my last visit.
When reaching Durame administrative center of the Kembata Tembaro Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, the weather was a little chilly and it was evening so Durame was sleeping. But next morning, the sun rose and shined across the town. It was a beautiful town surrounded by mountains.
It was a winding and 8 kilometers long road from Durame to base of Hambaricho Mountain. Some of us were tired and the fact that we did’t know what we would find up there was even to make us disgruntled. The air got thicker and chilly but the scene on the otherside became more interesting. We reached at the base now and looked up Hambaricho Mountain, an elevation of 3058 meters above sea level.
Hambaricho Mountain, as we are told by Zemede Heramo who works in Kembata Tembaro Zone tourism department, is unique for its summit that is flat and even one can ride a bike. The summit used to be a place of ceremonies, festivals, and rituals. It was also an administrative seat for the kings of Kembata. And other times, the mountain was used by Kambata Dejazmach Bashah Aboye as fortress. Taking its historical significance into account, the zone built 777 stairs so that tourists reach the mountain tip. Zemede says the numbers (digits) tell the history and culture of Kembata. “It consists three different things. One of the number seven represents first seven kinship groups of the Kembata who lived on Mount Hambaricho from ancient times. Kembatas still refer to these groups as “Hambaricho Lamala” (the seven kin-groups of Kembata) as the original/founding groups of the Kembata. The second, the mountain has other seven mountains. Lastly, the third seven refers to seven springs that originated from the mountain. There are also other historical, cultural and rituals mystery.
Looking up from the base, I thought I wouldn’t make it to the top. Hambaricho was glorious. It is standing tall seeming it is connected to the sky. Some of it was covered with fog. Fortuantely, it has such encouraging force and I like challenging my limits. I kept climbing and climbing even if I was panting. You feel an excitement maybe you have never felt or you have felt long before. Truly speaking, you feel you are a champion. There is a sense of achievement or an accomplishment you will feel up there. Hambaricho as for Kembatta people it means where can you find the sun. Hambaricho gives a paranomic view to places around and at times you see the fogs covering around or swaying one to other direction.
It is easy to notice this place will draw sizeable tourists and change the status of the area. Taking this into account, the zone began performing different activities that could attract tourists thereby generate income and create jobs for youths who live around the site. One among the activities is building a staircase. Zemede Heramo says the staircase is believed to be the first in Africa and the 7th in the world. It somehow has the ideas of Chinese Great wall. “As you know tourism is trending and used as a new way of generating income. So, seeing this large 18,000-hectare area of mountain with historical, cultural and aesthetic significance, we thought of developing and making it available to tourists. We made the staircases and tried to fulfill other necessary facilties to make the place a potential tourist destination.”
Culture and Tourism expert Getachew Gebretsadik adds, the place is rich with indiginous plants that can even treat different diseases whose treatments aren’t discovered in modern medicine. There is also bamboo tree in the mountain and being protected. He says there is already tourist flow to Hambaricho Mountain and future developments will generate substantial income. “Local tourists are coming in droves and visiting the place. We are also recieving foreign tourists currently. Recently, tourists from South Sudan, South Africa and Europe have visited the place. They were happy about their stay and recommended more development to the area.”
Getachew stressed his office is painstakingly working to benefit locals by alluring more tourists. “We help residents to make things that are unique to this place and make it available to the market like enset flavored coffee. They are also making traditional huts, scarves and other products and selling tourists. We will groom tour guides and soon organize tour guide associations. The reforestation of the mountain will provide adequate water and improve the weather. Therefore, we hope locals benefit much by adding value to their assests.”
The zone, according to Getachew is fulfilling basic facilities such as roads, water and electricity. In terms of accomdation and other related services, the zone is organizing local business people and encouraging them to build standard hotels. There is also a standard hotel near the base of the mountain currently.
In addition to this natural treasure, Kembata possesses distingushed cultural and historical artifacts and other intangible heritages. The most Kembata families live in traditional huts. These round dwellings are constructed straight on the ground with walls of timber covered with mud. There is an effort to make the traditional house building part of tourist attraction. The unique tradtional dancing awaited us upon return from Hambaricho mountain. Dancing along with performers, we entered a room where delicious cultural cuisine was all set. The Kembata cultural foods like kocho, processed from enset, is their staples food. They also grow many kinds of tubers, spices, coffee, crops, and vegetables. These products in different forms were part of buffet.
Kembata’s are welcoming people to guests and an oral account and tradition puts Kembata a melting point of Ethiopian Society, various nations assimalted into one culture. Kembata New Year Mesela is another cultural heriatge that would be a perfect time to promote the riches of Kembatta. If you go to Mesela or get the chance to visit the South Ethiopia, Hambaricho Mountain must be on your travel bucket list because it is where you challenge yourself, take a clear air and feast your eyes on beautiful scenery and greenery.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 26 OCTOBER 2022
