ADDIS ABABA- Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed wished the people of Ethiopia a happy Fichee–Chambalaalla, a UNESCO registered New Year festival celebrated among the Sidama people, in a statement yesterday.
In his message posted on the Office of the Prime Minister later in the day, the Premier said scholars would agree that knowledge and wisdom of calendar is among the top criteria that show the levels of civilization a society attains. It proves change, centuries of track of a society and the trajectory that takes them to the zenith of civilization, he noted.
The intangible heritage clearly shows the wisdom of the Sidama People in understanding the universe and celestial bodies to calculate years, seasons and days, the statement added.
This “gives us” inspiration and capacity to properly shape “our future and our surrounding” for the better, according to the statement. “Our Sidama forefathers and foremothers” wisdom transformed to a capacity of reckoning time and space through calculating microseconds centuries and millennium ago, as indicated in the statement.
The Prime Minister also wished a year of peace, forgiveness, love and unity to the people. The festival is being celebrated in Gudumalle (near Amora Gedel) of Hawassa town, capital of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples State.
Hawassa City, Public Relation Office Head Melkamu Tefera told The Ethiopian Herald that all members of Sidama community take part in the holiday irrespective of age, gender, and social status. Fichee–Chambalaalla promotes unity, love, peace, mutual respect among the people, he added.
Elders advise the community members to protect the values of the community such as supporting and respecting elders, hard work, among others. The celebration also has contribution towards environmental conservation as elders convey message on the downside of deforestation.
The youth are preparing themselves to mark the festival, said Lemlem Wela, 24, who is Hawassa to celebrate the day. She said, “ Fichee– Chambalaalla enhances peaceful co-existence, social cohesion, equity, and integration among Sidama clans. And also, the festival is unifying symbol of Sidama people.”
Women in particular, transfer knowledge and skills of costumes to their daughters and other girls in their villages, she added. Jagu Agegnehu, Head of Sidama Zone Culture, Tourism and Sport Office for his part said that the cultural festival lasts for two weeks.
He said that there is no fixed date for Chambalaalla festival. But, according to Sidama’s traditional calendar, the New Year’s Day is determined by astronomical process by observing the moon and stars’ position.
Ayanto (cultural astrologers from the community) determine the date and then it is announced to the leaders of the clans. Then the leaders of the clans announce the date for festival before Nine days, he added.
The Ethiopian Herald, May 31/2019
BY ABDUREZAK MOHAMMED
Photo Tsehay Negussie
