BY LEULSEGED WORKU
Giving a special value to nations, nationalities and peoples’ identity and culture has a significant and lasting impact on the unity of any country. In this regard, cherishing the cultural and historical identity of Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ of Ethiopia has a key role in unifying and creating mutual understanding among the people.
Lately, the Russian folk musical performance organized by the Russian Embassy in dedication to the National Unity Day was marked here in Addis Ababa, at the premises of the Embassy.
At the event, several government officials and invited guests were seen enjoying Russian folk music. Using the opportunity, The Ethiopian Herald had a chance to interview Russian Press Attaché and the legendary Ethiopian Playwright, Poet and Critic Ayalneh Mulat on the value of preserving cultural identities for the good of the nation.
According to Maria Chernukhina, Press Attaché of the Embassy of Russia, unity and cultural tolerance are two sides of a single coin. Like that of Russia, where there are more than one hundred nationalities, Ethiopia is also a land with several nations and nationalities. For this very reason, preserving one’s culture is not an option. “Ethiopia and Russia have a long-standing relationship, and this year we are celebrating the 125th anniversary. The musical concert which was celebrated on November 4th in connection to the Russian National Unity Day also manifests our wish to share our culture with African countries, Ethiopia in particular, because Ethiopia is a big friend of Russia. For years, we have been sharing common values and common traditions regarding Christianity and others. The possibility of sharing Russian culture in the form of folk music with Ethiopia is a big opportunity to share cultural exchanges between the two countries. This further promotes People to People relations.”
Seconding the view of Maria Chernukhina, the renowned Ethiopian Playwright, Poet and Critic Ayalneh Mulat said that the folk music and other cultural practices that are still kept by Russian people are a reflection of their dedication to cultural identities and current achievements. “If they want to create something new, they use their forefathers’ indigenous knowledge as and utilize them as a springboard for new innovations. There is no change out of the blue. For Russians, development means building something new out of the foundation of their predecessor. Based on the basis of their forefathers, they create something new. This culture of valuing the old identity is reflected almost in everything. It can be seen on their art, science and military spheres as well.”
Civilization and development are not all about copying others’ achievements. Rather, going back to the earlier times and appreciating the achievements of those people in the remote past is important. “Whoever sees the experiences of those economically developed nations, S/he will realize that their current economic or political success has a strong foundation that traces its ground on the past. All great nations have become “great” because they have given special respect to their past and value the achievements of their forefathers. Let alone those ancient countries whose origin goes back before the birth of Christ, nations with a recent historical ground value the accomplishments of their founding fathers. Be it Japan, Korea or any other young nations, their civilizations emerge from their cultural ground.”
In this regard, as to him, we, Ethiopians, should always value and nurture our traditional identity and use our past achievements for tomorrows’ progress. The more we appreciate the achievements of our forefathers; we create a better, and deliver a safe Ethiopia to the coming generation. The more we appreciate, love and respect others’ culture, the more we will have a new generation whose foundation is love and tolerance.
Ayalneh said, Ethiopia is a land with several ancient civilizations and achievements. It is also the land where one can witness the harmonious lifestyle of different nations and nationalities. “These are our opportunities to grow and prosper together. Great nations have influenced others through their culture because they treasure their traditions. This is what we should learn from them. If we fail to appreciate what is ours, no one will do that for us.” As noted by Ayalneh, we Ethiopians have a lot to share with the world. As a land of diversity, we should capitalize on what we have in hand.
When asked the meaning of unity, Ayalenh said that we cannot bring unity from the barrel of a gun. Instead, it is by the means of art and culture. We should learn to share our cultural value systems with each other. The northern part of the nation should enjoy the culture of the south; the southern people should learn the culture of the north or the East. The same is true for the west. This brings people closer and enables them to understand each other.
Regarding the use of art, particularly, music for unity, Ayalneh said that we have wrongly interpreted the value of art in the area of unity; we have wrongly understood the power of music in areas of peace and unity. We use music or any other forms of art to arouse the heroic feeling of soldiers, to kill each other instead of using it for peace and unity. “I am saying this from my personal experience. In times when I and the other members of ‘People to People Music Tour /Hizeb Le Hizeb/’ were engaged in cultural exhibition carried out around the world to “give a tour de force of Ethiopian music and culture throughout the world and a way to thank nations for the assistance they had provided to Ethiopia during the famine, it was our cultural values and the traditional music performance that opened the door in the foreign land.”
It was not the political ideology, the parade at Meskel Square or the military strength of the then government that helped us to open the door of the West. It was our cultural values and music performances that melted the hearts of our donors. In this regard, we should not forget the power of art in uniting people from different walks of life.
The Ethiopian Herald November 27/2022
