BY TEWODROS KASSA
Ethiopia, home to diversified tangible and intangible cultural heritages, is known for various annual colourful festivals including the prominent Timket (Baptism of the Jesus Christ), Meskel (founding of the trues Cross), among others attracts numerous international tourists and local tourists. This season is a peak moment where several international tourists are seen traveling to Ethiopia to attend such colourful festivals that are held throughout the country.
In January, annually tourists will have the opportunity to attend the Genna (Ethiopian Christmas) celebration at Lalibela and Timket in Gondar. The beautiful Agew Horse Riders Association festival which is colourfully celebrated annually at Injibara is another special event both local and international tourists love to attend.
The 83rd annual Agew Horse Riders Association festival was colourfully celebrated last Tuesday at Injibara. On the festivals numerous Diasporas, tourists, higher officials, cultural researchers, and other participants took part.
Horse is everything for Agew people. The Agew community has a strong attachment with their horses. Horses have a big role for Agew people in almost every walk of their life: during war, marriage, funerals, farming, among other events. Currently, the annual festival is registered as an intangible heritage of the country under the Authority for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritages (ARCCH). Members of the association are also increasing year after year.
Currently, the association has more than 67,000 members. Injibara University President and the 83rd Agew Horsemen Festival celebration Committee Member, Gardachew Worku (PhD) said that the annual Agew Horsemen Festival celebration has a great role in promoting the social interaction of the Agew community. Currently, the university is working with pertinent stakeholders to register the festival under the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
As to him, the annual festival had been practiced for the last 83 plus years through portraying the Agew people unique socio-cultural manifestations and this culture is still intact. The festival has now gained momentum through attracting numerous international and local tourists and become a pivotal way to encourage the area’s tourist’s inflow.
“The presence of such an annual festival encourages on-going and new investments in the area. Various tourist service providers are invited to join investment in Agew and utilize the untapped investment opportunities of the area”, he said.
He further said that apart from the social and historical benefits provided by the Agew Horsemen Association to its members and the local community, efforts are underway to build a Horsemen Festival Show Center that has a great economic benefit to the country. Currently, the association is discharging various social responsibilities though the fundamental objective was to commemorate the role of the horses during the war. Apart from being a commemoration festival, the event is playing a key role in conflict resolution, promoting cooperation and serving as a traditional court which is more acceptable by the community than formal legal institutions.
According to him, the Agew people are known for their ancient architecture, indigenous knowledge and hardworking culture, and the Agew Horsemen’s Association has become a symbol and manifestation of the Agew people.
The president said: “Currently, when Ethiopians think of this Association, they think of the people of Agew and vice versa as both are two sides of the same coin. The festival is becoming a wonderful Ethiopian festival. Before the actual day, various programs and events are held to beef up the essence of the event.”
On his part, Awi Zone Chief Administrator, Engida Dagnew said, the Agew Horse riding festival is a unique manifestation of the people of Agaw. Due to that reason, several local and international tourists attend the program to witness the event. Engida said, this unique festival should be preserved and promoted to other places of the world so as to attract more tourists.
On his message, Engida has also called all Ethiopians to play their part to enable the festival to be registered in UNESCO. “All Ethiopians at home and abroad are expected to exert utmost effort to this end. More importantly, annually celebrating the festival should not lose the main manifestations of the socio-cultural identities of the Agew people and effectively utilizing this festival will immensely contribute to the socio-economic development of the area.”
The Agew Horse Riders Association was established in connection with the Golden Victory of Adwa over the Italian aggressors. The horse riders and fighters of the Agew people established the association as soon as returning from the battle of Adwa. The festival perfectly suits to explore the then roles of Ethiopian fighters and commemorate how the brave fighters of the Agew people enthusiastically fought against all odds in the past on the back of their horses.
Sources indicated that in the 1930’s the people of Agew Awi (Sebat Bet Agew) joined patriots who waged guerrilla warfare against Fascist Italian invaders with other Ethiopians. Agew patriots utilized a rich tradition of horse riding skills to fight and transport logistics for war by then. Agew Awi Zone, is one of the zones in Amhara state found to the South and South West of the State capital, Bahir Dar. The name Sebat Bet Agew (seven families of Agew) was coined from the name of seven brothers; Ankesha, Banja, Kuakura, Dangila , Metekel, Zigem and Azena.
After the total defeat and departure of Italy from Ethiopia, Sebat Bet Agew Equestrian Association (Yesebat Bet Agew /Seven Houses of Agew/Horsemen Association) was established to commemorate the role of horses and St. George in clearing the invading army from the land. Over the past years, the festival has been celebrated in nine towns and hosted in turn. This year’s 83rd Agew Horsemen Festival has been completed and colourfully celebrated with six types of horse shows and a range of other ceremonial occasions that have been made since September.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2023
