BY LEULSEGED WORKU
There is an ambiguity and misinterpretation of the concept of civilization. For some, it is defined in terms of the existing technological innovations and modernizations at the expense of cultural values. For others, civilization is all about the social, moral and cultural aspects of a given society. Despite this ambiguity, the civilization of human kind is associated with the evolution of its technological, cultural and moral values that laid a foundation for current achievements.
Nations who valued the cultural and moral values of their forefathers have still preserved their true identity because culture is a defining feature of a given society; and an element that promotes cohesion among communities. Ethiopia is among these traditional societies which retained its cultural values for centuries. Fichee Chambalaalla is among these traditional values that have been passed down from generation to generation and a time that the people express their love, togetherness and peaceful coexistence.
Fichee-Chambalaalla is a New Year festival celebrated among the Sidama people. According to the oral tradition, Fichee commemorates a Sidama woman who visited her parents and relatives once a year after her marriage, bringing buurisame, and a meal prepared from false banana, milk and butter which was shared with neighbors. Fichee has since become a unifying symbol of the Sidama people. Each year, Sidama elders known as ‘Ayanto’ determine the correct date for the festival based on their own distinctive calendar and announce it to the clans. Communal events take place throughout the festival, including traditional songs and dances.
Recently, Apr 20 and 21, 2023, the festival of Fichee Chambalaalla was celebrated warmly and colorfully among the people of Sidama in Hawaasa City as well as in other places and various parts of the world including in Europe, North America, Atlanta Georgia, and Canada, Toronto. Lately, the festival was celebrated colorfully here in Addis Ababa, which is the hub of various nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia in the presence of senior officials and community. The festival was organized by the Ministry of Culture and Sport in partnership with the Sidama Community Association in Addis Ababa.
Speaking at the event, Addis Ababa City Administration, Mayor Adanech Abiebie, said that “marking Fichee Chambalaalla in the capital Addis Ababa signifies the fact that the city is a home for all Ethiopians; and our togetherness, unity and love.” Mentioning that Ethiopia is a home for several unique cultural values and heritages .she underlined the importance of working together to preserve, nurture, promote and transfer such cultural heritages which are the manifestation of our identity to the next generation. “Ethiopia has many cultures and if we do not preserve those cultures that define us and pass them to the next generation, they may disappear. Therefore, we should not leave it to a few institutions to develop Ethiopia’s culture and heritage and we should contribute our due share.”
Culture and Sport Minister, Kejela Merdasa, on his part said that Fichee Chambalaalla is one of the true manifestations of Sidama people’s civilization. According to him, Chambalaalla, which represents forgiveness, peace, unity, love and solidarity, has a significant value to sustain the peaceful coexistence of Ethiopians. The role cultural festivities, including Fichee Chambalaalla, play to sustain the age-old peace of the country is immense. Thus, the Ministry would extend holistic support to the preservation and promotion of the festival, the Minister promised.
Speaking on behalf of Sidama State Chief Administrator, Planning and Development Minister Fitsum Assefa (PhD) noted that Fichee Chambalaalla has an important role in fostering unity among the people of Ethiopia. According to the Minister, unity and love are the core values of the festival and this year’s Chambalaalla festival was unique for it was marked after the country has successfully overcome most of its pressing challenges.
On her part, Tourism Minister Nasise Chali, said that in addition to its cultural values, Fichee Chambalaalla has a significant economic role to the country by attracting foreign currency. She said an intensified effort to inform and promote the international community about the noble features of Fichee-Chambalaalla is expected from every Ethiopian. “Fichee Chambalaalla has immense economic potential and, consolidated efforts are crucial to make the festivity a dependable source of foreign currency for Ethiopia.” she stressed.
Indeed, as one can learn from the experiences of developed nations, preserving and promoting tangible and intangible heritages have helped their economy positively. By preserving their cultural and historical heritages, these countries are able to attract tourists from all over the world. At the same time those countries that gave less value to their cultural values and historical heritages are seen becoming victims of intermixed culture and lose the economic benefit they should have gained from the tourism sector.
Addis Ababa is a city where several nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia are living in tolerance and harmony. As a political and economic center of Ethiopia, the city entertains all cultural values, and marks public and religious holidays in selected spots in a manner bringing together various groups of people regardless of any differences be it cultural values, religious beliefs, ethnicity or any backgrounds. While marking these special days it is common to see residents of Addis Ababa gathering together and celebrating those special days harmoniously, irrespective of any differences.
Even if Fichee Chambalaalla is a particular festival to the people of Sidama, it is also a national and international heritage that represents human kind in general and Ethiopia in particular. As one can understand from an age old culture of Sidama people, Chambalaalla is a unifying symbol of the Sidama people by which the younger learn from elders, women exercise their freedom, equity and peaceful coexistence are experienced. While pursuing sound economic plans that uplift the nation from poverty, the government has also given a special attention to further strengthening social cohesion among the mass. Marking Chambalaalla in Addis Ababa is a good example in this regard.
As Ethiopia aspires to achieve economic prosperity, the issue of love and tolerance are the paramount agenda of its people. Fichee Chambalaalla, a New Year festival of the Sidama people, was inscribed as the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2015.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 18 MAY 2023
