Ethiopia is one of the diverse nations where various cultural and religious activities are entertained widely.
Especially, when the three months rainy season concludes and the new sunny bright season approaches, various cultural and religious festivals take place to mark the end of the old year, welcome the New Year and express gratitude to the Creature for all the blessings He has given.
Among the many festivals carried out openly on the streets, ‘Hoya Hoye, Sheday/ Ashenda/Ashendiye/Solel, Shinoye and Gobe as well as Irreechaa festivals are some.
Impressively, all these festivals are marked between the months of August and September following the coming of the New Year and marked with a sense of solidarity, togetherness and unity.
‘Toki Bea’, the New Year festival of the Dawuro people, is also celebrated with various activities in Tarcha Town, Dawuro Zone of the South West Ethiopia Peoples’ State.
Speaking on the occasion, State’s Deputy Chief Administrator Eng. Negash Wagesho (PhD) said that ‘Toki Bea’, is a manifestation of unity and solidarity, Dawuro Zone Government Communication Affairs Department reported.
According to him, Ethiopia is a country endowed with various heritages which make the country one of the desired tourist destinations. These unique cultures and heritages that have significant social and cultural benefits are also found in various areas of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ State; and in return, the endowments are the blessings and the beauty of the State.
The “Toki Bea” festival is one in this regard. The festival is celebrated every year among the people of Dawuro to say goodbye to the old year and welcome the New Year, to express best wish that the coming year to be a year of wealth and peace and happiness.
Stating that the “Toki Bea” festival is a manifestation of unity, solidarity, inclusiveness, peace and reconciliation, Eng. Negash indicated that various works are being done to promote the untapped culture and history of the State following the initiative of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The young generation should preserve and promote the culture passed down from the ancestors in different ways.
“This festival is a manifestation of togetherness. It is a platform to bring profound reconciliation, to share what we have, and extend blessings, the New Year to be a year of abundance for all from people to animals by undertaking symbolic activities.”
As he stated, preserving and developing the culture that our ancestors delivered to us; and to pass it on to the next generation should be the responsibility of all of us.
Thus, the Deputy Chief Administrator urged the cooperation and togetherness witnessed in ‘Toki Bea’ festival to be repeated in other development endeavors too.
The Zone’s Chief Administrator, Desta Demisse, on his part said that the Dawuro Zone is blessed with various natural and man-made unexploited resources. Among these assets, the ‘Toki Bea’, festival, which is the manifestation of Dawuro people’s identity, is the one.
During ‘Toki Bea’ festival, elders resolve differences in a peaceful way and reconcile, Mothers, by joining hands, preserve and hand over to the generation. And this generation is duty bound to keep and deliver these ages old values to the next generation.
“We have to preserve and pass on to the next generation the culture that our forefathers and mothers handed over to us,” State’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Bureau Head Fantahun Belate said on his part.
According to him, through preserving and developing culture and heritages, it is possible to accelerate Ethiopia’s socioeconomic growth; thus, he urged all stakeholders to play a role in preserving and promoting culture.
“Toki Bea” is a festival that is celebrated among the community of Dawuro at the end of the rainy season, Kiremt and the beginning of the sunny, bright season, Bega, since ancient times, in the month of Pagumen. It is a time that the community celebrates it by counting each and every blessing God has given them; it is also a time that they extend their gratitude to Him for letting them to stay in peace. They pray that the incoming year may bring peace, love, and prosperity from family to the whole country.
Being with this same spirit, the festival will be celebrated warmly and with great joy by lighting torches, eating and drinking together, and chatting happily.
In his research paper presented at a panel discussion in relation to ‘Toki Bea’ festival, Expert at the Dawuro Zone’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Department Tayu Genbato said that culture, not to be eroded; but to grow accordingly, needs the required care and attention.
“We have to take care of and preserve our unique and impressive cultures that are the manifestations of our identity and we inherited them from our forefathers,” reiterated.
This year’s ‘Toki Bea’ festival was celebrated in Tarcha Town on the 2nd of Pagumen, the 13th month in the Ethiopian calendar (September 7, 2023). At the event, including Deputy Chief Administrator of the State, Eng. Negash Wagesho (PhD), states’ senior government officials, zonal and district structures, and invited guests took part.
The day was celebrated in all woredas and zones with various events in a manner demonstrating the culture of Dawuro people and keeping its originality. What is more, a consensus was reached to work together, promote the festival, and celebrate it warmly and make it a public and national festival, as per the Dawuro Zone Government Communication Affairs Bureau report.
BY LEULSEGED WORKU
The Ethiopian Herald September 15/2023
