Ethiopian New Year, Enkutatash, always falls on the first day of the Ethiopian calendar Meskerem 1 (on the 11th or 12th September in the Gregorian calendar). Ethiopians, throughout the country, celebrate Enkutatash warmly and colorfully with various events.
Recently, the Boro Shinasha people, following the conclusion of the rainy season and the beginning of the sunny, bright season, marked their New Year, Gari woro under the theme, “Gari-Woro for forgiveness, solidarity and peace.”
The Gari Woro festival in the Shinasha calendar represents a fusion of cultural, religious, and communal dimensions. The festival holds great importance in the cultural and religious life of the Shinasha community and serves as a time for reflection, celebration, and the reaffirmation of their shared identity as a distinct ethnic group in Ethiopia.
Not only that, but Gari-Woro, the New Year festival of Boro Shinasha people, is also the platform that further strengthens peace, dialogue resolution, reconciliation, and keeping brotherhood among the community, the surrounding community and beyond.
According to documents, the Gari Woro festival that is held in the middle of Meskerem is primarily dedicated to fertility and the renewal of life.
One remarkable aspect of the Gari Woro festival is the active involvement of all members of the Shinasha society. From youths to children, men to women, and the elderly, everyone plays an important role in the festivity. This inclusive participation highlights the communal spirit and collective identity of the Shinasha people.
The preparatory phase to the Gari Woro celebration is the first step that involves the active involvement of all people. On the eve of the actual festival, individual Shinasha organizes a service where all members of Shinasha meet and celebrate the Gari throughout the year.
It includes activities such as selecting the date for the festival, identifying the sacred site where the rituals take place and making arrangements for the necessary materials and resources. The community members come together to plan and organize various aspects of the festival, ensuring that everything is in place for the upcoming celebrations.
The ritual phase which is also the core of the Gari Woro celebration typically takes place over several days and involves a series of ceremonies and dances. One of the highlights of the festival is the “Woro” ritual, which involves the sacrifice of oxen or other cattle as an offering to the spirits and deities. The sacrifice is believed to bring blessings, fertility, and protection to the community. The meat of the sacrificed animal is shared among the participants, symbolizing unity and communal harmony.
The Gari Woro festival involves a series of performances, entertainment, rites, and rituals. These elements contribute to the vibrancy and liveliness of the celebration. Traditional dances, music, and storytelling play a crucial role in conveying the cultural heritage and transmitting ancestral knowledge to younger generations.
Rituals and ceremonies include prayers, offerings, and symbolic acts that signify renewal, blessings, and gratitude and ceremonies that are performed to ensure the well-being of the community and the prosperity of the land.
The festival also includes storytelling, folklore performances, and cultural exhibitions, allowing the younger generations to learn about their heritages and traditions. Through the Gari Woro festival, the Shinasha people showcase their unique cultural practices, economic activities, and social customs. It serves as a platform for the people to get together, strengthen social bonds, express their ethnic identity; celebrate their cultural practices and preserve their distinct traditions. The festival provides an opportunity for the Shinasha people, reinforce community values, and celebrate their heritage.
This act is believed to bring blessings, fertility, and protection to the community. The rituals are performed by designated individuals who hold specific roles within the community, such as spiritual leaders or elders. Music, singing, and dancing are integral parts of the rituals, adding to the festive special, impressive atmosphere.
During the Gari Woro festival, the Shinasha people gather in a designated area, often near a sacred site or river. The community members dress in traditional attire, adorned with colorful beads, feathers, and other decorative elements. Men and women participate in separate dances, accompanied by traditional music and drums.
The culinary phase marks the conclusion of the Gari Woro celebration. After the rituals and ceremonies, the community gathers to share a communal feast. Traditional foods, such as injera (a sourdough flatbread), meat dishes, and locally brewed beverages, are prepared and enjoyed together. This phase is a time for the community to bond, reflect on the significance of the festival, and celebrate the abundance and blessings of the harvest season.
The majority of the Shinasha people follow the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and their New Year celebration coincides with the Orthodox holiday of Meskel. This convergence of events adds a religious dimension to the festival, as the faithful commemorate the discovery of the True Cross. For this reason, it can be said that the Gari Woro festival serves as a platform to demonstrate and reinforce the cultural, social, and religious values cherished by the Shinasha community.
Speaking in relation to Gari Woro New Year festival of Boro Shinasha people, Benishangul Gumuz State Council Chief Speaker Temesgen Desisa (PhD) said that Gari Woro festival is the means of peace, dialogue resolution, reconciliation, and keeping brotherhood.
Temesegen also said that Gari-Woro festival for the people of Boro Shinasha has many advantages as it is quite important for the generations to come and nation building. Therefore, when celebrating the festival, the peace achieved in the State should be further strengthened through dialogue and reconciliation, and reinforced the existing brotherhood and solidarity.
Local media reports have also confirmed that various elderly people express the meaning and importance of the Gari Woro Boro Shinasha New Year. For instance, in his short stay with ENA, Elder Lema Alga said that it is impossible to move into the New Year with a grudge against one with the other. Before the plan for New Year is prepared, if there is a dispute, reconciliation should be sought and then the elders are blessed those who have had reservations.
Another Elder, Assefa Taye on his part said that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and respecting differences. In view of this, he always strives to play his part in that regard.
Furthermore, the elders stated that apart from preserving the nation’s culture and passing it on to the next generation and especially the youth, they are working to strengthen unity and solidarity using their being opinion leaders.
It is to be recalled that “Gari Woro” is a traditional turn of the year and it is celebrated with various events from the Eve of the New Year till the true Cross Festival. The festival is the symbol of forgiveness, unity, understanding, love, and peace.
All the cultural processes of Gari Woro celebration reflect the cultural and spiritual values of the Shinasha people, emphasizing unity, gratitude, and the renewal of life. It is a time for the community to come together, honor their traditions, and strengthen social ties.
BY LEULSEGED WORKU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 1 OCTOBER 2023
