lrreechaa is a platform for peace and reconciliation. It is known for upholding these values. On the eve of the Irreechaa ceremony, local elders and Abbaa Gadaas’ summon communities and ask whether peace prevails amongst them or not. They command those at loggerheads to settle their disagreement prior to thanks giving day. A person who committed a crime such as the murder of a fellow human being, must pay blood money or compensation called Gumaa before setting out for Irreechaa. All who committed petty or serious crimes must obey the commands of Abbaa Gadaas’ to settle their disputes and ask each other for an excuse before the day of thanksgiving and prayer.
It is the duty of the community to obey the commands of the elders’ and Abbaa Gadaas’. Negotiations should be held to resolve disputes and to let celebrants bury the hatchet and stop nursing a grudge with one another before the Thanksgiving Day, so that one goes to the lrreechaa venue with pure heart and free of guilt, hidden motives and revenge. Peace, negotiation and forgiveness are the basic pillar values on which the Irreechaa festivities are based. Irreechaa is a place of peace and reconciliation, not a place of revenge or accusation.
Oromo is a society that values the fear of God. Such wisdom allows it timely resolution through negotiations. Going to Malkaa lrreechaa nursing resentment, revenge, or grievance is not allowed. Celebrants who go to Malkaa for Thanksgiving should forgive their friends and go to Malkaa with a free mind and heart. The elders ask the crowd three questions: Are you all at peace with each other? Are you all at peace with the Creator? Are you in peace with the creator? This time, those in conflict and disagreement show their willingness for forgiveness. The public respond in loud voices, “We are in peace with all,” and then the Thanksgiving ceremony officially begins with Abbaa Malka’s and Abbaa Gadas’s blessings.
The public that surrounds Malkaa lrreechaa holding green grass and flowers dips the grass and flowers into the water and sprinkle the water on their faces and thank god for the last season’s success, prays for the future, and receives blessings from elders. They preach peace, love, unity, hope, prosperity, commonality, fraternity and unity. The crowd thanks the creator and wishes peace for themselves, for others, for the earth, sky, and entire nation in songs and prayers. All activities and processes carried out before and on Thanksgiving Day show that lrreechaa is a place where peace and good deeds are practiced and demonstrated. For this reason, the Oromo people believe that “when humans are at peace with each other, God is also at peace with them”.
The other important value is the one that deals with a blessing. lrreechaa is an important stage where elders and Abbaa Gadaas’ give blessings for the nation, land, man, women, children, animals, ecosystem and their co–existence in mutuality. Thus, lrreechaa is a place where blessings are bestowed by elders and received by fellow participants. On this special occasion, naming-giving ceremonies of children as well as showering wedding couples with blessings are among the big events. Besides, the occasion facilitates chance meetings where bachelors woo, date and seduce their future wives and husbands.
lrreechaa is a big platform where love is preached and praised; disagreement, grievance and discontent are condemned; where the creator and creature, the big and small, the rich and the poor, neighbors with neighbors, man with God, man and land, man and environment cohabit in peace. In addition to the reconciliation, peace, blessing, and forgiveness that take place on the stage, it is also a day that the hopes of participants are renewed.
Moreover it is a day on which Oromo gives thanks to almighty God/Waaqa for what he/she has and prays for the limitations he/she fears will encounter them. The Oromo people give thanks to Waaqa, who has kept him or her through the darkness of summer and transited him/her safely with entire families to the spring season which is filled with hope and joy. According to Oromo society Peace has a special place as it is the pillar of all necessities for a human being. Abbaa Malkaa, Abbaa Gadaa, and other elders declare harmony, prosperity, and hope on the stage, surrounded by multitudes. The elders give blessings in the following manner.
Irreechaa is the Symbol of Unity, Fraternity!
Yusuf Tusse a participant from Kenya said his country and Ethiopia share historical relationship all the way down from Haile Selassie and the relationship has been going on for generations; and we would request this relationship to be strengthened even more for prosperity of our countries, nation and nationalities.
Irreechaa is celebrated not only in Ethiopia. “It has become a regional, African, and global event.”
According to him, Ethiopia can be a good ambassador for Africa, not only for itself, because there are so many communities with diverse culture in Ethiopia and one of the most populated countries in Africa.
“I want to challenge the leadership and also the community that Ethiopia has not marketed itself enough. For whatever reason, this is the time that Ethiopia speaks louder than itself so that the world can hear and see the green, the scenery, and the beauty it has. Ethiopia has to speak and show to the world what it has in terms of diverse culture, food, and tourism attraction so as to market them to the world. “
Another Kenyan participant on the Irreechaa festival said that this tradition is very important in unifying people, celebrating the festival, he said, adding that the whole world can come and learn from this important event.
According to him we need to expand this festival and promote it further to reach out to more people so that people come and celebrate.
When we say Irreechaa is the symbol of unity and fraternity, we mean that the values of unity, fraternity, respect and love have power in building a nation. Irreechaa celebration is a place where Oromo society comes together without discrimination against sex, age, religion, belief, outlook, or class. Therefore, Irreechaa is the place where the Oromo renew their unity, fraternity, love, history, and culture. Irreechaa is a living witness where all walks of life and adherents of different religions come together and celebrate Oromummaa.
Irreechaa is becoming the stage where the unity and fraternity of nations and nationalities in Ethiopia are strengthened and displayed to the world. It is becoming the best place where the cultural values of the Oromo are exhibited to the world. Especially, in the last couple of years, Irreechaa has become the known platform where the neighboring nations of Oromo participate warmly and exhibit their culture, share experiences with Oromo and admire the unity and greatness of Oromo and its culture.
Irreechaa for economy
The Irreechaa celebration has a multidimensional benefit for the nation’s economy. Beyond exhibiting the positive symbolism of our country to the world. It is the source of income for the merchants. Furthermore, the celebration creates job opportunities, additional income, and a place where friends meet and recreate. The participants, journalists, and tourists who come from far and near expend on hotels, transport, ornaments, and cultural tools, which inject a lot of money into the economy, which in turn increases national benefit.
The most benefit goes to those who produce cultural clothes and ornaments. The modernization of cultural clothing not only boosts the economies of individual traders but also has a large share in scaling up the culture of the world. The opportunity the celebration creates for the economy is the most essential pillar for lifting the overall national economy.
Irreechaa: For beauty, nationalism
Irreechaa is beauty by itself. Its beauty is described by the attires (clothes), ornaments, paraphernalia/ulfoo, the line of participants’ spectacle, cultural dance and songs, which are all part of the beauty of the ceremony. When the women carry their ritual stick/siinqee, wearing caaccuu, wearing callee, carrying milk’s utensils/ okolee, decorated by cultural dressing’s and singing a song maareehoo, yaa maareehoo…, and go in front of Abbaa Gadas, elders, and multitudes, it gives exceptional beauty to the parade. This beauty and togetherness of the Oromo had been prohibited for decades and a century. Now, Irreechaa is in its revival or renaissance stage, where the new generation is considering it as a source of strength. The youths have begun saying, Irreechaa is our power! Irreechaa is our culture! Irreechaa is ours! Irreechaa is our identity!
The marching to the venues by festival has to follow certain rituals. Girls march ahead the elderly; then Siinqees’ mothers follow. This is because elderly believe that the girls are innocent and more sympathetic. Next, the Abbaa Muudaa,, Abbaa Gadaa and the participants take turns, in a manner that respects the Oromo customs and traditions. Youths are singing, dancing, and watching the safety of the participants at the march in the back while. It is unethical for the young generation to march ahead of the other participants.
BY NAOL GIRMA
The Ethiopian Herald October 12/2023
