Public festivals being observed in Ethiopia have a pivotal role to strengthen the economic and tourism development of the country apart from their contribution to creating harmony among nations and nationalities, according to scholars.
Ethiopia is a fascinating country in the eastern part of Africa encompassing over 80 different ethnic groups with unique traditions, languages, and artistic expressions.
All of these diverse cultural values are being displayed in various public festivals such as Meskel and Irreecha which are observed annually across the nation attracting global tourists.
Some of these cultural and spiritual public events are inscribed by UNESCO as world heritages.
Addis Ababa University has organized a panel discussion under the theme “Public Festivals for Common Values and Nation Building.”
Lecturer of Sociology at Addis Ababa University Dr. Zelelam Teferra, who presented a paper for discussion about public holidays, highlighted public festivals to promote social values, social cohesion and unity among each other.
Not only that, public festivals have great importance for the revival of the economy and tourism development of the country.
To this end, he emphasized that Ethiopians should strengthen their solidarity, unity and fraternity by celebrating and participating in public festivals in harmony and together.
Moreover, Zelelam stressed public festivals should be preserved and passed on to the next generations.
Another scholar, who presented a paper on celebration of Irreecha and its values Tadesse Jaleta said the Irreechaa festival is among the public festivals, and has been playing a significant role in promoting peace, unity and fraternity.
Irreechaa festival is one of the great Ethiopian cultural and national festivals as well as the annual Oromo people ‘Thanksgiving Day’ and prayer that is celebrated every year, he added.
On other hand, he said that this grand festival is a celebration of unity, togetherness, and brotherhood where diversity is reflected.
Irreechaa is celebrated for all things that Waqaa ‘God’ has done for people like bringing rain, peace, health, fertility, abundance and for the beautiful weather they have cherished.
Irreechaa festivity will be marked in the coming weekend under the theme of “Irreecha is a Symbol of Unity and Brotherhood.”
This grand public festival is expected to brings together millions of people from all corners of the country including the diaspora community.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency