In Ethiopia, Oromo people revive ancestral Irreecha festival
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Tens of thousands of people from the Oromia region of Ethiopia gathered in Meskel Square, Addis Ababa, on October 3 to celebrate Irreecha, a traditional festival of the Oromo culture.
For decades, the Ethiopian government repressed public displays of Irreecha, but recent years have seen a resurgence in its celebration. Participants give thanks to Wakaa, a deity representing the source of life, for the end of the rainy season and the arrival of spring.
The Irreecha festival blends with the existing Christian Orthodox and Muslim faiths present in the Oromia region. One attendee, Abdii, recalled celebrating the festival privately with his family during his childhood, before public celebrations became common in the late 1990s. With renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia beginning September 23, people view the festival as a source of joy and cultural pride. The celebration allows them to express their identity and find solidarity during difficult times.
