- Title: Ethiopia's Oromo celebrate festival in Addis amid tight security
- Date: 7th October 2019
- Summary: ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (OCTOBER 5, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF KARAYU MEN DANCING A KARAYU ELDER GIVING BLESSINGS (SOUNDBITE) (Afaan Oromo) TAYE BANYAKA, AN OROMO ELDER, SAYING: "Our Ireecha, our festival where we receive the answers to our prayers from our God Waka. Where we reconcile adversaries, where the sick get healed, where we pray for rain, for unity and for a good life. Waka does listen and respond." VARIOUS OF WOMEN CHANTING (SOUNDBITE) (Afaan Oromo) MESERET TOLA, PARTICIPANT, SAYING: "This is the land where our forefathers were oppressed. Their identity stripped away and they were made not to speak their language. But they didn't let their culture go. Rather our grandparents passed it to our fathers and our fathers passed it to us. That is what we are celebrating." VARIOUS OF OROMO MEN DANCING (SOUNDBITE) (Afaan Oromo) BACHA FAYISA, PARTICIPANT FROM GINCHI TOWN, SAYING: "Our ancestors used to hold Ireecha festival here in Addis Ababa until it was disrupted for 150 years, which is about three generations. But this year thanks to the struggle and the blood of our children we are able to celebrate the festival at the heart of the city." VARIOUS OF HALABA DANCING VARIOUS OF BORANA OROMO DANCING WIDE OF CROWD OF PEOPLE IN MESKEL SQUARE PEOPLE MARCHING TO RIVER FINFINNE TO PERFORM RITUALS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE PERFORMING RITUALS AT THE WATER'S EDGE
- Embargoed: 21st October 2019 12:32
- Keywords: Ethiopia festival Oromo Ireecha Addis Ababa
- Location: ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
- City: ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
- Country: Ethiopia
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA001B03KRPZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Hundreds of thousands of Ethiopia's largest ethnic group celebrated in Addis Ababa on Saturday (October 5) at the start of an annual thanksgiving festival which was marred by violence in 2016.
Security was high for Ireecha, which is celebrated by the Oromo people to mark the start of the harvest season.
As early as Friday (October 4), thousands of people dressed in traditional white costumes started arriving in in buses, cars and by foot from all over the Oromia region to celebrate on the streets of the capital with dancing, singing and flag waving.
Security was high, with a visible presence from security forces including snipers. Ethiopian Federal Police said nine people had been arrested on the eve of the festival for attempting to smuggle weapons within the capital.
The peaceful start was in contrast to 2016 when a stampede triggered by a clash between police and protesters left more than 50 people dead.
The thanksgiving ritual involves touching water with yellow flowers and grass.
The festival is usually held in Bishoftu, a town located in the Oromia region, about 40 km (25 miles) south of Addis Ababa. The celebrations returned to the capital for the first time in 150 years and was followed by a larger event on Sunday (October 6) in Bishoftu.
The Oromo, who make up about a third of Ethiopia's population of more than 100 million, have long complained of being marginalized during decades of authoritarian rule by governments led by politicians from other smaller ethnic groups.
Prime Minister Abiy has pursued a reconciliation strategy since taking power in April 2018. He has implemented a series of radical economic and political reforms including releasing political prisoners and restoring relations with arch-foe Eritrea.
The reforms have opened up what was once one of Africa's most repressive nations but also stoked violence as emboldened regional strongmen build ethnic powerbases and compete over political influence and resources.
(Production; Kumerra Gemechu, Edwin Waita) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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