HAWASSA (ENA)– Fichee-Chambalaalla, a traditional new year’s celebration among the Sidama people of Ethiopia and an intangible world heritage registered at UNESCO is being celebrated for 15 days in Gudumale (near Amora Gedel) of Hawassa neighborhood, the regional capital and in all Woreda’s of Sidama Zone starting June 13.
Some of the youth who are getting prepared for the annual festival told ENA that they expect Fichee-Chambalaalla will be marked by promoting peace, unity, love and mutual respect.
Mathewos Janje, a resident of Hawassa told ENA that “the festival is not only the intangible heritage of the Sidama people but also a globally recognized world intangible heritage and I celebrate the occasion in full costumes and traditional attire.”
He added, “We ask our fathers and the elderly about the details of the celebration of the festival and strive for the sustained celebration of the occasion to promote, peace, love, mutual respect and tolerance.”
Another resident of Hawassa Oliver Gidessa said the rest of the nationalities in Ethiopia also join in celebrating the New Year in a spirit of unity and peace.
Jago Agegnehu, Department Head of Culture, Tourism and Government Communications said Fichee-Chambalaalla celebrated in the city of Hawassa in the presence of federal, regional and local administration officials today.
Fichee-Chambalaalla has been registered at UNESCO as an intangible world heritage in November 2015.
Summary/Historical Context of Fichee-Chambalaalla
Fichee-Chambalaalla is a New Year festival celebrated by the Sidama people, inhabiting the Sidama Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR) in Ethiopia. It is named after a woman who every year would bring her relatives a dish to share with the neighbors. Nowadays, children visit their neighbors who serve them the dish ”buurisame”, made with false banana. The festival includes other communal events, concluding with clan leaders reminding the community about virtues like working hard. Transmitted by families and participation in the festival, the practice encourages peaceful co-existence and good governance.