Now it’s happening: The colorful Irreecha festival, which is an Oromo traditional thanksgiving festival, is taking place in Addis Ababa at Hora Finfinnee. One of the biggest festivals where hundreds and thousands of people show their culture. 

The event we witnessed was amazing, with everywhere were people in their traditional costumes in various colors and forms who were having great fun. Leaders of the community were praying, music was playing, and people were dancing everywhere, bringing joy to the atmosphere.

Abbaa Gadaas, elders of the community, youth, and a wide cross-section of the population were all actively involved in the event. They together demonstrated the wonderful richness of the Oromo culture and made a capital city a lively one where people could share their culture.

Irreecha is not just a spiritual and cultural event, but also a symbol of unity and peace, attracting people from all over Ethiopia and beyond. It brings to the fore the enduring values of the Gadaa system of indigenous social organization, which is a complex indigenous democratic system. It is a traditional system officially added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

This prestigious international recognition is significantly raising the international awareness about Oromo heritage. It has also created new opportunities for cultural exchange, in line with the global goals of the UN Tourism program, by making Irreecha a leading cultural event for tourists around the world.

The continuous festival is very much in line with the national development and transformation agenda of the Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. The country is using heritage and culture as a catalyst for social cohesion, thus fast improving its international profile. In addition, Addis Ababa is the diplomatic capital and headquarters of the African Union, so these large, peaceful demonstrations help to promote the spirit of unity and culture among African nations.

Irreecha has certainly passed the point of being just a local thanksgiving service. Today it is a unique show of colour and unity, standing tall and proud among the rich cultural heritage of the nation and proudly sharing it with the world.