Tens of thousands of vibrantly dressed Ethiopians descended on downtown Addis Ababa for an annual thanksgiving festival this weekend. Irreecha is celebrated by the Oromo, Ethiopia's largest ethnic group, and takes place at the end of the country's main rainy season.
Each year, festival-goers gather around sacred rivers and lakes to thank their creators for the greenery that the rains have brought. I've been celebrating Irreecha for the past nine years, 25-year-old Moata Abdulmajid shared. To me, Irreecha represents my identity, it reflects the pride and greatness of my people. Men, women, the elderly, and the young all join in, adorned in eye-catching clothes and jewelry. They sing, dance, share stories, and place freshly cut grass and flowers in water – a symbol of life, renewal, and hope.
Irreecha does not only attract people from across Ethiopia; attendees fly in from around the world. I came last year - it was so good, so beautiful, I brought my children with me this year, said Claire from Belfast, Northern Ireland. The festival's spirit of joy and cultural pride continues, even as it has evolved from previous years when it served as a platform for anti-government protests amidst the Oromo people's struggles against political and economic marginalization. This year, the celebrations unfolded peacefully, focusing on unity and identity, reinforcing Irreecha's significance in contemporary Ethiopian society.
The first day of the festival took place on Saturday in Addis Ababa, and on Sunday, participants traveled to Bishoftu, a small town just outside the capital. Although Irreecha has its roots in indigenous faith systems, it is now observed by most Oromos, regardless of their religion.
