Addis Abeba – Sidama Regional State began festivities marking the colorful Fichee Chambalaalla celebrations, Sidama people’s New Year. The celebrations this year, which will begin at Soressa Gudumale square in Hawassa, mark the first since the Sidama state became an autonomous regional state following a referendum in November 2019. It is also the first public celebration after it was interrupted due to Covid 19 global pandemic.
Desta Ledamo, President of the region, said in his message in connection with the celebrations that this year’s Fichee Chambalaalla Festival was unique because it is the first after Sidama Regional State was established and it will be celebrated with various festivities in the regional state throughout the month, according to the President’s office.
Collection of pictures from past Fiche Chambalala celebrations. Pictures: UNESCO/Agencies/SocialMedia
This morning senior Oromia regional state government officials led by regional President Shimelis Abdissa, as well as members of the House of Peoples’ Representatives, and senior federal officials and guests from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism arrived in the region’s capital Hawassa to participate in the celebrations.
Last week, before deciding the date for this year’s Fichee Chambalaalla, Sidama elders known as Ayaanto, came together to observe the movements of the star and have decided that the main celebrations will be on 28 and 29 April. However, various activities and festivities will continue through the month of May, according to the regional state press secretariat bureau.
In 2015, the UNESCO had inscribed Fichee-Chambalaalla on its “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.”
