Selfies and Singing as Ethiopians Celebrate Thanksgiving!

Sele Media Africa
www.selemedia.org
Reported by David Joshua | Sele Media Africa Reporter

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — Thousands of Ethiopians flooded the capital this weekend in joyous celebration of Irreecha, the Oromo people’s annual thanksgiving festival. The crowds, dressed in their finest traditional white garments, danced, sang and snapped selfies against a backdrop of unity and gratitude. [1]

Irreecha, dedicated to Waaqa (God), marks the end of the rainy season and expresses thanks for rain, harvest, fertility and peace. [1]

Participants held sprigs of green grass and flowers, chanting prayers and performing cultural songs. Many spent hours on the streets, using the festival as a moment to reconnect with heritage and with one another. [2]

The festival also carried symbolic weight this year, as Ethiopia recently inaugurated the Grand Renaissance Dam — a feat many saw as a source of national pride and collective hope. [3]

Against a backdrop of past conflict and social tension, this year’s Irreecha was peaceful, tightly secured, and resoundingly celebratory. [4]

Citations:

1. AP News: apnews.com/article/0b891c0cba77f45386648ec077ff04eb?utm_source=chatgpt.com
2. Africa Press Arabic: www.africa-press.net/ethiopia/all-news/ethiopians-celebrating-irreechaa-annual-thanksgiving-festival?utm_source=chatgpt.com
3. Ethiomonitor: www.ethiomonitor.net/en/17692/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
4. ABC News: abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/thousands-gather-ethiopias-thanksgiving-festival-126216028?utm_source=chatgpt.com

About The Author

Marian Opeyemi Fasesan

Marian Opeyemi Fasesan is a dynamic journalist and editorial leader committed to excellence in news reporting and storytelling. As the Managing Editor of Sele Media Africa, she ensures daily operations run smoothly while upholding the highest editorial standards. With a strong eye for detail and deep understanding of audience engagement, Marian coordinates content across platforms, guiding teams to produce compelling, timely, and credible news. Her leadership reflects the heart of Sele Media Africa’s mission—to inform, inspire, and elevate voices across the continent.

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