Ethiopia's Irreecha Festival Celebrates Identity and Cultural Pride

Tue Oct 21 2025 02:32:08 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Tens of thousands of Ethiopians gather for the colorful Irreecha festival in Addis Ababa, celebrating the end of the rainy season with songs, dances, and thankfulness.

This weekend, Ethiopia's largest ethnic group, the Oromo, celebrated the annual Irreecha festival in downtown Addis Ababa. The event, which signifies a thanksgiving for the greenery brought by the rainy season, featured vibrant traditional attire, communal songs, and joyful gatherings. Festival-goers emphasized their cultural identity, and despite its historical roots in protest, this year's celebration was marked by unity and joy.

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 stated. 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 jewellery. 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 attendees from across Ethiopia; many boys and girls from around the world participate as well. Claire from Belfast, Northern Ireland, noted, I came last year - it was so good, so beautiful, I brought my children with me this year. It is amazing. Everybody wants to say hello, everyone wants to give you a kiss and say welcome.

The first day of the festival took place on Saturday in Addis Ababa. On Sunday, festival-goers travelled to Bishoftu, a small town just outside the capital. Although Irreecha has its roots in indigenous faith systems, it is now observed by the majority of Oromos, regardless of their religion.

The past decade saw an increase in the number of participants at the festival, driven by social media, where many young people share their outfits and festive experiences. Traditionally, Irreecha served as a forum for protests against government marginalization, but this year's celebration emphasized joy and cultural pride, unfolding peacefully.