It is Birraa (Fall) season and Oromos worldwide are celebrating something more than a changing of season. Why? Because it is a concerted act of thanking ONE GOD, of the African indigenous religion type.
Reasons Irreecha Pulls Us Together
1. Integration of followers of various faiths
To say Irreecha is a uniting force for all Oromos from all faiths is just a restatement of the obvious. Irreecha spiritually integrates everyone and everything: the young, the old, male and female Muslims, Waaqeffataas, Christians, water and animals.
It easy to notice throngs of pilgrims to holy places like Hora Arsadi in Bushoftu town, southeast of Finfinne. People come from all kinds of faiths, but they submit to their Oromo faith, Waaqeffannaa, at least for a day.
2. Irreechaa is global
Irreechaa is colorfully celebrated from Oromia to Washington D.C. to Toronto , and other places in Africa.
3. The cultural outfits represent the diversity/richness of Oromia's spirit of extraordinary creativity.
4. The rituals performed are the direct outgrowth of Waaqeffannaa
Waqeffannaa is a banned religion by Ethiopian regime. Civil society organizations like the Macha and Tulama Association have applied for the registration of Waaqeffannaa as a national religion, but Waaqeffannaa is still denied legal personality and a place in Ethiopian calendar of holidays. Of course, this is against the will of millions of its followers. The fact that this pious national festival happen every year is testament to the Oromo people's resilience and resistance in the face of massive state-sponsored violations on religious freedoms and basic human rights. In Oromia, Oromos celebrate IRREECHA under the gaze and harassment from the heavily-armed Ethiopian government troops and police.
Reasons Irreecha Pulls Us Together
1. Integration of followers of various faiths
To say Irreecha is a uniting force for all Oromos from all faiths is just a restatement of the obvious. Irreecha spiritually integrates everyone and everything: the young, the old, male and female Muslims, Waaqeffataas, Christians, water and animals.
It easy to notice throngs of pilgrims to holy places like Hora Arsadi in Bushoftu town, southeast of Finfinne. People come from all kinds of faiths, but they submit to their Oromo faith, Waaqeffannaa, at least for a day.
2. Irreechaa is global
Irreechaa is colorfully celebrated from Oromia to Washington D.C. to Toronto , and other places in Africa.
3. The cultural outfits represent the diversity/richness of Oromia's spirit of extraordinary creativity.
4. The rituals performed are the direct outgrowth of Waaqeffannaa
Waqeffannaa is a banned religion by Ethiopian regime. Civil society organizations like the Macha and Tulama Association have applied for the registration of Waaqeffannaa as a national religion, but Waaqeffannaa is still denied legal personality and a place in Ethiopian calendar of holidays. Of course, this is against the will of millions of its followers. The fact that this pious national festival happen every year is testament to the Oromo people's resilience and resistance in the face of massive state-sponsored violations on religious freedoms and basic human rights. In Oromia, Oromos celebrate IRREECHA under the gaze and harassment from the heavily-armed Ethiopian government troops and police.
