Preparations for a grand celebration of the Sidama New Year festival Fiche Chamballa in Ethiopia's Afar region have been completed. The regional Culture, Tourism and Sport Bureau announced the event. It aims to highlight cultural preservation and tourism.
Addis Ababa, March 3, 2018 (Fana) – Jago Agenehu, head of the Afar region's Culture, Tourism and Sport Bureau, stated that necessary preparations for a grand celebration of the Sidama New Year festival Fiche Chamballa in the Afar region have been completed.
The bureau noted that Fiche Chamballa, registered with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), is one of the untouched churches in the Afar region. This initiative, undertaken in collaboration with regional bodies, aims to protect women's rights and promote the tourism sector through the event.
Ato Wesenyeleh Simion, head of the regional Communication Bureau, emphasized, "Afar resident associations should focus on not missing this opportunity." Security forces will coordinate with organizing committees to safeguard peace and security, promoting unity among the region's people.
The festival embodies peace, unity, and respect, serving to preserve local traditions. Traditional food experts, who facilitate visits to Afar, inspected the city's corridor and other development works today. They plan to offer trainings to help preserve the region's culture, identity, language, and tourism destinations.
High-ranking federal and regional officials, traditional leaders, and invited organizations will participate. The Sidama New Year celebration Fiche Chamballa will occur on March 5 and 6, 2018 in the Ethiopian calendar across various settings.