September 28, 2008- by Kambata Xoola
Today, the 28th of September 2008 is the beginning of the Sidama New Year Celebration in an occupied Sidama-land, and it is an eve for Camballaala festivities. The Sidama celebrates this great cultural significance that uniquely characterises the Sidama nation since the time immemorial. And of course, even since the nation had fallen under Abyssinian colonial yoke over hundred years ago-they didn't stop celebrating it despite relentless brutality they remained receiving to this date from the aforementioned colonisers who are the case for their abject poverty, ignorance and all round human sufferings including currently unfolding tragedy in their land. See from the following for more detail- http://www.buzzle.com/articles/fichchee-the-original-ethiopian-new-year-begins.html
The Sidama New Year 'Fichchee' is one of the main Sidama nations cultural identities and heritages that has been preserved and maintained for many centuries although it has been so difficult to enrich it in such a way that it can cope with ever-changing technology and scientific advancements since the colonisation. However, despite an imposition of colonial culture and their deliberate assimilationst policy, and the lack of representation for the Sidama nation at governments political apparatus for the last over 110 years; the nation kept celebrating this huge cultural significance to this date by preserving its integrity. By doing so, the Sidama nation is proving their indefatigability and resilience that culturally entitles them to regain their lost cultural sovereignty.
This first day (today) is called Fichcheete Barra or Fixaa; an official Sidama New Year calendar. The nation prepares itself for this special day for the last two month or so by saving what they posses to make this day very exciting and enjoyable as culture expects them.
Hawalee Sidaamu haarru diriraa Sidaamuu maganii kalaqii kaliqii kerruni iliishshinonke!! Harru dirri kerrunihana lophphoniha, dagaankee uuminsa uumonsaa gashshatee astitano milimilimo jeffaa gantanoha ikoononke.
We wish all Sidama nationals all over the world 'a happy and prosperous Fichchee'!! We also wish all Sidama nationals in Diaspora as well as within the country, a year of prosperity; a year the sufferings and tyranny end and a year that brings to the minds of the Sidama nationals complete psychological emancipation so that they can totally reject successive Abyssinian coloniser's ignorant ideology that exposes the nation for socio-cultural genocide and total and all round failures.
The Sidama Nation is one of the very few nations under Abyssinian colonial power that celebrate their New Years by preserving their cultural identity despite Abyssinian socio cultural and politico-economic domination that is being imposed on them for the last over one century.
Read more information about the Sidama New Year, Fichchee celebration from the following links:
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/fichchee-the-original-ethiopian-new-year-begins.html
http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/39910
http://www.sidama.org/documents/06_fichchee.pdf
We will have more news on how the Celebration has taken place in Sidama land by the following few days as the series of Camballaala festivities can take up to weeks.
Setember 28, 2008--Kambata Xoola