Every autumn, as the heavy rainy season yields to sun-drenched skies and golden Adey Abeba wildflowers blanket the meadows of Oromia, the Oromo people celebrate Irreecha — the sacred festival of thanksgiving and reconciliation.
A Tapestry of Gratitude and Harmony
Irreecha is rooted in the ancestral Gadaa system, the UNESCO-inscribed democratic socio-political structure of the Oromo. Elders (Abba Gadaas) and women carrying the sacred Siinqee scepter lead processions to bodies of water (Hora) holding fresh green grass (Coqorsa) as an offering of peace and gratitude to the Creator (Waaqa).
Colors, Songs and Living Tradition
From Hora Finfinnee in the capital to the historic shores of Lake Hora Arsadi in Bishoftu, the festival dazzles with intricate white and black handwoven cotton garments, beaded jewelry, and uplifting choral anthems (Sirba) passed down through generations.
Witnessing Irreecha is an unforgettable immersion into one of Africa's most enduring and uplifting indigenous celebrations of life and community.
