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In pictures: Ethiopia's Oromos celebrate thanksgiving | |
(32 minutes later) | |
Huge crowds turned out in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, as it hosted for the first time in more than a century the annual Irreecha thanksgiving festival of the Oromo, the country's largest ethnic group. | Huge crowds turned out in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, as it hosted for the first time in more than a century the annual Irreecha thanksgiving festival of the Oromo, the country's largest ethnic group. |
In one Irreecha tradition, freshly cut grass and flowers are placed in water to thank God for the end of the rainy season and the beginning of spring. | In one Irreecha tradition, freshly cut grass and flowers are placed in water to thank God for the end of the rainy season and the beginning of spring. |
There was tight security as hundreds of thousands of people clogged the streets, including Addis Ababa's main public area, Meskel Square. They chanted, sang and waved flags and flowers. | There was tight security as hundreds of thousands of people clogged the streets, including Addis Ababa's main public area, Meskel Square. They chanted, sang and waved flags and flowers. |
City officials said they were expecting 10 million people to take part, though the final attendance figures are hard to estimate. | City officials said they were expecting 10 million people to take part, though the final attendance figures are hard to estimate. |
Previously, the annual festival had been celebrated in Bishoftu, 40km (25 miles) away, but similar gatherings have taken place in other parts of Oromia at different times of the year. | Previously, the annual festival had been celebrated in Bishoftu, 40km (25 miles) away, but similar gatherings have taken place in other parts of Oromia at different times of the year. |
The move to the capital, which is surrounded by Oromia, is seen by some as a recognition of Oromo culture by the authorities. For years, Oromo people had complained of cultural and political marginalisation. | The move to the capital, which is surrounded by Oromia, is seen by some as a recognition of Oromo culture by the authorities. For years, Oromo people had complained of cultural and political marginalisation. |
But some say it is an attempt by the ruling party to cultivate popular support ahead of next year's general election, reports the BBC's Kalkidan Yibeltal. | But some say it is an attempt by the ruling party to cultivate popular support ahead of next year's general election, reports the BBC's Kalkidan Yibeltal. |
There are thought to be at least 40 million Oromos in Ethiopia, making up more than 30% of the population. | There are thought to be at least 40 million Oromos in Ethiopia, making up more than 30% of the population. |
Within the Oromos there are many different traditions associated with where people come from, and Irreecha brings them all together. | Within the Oromos there are many different traditions associated with where people come from, and Irreecha brings them all together. |
The celebration is a chance for people to wear traditional costume. | The celebration is a chance for people to wear traditional costume. |
This man, from the Shoa region, are wearing "Daabe", made from baboon skin. | This man, from the Shoa region, are wearing "Daabe", made from baboon skin. |
The beadwork, known as chelie, that these women are wearing on their foreheads is common to all Oromos, but their clothes are typical of people from the Borena region. | The beadwork, known as chelie, that these women are wearing on their foreheads is common to all Oromos, but their clothes are typical of people from the Borena region. |
These men made the 400km journey from Bale, in southern Ethiopia, to join in the festivities. Their headscarves, known as ruufa, are worn at any major celebration. | These men made the 400km journey from Bale, in southern Ethiopia, to join in the festivities. Their headscarves, known as ruufa, are worn at any major celebration. |
This woman from Hararghe, in the east of Ethiopia, came in the clothes typical of her region. | This woman from Hararghe, in the east of Ethiopia, came in the clothes typical of her region. |
A community from Alaba, which is in southern Ethiopia outside of Oromia, also joined in. | A community from Alaba, which is in southern Ethiopia outside of Oromia, also joined in. |
Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is himself from Oromia. | Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is himself from Oromia. |
He has implemented radical reforms since coming to power last year following protests demanding more rights for ethnic groups. | He has implemented radical reforms since coming to power last year following protests demanding more rights for ethnic groups. |
But despite the move to the capital, the festival comes amid rising political tensions and ethnic rivalries that are dogging Mr Abiy's administration, our correspondent says. | But despite the move to the capital, the festival comes amid rising political tensions and ethnic rivalries that are dogging Mr Abiy's administration, our correspondent says. |
Photographs by Yadeta Berhanu (BBC), Amensisa Negera (BBC), Reuters and AFP. | Photographs by Yadeta Berhanu (BBC), Amensisa Negera (BBC), Reuters and AFP. |