Birbirsa Lakkuu, Bedelle District — Under the open sky and amid the resonant chants of thanksgiving, the Irreecha Malkaa Daabanaa festival was celebrated in Birbirsa Lakkuu, in the Bedelle district of the South West Oromia Zone, with the traditional rites of the festival observed in full.

The celebration drew together elders, Abbaa Gadaa, community leaders, and thousands of participants who gathered to honor one of the most cherished cultural and spiritual traditions of the Oromo people. From the early hours of the morning, the grounds of Birbirsa Lakkuu filled with color, song, and the scent of fresh grass and flowers — symbols of renewal and gratitude that lie at the heart of Irreecha.

Speaking at the celebration, Abbaa Gadaa Maccaa, Abbaa Gadaa Warqinaa Tarreessaa, said that Irreecha demonstrates Oromo identity and strengthens coexistence among the Oromo people and other nations. He emphasized that the festival is more than a cultural gathering — it is a living expression of unity, mutual respect, and shared humanity.

He further noted that Oromo tradition and culture are a source of democracy, a path to peace, and therefore the current generation should embrace Oromo tradition early and use it to empower themselves. The values embedded in the Gadaa system, he explained, offer timeless lessons in governance, justice, and social harmony that remain deeply relevant today.

The Abbaa Gadaa and participants of the festival stated that they are working to strengthen the traditions of Irreecha and pass them on to the younger generation. They stressed that the youth — the custodians of tomorrow — must be actively engaged in learning and practicing these traditions so that the cultural heritage of the Oromo people continues to flourish for generations to come.

For the community of Bedelle, the celebration was a powerful reminder of the enduring bond between the people and their land, their faith, and their history. As participants departed with blessings and renewed hope, the message of Irreecha Malkaa Daabanaa echoed far beyond the festival grounds: a call to unity, peace, and the preservation of a proud and living heritage.