Category Archives: Ukee
“Welcome Home”: Artist Daawwitee Mokonnon Returns to Ethiopia After 27 Years, Received with Celebration in Bole
By Dhabessa Wakjira
ADDIS ABABA — After 27 long years away from home, renowned Oromo artist Daawwitee Mokonnon has returned to Ethiopia. The beloved singer and cultural figure was welcomed with a warm and celebratory reception in Bole, marking an emotional homecoming that has touched the hearts of many Oromos at home and abroad.
“Baga nagaan gara biyya abbaaketti galte!” — “Welcome back to your fatherland!” — read the message shared by the Oromia Communication Bureau, capturing the joy and relief that accompanied him return.
A Long Journey Home
Twenty-seven years is a lifetime. For Daawwitee Mokonnon, those years were spent in exile — far from the land, the people, and the culture that shaped him art and his identity. His music, however, never left. Throughout him time abroad, his voice remained a powerful thread connecting the Oromo diaspora to their homeland, a source of comfort, pride, and remembrance for millions.
Now, that thread has come full circle. His return is not merely a personal milestone; it is a symbolic moment for the Oromo people — a reminder that distance, however long, cannot sever the bond between an artist and his nation.
A Reception Fit for a Cultural Icon
The reception in Bole was filled with the warmth and reverence befitting an artist of his stature. Community members, fellow artists, and admirers gathered to welcome him back, celebrating not only his return but also the decades of cultural contribution he has made from afar.
Daawwitee Mokonnon is more than a singer. He is a keeper of Oromo musical heritage, a voice that has carried the stories, struggles, and aspirations of her people across borders and generations. His songs have been sung at Irreechaa gatherings, at family celebrations, and in quiet moments of longing for home. For many in the diaspora, his music was a piece of Oromia they could carry with them.
A Symbol of Hope and Reconnection
His return after 27 years carries profound meaning. It speaks to the resilience of the Oromo people and the enduring pull of the homeland. It is a reminder that exile, however painful, does not have to be permanent — and that the cultural treasures preserved abroad can, and do, find their way back home.
For younger Oromos who grew up hearing his name but never seeing him in person, his return is an opportunity to connect with a living legend. For elders who remember his performances from decades past, it is a joyful reunion. For the diaspora, it is a sign that the distance between home and abroad is not insurmountable.
A Homecoming That Belongs to All
While the reception was held in Bole, the significance of Daawwitee Mokonnon’s return extends far beyond one city or one gathering. It belongs to every Oromo who has ever longed for home, every family separated by circumstance, and every artist who has carried their culture with them into unfamiliar lands.
His journey back is a testament to the power of perseverance and the unbreakable connection between an artist and his people.
Baga nagaan gara biyya abbaaketti galte, Daawwitee! 🥰
Welcome home.
Source: Oromia Communication Bureau
THE RAINS HAVE CEASED, THE FLOWERS BLOOM: CELEBRATING IRREECHAA, THE OROMO THANKSGIVING
By Dhabessa Wakjira
In the highlands of Ethiopia, where the skies weep for months on end and the earth turns to mud, there comes a sacred morning when the clouds finally part. The sun, a golden orb of promise, kisses the damp grass, and a new season is born. This is the moment of Birraa—the spring—and for the Oromo people, it is a time to pause, breathe, and pour out their hearts in gratitude.
This is the spirit of Irreechaa, a festival that transcends mere celebration. It is the Oromo Thanksgiving, a profound spiritual and cultural touchstone that marks the end of the punishing rainy season and the beginning of a season of renewal, peace, and hope.
Held annually at the end of September or the beginning of October, Irreechaa is not a quiet affair of private reflection. It is a magnificent, vibrant explosion of life. Thousands, dressed in dazzling traditional attire, converge on sacred rivers, lakes, and hilltops. The air hums with the rhythm of drums, the melodic chants of elders, and the joyous ululations of the crowd. In their hands, they hold the symbols of the season: lush green grass and delicate yellow daisies, emblems of fertility, flourishing life, and the promise of a bountiful year.
The Heart of the Festival: Giving Thanks to Waaqa
At its core, Irreechaa is a dialogue with the divine. The Oromo people lift their prayers to Waaqa (God), offering thanks not for material wealth alone, but for the bedrock of their existence: a good harvest that fills the granaries, the health of their precious livestock, and the most precious gift of all—peace. It is a recognition that survival through the harsh, dark months was not by human effort alone, but by divine mercy.
“We come to the water to wash away our sorrows and our grudges,” explains an elder during a recent ceremony at Lake Hora Arsadi, near Addis Ababa. “The rain has stopped. Now, we cleanse our hearts and start anew.”
A Living Testament to the Gadaa System
Irreechaa is more than a religious observance; it is the vibrant pulse of the Gadaa System, the ancient, indigenous democratic governance structure of the Oromo people. Inscribed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the Gadaa System organizes society into generations, guiding leadership, law, and morality. Irreechaa serves as a unifying moment for this system, reinforcing the social contracts and spiritual values that hold the community together.
Reconciliation and Unity
In a world often fractured by division, Irreechaa stands as a powerful advocate for unity. The festival is a designated time for reconciliation. It is a communal balm where feuds are set aside, misunderstandings are forgiven, and the bonds of kinship are strengthened. The shared experience of prayer and dance melts away social barriers, weaving a tapestry of harmony that includes not just the Oromo, but neighboring communities as well.
A Cultural Showcase
To witness Irreechaa is to witness the soul of Oromo culture. The hills become a runway of breathtaking fashion, with men and women adorned in intricately woven garments and vibrant beadwork. The music is hypnotic, with traditional songs that speak of heroism, love, and history. The dances are energetic, a physical manifestation of joy and liberation.
As the sun sets on the celebration, the green grass is often placed upon the heads of participants as a blessing, a final act of connection to the earth and the creator. The festival concludes, but its spirit lingers—a reminder that every ending is a new beginning, and that gratitude is the foundation upon which communities are built.
Irreechaa is not just a festival. It is a declaration: We have survived. We are thankful. We are one.
—
Key Aspects of Irreechaa at a Glance:
· Thanksgiving: Central purpose is to thank Waaqa (God) for blessings over the past year.
· End of Winter: Celebrates the conclusion of the rainy season and the dawn of spring (Birraa).
· Sacred Sites: Observed at rivers (Malkaa), lakes, and hilltops (Tulu).
· Symbols of Life: Participants carry wet grass and daisy flowers to represent fertility and flourishing.
· Cultural Expression: A vibrant display of traditional costumes, music, chants, and dances.
· Unity & Peace: A time for community bonding, spiritual reflection, and reconciliation.
· Gadaa System: An integral ritual within the traditional Oromo governance and social structure.
Ukee: An Oromo Tradition of Nurturing the Next Generation
Celebrating Childhood and Cultural Continuity in Walisoo
By Daandii Ragabaa
Today, in the historic town of Walisoo, the Galma Amantaa Waaqeffannaa Duudhaa Ganamaa Walisoo Liiban was filled with the joyous sounds of children’s laughter and celebration. The occasion was the annual Ukee festival—a sacred Oromo tradition dedicated to honouring children and ensuring the continuity of culture from one generation to the next.
What Is Ukee?
Ukee, also known as Taabooree in some regions, is a traditional Oromo children’s festival celebrated during the month of Hagayya (July-August). It is a time when the community comes together to honour its youngest members—the inheritors of the culture, the carriers of the language, and the hope of the future.
The festival reflects the deep value that Oromo culture places on children. In a society where oral tradition is the foundation of cultural transmission, children are not merely the future—they are the living connection to ancestors and the continuity of identity.
A Celebration of Childhood and Community
The Ukee festival is a vibrant celebration filled with traditional songs, games, and communal gatherings. Children are the centre of attention, dressed in their finest traditional attire, participating in activities that have been passed down through generations.
The festival is also a time for intergenerational connection. Elders share stories, teach traditional values, and impart the wisdom of the Gadaa system to the younger generation. Through these interactions, children learn about their history, their culture, and their responsibilities to their community.
The Significance of Ukee
For the Oromo people, the Ukee festival is not merely a children’s holiday—it is a profound expression of the community’s commitment to its future. By celebrating and nurturing children, the community ensures that its culture, language, and values will endure for generations to come.
The festival also reinforces the bonds of community. Families come together, neighbours share meals, and the entire community participates in the celebration of its youngest members. This collective affirmation of the value of children strengthens the social fabric and builds a foundation for future prosperity.
A Living Tradition
In a rapidly changing world, traditions like Ukee serve as anchors of identity and continuity. The celebration at the Galma Amantaa Waaqeffannaa in Walisoo is a testament to the resilience of Oromo culture and the commitment of the community to preserving its heritage.
As the children of Walisoo gather to sing, dance, and celebrate, they are not only enjoying a moment of joy—they are participating in a ritual that has sustained the Oromo people for centuries. They are learning who they are and who they can become.
Conclusion
The Ukee festival is a beautiful reminder that the strength of a community lies in its children. By honouring them, we honour our ancestors. By celebrating them, we celebrate our future. By teaching them, we ensure that the flame of our culture will never be extinguished.
This feature article is dedicated to the children of Oromia and all those who work to ensure that Oromo culture thrives for generations to come.
