Sidama Fichchee Marked by the Political Assassination of Kefyalew Yunka, Great Sidama Artist

In an earlier article, entitled ‘Fichchee: the Original Ethiopian New Year begins!’, we published the first part of a brilliant and pioneering contribution by the Sidama Leader, Mr. Kambata Xola, Chairman of the Sidama National Liberation Organization, on the Sidama New Year Day, Fichchee, the related religious ceremonies and festivities, and the centuries old traditions that are still alive and joyfully shared by the oppressed Kushitic nation of tyrannical Abyssinia, fallaciously re-baptized Ethiopia.

As international bibliography is quasi-inexistent on this topic, the present contribution by Chairman Xola becomes an alarming call for the world academia, scholars and political activists, reminding them of the urgent need for the inauguration of a chair / department of Sidamuaffo and Sidama Literature, Religion, History and Culture.

With the present, second, part we complete the publication of Chairman Xola’s contribution; following his steps, we want to express our indignation for Abyssinian Dictator Meles Zenawi’s latest deed, the murder of the Great Sidama Artist Kefyalew Yunka.

We believe that the International Community has to demonstrate a greater and most determined concern for the appalling conditions of tyranny under which live more than 5 million Sidamas.

Sidama Nation Continues Celebrating its New Year, ‘Fichchee’ Defying Successive Abyssinian Brutal Rules – Part II

By Kambata Xoola – SNLO Chairman

The Closing the Old Year Ceremony

After the meal is served, the Elder performs a centuries old ritual that symbolizes the Closing of the Old Sidama Year and the Beginning of the New Year. For this purpose, three long wooden sticks have been prepared and made available to the Elderly. Leaves placed on their top symbolize the prosperous New Year.

Two of the three long wooden sticks are placed vertically, and holes have been made in the ground in order to keep them steady; then, the third stick is placed on them horizontally, being tied with ‘false banana’ ropes, thus helping shape a rectangle.

Hyssop leaves atop the Sidama New Year Gate

Atop the structure, people place leaves of special woods that are prepared for such occasions, particularly hyssop leaves (Gaarammbichcho) that are also used to sprinkle blood during sacrificial rituals.

The rectangle is thus sanctified by a series of blessings by the Elder, who finally passes through it. He then calls on all the attendants to perform the same ritual. This ritual confirms the Closing of the Old Year, setting the Sidama Nation ready for the New Year.

This sacramental ritual takes place in all parts of the Sidama Land with slight variants per region. Then, a formal festivity follows in various districts of the Sidama land. 

Fixing the Fichchee date

Whereas ‘Fichchee’ is the eve of Cambalaalla (New Year Day), a series of Sidama festivities start on the Cambalaalla Day which is fixed according to the centuries old Sidama Lunar Calendar.

An ascetic group of Sidama Elderly, after scrupulously following the movements of the moon and the stars, and considering the trajectories of other heavenly bodies, declare the eve of Cambalaalla-Fichchee, weeks before the actual Fichchee date.

After these designated elders confirm the date of the New Year, the news is communicated to the public through ‘Laalaawa’ announcements made at the market places across the nation.

At present, Fichchee and other public issues are being announced through Furra Radio, which came to existence thanks to the courageous efforts of Sidama intellectuals like Wolassa Kumo in the late 1990s, and still is the only Sidama national broadcasting station – still censored by the regime.

Cambalaalla Circle of Festivities

On the day of Cambalaalla, lots of events take place. Primarily children and then adults go door to door saying to one another "Ayiide Cambalaalla" (: Happy New Year for every one in the house). Then, the inhabitants reply "Iille, Iille" (: Happy New Year to you too, and come in).

Visitors are served with Burissame and milk at every house. On this day, children and adults are free from any physical labour at home and in the fields. The Sidama women have already cooked everything in the eve.

No one utters any curse words; no one inflicts any punitive offences on any person, animal, or any of God’s creatures.

Furthermore, cattle enjoy special treatment on this day! As mentioned above, no curse and punishment can be inflicted on them. On this day, cattle are allowed to graze on the new field of grass paddocks that had been kept closed previously on the purpose of this special day. This tradition reveals the level of attachment and affection that the Sidama Nation has had for cattle and any creature on Earth.

Cambalaalla celebrated in the Gudumaale

In the past, the Sidamas celebrated the Cambalaalla festivity for about two to four weeks. On the first day of Cambalaalla, a congregation from every village and different directions flock together, forming a huge crowd that takes part in the religious, cultural and national ceremonies in the specifically designated places, named Gudumaale. This ceremonial takes place in each of the former 10 (but today 19) departmental divisions of the Sidama Land. Gudumaale is a sacred place where only religious and cultural events are to take place.

In the Gudumaale, ascetic Elders offer sacrifices in favour of God to obtain Atonement for past transgressions and to ensure Providence for a bright future.

Chanting Qexaala and Hore

In the Gudumaale, young boys gather into congregations and enthusiastically chant rhythmic, heroic and cultural words, the famous Qexaala.

Young girls, on the other hand, gather together and chant rhythmic words of aspiration and affection that are called Hore.

Faaro Dance

In the late hours of the day, young male and female groups get together and go in for a local dance called Faaro, and Siriba. 

Cambalaalla: the Day of the Idylls!

Formal Cambalaalla dress is required for girls and boys, named Qolo and Hafare respectively. Boys and girls decorate their hair, dress and body with different local decorative objects, appearing particularly well groomed. The girls groom themselves (toe and finger nails) with henna (Hanshshuululee).

This is also one the most essential times for the youngsters, both boys and girls, to choose their lifelong soul-mates.

At the end of each Cambalaalla festivity day, all participants come together and loudly utter the proverbial phrase "Fichchee Jeeji! Jeeji!".

Fichchee is a symbolic representation of Sidama identity, and each Sidama has a generational obligation to honour this deeply rooted and noble National, Religious and Cultural Heritage, thus passing on to future generations the Supreme Responsibility to sustain, explore, and illuminate the Identity of the Sidama Nation, Rabisa Wanje (2006) suggests.
 
Fichchee celebrated with ambivalent feelings in 2007

Fichchee is brilliantly celebrated across the Sidama Land, and more particularly in Awassa (Adare) city, the Sidama capital; this year’s Fichchee celebration was coloured with ambivalent feelings.

The enthusiastic fever, tinted by high spirits of national pride and dignity, was counterbalanced by the mournful sorrow shared among all the Sidamas for the innocent Sidamas massacred in May 2002 and in May 2005 by the atrocious ‘Ethiopian’ tyranny, represented by the Tigray tribal chieftain Meles Zenawi – ridiculously impersonating the oppressed nations’ ‘prime minister’ – and his outrageous surrogates, the likes of Haile Mariam Desalegn, Melese Marimo and Shiferaw Shugute, who rule the occupied Sidama Land.

The Blood of Murdered Artist Kefyalew Yunka on the Head of Monstrous Tyrant Zenawi

In addition, the Sidama Nation celebrates the present Fichchee with heartfelt mourning for the assassination of the Great Sidama artist Kefyalew Yunka, who was assassinated by the Abyssinian security forces in Finfinne (Addis Ababa) on the date of the shameful and dictatorial Abyssinian Millennium festival that was overwhelmingly rejected by the entirety of the oppressed peoples of the monstrous colonial tyranny. Kefyalew Yunka was the embodiment of non-violent resistance movement Sidama activists.  
   
According to well informed sources, Kefyalew Yunka’s murderers had been hired by the federal and regional authorities, and ordered to perform this cruel and criminal act in order to silence Kefyalew Yunka’s non-violent movement for Sidama regional autonomy.

Kefyalew Yunka became famous because of his strong moving songs on Sidama Identity issues; these songs have mobilized Sidamas from all corners of the land, thus infuriating the criminal and murderous regime of Abyssinia.

The Fichchee celebration comes to an end with the blessings of the Sidama elders "Fichchee Jeeji, Fichchee Jeeji"; the sentence literally means "Long Live Fichchee, Long Live Fichchee". This symbolically expresses longevity for the Sidamas as Nation. 

Fichchee Jeeji! Fichchee Jeeji! Jeeji, Jeeji!!
 
Note
Picture: Snapshots from roads in the occupied (by the 'Ethiopian' colonial army) Sidama Land