Culture

Ancient ‘Virgin’ festival returns to Tigray after two years of war

Published

1 year ago

August 24, 2023

After being on hold for two years due to the war between Ethiopia and the Northern Tigray region, the ancient Ashenda Festival has returned to the people amidst the grief and trauma that the conflict brought to their communities.

The Ashenda Festival, which is held in Tigray and Amhara regions as well as neighbouring Eritrea, is in honour of the Virgin Mary’s ascension to heaven and is celebrated by girls and young ladies who have not been tainted.

The cultural event was cancelled during the two-year civil war that ended last November but returned to centre stage on Wednesday as the girls and young women trooped out together in groups of six to eight singing Ashenda songs as they went from house to house where they were served bread and a local beer called “siwa”.

The name Ashenda is derived from the long, thin grass that young women and girls tie around their waist to decorate traditional dresses and the return of the festival, which according to local media, was a sign of a renewal of the history of the region.

A report by a regional online platform described the event thus:

“A sense of joy and celebration pervades Mekelle, the main city in Ethiopia’s northern region of Tigray, as people mark the Ashenda Festival.

“Tigrayan girls and young women go out together in groups of six to eight and sing Ashenda songs as they go from house to house, where they are given bread and siwa. After this, they go to a nearby field or park, where they relax and sing for those passing by.

“Men are encouraged to give them gifts of money in thanks, which are usually donated to the Orthodox Church or other charities after the celebration.

“The Ashenda Festival was the highlight of young girls in Tigray but the war that broke out between the federal government and the Tigray Liberation Front (TPLF) made sure the festival was put on hold. But it is back and the scenes of horror and heartbreak will be forgotten at least for the time being.”

Click to comment

Culture

Moroccan doctors stage nationwide protest in ‘Week of Anger’

Published

12 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Moroccan doctors across the country on Tuesday staged a nationwide protests in what is known as “Week of Anger,” accusing the government of ignoring their calls for reform in public healthcare.

In a public announcement on Monday, the Independent Union of Public Sector Doctors (SIMSP) said the strike action would include more walkouts from December 30 to January 5.

The SIMSP said the nationwide strike would affect all public health facilities except emergency and intensive care units to ensure that some level of care remained available.

“During this time, doctors will not be at diagnostic centres and they will also boycott administrative tasks and refuse to issue medical certificates,” the SIMSP said.

The union added that a large march is planned for December 29 in Rabat, aimed at opposing laws on strikes and pensions.

The doctors’ union noted that their demands have been ignored by the Ministry of Health.

The union stated that their requests to government has remained unanswered. It also criticized a new framework for doctors, calling it scandalous as it threatens job security and opens the door to unfair dismissals.

The doctors’ demands include extra grades for doctors beyond the current scale, higher salaries, and an end to limits on promotions.

The union also wants the government to honour agreements made in 2011, 2023, and 2024.

According to the union, the doctors are also upset with the 2025 budget plan, which they say fails to address the health sector’s funding issues, expressing concerned about plans to shift salaries from central budgets to local health groups and warning that this could lead to instability.

The union added that doctors will continue to boycott school health programmes and what they call “improvised” surgical campaigns. They insist on maintaining high medical standards while pushing for change.

Culture

Ghana’s Afua Asantewaa begins second GWR sing-a-thon attempt

Published

3 days ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Ghanaian singer, Afua Asantewaa, on Saturday, began her second attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest singing marathon by an individual.

The sing-a-thon which began in the early hours of Saturday, December 21, at Heroes’ Park, Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, will run until December 25, and will see the determined songstress perform non-stop, focusing exclusively on Ghanaian songs.

According to Asantewaa’s manager, Madam Gladys Osei Owiredu, the audacious initiative is aimed at showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Ghanaian music to a global audience.

Owiredu confirmed that preparations for the event had been extensive but expressed confidence in Asantewaa’s readiness to finally break the record.

“I can confirm that she is ready for the task ahead. It’s been challenging—by way of preparations—but I can say she is ready,” Owiredu said.

Asantewaa’s second attempt follows her first effort in December 2023, which fell short of surpassing the current record of 105 hours held by India’s Sunil Waghmare.

But despite the setback, her team remains optimistic about breaking the record this time with corporate sponsors including International Maritime Hospital, Ghana Gas, Nasco Electronics, and Zoomlion Ghana Limited rallying behind her, underscoring the importance of the attempt in amplifying the global significance of Ghanaian music.