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.”

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Culture

South African DJ Black Coffee bags World’s Best DJ 2024

Published

22 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Isaac Dachen

South African disc jockey, DJ Black Coffee, has been named the World’s Best DJ 2024 at the Golden Moon Awards.

Reporting on the award, prominent South African tabloid, IOL, wrote:

“All hail Black Coffee from South Africa, winner of the Golden Moon award for the World’s Best DJ 2024! Black Coffee has taken the global stage by storm, blending his unique Afro-house sound with deep, soulful grooves that resonate with audiences worldwide.

“A pioneer, a visionary, and a cultural ambassador, Black Coffee continues to inspire millions, pushing boundaries and connecting the world through his music. A truly deserving icon of this prestigious honour!”

DJ Black Coffee whose real name is Nkosinathi Maphumulo, was not the only local South African entertainer who was recognised at the awards as rising star, Palesa Desiree Shilabje, popularly known as DESIREE, was also named the World’s Breakthrough Artist 2024.

On DESIREE, the tabloid said:

“DESIREE’s rise to prominence comes from her ability to craft electrifying DJ sets that seamlessly blend genres—African-inspired house, deep house, techno, and soulful rhythms.

“Her passion for diverse sounds has landed her on some of the world’s most respected stages, like DC-10, fabric, and Hï Ibiza, bringing her deep African influences to a global audience.

“Beyond her music, DESIREE proudly represents the intersex community, using her platform to inspire and educate about her experience. A truly groundbreaking artist, DESIREE is already leaving an unforgettable legacy.”

The Golden Moon Awards are held every year to select the best 100 clubs in the world and to award prizes in different categories to the major players in nightlife, individuals, clubs and associations.

Culture

DRC authorities arrest six over break-in at Lumumba’s Mausoleum

Published

3 days ago

November 21, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Police in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) say six people have been arrested over a break-in and vandalism at the mausoleum of the country’s assassinated independence leader, Patrice Lumumba, in Kinshasa, the country’s capital.

The police had announced the six arrests late Wednesday and said they were still looking for two more suspects.

Interior Minister, Jacquemin Shabani, said in a statement that during the break-in which occurred on Monday, a case containing a single gold-capped tooth, the only part of the former leader that remained after his assassination, was broken by the vandals.

“We assure that the relic is secure and it is protected,” the minister said, without offering more information.

The return of Lumumba’s tooth from former colonizer Belgium in 2022 had been celebrated around Congo, with the tooth taken around the vast country so people could pay their respects.

Lumumba is widely hailed as the nationalist activist who helped end colonial rule in the DRC and went on to become the country’s first prime minister and was seen as one of Africa’s most promising new leaders, but he was assassinated within a year in 1961.

His body was dismembered and dissolved with acid in an apparent effort to keep any grave from becoming a pilgrimage site.

For many in Congo, Lumumba is a symbol of the positive developments the country could have achieved after its independence but instead, it became mired in decades of dictatorship that drained its vast mineral riches.

A military coup toppled Lumumba, who was arrested, jailed and later killed. His assassination, blamed on separatists, cleared the way for the rise of Mobutu Sese Seko, who ruled the country he later renamed Zaire for decades with support from Western powers until his death in 1997.

His one remaining tooth was kept by the Belgian police commissioner who oversaw the destruction of his body.

The tooth was returned to Congo after the visit of Belgium’s King Philippe, who expressed regrets for his nation’s abuses in Congo when it was a Belgian colony.