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

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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.”

Culture

African men run away from single mothers— Joselyn Dumas

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Veteran Ghanaian actress and media personality, Joselyn Dumas, has lamented the fact that most African men shy away from getting married to single mothers due to the added responsibilities they will be saddled with.

The actress who made the assertion in her recent podcast, “Keeping it Real with Joselyn Dumas, The Perfect Picture”, opened up on the challenges of many single mothers who are struggling to find a partner because of societal biases.

In the podcast, Dumas who shared a personal story of a male friend whom she said refused to settle down with a lady because she had a child.

According to her, the friend named Anthony, firmly stated that it wasn’t his thing to be with a ‘born one’ or ‘born two’.

“He said B1, B2, I’m not in and I said to myself, ‘this is the reason why a lot of single mothers are single with their children.

“Now his reason was, why am I going to raise somebody’s child? That’s not my bloodline. He doesn’t have my DNA in him. Why am I now going to help someone’s bloodline grow? What about mine?” she said.

Dumas who is a single mother, noted that Anthony’s mindset is a “reflection of the views of a larger majority of people who don’t want to have meaningful relationship with single mothers.”

She also criticised what she termed as the double standard in society’s views on raising non-biological children, arguing that it should not be seen differently from adoption.

“I have a child but these men won’t even ask you, they don’t even care why you have a child. You’ve had seven miscarriages when you got married. You meet a guy, you were dating and you got pregnant, are you going to abort the baby because you aren’t married?

“He doesn’t want the child, are you going to throw the child away? No! You can raise the child. It takes a village to raise the child, so even if you don’t have a job, you will get support. This is part of the sacrifice you have to make regardless of what has happened,” she said.

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Namibia govt condemns tourists posing naked on Big Daddy Dune

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The Namibian authorities have frowned at tourists who posed naked at the Big Daddy Dune, the country’s top tourist attraction located in the Namibian desert.

Reports in the country’s media say locals were shocked to sight the tourists posing naked on the Dune during a safari and have demanded for action against them from authorities.

According to local media, actions that could be taken against the tourists include being blacklisted from entering any of Namibia’s parks.

A spokesperson from the country’s Tourism Ministry told local media that photos and a video from of the naked tourists have been widely shared, sparking sharp reactions.

Vice Chairperson of the Federation of Namibian Tourism Associations, Kenneth Nependa, who condemned the act, told journalists that the behaviour risked attracting tourists “who think anything goes in Namibia.”

“It is very sickening and it really creates a bad image for Namibia,” Nependa said, adding that the Big Daddy Dune was not just a relaxing place for tourists but for families too.

Though it is not clear who took the photos and the video of the three male tourists who were seen stark naked in the sandy dune, next to their clothes, authorities say a stern action will be taken against them.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Romeo Muyunda, described the behaviour as “extremely shocking,” saying it was public indecency punishable by Namibian law.

“We appeal to that section of tourists to summon the conscience so that they do the right things,” Muyunda said.

He appealed to Namibians to report violations of park regulations immediately for swift action.

The Big Daddy dune is one of the three largest dunes in Namibia’s enormous Namib-Naukluft National Park, one of the largest in the world and are popular with tourists who hike to the top to have a stunning view across the crests.

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