Thousands of people, dressed in flowing white traditional attire, poured into Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, on Saturday, October 4, 2025. The occasion? Irreecha, the annual thanksgiving festival celebrated by the Oromo, Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group. The city’s streets pulsed with music, prayer, and a sense of unity that, for many, felt both ancient and newly revived.
Irreecha is more than just a festival—it’s a living testament to the resilience and spirit of the Oromo people, who make up roughly one third of Ethiopia’s nearly 130 million citizens. The festival is held to thank God, whom the Oromo call Waaqa. For some, this gratitude is expressed through the ancient religious practice of Waaqqeffannaa, the worship of Waaqa, which predates both Christianity and Islam in the region.
“Irreecha is an important tradition that the Oromos treasure,” said Abbaa Gadaa Asmacha Foro, who had traveled all the way from the West Shewa Zone in the heart of Oromia to attend. His words echoed across the festival grounds, carried by the rhythm of songs and the sight of families gathered together. According to The Associated Press, the festival is a moment when the Oromo people preach peace and unity, bringing together all the main clans in a vibrant display of cultural pride.
But this year’s Irreecha was not just about looking back. It was about renewal and, for some, hope for the future. For Robiya Bimam, a 35-year-old hotelier from Addis Ababa, the festival’s energy was unmistakable. “Irreecha is a vibrant thanksgiving festival that unites all the main clans of the Oromo,” she said, smiling at the crowds swirling past her.
Yet, the joy of the day was underscored by a heightened security presence. The memory of the 2016 Irreecha festival still lingers in the city’s collective memory. That year, what began as a peaceful celebration erupted into tragedy when anti-government protests led to deadly clashes with security forces. The resulting stampede claimed more than 50 lives, as reported by The Associated Press. It was a turning point for the country—and for the Oromo community.
In the aftermath of that violence, Ethiopia saw the rise of new leadership. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, himself born in the Oromia region, came to power promising reform. On Saturday, he addressed the nation, noting that this year’s festival coincided with the inauguration of the Grand Renaissance Dam, a project he described as one that “doubles our joy.”
The festival’s significance was not lost on the elders. Legesse Addisalem, from Sebeta—a small town just 22 kilometers from Addis Ababa—spoke with quiet conviction. “Irreecha is a celebration of fertility, love, and peace. We pray for peace not only for Ethiopia but for all of Africa and the world,” he said, according to The Associated Press.
Among the sea of Oromo celebrants, visitors from abroad and other regions mingled, drawn by the festival’s reputation. James Jordan, a tourist from the United States, attended Irreecha for the first time. “As a tourist, I’m mesmerized by the lively culture and large crowds at the Irreecha festival,” he told reporters, his enthusiasm evident. Tariku Gankasi, a well-known Ethiopian artist from Jinka in the south, described his experience simply: “I found it to be a wonderful celebration.”
But beneath the jubilation lay a deeper story of struggle and renewal. For 150 years, the Oromo people faced severe restrictions on their cultural expression. Successive rulers—Emperor Menelik II, Emperor Haile Selassie, and the Marxist Derg regime—suppressed Oromo traditions, including Irreecha. The festival itself was only revived in the late 1990s, after the Derg’s fall, following what many describe as protracted struggles and immense sacrifices.
Umer Ali, elegantly dressed in his traditional Oromo clothing, reflected on this long road to revival. “For 150 years, the Oromo were denied cultural expression, but reforms by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed six years ago now allow them to celebrate Irreecha in Finfine and express their culture,” he said. For many, the ability to celebrate openly in Addis Ababa—known as Finfine in Oromo—symbolizes a new era.
Yosuf Robie, a resident of Addis Ababa, spoke about the importance of continuity. “We inherited this culture from our ancestors, and we must promote and pass it on to the next generation,” he said, echoing a sentiment that resonates across Oromo communities both in Ethiopia and abroad.
Still, the story is far from simple. While Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s ascent as Ethiopia’s first Oromo leader has brought greater visibility to Oromo culture, not everyone is satisfied with the pace or depth of change. Haqaafan Worku, a 36-year-old social science expert, voiced a growing frustration among some Oromos. “Despite the sacrifices made by generations for justice, freedom, and cultural recognition, most Oromo causes are still ignored and pushed aside under Abiy’s administration,” he said. “Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed tries to create a false image, pretending that the questions and demands of the Oromo have been addressed. This is far from the truth.”
This tension—between celebration and critique, between progress and unmet demands—was palpable during Irreecha. For many, the festival is both a reminder of how far the Oromo have come and a call to continue the struggle for justice and recognition.
Yet, if the festival’s sights and sounds are any indication, the spirit of the Oromo people remains unbroken. The white-clad crowds, the prayers for peace, the songs of gratitude—all speak to a culture that has endured, adapted, and, in many ways, thrived despite adversity.
As the sun set over Addis Ababa, families gathered by the riverside, casting green grass into the water—a symbolic gesture of renewal and thanks. The festival’s message was clear: unity, peace, and gratitude endure, even in the face of hardship. For the Oromo, and for Ethiopia as a whole, Irreecha remains a powerful reminder of the importance of culture, memory, and hope for the future.
