Addis Ababa, August 23, 2025 (FMC) — The Ministry of Culture and Sports has called on Ethiopians to strengthen unity in preserving and passing on the nation’s cultural heritage and values to future generations.
The call came during the Ashenda festival held yesterday in Mekelle, attended by senior government officials including Minister of Women and Social Affairs Ergoge Tesfaye, Minister of Urban Development and Infrastructure Chaltu Sani, and the Chief Administrator of the Interim Administration of Tigray Region, Lt. General Tadesse Werede.
Addressing the gathering, Culture and Sports Minister Shewit Shanka stressed the importance of collective responsibility in protecting and enriching Ethiopia’s cultural legacy, describing the nation as one “blessed with a beautiful culture and history.” She underlined that safeguarding and promoting cultural traditions across all regions is a shared national duty.
Minister Shewit further highlighted Ashenda as a festival that symbolizes peace, unity, solidarity, and love, while also serving as a cultural attraction that empowers young women by giving them space to freely express themselves. She noted that the festival is not only a celebration of identity but also an opportunity to advance social empowerment and tourism.
Lt. Gen. Tadesse Werede echoed the minister’s remarks, affirming that Ashenda embodies Ethiopia’s spirit of peace and unity. He pledged continued efforts to ensure the festival’s growth, sustainability, and contribution to reconciliation in the region.
Reinforcing this commitment, Atsbeha Gebregzaabher, Head of the Tigray Interim Administration’s Culture and Tourism Bureau, vowed to preserve the festival’s authenticity and transmit its values to future generations.
Concluding her address, Minister Shewit extended best wishes to the young women celebrating Ashenda and to the people of Tigray, expressing hope that the festival would continue to stand as a beacon of harmony and cultural pride.
Ashenda, also known as Shadey in the Amhara region, is a centuries-old cultural and religious celebration observed in late August. Marked primarily by young girls and women, the three-day festival is renowned for its colorful traditional dress, elaborate hairstyles, vibrant jewelry, and joyful songs and dances performed from house to house. Families welcome participants with gifts or money, reinforcing values of generosity and community spirit.
Beyond its vibrant displays, Ashenda is a time of empowerment, placing young women at the center of cultural life while celebrating freedom of expression and communal solidarity.