Addis Ababa, January 19, 2020 (FBC) – Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed has extended greetings to Ethiopians who celebrate ketera and Epiphany (Timket).
Ethiopian epiphany is a colourful festival celebrated all over Ethiopia to commemorate the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist in the River Jordan.
Ethiopians celebrate Epiphany on Jan 19th (or 20th in a leap year). The commemoration starts on the eve of the main festival on 18 January. The eve is known as Ketera.
In his message, the Prime Minister called on Ethiopians to seize the celebration as an opportunity to turn challenges into fortunes by avoiding conflicts.
“Why we allow our villages, regions and administrative boundaries to be a conflict zones and reasons for discord?” he said.
The Prime Minister called upon all to join efforts for development believing that “Ethiopia belongs to all of us.”
He also urged Ethiopians to avoid clashing against each other on “our histories, heritages, heroes and historical events.”
In its meeting in Bogota a month ago, UNESCO decided to inscribe Timket on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Timket is now the 4th intangible cultural heritage from Ethiopia inscribed as world intangible heritage next to Meskel, the Geda system and Fichee-Chambalaalla, a New Year festival of the Sidama people.