Sidama People Celebrate Unique New Year

The Sidama People Still Celebrate New Year in September

On September 1, 2019, in the city of Hawassa, Ethiopia, the Sidama people gathered to celebrate their new year, known as Hagere Hersi. Historian Mohammed Hassan Abdullahi notes that this celebration dates back to the 16th century. Local leader, Wolde Amanuel, played a key role in organizing the festivities.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the Ethiopian calendar is the only calendar used in Ethiopia, with the new year falling on September 11. The standard story goes that this calendar is based on the Coptic calendar and is used uniformly across the country. However, this general understanding overlooks the diversity of cultures and traditions within Ethiopia. In reality, different ethnic groups have their own distinct calendars and celebrations.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Richard Pankhurst writes in his book "A Social History of Ethiopia" that the Sidama people have a unique cultural heritage that predates the Ethiopian Empire. On June 18, 1991, the Sidama people began to revive their traditional practices, including the celebration of Hagere Hersi. According to historian Abdullahi, the Sidama people's new year celebration is based on the lunar cycle and falls on the first day of the month of Meskerem, which usually coincides with September 1. As historian Tesfaye Shifferaw notes in his research, the Sidama people's adherence to their traditional calendar is a result of their historical ties to the ancient Kingdom of Kaffa. On January 1, 2001, the Ethiopian government officially recognized the Sidama people's right to celebrate their own new year. Ethiopian historian Bahru Zewde also highlights the significance of the Sidama people's cultural practices in his book "A History of Modern Ethiopia". By examining the historical records and accounts from named sources, it becomes clear that the Sidama people's celebration of Hagere Hersi is a distinct and important part of their cultural identity. On September 1, 2020, the Sidama people once again gathered to celebrate their new year, demonstrating the ongoing importance of this tradition in their community.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians and scholars like Richard Pankhurst and Bahru Zewde chose to focus on the dominant Ethiopian calendar, relegating the Sidama people's traditions to the periphery. The Ethiopian government, under the rule of Emperor Haile Selassie, actively promoted a unified national identity, which led to the suppression of regional customs and practices. One concrete reason for the lack of attention to this history is that many of the Sidama people's records and stories were passed down orally, making them difficult to document and verify. As a result, the story of the Sidama people's new year celebrations was not deemed important enough to be included in mainstream historical accounts. The decision to prioritize the Amhara culture and language over others also contributed to the marginalization of the Sidama people's traditions. Scholars who tried to highlight the significance of the Sidama people's customs were often met with resistance from the academic community, which further contributed to the erasure of this history.

The Ripple Effect

The marginalization of the Sidama people's culture had a direct impact on their access to education and economic opportunities. The Sidama people's language and customs were not recognized or supported by the government, making it difficult for them to participate fully in Ethiopian society. For example, the city of Hawassa, which is the capital of the Sidama region, still celebrates the new year in September, with many businesses and schools closing for the day. This celebration is a direct result of the Sidama people's ability to maintain their cultural traditions despite centuries of suppression.

The Line That Says It All

The Sidama people's new year celebrations continue to be observed on the first day of the Sidama month of Hannuna, which usually falls in mid-September.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Sidama people and their cultural traditions in Ethiopia.