Addis Ababa (AMECO)- Cultural authorities and local communities in Ethiopia’s Awi Nationality Administration have finalised preparations for Asurite, an annual youth-centred festival celebrated from late August through early September to usher in the Ethiopian New Year with messages of love, hope, and social unity.
Rooted in intergenerational bonding, the festival sees children and teenagers under the age of 18 dressed in vibrant traditional attire visiting households across the region to announce the approaching New Year. Girls aged six to 18 tie braided engicha—a traditional green sedge grass—around their waists, while young boys carry woven grass to fasten to the central wooden pillars of neighbourhood homes as a gesture of goodwill and blessing.
In a customary act of reciprocity, householders welcome the youth by gifting fresh seasonal harvests, including green maize, pumpkins, and buya (boiled fresh grains), marking the arrival of the bounty season and strengthening neighbourhood bonds.
To protect the tradition against modern cultural erosion, local administrative bodies are partnering directly with heritage researchers. Weleli, team leader for cultural values development at the Awi Zone Culture, Tourism and Sport Department, confirmed that coordinated efforts with research institutions are under way to systematically document and preserve the festival’s core values for future generations.
For young participants in Injibara town, the festival offers an essential space for social connection and mutual understanding. Kaleab Kehali, head of the regional culture, tourism, and sport department, highlighted that Asurite serves as a vital instrument for community optimism and social cohesion, with festive cultural performances scheduled across the zone through the final days of the calendar year.
