This article lists the practices listed in UNESCO intangible cultural heritage in Ethiopia.
Understand
Ethiopia is a State Party to the Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage, which it ratified on February 24, 2006.
The country has four practices listed on the "representative list of intangible cultural heritage From UNESCO. Two are in the domain of “social practices, rituals and festive events” and the third in the domain of “oral traditions and expressions”.
No additional practice is included in the "register of best practices for safeguarding culture "Or on the"emergency backup list ».
Lists
Representative list
The "Description" parameter of the list comes, in whole or in part, from the application form for the practice placed by UNESCO under the CC-BY-SA license. 
| Convenient | Year | Domain | Description | Drawing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Feast of commemoration of the discovery of the True Holy Cross of Christ | 2013 | * social practices, rituals and festive events | The Meskel Festival is celebrated across Ethiopia on September 27 (28 in leap years) to commemorate the exhumation of the True Holy Cross of Christ. The celebrations begin with the construction of the pyre, called damera, on the Place de la Croix ((am)መስቀል አደባባይ) ofAddis Ababa, a pile of stakes surrounded by bundles of branches and torches forming a cone, and decorated with fresh grass and Abyssinian daisies which symbolize the New Year. Hundreds of thousands of people from different communities flock to the square, as the priests, dressed in colorful outfits, sing hymns and prayers and perform a unique rhythmic dance in front of the pyre. The culmination of the ceremony is the burning of the pyre by the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Tewahedo. Meskel is celebrated across the country regardless of age, gender, language or ethnicity. Participants believe that they will be spiritually rewarded by their presence at the celebration and the blessing of the Holy Cross. Local parishes play a major role in coordinating communities and safeguarding the element. The festival is also a time of gathering for families and of returning home for migrant workers. These gatherings facilitate the exchange of money, information and new ideas from urban centers to rural areas. Before the celebration, personal quarrels and social disputes should be resolved. In this regard, the Meskel is an opportunity for Ethiopians to promote their spiritual life, based on reconciliation, social cohesion and peaceful coexistence. |  |
| Fichee-Chambalaalla, New Year festival of the Sidamas | 2015 | social practices, rituals and festive events | the Fichee-Chambalaalla is a New Year celebration celebrated by the Sidamas in Southern Ethiopia. According to oral tradition, the Plug commemorates the story of an Sidama woman who, after her marriage, visited her family and loved ones once a year. She brought on these occasions buurisame, a meal concocted from fake bananas, butter and milk, which was shared with the neighbors. the Plug has since become a unifying symbol of the Sidamas. Each year, astrologers determine the exact date of the festival, which is then announced to the clans. Collective events take place throughout the festival, including traditional songs and dances. Each member participates, whatever their age, sex and social status. On the first day, the children go from house to house to greet their neighbors, who in return offer them buurisame. During the festival, the clan leaders advise the Sidamas to work hard, to respect and help the elders, to refrain from cutting down native trees, and to avoid begging, indolence, false witness and theft. . The festival therefore promotes equity, good governance, social cohesion, peaceful coexistence and integration between the Sidama clans and various ethnic groups in Ethiopia. Parents pass the tradition on to their children orally and through participation in events during the celebrations. In particular, women pass on the knowledge and skills associated with hairstyles and hair preparation. buurisame to their daughters and other daughters in their respective villages. |  |
| The Gada, indigenous democratic socio-political system of the Oromo | 2016 | * Social practices, rituals and festive events * Performing Arts * Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe * Oral traditions and expressions | the Gada is a traditional system of governance used by the Oromo, alongside the state system. It governs the political, economic, social and religious activities of the community, and intervenes in conflict resolution, reparation and protection of women's rights. It helps to ensure moral conduct, strengthen social cohesion and express forms of community culture. The system Gada is based on five classes including the ruling class comprising a president, officials and an assembly. Each class evolves through several rungs before coming to power, under the leadership of an eight-year rotating presidency. Men enter the system after their father; women are consulted in decisions relating to the protection of their rights. Oral history specialists teach history, laws, rituals, conception of time, cosmology, myths, rules of conduct and the function of the system Gada. Meetings and ceremonies are organized at the foot of a sycamore tree (symbol of the Gada) but the major clans have established centers Gada and ceremonial spaces according to their territory. System knowledge Gada are passed on to children at home and at school. | .jpg/150px-Oromo_Man,_Ethiopia_(8134606273).jpg) |
| Ethiopian Epiphany | 2019 | * Performing Arts * Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe * Social practices, rituals and festive events * Know-how related to traditional craftsmanship * Oral traditions and expressions | A colorful festival celebrated across the country, the Ethiopian Epiphany commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. The commemoration begins each year on January 18, the day before the main festival. This event is called Ketera, which means "blocking the flow of water" which serves to bless the participants. On the eve of Ketera, participants escort their parish tabot (replica of the Ark of the Covenant) carried by a priest to the timkete-bahir (basin, river or artificial reservoir) in a grand ceremony. Participants spend the night praying and singing during various offices, including the Eucharistic liturgy. Hundreds of thousands of people take part in the party the next day, January 19. The celebration begins with several rituals performed at sunrise. After these rituals, the congregation is sprinkled with holy water and other ceremonies follow. At around 10 a.m., each tabot begins the procession that will bring him back to his church. It is an even more colorful ceremony in which various traditional and religious songs resound. The viability of the element is guaranteed by its continued practice. Members of the Orthodox clergy play a vital role: they sing ritual-specific prayers, carry the Ark, and preach the relevant texts. |  |
Register of Best Safeguarding Practices
The country has no practices included in the register.
Emergency backup list
Ethiopia has no practices requiring emergency safeguarding.
