By Tsion Aklilu

“It is essential to ensure harmonious interaction among peoples and groups with plural, varied and dynamic cultural identities as well as their willingness to live together.” is a UNESCO statement on Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity.
Today’s Society discusses the significance of celebrating nations, nationalities and people day.

What will be the significance of
celebrating
Nations
and
Nationalities
day in Ethiopia?

“It is a day in which various Nations and Nationalities would promise to stand in unison to extricate the country from abject poverty and build democracy. It has enabled the different nations and nationalities to exercise their democratic rights while enjoying equality of nations and nationalities.”
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi

“Celebrating the day will assist nations and nationalities, to know the culture of others. It also enables us to value our own culture and pass it on to generations’.”
Sámi

“It is a great opportunity for nations and nationalities to exercise their democratic rights.”
Tselotu

“In my opinion people will be motivated to work together for one goal.”
Seume
“Nations and nationalities will gain confidence in their ethnic identity. It will also make them to learn more about other cultures, languages and life styles.”
Fikade

“It really is a waste of time. What difference would it make in the life of the people? The constitution has confirmed the equality of citizens, is that not enough?”
Demisse

“It is a festival for all citizens; it symbolizes our solidarity and harmony. We have a shared history together to bring this equality and freedom in to reality. In the future, it will be the best day where people from different ethnic groups and areas will share their views to bring out the best.”

Meseret

Diversity to celebrate

Culture is a mark of identity and the interwoven fabric of daily life. Sociologists define it as a complex whole acquired from learning. In simple form, it is a learned behavior and not biological heredity.
Festivals are one way of preserving old cultures or adopting a new one. Countries around the world have at least one national day to celebrate. For instance, carnival in Brazil and the bullfight in Spain are two. These days are celebrated with out any differences based on religion, ethnic group or gender- they are simply festivals.
There are different reasons and themes to feast about with the most common and accepted festivals being religious rituals. Followers of the religion celebrate or worship the day with different festivals and most probably by preparing spicy and delicious food. Other galas to be celebrated are based on art or different contests, which involve the different religions, ethnic groups and race.
Would you like to live in a homogenous society like Japan, Germany and Italy where the majority of the people are of the same race and creed? Or would you rather be in a tapestry as diverse as Ethiopia where our 80 distinctly different nations co-exist under one roof? As for myself, I prefer the latter’s noisy but colorful confusion to the blandness of the former. Beauty is the product of diversity.
True countries having few ethnic divisions seem to be more united and on the whole enjoy prosperity. Nevertheless they do exhibit greater class differences and even clannish tendencies.
Countries like Ethiopia should celebrate their diversity because it is something that is envied by others as it means a wealth of culture. Diversity though, is a double edged sword with a very sharp blade that if not handled with care will cut to shreds the unity of nations. Treated with respect, it becomes the strongest force behind a country’s strength.
I would dare to say there is no festival that involves every society whether Christian, muslim, Amara, Guragae etc. all in one.
It has been only four months since the nations, nationalities and people day was celebrated. It was a day when more than 80 ethnic groups in the country were represented in their national dress, folk songs, and languages. Celebrating the day officially is a chance to celebrate diversity.