The Ethiopians celebrate the new head of Borana, Aba Gada Guyo Boru,

Thousands of people have gathered in the south of Ethiopia for one of the largest cultural events in the country.

The one week’s GADA ceremony, which ended on Sunday, sees the official transfer of power of a usual ruler to his successor, something that happens every eight years.

The traditional appointment regularly, a new Abbas has been practiced by the community of Borana for centuries, and see them gather at the rural site of the Arda Jila Award, near the Ethiopian city of Arero.

It is a time to celebrate its special form of democracy, as well as its cultural heritage, with each age group taking advantage of the opportunity to use its different traditional outfits.

These are paraded the day before official delivery during a procession when married women march with wooden canes, called “Siinqee”.

The canes have symbolic protection values ​​for women, which use them during the conflict.

If a married woman places a siinqee stick between two parts disputes, it means that the conflict must stop immediately out of respect.

During the procession, younger women drive on the front, distinguished from women married to the different color of their clothes.

In this pastoralist society, women are excluded from having the highest power of Abbaa Gadaa, sitting on the Council of Elders or being initiated in the system when I was a child.

But their important role can be seen during the festival, since they build all the accommodation for those who stay during the week, and prepare all the food.

And the only GADA government system, which was added to the UN Cultural Heritage list in 2016, allows them to attend regular community meetings and express their opinions to ABBAA GADAA.

Gada’s membership is only open to children whose parents are already members: young initiates have their shaved heads in the crown to clarify their range.

The smaller the circle, the older it is.

As the Global Cultural Corps reports, UNESCOOral historians teach young initiates about “history, laws, rituals, time accounts, cosmology, myths, rules of behavior and the function of the Gada system.”

Child training begins up to eight years.

Later, they will be evaluated for their potential as future leaders.

As they grow, the tests include walking long barefoot distances, killing efficiently cattle and showing kindness to their initiated companions.

Play made of caparas are traditionally used by young apprentices. The only other people who are allowed to use them are older women.

Both groups are revered by members of the Borana community.

Men between 28 and 32 are identified by the ostrich feathers they use, which are known in the English language as “Baallii”

His assistance to the Gada ceremony is an opportunity to learn, prepare and link, as is already known who will take the power of Abbaa Gadaa of this age group in 2033.

The main event at the recent Gada ceremony was the delivery of power, from Abbaa Gadaa, 48, to his younger successor.

The supporters crossed the border from Kenya and others traveled from the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Abeba, to witness the show. Kenya’s Marsabit County Governor was among the honest guests.

Guyo Boru Guyo, thirty -seven, seen here with a spear, was chosen to lead because he impressed the Elderly Council during his adolescence.

It becomes the 72nd Abbas and will now supervise the community of Borana in Ethiopia and the North-Wesern Kenya.

As his main diplomat, he will also be responsible for resolving disputes that will cross his heads for the shepherds.

These often involve assaults of cattle and disputes about access to water in this region prone to drought.

During his eight years to the helm, his successor will end his training to assume the work in the continuation of the tradition of this generation.

Natasha Booty’s additional reports.