Prime Minister Abiy Inaugurates Borana Cultural Center in Yabelo Town

Addis Ababa, May 27, 2026 —Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed today officially inaugurated the newly constructed Borana Cultural Center in Yabelo town of Oromia region.

The institution was established to preserve, promote, and pass down the rich heritage, history, culture, and philosophy of the Borana people to future generations.

Recalled that the foundation stone for the sprawling center was laid in 2020 (2013 Ethiopian Calendar) by First Lady Zinash Tayachew.

Financed entirely by proceeds from the sale of the Prime Minister’s book, Medemer, the facility rests on 57.6 hectares of land and has officially commenced its public services.

 

Specially designed to serve as a living showcase of the historic Gadaa system, the expansive center features a state-of-the-art conference hall capable of accommodating up to 2,000 attendees at a time, alongside a dedicated heritage museum.

"We inaugurated the Borana Cultural Center today in Yabelo town," Prime Minister Abiy stated.

"The foundation stone for the center was laid in 2020 (2013 Ethiopian Calendar) by First Lady Zinash Tayachew, and it has now officially opened for service. Built using proceeds from the sale of the book Medemer, the center sits on 57.6 hectares of land,” he added.

 

The Prime Minister emphasized that the cultural hub is poised to play a defining role in safeguarding the identity and legacy of the region.

"The center was specially designed to showcase the Gadaa system," Prime Minister Abiy added.

 

"It features a conference hall with the capacity to accommodate up to 2,000 people at a time, as well as a heritage museum and is expected to play a key role in preserving and passing on the culture, history, and philosophy of the Borana people to future generations,” the Premier further noted.