Foreign Visitors Praise Addis Ababa’s Vibrant Hora Finfinnee Irreecha Festival as Symbol of Unity

Addis Ababa, October 3, 2026 - The annual Hora Finfinnee Irreecha festival has been praised by foreign visitors as a symbol of unity and a showcase of Ethiopia's rich cultural heritage, according to attendees.

The annual Hora Finfinnee Irreecha festival has transformed Addis Ababa into a colorful celebration of Oromo culture, gratitude, and national consensus, drawing participants from across Ethiopia and international visitors who described the city as welcoming, beautiful, and full of life.

The festival, which took place at Irreecha Park, featured a diverse range of attendees, including Abbaa Gadaas, Haadha Siinqees, youth, residents of Addis Ababa, and international guests. Traditional dances, songs, and brightly colored Oromo attire filled the venue, expressing pride, gratitude, and cultural continuity.

Orhot Payette, a visitor from North Carolina, United States, in an interview with ENA said "I loved the ceremony; it’s my first time! My friends brought me here. I’m very excited—they helped me get a dress and everything,"

She further said "Addis Ababa is wonderful! People are loving, kind, generous… I love it here."

Martina Marek, a visitor from Poland, also expressed her admiration for the festival.

"I’m very glad that I could manage to visit this special celebration on that day. I haven’t had a chance to see such a big event like that, such a big celebration."

Marek, who had been in Addis Ababa for two weeks, described the city's festive atmosphere as inspiring.

"You can see that everywhere, on every street and every corner, something is going on and it’s really rising up, which feels very nice for the country and for the society."

The Hora Finfinnee celebration, which took place at Irreecha Park, featured traditional dances, songs, and brightly colored Oromo attire, expressing pride, gratitude, and cultural continuity.

The festival is part of this year’s Irreecha observances, with the Hora Harsadii festival in Bishoftu scheduled for October 4.

Irreecha, the Oromo people’s thanksgiving festival, is rooted in the Gadaa system and marks the transition from the rainy season to a new season of renewal. This year’s celebration emphasizes unity, peace, forgiveness, and cooperation among Ethiopia’s diverse communities.