Ethiopian festival enlivens Trafalgar Square of London

By Wondimu Mekonnen | September 16, 2007

At least 10,000 Ethiopians and the friends of Ethiopia attended the cultural show at the Ethiopian Millennium (Photo: Alebachew Dessalegn)

A sea of Ethiopians overflowed the huge Trafalgar Square of London (Photo: Alebachew Dessalegn)

Children performed impressive church songs and dances as part of the rich, traditional culture of Ethiopia (Photo: Alebatchew Dessalegn).

No one has ever seen so many Ethiopians in one place in London in the past. The crowd was so huge there is no doubt at least
10,000 to 12,000 people came out to celebrate Ethiopian Millennium on the 11
September 2007. That did not include the tourists trapped by the beautiful music and
melted into the crowd. By 5 PM, people have already started congregating at the
Square. Ethiopian flags flying high on both ends, a huge stage stood at the Southern corner of the Square, reading
“Ethiopian Millennium.” The spirit of the Millennium Festival was as overwhelming as it was grand.

Dr Ermias Alemu, the Chairman of Coordinating Committee, welcomed the crowd
and called upon Qomus Aba Girma to bless the event. Vested in golden and reflexive
attires, the clergies from “The London Reese Adbarat Debre Tsion St Mary’s
Church” took the stage. Aba Girma, opened the event with a blessing followed by
reading from Gospel according to St Look. It was rather melodic chanting in Geez.
The busting crowed hushed, watched and listened to every word. The Sunday school
youth joined the clergy with beautiful songs and rhythmic movements. Then
the heavenly voice of children aged between 5 and 10 ringed through the air and
captivated the hearts and souls of the crowed. The Mayor of Ealing, Cllr Hazel Ware
put her hand on her chest and watched the children with loving eyes. The whole areas
thundered with applaud as the clergies, the Sunday school and the angelic voiced
children left.

Mentesinot Mengesha, (PhD Candidate), in co-ordination with Getachew Beshawred,
managed the stage professionally, brilliantly and without any faltering. The
programme had been executed with military precision. Under Mentesinot’s direction,
The Bolele Band, The Shebele Band, Workineh – artistes from London (free of
charges) and Abonesh Adinew entertained the crowd in a way that had never done it
before. Abonesh Adinew loved London so much she bought a ticket and flew into London right on time.
She and our artistes London won the hearts of the crowd, giving them the best
performance one could have ever asked for!

Among the well-wishers, The Worshipful the Mayor of the London Borough of Ealing, Cllr Hazel Ware,
The Speaker of Hackney Cllr Faizullah Khan and his escort and Cllr Vina Mithani of London
Borough of Harrow were the VIP. Cllr Hazel Ware, who had also been on the Sunday Ethiopian
Millennium Dinner Reception for London Borough Mayors and distinguished guests, went on stage and
poured out what had been in her heart. The Mayor was impressed by what she saw. Madam Mayor acknowledged that there were many
Ethiopians in her Borough, working and living quietly. She enjoyed the music, the dance and the beautiful culture. Cllr Ware expressed her joy by taking part in the
celebration. She congratulated everybody with the New Year and New Ethiopian Millennium. The crowed accepted the Mayor’s congratulations with cheers and
applaud.

In between, our artistes played music from all ethnic groups, including Guragigna,
Oromigna, Amarigna …. People screamed, shouted out their joy and danced, though
there was no space to make the movement one would have wished. People totally
forgot their ethnic group, their religious difference, colour creed, everything. Even
Woyyane Embassy staff joined the crowed, we were told. The children probably
enjoyed the most. Let us put this straight! Leave alone Ethiopians, any black race that
came to The Trafalgar Square accidentally on the day would have felt proud and
uplifted. Ethiopia, the unconquered pride of Africa, made history at The Trafalgar
Square, like nobody else.

Cllr Vina Mithani went to the stage and wished everyone a Happy Millennium in
English. Then to everyone’s surprise and delight she switched into almost perfect
Amaric and started addressing the crowed. She told them that she was born and bread
in Ethiopia and her immediate relatives still lived in Addis Ababa. Therefore, she
considered herself a proud Ethiopian in London and felt very much honoured and
privileged to be invited to such great occasion and take part in the celebration. That
sent the crowed into laud applaud. They clapped whistled and cheered.

Something happened unexpectedly. Prof. Richard Pankhurst,
showed up unannounced, aided by Rita Purkhurst, to deliver
his love to Ethiopians on that special day. His appearance had
been totally unplanned, but the organisers had contingency
plans for eventualities, any way. One day earlier, he gave a
speech on the millennium conference and the organisers
thought that might be too much for his frail condition and never
expected to see him there. However, they quickly ushered him
to the stage and let him speak. He said, in 1935 he stood at that
very spot, next to his mum, and called upon the people, to rally for the independence
of Ethiopia against fascist aggressors. He expressed his joy for reappearing again on
that same platform, join in the celebration of Ethiopian Millennium! He wished the
crowed a happy millennium. People just could not control their emotions! Everything
started happening at once but the organisers handled things as they came.
In his part, The Speaker of Hackney, Cll Faisullah Khan delivered a historical speech
that would be remembered for years to come! He too was at the Millennium dinner
reception two days earlier, where he made a moving speech. He repeated again.

“We Muslims of the World owe you, Ethiopians, for our own
very existence. When our forefathers were persecuted, you took
us in. We the Muslims of the World are here today because of
you, Ethiopians. Your ‘Negus’ refused to hand over the early
Muslim refugees whom the Prophet Himself instructed to go
Ethiopia to save our faith from extinction. Not only once did
you save the lives of the Muslim refugees, but twice. When the
persecutors demanded to hand over the Muslims under his
protection the Negus said: ‘even if you give me a mountain of
gold, I will not surrender these men to you.’ Therefore, I would
like to thank Ethiopians for what they did 1,500 years ago and wish you
today a happy new year and a happy millennium.”

Cllr Faisullah Khan’s speech truly swept the audience from their feet! People cheered
and gave the Speaker of Hackney their appreciation for what he had said.
The volunteer musicians continued to give the performance of their lives. They
entertained The Trafalgar Square audience in a way they had
never done in their lives. Abonesh sent the crowed wild with her
“Aman ayedelem wey balageru”. God bless her. She was simply
a star on the stage. Her Wolaytigna song, accompanied by two
dancers was out of this world. The movements could never be
replicated by any one. The tourists just stood there with open
mouths and eyes. The dancing boy and girl on the stage simply
mesmerised the audience. When Abonesh sung Gashe
Wolalomo the professional dancers sent the audience into
seventh heaven. Particularly, the girl danced like a whirl wind,
shaking her beautiful tight honed body from top to bottom, until
eyes could not believe what they were seeing! Abonesh said, later: “This is absolutely
breath taking. I can sing for ever for this crowed free of charge!” Abbiti was going to
fly back in few hours, but she acted as if she was going nowhere.

In the middle of such a joyful atmosphere, unexpectedly, members of the delegates of
elected parliamentarians of Ethiopia, jailed for almost two years for no reason, but
recently released were lead to the stage. When they were introduced, the crowed gave
them rapturous welcome, ecstatic cheers, whistles and applaud. The delegates briefly
addressed the crowed and wished them a happy millennium. That was an icing of the
cake! That was the climax of the event!

It was going to be midnight in Ethiopia when it would strik 10:00 p.m in London. Ato
Getachew Beshawred went on the stage and announced to join him in the count down.
He looked at his watch and started counting from 10 to 0! Done! The firework
cracked. The Millennium dawned! Happy Millennium! Abeba Ayesh wey!

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The writer can be reached at [email protected].