STORY: Ethiopians mark Meskel festival in Addis Ababa
SHOOTING TIME: Sept. 26, 2024
DATELINE: Sept. 28, 2024
LENGTH: 00:03:06
LOCATION: Addis Ababa
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the celebration
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Amharic): SHEWIT SHANKA, Ethiopian Minister of Culture and Sports
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): DOUGLAS COCHRAN, Visitor from the United States
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): SILKE GRUNOW, Tourist from Germany

STORYLINE:

Tens of thousands of people gathered on Thursday in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, to celebrate Meskel, a major religious festival that includes the burning of a large bonfire, known as Demera.

As is tradition, crowds filled Meskel Square to take part in the Demera ceremony, an integral event in Ethiopian culture. 

The festivities, held annually on Sept. 26, the eve of Meskel, began in the afternoon with captivating performances by students. They were joined by hundreds of priests and deacons from churches across the city.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Amharic): SHEWIT SHANKA, Ethiopian Minister of Culture and Sports
"Meskel is a symbol of unity, living in harmony, peace and love. We should do to the best of our capacity to preserve our cultural heritages and pass on to the next generation with the highest regard."

As night fell, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Abune Mathias, along with other religious and government leaders, set the Demera bonfire ablaze, a central act of the celebration.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): DOUGLAS COCHRAN, Visitor from the United States
"I have never seen anything like this. It is a wonderful spectacle to hear the music. It has been very refreshing for me. I can hear the peace and joy."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): SILKE GRUNOW, Tourist from Germany
"Meskel celebration is one of the most important festivals here in the country and it is amazing how many people gather from all over here to Meskel Square to celebrate the peaceful event."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Addis Ababa.
(XHTV)