Editor's Note: The festival was indeed cancelled and future installements remain very much in doubt.
With only days remaining for this year’s event, the fate of one of the most colorful cultural festivities of Ethiopia, the Thousand Stars Festival, is in question. This year’s festival, which was scheduled to start at the beginning of December, was in jeopardy after local authorities of the regional state revoked the license of the host organizer, Gughe Indigenous Art & Music Association (GIAMA), in August 2009.
Organized annually in Arba Minch, Southern Ethiopia by GIAMA since 2003, it is to be recalled that last year’s festival which was attended by an estimated 50,000 people, embraced the participation of 56 musical groups of the indigenous people of the Southern Nations and Nationalities’ Regional State (SNNPRS). It was following last year’s introduction of the new NGO law of Ethiopia that local authorities of the regional state confiscated the licenses of 42 organizations operating in SNNPRS including GIAMA’s for ‘being found operating against national laws’.
Keta Kelile, Executive Director of GIAMA, reveals that his organization has not yet been informed about what laws they might have been infringing. “We have repeatedly asked for clarification concerning the revoking of our license” he said in an exclusive phone interview with Horizon Ethiopia.“We are only a non-profit cultural organization,” Keta continued “And our goals and missions have only been targeted towards the promotion of the diverse cultures of the indigenous nation and nationalities of the region.”
Furthermore, Keta has “tried to discuss the issue with senior officials of the regional government including the Vice-President; but none of them are willing to give me an explanation.”Keta and others including elders from various communities then went to Addis to appeal the case before the Prime Minister.
According to Keta, the letter sent to his organization declaring the termination of the license, is the same as that which has been sent to all 42 NGOs whose licenses were revoked in August this year. “That makes it even more difficult as we don’t know what especially our organization was accused of,” he stated.Meanwhile as the festival day approaches, more than 500 residents of Arba Minch town have signed a petition asking the government to ensure that the festival takes place. A copy of the petition will be posted to the regional and federal authorities including the Prime Minister’s office.
“The festival marks an especially unique culture display of the indigenous people of Ethiopia,” says Nico Lewis, a London-based documentary film-maker and photographer based in London, who has worked with Gughe in documenting the Festival and who has also been involved with capacity building projects in the region.“I really feel like that is Ethiopia’s musical gift to the world,” he said. “And as far as I know, hundreds of international people are already on their way towards this nation.”
Nico, recently completed a documentary film of the last festival entitled ‘Connecting Through Music’. The film was to be premiered at this year’s festival in Arba Minch. His film shows the colorful beauty of the indigenous people’s culture which includes how music and the festival helped in the resolution of conflict between groups such as the Hamer and the Dassanech.“Back home, we have some conflicts with the Dassanech group surrounding resources,” says a Hamer dancer in the film. “But here we are dancing together and chatting back-stage with love and respect.” Connecting Through Music also shows the groups singing and dancing together at the back-stage of last year’s festival.
Meanwhile, although the festival remains shroudedwith uncertainty, a group of Ethiopian Diaspora artists called ‘The Arba Minch Collective’ will start arriving early next week in the hopes of fulfilling their long held dreams of being part of the festival. Similarly, many other expectant visitors, seem to be set for a disappointment if the event cannot be held, particularly those who will have travelled to Ethiopia from abroad with the express purpose of attending the Thousand Stars Festival.
d in an exclusive phone interview with Horizon Ethiopia.“We are only a non-profit cultural organization,” Keta continued “And our goals and missions have only been targeted towards the promotion of the diverse cultures of the indigenous nation and nationalities of the region.”
