HornCurrent | Mekelle – August 24, 2025
The vibrant Ashenda festival came to a close on Sunday after three days of colorful festivities that began on Friday, filling Mekelle and other parts of Tigray with joy, faith, and cultural pride.
In the streets of Mekelle, girls and young women brought the holiday to life with their brightly patterned dresses, elaborate hairstyles, and unceasing songs. The celebrations left behind powerful images of resilience and unity, even as the region continues to wrestle with the uncertainties of lasting peace.
Ashenda — celebrated annually by girls and women in Tigray and parts of northern Ethiopia — is both a religious and cultural holiday, rooted in expressions of faith, community, and femininity. It is marked by dancing, singing, and public gatherings that highlight Tigrayan identity and tradition.
This year’s celebration carried special significance, as families, youth, and religious leaders emphasized the importance of cultural continuity after years of hardship. The festival’s joyful atmosphere was also seen by many as a hopeful reminder of Tigray’s determination to preserve its heritage while navigating a fragile political reality.
As the songs faded on Sunday evening, the images of Ashenda — the laughter, the colors, and the spirit of young women leading the celebration — remained as a symbol of resilience, cultural pride, and a community that refuses to surrender its identity.
