International Webinar 2022 - Get to know the beauty of diverse cultures between countries – Part 13

Academics from Ethiopia explained about the Buhe tradition in Ethiopia. As the rainy season draws to a close and the Ethiopian New Year is just around the corner; Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church devotees celebrate the unique outdoor religious and cultural festival, Buhe on the 13th of the month of Nehase in Ethiopia (19 August).


Buhe, also known as the Festival of Debre Tabor or Festival of the Transfiguration, is one of the annual religious and cultural festivals. The event has been observed by members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church to commemorate the amazing event that happened on Mount Tabor and glorify Him.


Buhe is celebrated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Church on August 19 (Nehase 13 in the Ethiopian calendar) to commemorate the Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor (Debre Tabor di Ge'ez). Buhe is one of the old people's religious and cultural festivals.


Observations included people from the neighborhood tying bundles of sticks together to make a chibo, and burning them while singing songs. The title track is called "Hoya Hoye" with one singer singing while the others follow rhythmically. It involves boys singing hymns outside people's homes, in exchange for fresh bread called mulmul. The boy then blesses the family in the house for another year.


In the City of Debre Tabor in the South Gondar Zone, the festival is observed in full color on Ethiopia's Mount Tabor in the presence of thousands of loyal high-ranking government officials including Minister of Industry Melaku Alebel, artists and guests.


During the Buhe festival which falls on August 19, youths dress up in colorful clothes and go door to door beating drums and singing traditional and religious songs while elders give them money and other gifts in return.


At home, traditional Ethiopian fast food and drink are served for the holiday which falls on one of the fast days of the Assumption of Mary. In the New Testament, the Transfiguration of Jesus is an event in which Jesus was transfigured and shone in glory on a mountain.


The material above was delivered by a presenter from Ethiopia in an international webinar held by STEKOM University in collaboration with Universities from Mexico, Ukraine, Ethiopia and various other parties. The presenter's name is Getachew Gashaw who is an academic in the country.


This international webinar activity is part of the implementation of STEKOM University's commitment to increase various international activities. This was done in order to realize the vision to become an international-class university. Various international activities carried out by STEKOM University continue from year to year. There are international activities that are sustainable and there are also some international activities that are not sustainable. All types of international activities are accommodated and regulated by the International department of STEKOM University.