Segenat Foundation

]Hidar 29, 2004 (December 9, 2011) was a day of joy and celebration as representatives of about 80 nations, nationalities and people converged  on to the city of Mekelle, a city dubbed “Star of the North” to celebrate their diverse cultures and to forge unity of all Ethiopian people.

Throngs of people in the Tigray Region welcomed the Nations and Nationalities to every town and village with flowers and dances of joy as the convoy of buses that carried the Nations and Nationalities’ representatives passed through.

In the City of Mekelle, home of the Segenat Children and Youth Library and Headquarters  of the Segenat Foundation,  thousands of people lined up to welcome the representatives of the Nations and Nationalities who poured into all major streets two days before the day of celebration. On Hidar 29 (December 9) the new and yet unfinished Mekelle Stadium was flooded over by hundreds of thousands of Mekelle citizens, men and women, young and old to watch the parade of Nations and Nationalities.

I was one of those people who witnessed this historic and monumental occasion that celebrates Ethiopia’s Nations and Nationalities.  This is by far the pinnacle of many achievements of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to ensure the unity and solidarity of all Ethiopian people. I was born and raised amongst oppressed and subjugated nations and nationalities in the past. Ethiopia was called “the prison house of nations” and to see with my own eyes and to witness firsthand, the freedom of all Ethiopians to speak their own language, and to develop their own cultural heritage and take part in building their nation in all aspects of their lives is something to celebrate and to be proud.  Tigrayans of all walks of life displayed their greatest joy and affection to all the Nations and Nationalities. Some were in tears of joy to see their fellow Ethiopians for the first time.

“Our Diversity is our Beauty” said one banner.  Ethiopians are truly the most beautiful people on earth. The most beautiful thing of all is, however, that Ethiopians are united more than any time in their long history to forge ahead hand in hand into the future – a future of hope, peace and development.

Yohannes Gebregeorgis

Founder, Segenat Foundation

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