Highlight of the Buhe celebration, one of the oldest religious holidays in Ethiopia, has been the special ‘Buhe Belu’ song performed by groups of small boys each tapping the ground with sticks strung for with corks musical effects.

Almost every little boy can recite at least part of the words in the ‘Buhe Belu’ song. And, with urbanization in some of the cities in the country, colourful celebrations are not as they used to be, argues a senior citizen.

Nevertheless, in spite of the impact of urbanization, on the eve of ‘Buhe’ one still hears the young lads chanting the ‘Buhe Belu’ in some congenial neighbourhoods of the city. Small boys in Shiromeda, Arat killo with their clothes in tatters and their sole musical instrument, the stick, knock on doors.

In one house they were given one birr and began to pour down praises. On it praises which seems to be designed to fit the urban scenery includes calling the owner of the house Michael Jackson, Tyson, the hero of Ethiopia, pilot, degree holder.

The Buhe band usually chooses one leader around whom the entire song they feature revolves. He leads and the group follow with choruses.

The holiday is celebrated because it’s Ethiopian culture and we sing during that day and celebrates it circling the fire,” says Ezana, a nine-year-old boy.

The celebration of Buhe and its whole spirit as it has been evolving through the years has lost its originality, according to Ketsela Belay a theology graduate.

According to him Buhe, celebrated on Nehase 13 (August 18), has religious backgrounds where Jesus took the three apostles Peter, John and James to Tabor Mountain to reveal to himself them. Since the three apostles were asking to see the father, he took them to the mountain and he revealed himself as the father (Son of the God). When he revealed himself, his face was changed with light and Elijah and Moses were seen with him and a cloud covered everything where they couldn’t see anything.

Starting from ancient times, it was celebrated with Chibo (traditional fire) representing the light that was revealed at the mountain, while a whip also represents the lightning and tender that was there.

There is also another side as to the true historical background of the story. Some people believe the holiday has been there even before the birth of Christ. In the book of Habtemariam Assefa (PhD) entitled ‘ye Ethiopia tarik tiyakewochina bahiloch,’ the Chibo represents a ritual from a paganism religion, which was practiced before Christianity. According to the book at that time, even if water was still used for purification and to extort evil spirits, fire was big in eliminating evil spirit; hence the then priest blesses the houses using the chibo. On the other hand, the fire is also meant to represents the close of rainy season (according to the Ethiopian calander).

On the eve of ‘Buhe’ people also gather to light the chibo and as the fire set ablaze, they jump from one side to the other saying good wishes. Some of them includes: make my stomach that of the monkey (because the monkey can eat anything), make my wound that of the dog (since it heals easily), make my forehead that of the lion (give me grace). Someone takes a bundle of the chibo and takes it in the house which represents the light that shined during the time of Jesus Christ, blessing the house (symbolic).

And on this day children gather from the different neighbourhoods and sing and praise the owner of the house and they wish for long life, health, prosperity, and heroism.

“In the rural areas of the country the day is celebrated intensely; it involves hitting each other using whips in some sustaining physical harm,” says Ketsela

According to ketsela, the celebration of this holiday is original in the countrysides without any modification till now, but in relation to the urbanization process the cities are modifying the culture and losing its roots.

The city boys still have the very basic concept. They go from door to door, though on some occasions, they are not welcome. He says the cities are forgetting what the day is all about “some parents prevent children from joining kids in the celebration” he says. “Like many of our heritages, this ritual is also fading away over the years.”

The mulmul is also becoming history, which is replaced by birr.
“I think I prefer birr than bread. I can get bread in my house. But with the money I can buy ‘rocket’ (fireworks) and me and my friends can buy whatever we want when we get a lot of money,” says Elias Ashenafi, 11.

Ketsela doesn’t blame the boys for being boys “they are acting according to their time. When they praise, it’s not the same these days, but it is their own reality and time; they live in time of TV and video games,”Kesela says.

ER