Security Forces Cancel Ashenda and Shadey Festivals in Addis Ababa Without Explanation











Ashenda, Shadey, and Solel: A Celebration of Womanhood in EthiopiaAshenda, Shadey, and Solel are regional names for a cherished annual festival in Ethiopia dedicated to celebrating girls and young women. Rooted in Orthodox Tewahedo traditions and cultural heritage, the festival is a vibrant display of music, dance, and community spirit. It is one of the few occasions where young women occupy public space freely, expressing joy and cultural pride.

The celebration usually follows the “Filseta” fast in late August and is widely seen as both a spiritual and cultural event. This year, however, Addis Ababa’s festivities faced unexpected disruption.

Sudden Cancellations in Addis Ababa

On Saturday, security forces abruptly cancelled Ashenda and Shadey events scheduled in several venues across Addis Ababa, particularly in the Bole area. Organizers were reportedly told to halt preparations, while girls and young women who had gathered in their festive attire were instructed to leave.

No official explanation has been provided. For many residents, the move came as a shock—especially in the capital, where Ashenda celebrations have grown in visibility in recent years and attracted diverse audiences.

TikTok Videos Capture Pain and Disappointment

The cancellations quickly made their way to social media. Several TikTok videos show groups of women being escorted out of festival venues by security officers. In some clips, girls can be seen leaving in tears, sharing feelings of sadness and frustration.

Participants voiced their disappointment, explaining how they had spent weeks preparing—braiding their hair, rehearsing songs, and sewing dresses—only to have the event shut down without warning. Their testimonies highlight how deeply Ashenda is tied to personal and collective identity, making the cancellation feel like more than just an inconvenience.

The Irony of Prosperity Party’s Award to Abiy

What has deepened public frustration is the political irony. Only weeks ago, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was awarded by his own Prosperity Party for championing women’s empowerment and leadership.

Yet the same ruling party’s security forces oversaw the cancellation of one of the most visible cultural platforms celebrating young women. For many, this contradiction exposes the gap between official rhetoric and lived reality. Speeches and awards may praise empowerment, but shutting down Ashenda in the capital undermines the very women such recognition claims to uplift.

More Than a Festival

Ashenda, Shadey, and Solel are more than colorful traditions. They are moments of visibility, empowerment, and cultural continuity for Ethiopian women. Cancelling them without dialogue not only undermines tradition but risks alienating the very voices the government claims to elevate.

Despite the restrictions, small groups of young women were still seen celebrating informally in neighborhoods—a quiet act of resilience that shows the spirit of Ashenda cannot be easily extinguished.

For Addis Ababa, and especially for the girls of Bole who prepared with anticipation, this year’s cancellations will be remembered as a painful reminder of the distance between promise and practice when it comes to women’s empowerment.