Wolaita New Year Gifaataa Celebrated in Virginia After UNESCO Recognition

More than 3,000 members of the Wolaita community gathered in Virginia to celebrate Gifaataa, their traditional New Year, marking the first major US event since UNESCO recognized the tradition in 2025. The celebration featured music, dance, scholarly talks, indigenous games, and traditional foods like Kurit and Kochkocho. Keynote speaker Ribka Desta Fisseha, granddaughter of the last Wolaita king, emphasized the event's role in preserving identity and honoring her exiled father. Gifaataa is rooted in reconciliation through the Dubusha justice system, urging peace before the new year. Organizers also unveiled a digital calendar by engineer Samson Ramato to make the traditional Wolaita calendar accessible to younger generations in the diaspora.