The Agaw horsemen festival and the girls’ beauty contest has taken place

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Injibara University organized the 83rd of the Agaw Horsemen Festival in collaboration with the Culture and Tourism Department of Awi Nationality Administrative Zone. Agaw Horsemen Association was founded in 1940 by a few members to commemorate the sacrifice of the horses and the allegedly spiritual assistance of Saint George in the battle of Adwa against the Italian invasion. The Association currently has about 62000 registered members.

Injibara University has been doing its best to let the Festival get registered in UNESCO as an intangible heritage. President of the university, Gardachew Worku (PhD), welcomed the participants of the festival and appreciated the participation of districts (weredas) in the music festival and in the girls’ beauty contest. He also stated that the university established the Institute of Agaw Studies to study and advocate culture, language and history of the Agaw people.

The university organized a team that facilitates the registration process of the Agaw Horsemen Festival by the UNESCO. As one of the steps to that end, the university presented the research results of the registration process to the Federal Heritage Protection Authority. After all those efforts, the association gets registered as a national heritage by the authority. Dr. Gardachew expressed his gratitude on behave of the Agaw Horsemen Association and the University to those who contributed their part.

Engida Dagnaw, Awi Nationality Zone Administrator, also underlined the importance of promoting culture, language and history of a given society including that of the Agaw people. Tahir Mohammed, Head of the Amhara National Regional State Culture and Tourism Bureau, in his part, stated that the 83rd Agaw Horsemen Association is an exemplary Association to the establishment of a long-lasting institution in the country. Artist Ayalneh Mulatu, in his part, explained the importance of working hard to organize cultural arts and he assured to provide any professional support to this annual festival.

Finally, Miss Melekam Zemen from Ankesha became the winner of the Agaw Girls’ Beauty Contest. The zonal administration promised to give her title of Ambassador for the Agaw people for the coming one year with a huge responsibility to promote the culture of the community.

31st January 2023, Injibara University