BBC News, Arda Jila Badhas
Thousands of people gathered in southern Ethiopia for one of the greatest cultural events in the country.
Gada’s strange ceremony, which ended on Sunday, sees the official transfer of power from a usual ruler to his successor – something that happens every eight years.
The tradition of the regular appointment of the new Abba Gada has been practiced for centuries by the Boran Community – and see them gathering at the rural place of Ard Jila Badhas, near the Ethiopian city of Arero.
It is time to celebrate their special form of democracy as well as their cultural heritage, with each age group take the opportunity to carry their different traditional clothing.
They are paradhed the day before the official handover during the procession when married women march with wooden sticks called “Siinqee”.
The sticks have symbolic protection values for women, which use them during the conflict.
If the Siinqee stick puts on the ground a married woman between two quarrels, it means that the conflict must immediately stop out of respect.
During the procession, the younger women lead the front, distinguished from married women with different colors of their clothing.
In this pastoralist society, women are excluded from the holding of the superior power of Abba Gadaa, which sits on the elder’s council or moves to the system as a child.
But their important role can be seen during the festival because they build all accommodation for those who stay in the week – and prepare all food.
And the unique bastard management system, which was added to the UN list of cultural heritage in 2016, allows them to attend regular community meetings and express their opinions by Abba Gada.
Gada membership – and only open for boys whose fathers are already members – young initiators have a head shaved in the crown to rank them.
It’s a smaller circle, it’s older.
As UNESCO Global Cultural Body reportsOral historians teach young initiatives about “history, laws, rituals, time counting, cosmology, myths, rules of behavior and function of the bastard system.”
The training for boys begins at the age of eight.
Later it will be evaluated for its potential of future leaders.
As they grow up, tests include walking at the long distance of barefoot, efficiently slaughtering livestock and showing kindness towards colleagues.
The heads made of cowrie shells are traditionally worn by young students. The only other people who allowed them to wear are older women.
Both groups pricing members of the Boran Community.
Men between the ages of 28 and 32 were identified by the feathers they carry, who are known in the language of Afan Oromo as “Baalli”.
Their presence at the ceremony is an opportunity to learn, prepare and bind, because it is already known who Abba Gadaa from this age group will occupy power in 2033.
The main event at the recent GADA ceremony was the handover of power, from the departure 48-year-old Abba Gada to his younger heir.
The benefactors crossed the border from Kenya and others traveled from the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, to witness the spectacle. The Governor of the Kenyan Marsabit district was among the honorary guests.
Thirty -seven -year -old Guyo Boru Guyo, seen here holding a spear, was elected to lead because during his teenage years he impressed the elder council.
Becomes 72. Abba Gadaa and will now monitor the community of Boran across the borders – in southern Ethiopia and northwestern Kenya.
As their upper diplomat, they will also be responsible for resolving the altercation that suffer their heads for the pastoralists.
They often include attacks on cattle and disputes due to access to water in this region prone to drought.
During his eight years at the helm, his successor will end up training to take over the job below this generation of old tradition.
Additional Natasha Booty reporting.
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