The Sidama Rain-Making Ceremony
After a long dry summer in 2009, the community of Aleta Wondo was worried. When would the next rain come? Would their crops survive the dry spell? Would they have the food they had counted on for survival? What would happen to the coffee crop? The elders of Aleta Wondo approached Common River staff and requested support for a Sidama ceremony to bring rain after months of drought. They requested a cow, which is the main part of the Sidama rain-making ceremony. Working to revive Sidama culture and re-ignite respect among tribal elders, Tsegaye and I were hesitant to support the ceremony. What would happen if the ritual did not work? Would this further the general feeling amongst the youth and middle aged that Sidama culture is unworthy of respect and not to be believed? It could be disparaging to the elders if it didn’t work or it could be a powerful affirmation if it did. We took a leap of faith and decided to honor their request and support their tradition. We took a chan