Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed delivers Timket/Ketera Festival best wishes

Addis Ababa, January 18, 2025 (FMC) – In a heartfelt message during the Timket /Ketera Festival, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) emphasized the significance of this religious, cultural, and multi-national celebration, which commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan.

He described the Timket/Ketera Holiday as a vital journey of restoration, mirroring Christ’s steps alongside Adam from Bethlehem to Calvary, and underscored the lessons it holds for Ethiopia today.

“Ethiopia, having faced numerous challenges akin to Adam’s fall, must rise and recover from its cultural, governmental, economic, and political struggles,” he asserted, calling on citizens to acknowledge the transformative potential of the festival.

The Prime Minister pointed out that Christ’s act of salvation was unconditional, and likewise, Ethiopia needs collective effort from its people to foster resilience.

Highlighting Timket’s role as an open-air museum, he noted that the festival showcases Ethiopia’s rich cultural tapestry, drawing tourists and promoting national identity. “In one scene, a thousand expressions of our national identity emerge, connecting people from all walks of life,” he said, celebrating the festival’s ability to unite city dwellers with rural populations and Ethiopians abroad.

The Prime Minister concluded by urging all Ethiopians to use the teachings of Timket to strengthen national unity and enhance cultural values, encouraging a forward-looking approach during this pivotal celebration.

In 2019, UNESCO awarded Timkat/Ketera a place on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.