Art & Culture: The 85th annual Agew Equestrian Festival underway in Injibara, Amhara region

Addis Abeba – The 85th Agew Equestrian Festival, organized annually by the Agew Equestrian Association, is being celebrated in Injibara city, Awi Zone of the Amhara regional state.
This year’s festival carries the theme “Our Heroism for Our Present Day Peace”.
The annual festival is a cornerstone of the Awi community’s traditions, showcasing their unique cultural values through various activities that highlight the historical significance of the event.
Agew Equestrian Association festival is celebrated every year by the Awi community administration to commemorate the victory of the Agew cavalry in defeating the Italian invasion during the Adwa battle.

Among the festival’s main attractions are the grand horse parade and diverse exhibitions.
Federal and regional officials attending the ceremony this year include State Minister of the Federal Government Communication Service, Tesfahun Gobezay, and Deputy Head of the Regional Culture and Tourism Bureau, Dr. Ayele Anawte.

The Agew Equestrian Association was founded in 1940 with less than 30 members at the time. Currently it has more than 65, 000 members.

In 2023, the Amhara regional state tourism bureau said that efforts were underway to register the Festival with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as intangible heritage. AS