Ashenda festival in Mekelle cancelled amid drone strike fears

Sun Sep 06 2026 03:58:46 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The annual women’s celebration of the Virgin Mary has been cancelled in Mekelle as drone strikes threaten the event, raising concerns of renewed conflict in Tigray.

The Ashenda festival, a yearly cultural celebration of women and Orthodox Christians honoring the Virgin Mary, was cancelled in Mekelle, Tigray, after fears of further drone strikes. Last week’s attack on the city injured 13 civilians and damaged property, prompting authorities to deem the stadium gathering unsafe. Amid lingering tensions from the 2022 ceasefire, political leaders for both sides blame one another for not implementing agreed terms, raising the specter of renewed violence. The event’s cancellation underscores how conflict is reshaping cultural life in northern Ethiopia, while regional officials urge the international community to intervene.

Ashenda festival in Mekelle cancelled amid drone strike fears

Thursday’s drone strike on Mekelle injured 13 civilians and damaged homes, prompting local officials to cancel the mass gathering of the Ashenda festival scheduled for Saturday’s stadium event.

The Ashenda festival, celebrated by Orthodox Christians in northern Ethiopia in honour of the Virgin Mary, also serves as a cultural celebration of women. Traditionally, thousands of young women dress in white garments, braid their hair and dance together in the streets. The festival is one of the few times that women are allowed to roam freely and publicly in Tigray.

Since the end of the 2022 civil war, Tigray has faced a series of drone attacks, raising fears that the region could slip back into violence. Regional authorities blame the federal armed forces for the recent strikes and have called for international condemnation and diplomatic action to prevent a flare‑up.

According to the Tigran culture and tourism bureau, the decision to cancel the stadium gathering was driven by the “ongoing drone strikes and the threat of war.” The bureau warned that the attack on innocent citizens was a crime that history will not forget.

The cancellation of the festival highlights how conflict is reshaping everyday life in Mekelle and other parts of northern Ethiopia. It also underscores the urgency of a renewed, lasting peace that protects both cultural traditions and the safety of civilians.