Drone Fears Cancel Ethiopia's Virgin Mary Festival: A Cautionary Tale of Conflict and Culture The cancellation of this year's Ashenda festival in Mekelle, Tigray, due to fears of drone strikes is a stark reminder that even cultural events can't escape the shadow of conflict.
What began as a celebration of women and the Virgin Mary has become a poignant symbol of the fragility of peace in one of Africa's most troubled regions.
The Ashenda festival was meant to bring together thousands of young women from across Tigray, but instead it has been reduced to a mere memory.