Mr Oktoberfest 2009
Each year during the Oktoberfest (Beer Festival) in Munich, Germany, around 6 million people from around the world gather to consume 60,000 hectolitres of beer. Many of them are dressed in traditional Bavarian Lederhosen (leather trousers).
For example, the Herald Tribune’s International edition reports that people get so intoxicated or super drunk that they loose things like prosthetic legs, wheelchairs, superman costumes and once a man lost 15,000 Deutsche Mark in soiled pair of Lederhosen.
The only thing authorities did not keep track of is the vast number of teary-eyed teenage girls who lost their boyfriends.
The Oktoberfest is known all over the world and is celebrated from Shanghai to Ohio. No surprise that every little village in Germany has its own Oktoberfest with a yearly crowning of Mrs and Mr Oktoberfest.
The Beer Festival also takes place in the German city of Konstanz near the Swiss border, which is called the Swiss-German Oktoberfest due to its proximity to Switzerland.
The Mr Oktoberfest 2009 nominated this year in Konstanz is nor of Swiss or German origin. You would not believe it, the winner is a 21 year old by the name of Sahle Fessehaye who was born in Germany with parents from Eritrea.
When Sahle Fessehaye was asked how he got the idea to apply for the Mr Oktoberfest 2009, he replied that his friends convinced him to enter the competition. The vote for Mr Oktoberfest 2009 was held through the Internet by a large online audience.
After Sahle Fessehaye found out that he had won, he received a second message saying that his girl friend has been announced Mrs October fest 2009 in the female’s competition. This is probably the first couple ever to win the competition in the same year at the same Beer Festival.
The 21 year old apprentice says about his election, “This is quite an experience; you meet a lot of important people. There are a lot of VIP boxes I had to visit in order to represent the Oktoberfest Committee. My girlfriend and I shook hands with the governor and hand him gifts, which is a traditional task of Mrs and Mr Oktoberfest – this is an opportunity I would never have had.“
One of the most frequently asked question is how people react to his crowning; the reply from Sahle Fessehaye is that reactions are different but mostly friendly with a lot of hugs, handshakes and kisses. He says that people seem to be happy that a black man can win the Mr. Oktoberfest title; this is why he sees himself as an ambassador and representative of multi cultural diversity.
You do not come around Eritreans in Lederhosen very often. However, Sahle Fessehaye seems to like them as he points out, “I must say: Lederhosen are very comfortable and I will treasure them for the rest of my life and I will keep them in any case as a reminder.”
Related posts:
- Eritrea: Rising Star with a Big Soul
- Yayemarieba Interview with Eritrean Model Elsabel Yemane
- Eritrea-A Living Example of Her Martyrs
- From Eritrea to San Lupo, a Generous Village Near Naples
- Eritrea Is a Grateful Nation
- Thank you Zersenay Tadese!
- Stacy Anne de la Rosa Interview: Getting to Know Inheritrea
Just wanted to say congratulations and wish you well in more success in the future.
Peace
Sensetional. A black man, an Eritrean is crowned Mr Oktoberfest. Wonder what the online voters were thinking. Really funny.
Congrats….how much beer did you have to drink to be named Mr Oktoberfest? (sic)
@ Yonas
It is not the question of a barrel of beer, but the question of beauty.
Try -maybe you are germany`s next king of octoberfest 2010.