The Djiboutian flag has three bold colours: light blue at the top, representing the sea and the Afar people; green at the bottom, representing the earth and the Issa-Somali people; and a white triangle on the left with a red star in its centre. The star represents unity among the people of Djibouti. Flying and displaying the flag is an important part of Independence Day celebrations.
In the capital city, also called Djibouti, there are official parades and ceremonies. But beyond the official events, Independence Day is really a time for families and neighbourhoods to come together. Traditional music plays, people wear their finest clothes, and the smell of grilling meat and festive food drifts through the streets.
Children are a big part of the celebrations. Schools often prepare performances, poems and art displays in the days leading up to Independence Day. On the day itself, children may march in parades, wearing traditional dress or carrying flags. It is a time when pride in being Djiboutian is expressed openly and joyfully.
Because Djibouti's population includes people from the Afar and Issa-Somali communities as well as families with roots in Ethiopia, Yemen and many other countries, Independence Day is also a celebration of the country's diversity – all these different backgrounds united under one flag.