The Eminence Jul Issue 10
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The Eminence Jul Issue 10
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The Eminence Jul Issue 10
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The Eminence Jul Issue 10
Editor’s Note
Development Reviewed
Have you been witnessing it all around? With the growth of the tourism and hospitality sector in Addis Ababa, infrastructure and development have been rapidly expanding in the country. There are a number of opportunities opening up in agriculture, business, education, technology, architecture. The list is extensive. In September 2010, The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED) put forward the National Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP), which is a strategic framework created by the Ethiopian government to advance the country from the period of 2010/2011-2014/2015. The intention of the plan is to expand large-scale foreign investment, provide new infrastructure, and give attention and engagement to the natural resources and raw materials in the country. Some of the ways the GTP intended to accomplish these plans included strengthening market systems, enhancing productivity, expanding private investments, and working to improve the productivity of farmers, land irrigation, and hunger. It has also been working to make Ethiopia a member of the World Trade Organization. This has led to the investment of renewable energy projects, roads, and rail networks, along with the expansion of power generation. As the 5-year plan comes to a close, it is time for some reflection on the achievements and downfalls of the GTP that will help shape what the next steps should be, particularly in the implementation of the GTP II. The Ethiopian Central Statistics Agency (CSA) along with other international finance institutions have been assessing these very things. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) report in 2014, robust economic growth has been witnessed while inflation was kept below 10pct. This growth was mainly led by public investment programs that relied on external financing, and foreign direct investment. Many social indicators have shown improvement as well. Road and energy, education enrollment and decreasing the number of people living below the poverty line, are some of the GTP’s biggest achievements. However, the growth is threatened by different factors including externally financed public investment programs, decrease in export commodity prices and weather-related shocks according to the IMF. They advice that a structural shift is needed in the policy towards private sector sustainable growth. These projects have led to an overload in the investment of the private sector that slowly erases local economies and leaves external investors profiting. No doubt, it is exciting to witness Ethiopia develop as a nation, and this also leads to great possibilities for Ethiopians to prevent these things from happening and play a central role in shaping this development, especially as the private sector widens. The Eminence also believes it is important that the Ethiopian private sector play a front and center role in the development of the country. Only then, can Ethiopians feel a sense of ownership and achievement in the growth of their country. Therefore, as GTP II is being drawn up, it is important to think about what kinds of answers people want to hear and how they have the power to shape them. This July issue of The Eminence is highlighting the ways that Ethiopian people themselves are taking the wheel and making sure they have a seat in steering the direction of how to develop the country. Through acquiring investments, creating and maintaining businesses, developing conferences, and returning to the homeland, it is humbling to witness the ways Ethiopians are committed to putting their time, sweat, and heart into projects that uplift the country in a moment of real transformation and development. The Eminence Jul Issue 10
The Eminence Magazine is published by Eminence plc. It is registered by the Ethiopian Broadcasting Authority Registration No 207/2004. Eminence plc. is registered by the Ministry of trade Business license No MT/AA/2/0001892/2004. 1st year July 2015 issue No 10
Managing Editor Tsewaye Muluneh tmuluneh@eminence-se.com Editor-in-chief Haewon Asfaw hasfaw@eminence-se.com Deputy Editor-in-chief Elleni Araya earaya@eminence-se.com Bole s.c Woreda 03 H. No 129 Reporter Henok Solomon hsolomon@eminence-se.com Contributing Editors Frehiwot Gebrewold fgebrewold@eminence-se.com Gonzalo Guajardo gguajardo@eminence-se.com Mandarin Editor Jiaqi Xie Copy Editor Nahusenay Aferwork Contributors Yibeltal Alemu Simon Heliso Linda Tigani Graphics and Layout Design Fikru Mengesha Photographer Sentayehu Bekele Sales and Marketing Manager Daniel Benjamin Finance and Administration Zinash Habte Distribution Tariku Tessema Editorial Address Tel. +251- 116-189-591 +251- 118-961-791 P.O.BOX 794 code 1110 contact@eminence-se.com social@eminence-se.com Web: www.eminence-se.com Bole s.c Woreda 03 H.No 085 Cape Verde Street, off Africa Avenue in front of Sidama Lodge. This edition is printed at Central PP Kirkos Subcity, Woreda 03 H.No 414 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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The 3rd Annual Hotel Show held at Millennium Hall from Jun 11 - 14 2015
The Third Annual Hotel Show was held at Millennium Hall from June 11 -14 2015. About 134 service providers in the hospitality sector participated in the show which included different side-events such as panel discussions and cooking demonstrations. The show was organized by Ozzie business and hospitality group.
Lake Tana Reserve Inscribed as World Heritage Site [June 12, 2015]
www.medicaldaily.com
Thailand confirms first MERS case in visitor from Oman [June 19, 2015]
Thailand has confirmed its first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), the deadly virus that has killed 24 people in South Korea. The anonymous patient is now in quarantine at an infectious diseases facility outside the capital Bangkok. Thai health officials said the 75-year-old from Oman was seeking treatment for a heart problem in Bangkok.
Ethiopian Starts Flights to Cape Town and Gaborone [June 10, 2015]
Ethiopian Airlines has started flights to Cape Town, South Africa and Gaborone Botswana as of June 30, 2015. Cape Town and Gaborone will be the airline’s 50th and 51st African destinations respectively. Ethiopian is currently serving 85 international destinations across 5 continents with over 200 daily flights.
Ethiopia Sets Sight on Producing Skilled Labor to Boost Tourism [June 6, 2015] The United Nations Education Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has inscribed the Lake Tana biosphere reserve of Ethiopia as a World Heritage Site. The Lake Tana biosphere reserve is situated in the north-western part of Ethiopia and includes Lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia. The site covers a total area of 695,885 hectares and is a hot spot of biodiversity. The government of Ethiopia has set its sights on producing skilled labor to boost revenue earned from tourism. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism is preparing a curriculum in collaboration with the Ministry of Education to produce skilled labor in the sector.
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The Eminence Jul Issue 10
International Conference on Financing for Development [From July 13 - 16 2015]
Events for July Mehari Brothers FROM [July 31 - 01 August 2015 ]
The International Conference on Financing for Development, organized by the United Nations Association of The United States Of America will take place from 13th July to 16th July 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Conference will result in an intergovernmental negotiated and agreed outcome, which should constitute an important contribution to and support the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda.
A live band music show featuring Betty G, Henok Mehari, Haile Root and Philip Martin. This live band performance is organized by Jupiter Hotel and will be showing every Friday five times this month. The well known artists will collaborate with the five brothers band and will showcase their popular tunes.
www.ena.gov.et
Ethiopia Industrial & Manufacturing Expo from [July 18 - 22, 2015]
Ankiro Art Exhibition From [June 27 - July 18, 2015] Ethiopia Industrial & Manufacturing Expo is a 4 day event being held from 18th July to the 21st July 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This event showcases products like industrial, technology, manufacturing products, machinery & after sales services etc.
www.1.bp.blogspot.com
Live Jazz Music July 02, 2015
ANKIRO Painting Exhibition by painter Emahoy Wolete Wold Berta will showcase her art pieces at Asni Art Gallery, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The gallery location from Arat killo on Queen Elizabeth road before Ras Amba Hotel. The exhibition will stay for 21 days for art fans to see the arts presented .
Jupiter hotel organizes the live jazz music every Thursday from 6:30 pm up to 09:30 pm. The jazz music night will run five times every Thursday this month at Jupiter hotel showcasing slow and classic jazz music by a bands from France as well as Addis Ababa.
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Third Time’s the Charm Kuriftu’s New Adama Getaway
Boston Kuriftu recently opened its 3rd resort in Adama in April. This resort is intended to change the family weekend hangout spot lacking in the town. The Eminence attended the opening ceremony and witnessed what it had to offer. By Henok Solomon Staff Writer
They call Adama (Nazareth) the beauty in the rift valley. Adama gets the name from its low land natural landscape and an urban taste that separates it from other towns that make up Ethiopia. In addition, Adama is known to be a popular weekend destination for tourist as well as a common place to hold various conferences and meetings, making the town a prevalent tourist attraction. This has led to a growing interest from investors who are eager to advance Adama in the hospitality sector and expand its hotels and recreation centers. 8
Regardless of the major investments taking place in Adama, one major critique is that since a lot of major meetings and conferences take place in the town, many of the hotels and recreational centers being built focus solely on business conference tourism. It is clear that though the sector is booming, there are few alternative places where families can spend their weekends and meet their vacation and travel needs. That is what owner and CEO of Boston Partners PLC, Tadiyos Getachew, noticed during his stay in Adama. This motivated
him to give the town what he thought was lacking, a major family tourist attraction where families can find something to enjoy during their stay. Tadiyos is an entrepreneur who was a former hairdresser in Boston, Masachusetts. He owned multiple beauty salons in the city, leading him to become an expert in the business. In 2002, he came back to Ethiopia and started Boston Day Spa in Addis Ababa. The first office was located in Bole. Since he lived in Boston for 19 years, he wanted to incorporate the vibe of the city to his company. Kuriftu is now The Eminence Jul Issue 10
Henok Solomon
Facilities and Accommodations Review
lies from nearby cities and other parts of the country.
Tadiyos Getachew, owner and CEO of Boston partners plc joining the multiple Boston lodges and spas that Getachew has in cities across Ethiopia like Debre Zeit and Bahirdar. Tadiyos came up with the idea of creating the new Kuriftu lodge so he could add something new and different to Adama. Though Adama has been a popular tourist site for years, he wanted to give it a spice of family flavor suitable for conducting events like weddings, honeymoons and family vacations. He believes that building this type of lodge will give Adama a chance to attract more travelers and fami-
Getachew took on this project of creating a family weekend lodge by renovating Maya Hotel, one of the town’s international hotels, and turning it into Kuriftu. Getachew signed a 15-year rental agreement with the previous owners of the Hotel and began implementing his development plans in June 2014. According to Tadiyos the renovation project of Kuriftuwas divided into three phases of remodeling. The phases of his remodeling plans include giving the resort a more local taste and adding different accommodations for the enjoyment of tourists like children’s playground, professional spa, poolside luxury cabanas, an international standard bar and a complete restructuring of the rooms.
ba, but it makes the location ideal for a summer-like vacation stay. At the opening celebration of Kuriftu, the Marketing manager of the resort, Michael Tesfaye, welcomed everyone with a warm smile and great hospitality. The bell boys took the guests’ luggage and directed them to the reception desk to retrieve their room keys.
After six month of working on the project with a budget of 15 million ETB, the first phase of renovation was completed and Kuriftu of Nazareth Adama threw its opening party this past April.
The rooms were spacious with bright lighting from large glass double doors that led to the room’s balcony. The room included amenities like a small refrigerator stocked with cold water, a flat screen television, comfortable bed, and a shower with hot running water. Michael explained that there is still remodeling that needs to be done to the rooms, which will occur in phase two of the renovation project and that around a quarter of the rooms were restructured in the first phase of the lodge’s alterations. Regardless, the rooms were impressive and comfortable when The Eminence visited.
With the building of the new expressway from Addis Ababa to Adama, travelers from the capital city are able to move at a speed of 120 km/hour and arrive at Adama within 40 minutes. Adama has a hot and humid climate that may feel strange to someone traveling from Addis Aba-
If you have seen the previous hotel, then the changes Getachew has made in creating Kuriftu Lodge are very apparent. When entering the outdoor pool area, the view you experience is reminiscent of a classy resort you see abroad in a western country. The tables in the out-
Outdoors Dining: Guests can enjoy the warm breeze of Kuriftu’s poolside in this outdoor bar and dining area The Eminence Jul Issue 10
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It Feels Like Adama: The trees coloquially known as ‘Dire Dawa Zaf’ are a staple in Adama and adorn Kuriftu’s poolside bar. door lounge were set up under large and magnificent trees full of red and orange blossoms, which served as great shade that invited cool and breezy air. The outdoor pool was glistening and along the side of the swimming area were cabanas artistically sculpted of wood and covered with white linen drapes so guests can enjoy shade from the heat penetrating from the Adama sun. Underneath the cabanas were wooden benches covered with soft white mattresses and decorated with pillows made up of bright pinks, greens, and reds. By the left side of the pool was a dining hall that had cultural touches like a large roof made out of dried grass, which also worked to minimize the heat from the hot weather. On the other side of the pool was a stretch bar and huge wine selection that took up the entire wall. There were chairs along the bar that extends to the other end of the pool area. The infusion of cultural items served as 10
a nice touch with chairs made of leather and wood that were intentionally selected to resemble traditional Ethiopian furniture pieces.
fixed prices to the rooms, but they are committed to making them affordable to foreign travelers as well as locals.
The food selection at Kuriftu offers a wide variety that ranges from local to foreign dishes. Even though the dishes tasted delicious, the breakfast tables were setup under the big trees around the pool, leading to leaves and sticks from above falling on to plates and trays of food. Regardless, there was also quick service and the smile the waiters provided made guests feel welcomed.
Next, he presented the resting areas of the lodge. The area’s look was relaxing and designed for a family looking to enjoy a day of resting and chatting. There was not much change to the indoor dining area, which Michael later explained is part of the second phase of the renovation project. Michael also mentioned that Kuriftu included a large parking area so guests and customers would not have to worry about parking.
Michael shared the renovation plans and the new things Boston added in its remodeling. He explained there are 96 rooms available in the lodge and in the first phase of the project 22 of them are fully restructured. These changes include Boston adding cultural taste and class to the rooms. He said they have not yet set
As a whole Kuriftu Adama is a pleasant place for a family as well as other groups looking to enjoy themselves. It is great that these alternative family hangout spots are growing in the country. It also is a great way to bring revenue to the country through expanding the development of the tourism and hospitality sector The Eminence Jul Issue 10
Ikram Said
Travel & Culture
Debre Libanos, a Mosaic of R eligion a n d Hist o r y
Known as the cradle of humanity, Ethiopia is one of the oldest independent countries in the world. Its rich cultural and historical significance is often applauded as an example on the world stage. It is a country where different faith groups have lived in peace and tolerance for centuries. The Debre Libanos Monastery is one example that entwines the mosaic of culture, religion and the country’s magnificent geographic features. By Daniel Benjamin and Ikram Said Contributing for the Eminence
On a beautiful Sunday morning a few of us decided to take a day trip out of Addis Ababa to the Debre Libanos Monastery. Founded in the 13th century by Saint Tekle Haimanot, the monastery located 110 km North of Addis is a historical and cultural relic. The drive to Debre Libanos was remarkably spectacular. Plain, green fields, dusty and slightly eroded mountains and shepherds guiding their herd composed a majority of the view. The air was fresh; the sky was clear and contained none of The Eminence Jul Issue 10
the congested polluted air that we are used to in the capital. Our first stop, shortly after we entered Debre Libanos was a look out point. It was a perfect spot to soak in the majestic view of the natural landscape surrounding this ancient monastery. Children as young as six years old immediately approached our van as it pulled over to the side of the road. We chatted with the locals who were there with handmade crafts to sell. There were also some adults at the look out point. Among them was an old man
who claimed to be 100 years old and said had over 30 wives in his life. He entertained and captivated us with his humorous rhymes playing the Masinko; a traditional Ethiopian musical instrument that is a single-stringed bowed lute made out of wood, leather and horse tail. Haystacks, cattle and huts scattered all around intensified the natural beauty of the area. Looking into the distance, we were reminded once again of just how breathtaking Ethiopia is. We even made friends with the children 11
Gonzalo Guajardo
Breathtaking View: The Jema River Gorge, one of the Blue Nile tributes that is deeper than the famous American Grand Canyon. This beautiful landscape lies between the 16th century Portuguese bridge and the beloved Debre Libanos Monastery. who were charming in insisting we buy some of their handmade crafts. One of those was eight-year-old Fayat, a lively and energetic young girl with beautiful dusty brown hair made up of cornrows. Her worn out black and white striped dress fell to her knees and a wooden necklace that read ‘love’ embraced her neck. When asked the meaning of her name, with an innocent and bright smile, she replied, “it means Fayat.” Squinting her big brown eyes, Fayat gazed up at us and asked us to buy her crafts. Hand made by her mother, Fayat was selling colorful traditional Ethiopian crafts that can be used to hold jewelry or other small items. To support their family, many children from the countryside like Fayat sit outside in the sun, waiting for tourists to arrive and buy their crafts. With their smiling faces and delicate hands waving us away, we slipped into 12
the downhill road that leads to the beloved Debre Libanos Monastery. Beyond the gates, the church stands tall under a cloudy sky and devoted followers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church approach its doors and stand in silence, quietly praying. With Netala (traditional cotton shawl) thrown over her head, a woman kneels down and prostrates before standing to pray. Culture, religion and history are of inseparable mosaic to the people who live here and to the faithful followers who come here for various reasons. Saint Tekle Haimanot, a son of a priest grew up in this Eastern Shewa area and traveled considerably within the Northern part of Ethiopia, studying religion and later taught at various churches and monasteries. He then founded Debre Atsbo Monastery, which was renamed to Debre Libanos in 1284. The Saint set-
tled there living in a cave and in solitary prayer for 29 years until his death and subsequently buried in the cave in 1313. Some 60 years later his remains was removed and relocated to a new grave. Religious paintings and drawings often portray the Saint praying standing on one leg while his other leg is laid on the ground to the side. Legends has it, because he prayed standing for so many years, one of his legs broke; unfazed, he continued to pray for seven more years until his death. The fascinating cave, bigger than two mid-size rooms, is located a 10 minute uphill hike away from the Debre Libanos church. The cave has a natural dripping spring and faithful believers say that, it is Holy Water and consider it a gift from Saint Tekle Haimanot. The Holy Water is said to have the power to heal people from illnesses and other difficulties. WaThe Eminence Jul Issue 10
Gonzalo Guajardo Daniel Benjamin
Glass Artistry: Stained glass paintings done by the renowned Laureate Afewerk Tekle shine all around the inside of the Debre Libanos Church, leaving visitors mesmerized by its religious contents and vibrant Ethiopian colors. ter buckets lined up one after another inside the cave catch each drop. Through out the week people from near and far come to the cave to cleanse and take some Holy Water home with them. Most do so on Sundays or on the 24th of each month in the Ethiopian Calendar, a date dedicated to Saint Tekle Haimanot by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Devoted to overseeing the cave is a priest who leads prayer services everyday with the help of a few religious students. He says, the cave has not received any reconstruction or maintenance; it has stood in its current condition since Saint Tekle Haimanot’s time in the 13th century. Going forward however, there is a plan to mobilize resources for its preservation. In 1937 the fascist Italian viceroy Graziani following an attempt assassination on his life, believing the monks were behind the attack, he ordered indiscrimiThe Eminence Jul Issue 10
nate execution of all 297 monks at the Debre Libanos monastery. Graziani then reportedly relayed to Italy, “Of Debre Libanos there remains no more trace.” The locals and the faithful followers not only have they maintained the monastery, it has thrived beyond imagination. Built in 1950 the current Debre Libanos church is a magnificent architecture with a captivating interior design. The church was reconstructed placing the Saint’s tomb at its center. Stained glass paintings crafted by the renowned Maitre Artiste World Laureate Afewerk Tekle shine all around the church, mesmerizing visitors. Leaving the church and trekking its surrounding landscape, the stunning beauty of the Jema River Gorge, will have you wishing for a permanent home on the edge of its cliffs. One of the Blue Nile tributes, Jema River is over one and half km long and deeper than the famous American Grand Canyon. There are a couple
modest lodges offering various food and beverage choices in the area. Galada Baboons which are endemic to Ethiopia can be seen roaming the area in groups. They easily and quickly jump from tree to tree and leaping over dangerous cliffs to go into hiding when approached. Here in its abyss, nature has a way to relax the human body and uplift the human spirit. Nearby, a 16th century Portuguese bridge stands in perfect condition connecting communities and offering awe-inspiring landscape view of this mountainous region. The clean air and the humility of its people makes Debre Libanos a hidden gem, just a few hours drive out of Addis. The quiet nature of the land is a relief away from the hustle and bustle of the city. You are bound to gain a sense of appreciation for the religious and historic wonders it holds 13
Life Style & Fashion
Staying Fashionable and Traditional Simultaneously Hairstyles come and go, but braided hair is an ancient beauty technique with a long and literally winding history that roams across countries, cultures and centuries. Though the style had taken a backseat to straightening and blow-drying in urban areas, it is now making a comeback with a bang. It is especially in vogue during rainy seasons, as people want to protect their hair from bad weather. By Firehiwot Gebrewold Staff Writer
Bring out the umbrellas, boots and raincoats! Rainy season (Kiremt) is upon us. For ladies, this means more than wardrobe adjustments. It requires switching hairstyles because blow-dried and heat straightened hair does not fare well under this weather. Most women resort to wearing their hair in braids, be it cornrows (wedetach) or plaits (kutereter) Etagegn Akele, was doing just that at Fantish Beauty Salon when The Eminence encountered her in mid-June. The 29 year old usually wears weaves, which she blow dries and straightens during the sunny months. But for kiremt she likes her hair braided in plaits. “This is the best option for me to be fashionable and to protect my hair from the weather,� she says. Customers like Etagegn are plenty during the rainy season according to Meaza Debela, the hair braider at Fantish. Meaza who has been braiding hair for five years, says that this week alone, five people have made appointments to get their hair braided. During dry weather, she may go without braiding hair for the entire week. 14
Hair Mountain: Apollo Hairstyle sample at Netsanet Hairsalon The Eminence Jul Issue 10
This trend is especially noticeable during rainy season because of the nature of Ethiopian Hair, according to Fantaye. “The texture of an Ethiopian hair is very different. A single hair strand is thick and hard. Hence, during rainy seasons the hair becomes harder and dry” she explains. “Thus, going to the hair salon to make it straight or curly is just a waste of time for most Ethiopian girls during this season that’s when they choose to wear braids.”
Sentayehu Bekele
As braiding became a modern urban fashion, both professionals and customers are getting creative with their braids.
Thin Plaits: Etagegn Akele getting her hair braided at Fantish Beauty Salon Only those who have weddings would request to be braided, according to her. It takes 3-4 hours to finish up braiding a person’s hair if they choose the same style as Etagegn. For cornrows it takes lesser time. Most hair braiders require that an appointment be made at least a day in advance. There are many different styles that are preferred during the rainy season. The traditional hair style of Emperor Tewodros, Emperor Menilik and Emperess Taitu, wife of Emperor Menilik is well known and believed to set a standard to today’s styles. Last year it was the Tewodros Braid that was popular, according to Meaza. The style is characterized by straight cornrows with loose ends at the neck. “Since the rainy season just started, it is difficult to tell which trend is dominating this year” Meaza said. “But a lot of people get plaits because they can wear it in different styles unlike cornrows.” Though Ethiopia has a long cultural history with braids, this trend of braiding hair as fashionable wear is a recent phenomenon in urban Ethiopia. Throughout history, braids were one aspect of culThe Eminence Jul Issue 10
ture indicating everything from utility to glamour, social status to ethnicity, marital status to religious affiliation. In major towns however, the wonderful styles were not seen as commonly as in the rural areas. Most Ethiopians may proudly hang up photos of traditional hair styles in their homes but usually avoid wearing it themselves probably because they may be depicted as backwards. It has been around 24 years since Alemtsehay Demissie, owner of Alemtsehay Braids, started braiding hair. She pointed out that the need for braiding increased throughout time. “When I started, the demand was not that much. People only wanted to have braids during holidays or weddings” she said. “Now however, even the youth want to wear braids at work and school, which is great,” suggested Alemtsehay. “There is a huge difference regarding the need of braids if you look at it 17 years back,” explained Fantye Akele, owner of, Fantish Beauty Salon. “People with braids were mostly considered to come from rural areas. But this has changed now and city girls, especially the youth, use it as style.”
“Customers see different styles in pictures and catalogues before they come to the hair salon.” Fantaye said. “Many of the young people like to have Alicia Keys’ hair style.” Aside from staying fashionable and protecting hair during the rainy weather, braiding hair has added advantages, according to hair professionals. In Ethiopia, braiding is still a chance to socialize. The style is used to keep the hair clean and neat as the skull is clearly seen in between the braids. Braiding also protects a hair because it helps prevent split ends. But hair professionals caution that if the braids are too tight, it could damage hair, breaking it and pulling the hair follicle. Moreover a person should not exceed 10 days after braiding. Hair has to be washed so it has to be unbraided after the tenth day. Otherwise the hair starts to fall out. The cost to get a hair braid depends on the place and the style. Normal braiding costs up to 200 ETB at Alemtsehay Shuruba. This is the price for one packet of the weave usually added to the natural hair when braiding. On average around three packs of weave are needed to get plaits. To get a hair braid at Netsanet Hair Salon, one has to pay from 60 birr to 150 ETB depending on the style. And at Fantish Beauty Salon it ranges from 60 – 120 ETB. These days most girls can afford to pay such prices according to Fantaye. And with the opportunity offered to stay fashionable and traditional at the same time, we will be sure to see creative shuruba styles paraded on the streets until the Ethiopian New Year 15
Thousand Words
Waiting On the Legend
Ethiopia’s beloved singer Mahmoud Ahmed, about to step onto the stage at the National Theatre on June 15, 2015 at a free concert organized by Alliance Ethio-Francaise. The ceremony was part of a series of events held that week to commemorate the singer’s golden jubilee.
Photo By : Gonzalo Guajardo, Eminence Staff
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The Eminence Jul Issue 10
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Gonzalo Guajardo
Art & Literature
Preserving the Old Amidst the New Saving Azmari Bets in Modern Addis Ababa In the midst of rapid changes taking over Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, due to the growing development of the country, Fendika has been able to stand its ground and remain as one of the last standing traditional Azmari Bets in Kasanchis. Its owner, Melaku Belay, shares the importance of preserving traditional Ethiopian culture, his love for the arts, and his committed fight in the struggle to save Fendika. By Haewon Asfaw Staff Writer
“Azmari is the Ethiopian password,” said Melaku Belay, the renowned eskista dancer and owner of Fendika Club in Kasanchis. His eyes lit up with deep conviction as he shared his thoughts on the importance of preserving the culture and integrity of traditional music and art in Ethiopia. Fendika is truly a hidden gem and one of the last standing Azmari Bets in the developing city of Addis Ababa where people gather to enjoy traditional Ethiopian art, music, and culture. “There were 17 Azmari Bets in Kasanchis and now the only one is Fendika,” said Melaku, as he took a sip of his black coffee and reflected on the changes he has witnessed in the city he calls home. 18
Melaku Belay is an Ethiopian traditional dancer born in 1980 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Melaku took over Fendika in 2008 and since then it has become a popular local hang out spot, while simultaneously growing a great deal in popularity on an international level. Fendika’s name comes from the Amharic word sika, which means, “She is laughing.” Melaku says it is similar to the joy one gets from being tickled, “like when you touch a child and they laugh. It is that moment.”
a bow making a wide range of sounds and melodies. The content of the singer’s words are ones of playful banter, wise advice, and dialogue that engage the listener.
Azmaris are skilled singers and musicians that accompany a masinko player by singing very witty and often improvised lyrics that are directed toward the present audience. A masinko is a one-string violin that is the central instrumental piece to Azmari culture and is played with
Ethiopia has a rich musical history filled with sounds that originate from different tribes and ethnicities, each carrying their own personality unique to their culture and traditions. Melaku honors this musical diversity and is committed to sharing it with the world.
In Melaku’s words, “Azmaris are updating instantly, teaching and refreshing people’s mind in work, politics, love, and other things coming. They are really in touch with things happening today like a newspaper.”
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There is no denying the colossal changes Addis Ababa has experienced in its move towards development. Buildings have shot out of the ground, paved roads have surfaced over dirt paths, and construction is taking place in what seems to be every corner of the country. This development has led to the closure of many local establishments that make the city what it is. Melaku has been working to save Ethiopia’s Azmari Bets, which have been rapidly disappearing with this expansion of new Addis Ababa. Melaku shares that though he is not against the modernity or advancement of the country, he is against the ways that it is destroying culture. “Sometimes things change and we cannot control that,” he says. “But we need heritage. You come from San Francisco and New York, not to see hotels, but the culture of Addis Ababa.” Though Melaku is not resistant to the changes in the city, he warns that Ethiopians must be careful. Of course, it is not easy for a large family to live in a single compound, he says, and for a long time, other nations only focused on the problems occurring in the country, often associating Ethiopia with just hunger and war. Despite this, he reminds Ethiopians that The Eminence Jul Issue 10
Gonzalo Guajardo
Fendika Club is not just one of the last standing cultural establishments in Addis Ababa, but also a place where Azmari singers, musicians, and dancers can perform and get paid regularly. In Ethiopia, there is very little sustainable funding for culture, leaving artists to rely solely on tips or personal and private engagements that are not always consistent and losing a presence. Melaku adds that he also believes that modern places see Azmari as less. He uses the example of weddings ceremonies where one saxophone player is paid close to 10,000 ETB, while Azmari artists do not receive the same payment and are instead offered compensation through food and tips. As a cultural architect, Melaku is not just trying to protect the authenticity of Ethiopian culture, but names that he is also working to “honor and protect the artist’s life and the talent.”
Ethiopian Vibrations: Melaku joining in the cultural show just as the music reaches it’s climax people from all over the world love Ethiopia for their culture, food, music, and people that are so unique. In the midst of change, it is important to remember what makes the country so special and hold on to these things. A 20 ETB entrance fee is requested at the door when entering Fendika. The small and cozy atmosphere of the club has a similar intimacy to the comfort felt when hanging out in the living room of someone’s home. It resembles a small hut decorated with Ethiopian cultural items like traditional instruments, images of typical Ethiopian life painted on leather canvases, and baskets woven with intricate designs hanging from the walls. The ceiling is covered with burlap tarp. Long grains of grass are scattered across the floor. Light illuminates from the dimly lit lanterns, and Ethiopian shema covers the walls. Framed photos of famous musicians and a wide selection of vinyls line the stage where artists are set to perform. As the show got closer to starting, a crowd of Ethiopians and foreigners from different nationalities slowly packed the room until all the chairs were filled. Soon, there was only standing room. Waiters moved swiftly around the floor taking customer’s orders and delivering them with
house-made tej and a selection of local beers. The crowd waited excitedly as they buzzed and mingled amongst each other and sipped on their drinks of choice. Around 10:30 pm, Melaku formally welcomed the crowd and introduced a student choir that opened the show. Performing songs from different countries in Africa, they even sang the popular Bob Marley song “One Love”. Giving time for a youth choir to perform in a traditional Azmari Bet really epitomizes Melaku’s diverse musical taste, his joy in uplifting different types of artists, and his innovative vision in stepping out of the box. After the choir performance, Melaku’s band, EthioColors, began to set up. When Melaku first took over Fendika and began shaping it artistically, he wanted to bring more diversity to Azmari Bets. He questioned why people sang music from cultures that were not theirs and why some Azmari Bets only represent one culture. With this in mind, he assembled EthioColors by traveling to different Azmari Bets across the country to recruit a diverse group of artists and sounds. Ethiocolors has traveled to many places outside of the country, but remains committed to returning to their homeland and bringing what they have learned and gained back 19
collect what is needed to retain Fendika.
Gonzalo Guajardo
Melaku’s goal is to keep Fendika in its current state, but the government will not allow him to do so in the midst of growing skyscrapers, international hotels, and intensifying standards of modernization. In an attempt to preserve Fendika as it is, he hopes to turn the club into a ground plus building by adding a restaurant, cultural center, residency, Fendika record label, and guest house.
Tadesse Bekele, made a surprise appearance at Fendika and treated the excited audience with one of his old tunes ‘Gelayewa’ to Ethiopia. As the show proceeded, one can clearly see the deeply intricate ways music and movement are intertwined within Melaku Belay. Even as EthioColors was warming up, the owner couldn’t stop vibrating to the musician’s beats; rubbing his hands together; moving rhythmically to the sounds of the music; and gripping his neck tightly as if needing to ensure his head would not pop off his pulsating body. Finally the main show followed taking the crowd on a journey through Oromia, Tigray, Gurage, and other regions of the country. The succession of cultural performances were accompanied by vibrant traditional clothes, famous singers of the olden days like Tadesse Bekele (of Gelayewa fame) and Zeritu Getahun, the insane skills of Ethiocolors, and undeniably talented dancers who share the same heart and passion as Melaku. What makes Fendika so special is the spirit that lives behind its walls; a spirit rooted in the old, but inspired and transformed by the new. In Fendika there is no protocol, dress code, or formality. Melaku has intentionally created this atmosphere so people can come together as their authentic selves, gathering simply to enjoy the international language of art. Fendika is not stuck in the past but 20
continues to be renewed. The club aims to bring together aspects of both modern and traditional culture. Melaku says, “Ethiopian culture is not just Azmari and Fendika brings different styles together as a bridge into one place.” Artists are invited from the countryside, France, America, Spain… you name it. Melaku has been in a long process of trying to save Fendika from being bought out by large investors and closed down. He has been able to collect 200,000 ETB from his personal pocket and close allies to give the owner to the property as a down payment and has been able to rally mass support both locally and internationally. Artists have put their work for sale to raise funds, media attention has been raised, and fundraising outlets like Indeigogo have been utilized to protect Fendika. The goal is to give 3 million ETB to the property’s owner, delivering 1.5 million two years from today. Melaku even participates in the strategic Ethiopian money saving tradition, ikub,where a group puts money together and takes turn obtaining what is collected to meet immediate needs. He gathered personal friends like Girma Teferra, owner of Mama’s Kitchen to put in 10,000 weekly, so that after four months, he could receive 1 million ETB to
With all of these needed changes and fundraising efforts Melaku says that the current state of Fendika is “Full of stress.” He has 30 workers that he pays salary to, along with government taxes, and his weekly contribution to his ikub group. He shares that additional stress comes with trying to bring in more income to renovate the business to keep up with modern standards. In addition, Melaku wants to take profits from what he is building to create more cultural spaces across the country. He is committed to his vision and living his dreams of building and sharing culture. As a person that came from very little, he knows that anything is possible and does not fill limited in his ability to achieve his dreams The message Melaku sends to young and struggling artists in the country who are committed to their art, “If you have a vision, stay strong for that vision.” As a young artist who spent 10 years sleeping under Fendika’s bar, performed without getting paid, and openly shares about the hard and good times of his life, he believes, “What is important is to keep the dream and stay strong.” When asked how people can help keep Fendika’s doors open, Melaku shared that supporters can find his bank account online or visit his website to contribute towards ongoing fundraising efforts. Simply showing up, spreading and engaging people in this dialogue also provide big support. These conversations are important for Ethiopians, conscious travelers, art lovers, and community-oriented individuals when thinking about how to move forward as a society while simultaneously honoring and holding on to one’s roots The Eminence Jul Issue 10
Hospitality & Tourism| Advertorial
It’s MICE for Africa
Addis Ababa to Hold First Ever MICE Forum Though Addis Ababa is the diplomatic capital of Africa, it is not taking advantage of the booming Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions Industry that is taking a large share of the tourism sector. Hoping to change this Ozzie Hospitality and Business group is organizing a MICE East Africa 2016 Forum and Exhibition at UNECA, a first of its kind event that will bring conference tourism stakeholders from different parts of the world and put Ethiopia visibly on the international MICE industry map. At the event launching Redwan Hussien (above left) Minister of Government Communication Affairs, Amin Abdulkadir (center), Minister of Culture & Tourism were present alongside Ozzie’s manager Kumneger Teketel (right) to start off the ceremony. By Elleni Araya Staff Writer
Thursday, June 11, 2015, was a big day for Kumneger Teketel, founder and managing director of Ozzie Hospitality and Business group. But not in the way one would expect. The third annual hotel show, which is the company’s trademark event, was kicking off that morning at Millenium Hall, where more than 130 exhibitors from the hospitality industry were putting the final touches on their The Eminence Jul Issue 10
display booths. Kumneger, however, was busy preparing for the launch of another event expected to take place tentatively at the beginning of April 2016. “We’ve already done our work for the hotel show”, he explained. “It has now become a fixture in the event calendar of Addis Ababa, and can run successfully on its own with little interference.” He is hoping to do the same for
this new event, MICE East Africa Forum & Expo 2016, which he believes has much greater significance for the tourism industry of the country. What previously used to be called conference tourism, has now expanded its name to include Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) and is becoming an industry in and of itself in the world of Tourism. Worldwide, Con21
Panelists Marcel Vissers (right) of Headquarters magazine, and Rick Taylor (left), CEO of the Business & Tourism Company made a presentation during the MICE plenary. ference and Incentive travel is expected to outstrip every other tourism sector in 2020, accounting for 45pct of the total international tourism income, according to data from the International Conferences and Conventions Association (ICCA). With different studies showing that tourists travelling for MICE spend five to six times more a day than leisure travelers, many countries are now scrambling to get their share of this profitable pie. As the seat of Africa Union, United Nations Economic Commission of Africa (UNECA), more than 110 diplomatic missions, and countless non-governmental organizations, Addis Ababa naturally has a comparative advantage to become a MICE hub in Africa. However, it is not even in the top ten of the 2014 rankings by ICCA for African countries who hosted the most international meeting. Ethiopia is ranked 13th, which is down two places from where it was the previous year, with only five international meetings throughout the year. In comparison, neighboring Kenya had 24 international meetings during the same year, indicating that Ethiopia is living way below its MICE potential. MICE Forums and Events like the one Ozzie is organizing are meant to draw in 22
international conference organizers and associations, who may decide to hold their next conference or meeting in the host country. Just one conference with 2000 people staying an average of five days, can bring in as much as six million dollars in revenue, according to Kumneger. Because the stakes are so high, the launching of the MICE conference was given equal attention as the hotel show during the four days at Millenium Hall. Government officials including Amin Abdulkadir, Minister of Culture & Tourism, and Redwan Hussien, Minister of Government Communication Affairs were present during the opening ceremony. Most of the panel discussions focused on MICE, with presentations from industry experts like Rick Taylor (CEO of the business and Tourism Company and previous head of the Cape Town Convention Bureau) and Marcel A.M Vissers (Editor in Chief of Headquarters Magazine, a media house with a sole focus on the MICE industry). Ozzie has already booked the conference halls of UNECA, as a venue for the MICE forum. Registration is open for exhibitors interested in buying stands. They would have to be stakeholders in the MICE sec-
tor, such as Conference Facility Vendors, Hotel & Resorts with conference halls, Tour & Travel Operators, Logistics & Catering Firms, Airlines, event organizers and government support authorities. Around 50 exhibitors are expected to buy stands locally. Exhibitors from east Africa and the rest of the continent are also expected to attend. At such event, convention and tourism bureaus of foreign countries usually buy a large stand, and bring representatives from the hospitality and tourism sectors to promote their country as a MICE destination. Ozzie is expecting around ten such international exhibitors from Africa to attend. “We will send invitation letters to tourism bureaus and convention centers, to recruit exhibitors,“ Kumneger told The Eminence. The biggest part of the preparation ahead of the event, however, is getting key visitors like international conference organizers and associations who can potentially bring big conferences to Ethiopia and East Africa to come to the MICE East Africa 2016 Forum. Because of the high returns, MICE forums are usually hosted buyer events. This means the event organizers pay for the travel and accommodation expenses of selected visitors (hosted buyers), who will potentially bring conferThe Eminence Jul Issue 10
Kumneger Teketel launching the MICE East Africa Expo at the Hotel Show opening ceremony. ences, meetings and exhibitions to the country in the future. With support from government officials, Ozzie is expecting to bring in 50-100 potential hosted buyers. For this the company is planning to spend around 4.5 million ETB, according to Kumneger. In this area, getting the partnership of firms that have information and contacts of well-known hosted buyers is essential. For this purpose, Ozzie has signed a media partnership deal with Headquarters Magazine CEO, Marcel Vissers, one of the presenters at the hotel show who has access to hosted buyers. Kumneger is also travelling to IMEX America, an Incentives Meetings, Exhibition forum in Las Vegas, in October to talk to hosted buyers himself. This world renowned event attracts customers from all around the world. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ethiopian Tourism Organization, and Addis Ababa Hotel Owners Association have previously attended this event. Kumneger has already contacted the event manager of IMEX, to set up a meeting and discuss the Forum face to face. With such preparations, Ozzie is hopeful that the Forum would bring at least five future conferences, meetings and exhibitions in the future. With an average of The Eminence Jul Issue 10
10,000 travelers expected to spend $500600 daily, a week’s stay at such meetings could bring an average of $25 million in revenues to hotels, airlines, and conference hall vendors. If this all becomes a reality, it would be a good first step in putting Ethiopia on the MICE map globally. Industry experts however, caution that further work is needed in order to ensure customer satisfaction. Getting repeat customers and having a thriving MICE industry, on the other hand, requires huge infrastructure investments and government involvement. “MICE has high returns but is a high hanging fruit,” Rick Taylor stated during his presentation at the Forum Launch. “You have to prepare to reach high and make the necessary investments to get rewards.” Such investments include the setting up of conference bureaus that are separate from tourism institutions, according to Taylor. That is because, MICE has its own investment needs aside from leisure tourism, even though the two complement each other. Those that have become successful MICE destinations like South Africa, already have such Bureaus that actively work to attract big conferences and events to the country.
Ethiopia does not have a conference bureau so far. “The idea is good” admits Zemach Telahun, Stakeholder Relations Officer at the Ethiopian Tourism Organization (ETO). Investing in transport and conference infrastructures is also essential according to Marcel A.M Vissers. Moreover Professional conference organizers and translators are necessary according to him. Following the launching ceremony, The Eminence talked to officials from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ethiopian Tourism Organization, to investigate whether the participation was successful in drumming up participants. As the ETO was established to market Ethiopia as a tourist destination officials feel that they have the mandate to involve and assist in such forums. “This is a good initiative and the ETO will be on board to assist in anyway it can” Zemach from ETO told The Eminence. With less than a year left before Ethiopia can host this event, such partnerships and careful preparation are essential in making a good first impression. On Kumneger’s part, the MICE event will be successful if it manages to become an annual event and lead to the establishment of a Convention Bureau 23
History & Diplomacy
The Bond Continues South Korea’s Turn to Give Back
Koreans and Ethiopians have a long history of friendly relations that came out of the Korean War and have blossomed into a real alliance committed to each other’s success and development. This year, the Korean Embassy in Ethiopia, hosted its first “Selam! Korea Week” to remember the past between the two countries, honor this rich history, and celebrate the growing bond between the two nations. Kim Moon-Hwan, the South Korean Ambassador to Ethiopia (seen above with his spouse), kicked of the festivities. By Haewon Asfaw Staff Writer
The Ethiopian government is working hard to emulate South Korea’s modern economic miracle, and the relationship between the two countries continues to grow stronger. This is not surprising, considering that the two countries’ bond dates back to the Korean War (19501953), when the United Nations put out a global call to action for nations standing against communism. Ethiopia, the only African country to send troops to fight in the Korean War, deployed 6,037 soldiers into battle. Ultimately, 120 soldiers died and 126 were wounded. There are currently 219 Ethiopian veterans surviving from the original soldiers of war. The South Korean Embassy in Ethiopia celebrated this special historical connection between the two countries and their current partnership when it hosted a festival called “Selam (Hello!) Korean 24
Week” from May 6-9. Held at the National Theater in Addis Ababa, Korean cultural activities - both modern and traditional -were presented, giving Ethiopians an opportunity to enjoy Korea’s cultural traditions and honor the on going historical relationship between the two countries. On the opening day, Kim Moon-Hwan, the South Korean ambassador to Ethiopia, praised the strong relationship between Ethiopia and Korea and explained the intention of Selam Korean Week. He said he hoped the two countries could continue developing a strong economic friendship and cultural exchanges. Thanking the guests, which included many dignitaries from both countries, he stated that their presence at the festival was a real symbol of friendship between Ethiopia and Korea. “Culture is not only an identity of a nation, but the most peaceful and harmonious
way to bring down any barriers between peoples and to make them closer,” said Ambassador Kim. Afterwards, the visitors were entertained with a series of cultural performances from Samulnori, a Korean musical performance using traditional instruments and Nanta, a non-verbal performance using of traditional rhythms to the showing of a Korean film called PaceMaker. The rest of the week included a Korean film festival at the Ethiopian National Theater; a taekwondo championship; a lecture by the Korean ambassador at Addis Ababa University, and a K-Pop world festival. Today, the Ethiopian Korean War Veterans Association is one of the institutions in Ethiopia playing an important role building and keeping that historical bond between the two countries alive. They maintain a museum that shows this history; work to support the surviving The Eminence Jul Issue 10
Colonel Melesse Tessema, president of the Ethiopian Korean War Veterans Association veterans and their families, and continue ties between the two nations. Colonel Melesse Tessema is the president of the Association and one of the courageous Ethiopians that responded to this call to battle in the Korean peninsula. In a recent interview with The Eminence, he reflected on his Korean War memories and the deep emotional attachment he has towards Korea. Ethiopian soldiers did not just sacrifice their lives for the sake of freedom for the Korean people, Melesse said. He also remembers how he and his comrades supported Korean children who were left orphaned during the war. Ethiopian soldiers, he recalled, would take money from their salary each month to help provide basic necessities like food and education for these children of war. The Korean government even invited a group of Ethiopian Korean War veterans to return to Korea to see first-hand how their support in battle played a role in rebuilding their war-torn country. “Currently, the association is collecting the memorabilia such as weapons, books, and pictures, which explains or describes about the war,” he added. The association is also trying to find some funds to help support the surviving veterThe Eminence Jul Issue 10
ans and their families, and the surviving family members of deceased veterans. During wartime, the salary for Ethiopian soldiers was 20 ETB. Because this salary was very low, the pension is very small, and many surviving veterans cannot meet their daily needs, Melesse continued. Therefore, his association is trying to find additional funds from welfare organizations, especially those whom he calls “their Korean friends.” Fortunately, the South Korean government has extended a helping hand. As the result of a visit from the Korean ambassador two years ago, a pension of 1,400 ETB is now given to Ethiopian veterans of the Korean War every two years. “We succeeded, and we are getting pension allowance from the Korean government through NGOs,” said Melesse.“Though (the cost of) daily life is going up, we get some amount, which may help the veterans a little, but we need some more help also.” Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome also recently showed his appreciation for the Ethiopian Korean War veterans. He visited the association this April to give recognition and show gratitude to the Ethiopian veterans during the 64th anniversary of the Korean War. Currently, Ethiopia and Korea have been strengthening their historical ties in different social, economic, and political sectors. Korea has been playing an important role in Ethiopia’s growth, contributing in areas such as technology and farmland development. Ethiopia has been recognized as following the development path of South Korea. During the 7th World Water Forum on April 14, President Mulatu met with President Park Geun-hye in Seoul. During their meeting, he stated that Ethiopia sees Korea as the prime example of how they want to shape their country and has been modeling its economic transformation plan after Korea. In Korea, there is a Memorial Hall for Ethiopian Veterans in the Korean War in Chuncheon city, Gangwon Province. President Park referred to the building of this hall as a symbol of the will of the Korean people who will never forget the
sacred sacrifices made by the Ethiopian veterans of the Korean War. In addition, Korea is supporting projects in the rural areas of Ethiopia that will help move the country towards development. With Ethiopia’s rich resources and the history of Korea, there is a lot of potential in having these two countries work together. Ethiopia has been urging the South Korean government to invest in the country’s textile, leather, and food processing areas. The Korean government said it is committed to supporting Ethiopian efforts in industrial development, IT, and human resource development. Earlier in March, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn met with the South Korean Government Administration and Home Affair Minister Chong Jung-sup to urge the South Korean government to support its industry development and bring progress in the fields of science and technology. This could be achieved by sharing their best ideas and practices with universities in those studies to help produce more skilled labor. The Korean government has already been aiding in these efforts by sending South Korean academics to Addis Ababa and Adama Universities and bringing Ethiopian students to Korea to learn. Descendants of veterans also receive scholarships to learn. The Korean War is often called the “Forgotten War” because its history and context is frequently wiped out of storytelling and education. But thanks to the two governments and the Ethiopian Veterans’ Association, Ethiopia’s important history and role in the Korean War won’t be easily erased from historical memory and lost among the young generations of Ethiopians who did not live during that time. Ambassador Kim Moon-Hwan’s comments at the Korean Week Festival seemed to echo the sentiments of many who have a stake in a strong working relationship between the two countries. “I hope that this event can lay another building block for an eternal friendship between the two countries, Ethiopia and Korea, Korea and Ethiopia, and a deep understanding and affection for Korean culture,” he said 25
Interview
The Best of Both Worlds
Locally Built Hotels with International Brand Managment Exclusive Interview with Neway Berhanu of Calibra Hospitality & Consultancy Business PlC.
To many, he is the man who seemingly appeared out of nowhere at the African Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) held in Addis Ababa in 2014. During the event, it was announced that Neway Berhanu’s company Calibra Hospitality & Consultancy business Plc facilitated six deals between local hotel property owners and international hotel brands. The deals were favorable because they were a partnership between local investors and international brands, instead of just being limited to international investors. For Neway however the AHIF and the deals that came with it, were a culmination of more than a decade of expertise in the hospitality sector, and the result of hard work. Ahead of the second forum to be held at the Sheraton next September, The Eminence’s Elleni Araya talked to Neway about his background, Calibra’s activities, the hospitality sector and whether he has any more deals cooking behind the scene.
Eminence: Why did you pick the hospitality sector as a career path? It was by choice. My family used to own a restaurant in Addis Ababa and I used to help out when growing up. I had a chance to travel to India to do my MBA. My first job when I returned was at a tech company, but I had always wanted to apply what I learnt in the hospitality sector. In less than a year, I got a job at Hilton. This was in 2001 when the hospitality sector wasn’t talked about that much. I was really interested and worked hard. In five years, I was Head of Sales and Marketing at the Hilton. When did you get the idea to first set up Calibra Hospitality & Consultancy Business PLC? My exposure at the Hilton gave me the understanding to know why we really lag behind other countries when it comes to international hotel presence. After Hilton, it took Ethiopia 30 years to get Sheraton Hotel. It took another 15 years to see Radisson follow. In 50 years time, only three international hotel brands were established. So when we asked why this is, we realized that there was a shortage of skilled hotel professionals to help close the gap. That was one reason we set up Calibra. Another reason was the presence of people within the business community who were interested in building hotels, 26
but had no one to closely advice them. The hospitality sector proved to be less profitable than engaging in trading because of this. So these things led to Calibra. When you say “we” who do you mean? I have a young, energetic & professional partner, named Yonas Moges. He is the other shareholder who set up the Calibra with me in 2011. He used to work as a front office director for Hilton hotel so we met there. We had the same level of working experience for the Hilton: ten years. During the last five years there, we were discussing what needs to be done and wanted to get ourselves involved in doing something for our country. That’s how we developed it. Your online profile states that Calibra specializes in the concept design, development and branding of high-end hotels in Ethiopia. In your own words, what exactly does Calibra do? Most of the hotel investments in Ethiopia were limited to locally managed hotels in Addis. Nobody was able to think of something beyond, like having the hotels managed by international brands. Our main objective in opening Calibra was to see high quality hotels being established locally, which can be managed by international brands. The key element here is the design. If you build a hotel which cannot
meet international standards and invite international brands to manage it, they will not. They prefer to build a new one. Although local investors have the cash to build international standard hotels and there are enough talented architects in the country who can design hotels, the buildings established were missing major elements that are required to fulfill international standards. So we realized that if we were able to give the kind of feedback that enables the potential owner to make a design that meets international standards, it would be easier to bring international brands to manage it. We give architectural design feedbacks and review. What we do is see the full functionality, and the operational flow of all activities required to build international standard hotels. We give comments for each and every floor of the design in terms of what kind of spacing, security features and hygiene related facilities it should have. We give our input starting from the development stage to until after the design has been completed to really assure the hotel developer that his design is addressing international standard requirements. We also do a complete feasibility study, source international brands from abroad and take part in the negotiation. How do you first approach clients? Or do they come to you? The Eminence Jul Issue 10
The Eminence Jul Issue 10
27
It goes both ways. Potential investors approach us for advice. Some come after receiving positive referrals from previous clients. At the same time we approach clients and give them detailed, refined designs. We’re also the ones who start communication with international brands and complete the negotiation deal on their behalf. It takes six months to a year to finish the negotiations. Do you choose clients who are looking for international management or do you give advice to those content with remaining local hotel brands? What we do first is discuss what they really want. What do they want to do with the management? If they want to be a local hotel, we will respect that. We will help them have the right kind of design, and give them all the input they require from us. Any hotel can get our services. However, our main focus is not on existing hotels. As I told you the main purpose of setting up Calibra was to see world class, well designed and built hotels. For instance, our first client was Capital hotel, which we talk about proudly. Before we signed a contractual agreement with the owner, we had a discussion. At the end it was the owner’s preference to manage toe hotel locally. Do you advice international clients as well? We give priority to our local clients because we have quite a large number of people in the local business community who are really interested in engaging in the hotel industry. We do have networks with international investors and we have been discussing with them about investing. That will definitely come up in the future. How do you target clients? How do you hear about it when they are planning to build a hotel? We have a very strong network in the local business community. It’s one of the advantages of working in the hotel industry. When I was Director of Sales and Marketing at Hilton, I had the chance to meet many people. We had many requests for advice. Since we did not want to create a conflict of interest, we would just give 28
them free personal advice. But it helped us build presence and trust when we set up Calibra. What was Calibra’s involvement in bringing the Africa Hotel Investment Forum to Ethiopia in 2014? Actually, Yonas and I were the ones who initiated the idea to bring the forum to Sub-Saharan Africa. We knew different kinds of Hotel Investment Forums were being held in the world, like the International Hotel Investment Forum in Berlin, the Arabian Hotel Investment Forum in Dubai, as well as the Russian and Turkish forums. But we have never seen an African Hotel Investment Forum.
We will be expecting three additional deals to be signed until then So we approached Bench events, who organize the Forum around the world and suggested that they should start thinking of having a Hotel Investment Forum in one of the East African countries. There were having the MENA (Middle East and North Africa region) Forum in Casablanca, Morocco at the time, so we paid for our ticket, accommodation and conference fee to meet them there. Before going we had approached the Ministry of Culture & Tourism (MoCT) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to inform them about the conference and our intentions to bring it to Ethiopia. . Seeing the opportunity it offered to promote the country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Office wrote us a letter which stated that if Ethi-
opia could get the opportunity to host the Forum, the government will give its full support. We were assigned to act as mediator between the government and the organizers. We showed the organizers this letter and they agreed to have Africa Hotel Investment Forum. But the Kenyans, who had a well organized and active tourism board and Ministry, took advantage first. They hosted the first and second AHIF. But we were discussing with MoCT about how to bring the conference to Ethiopia and persisted in communicating with the organizers. It paid off in the end. The organizers realized that the hotel in Kenya where they held the conference did not have enough space to accommodate their increasing number of members and sponsors. So we brought them to Ethiopia, gave them a city tour, and connected them with the Culture & Tourism Minister, hotel developers, and all other stakeholders. They really liked the city and said they never had this kind of experience in Africa when they saw the Sheraton. So finally Ethiopia held the Forum. We were lucky to have our Prime Minister attend. It showed the organizers the importance our country gives to the betterment of the hospitality sector. Due to this, and the active participation of the local business community and media, it has been decided that the second AHIF will also be held in Ethiopia. Calibra was instrumental in bringing six international star hotels to Ethiopia during the Africa Hotel Investment forum (AHIF) 2014, which was held in Ethiopia. Was it something the company had been working on in advance or the end result of the networking opportunities provided at the forum? It was the result of our hard work since Calibra was established. We were attending the Forums in Morocco, Dubai and Berlin, so we were keeping in touch with all of our partners. But the announcement at the AHIF signaled to stakeholders that there was hope for those who want to set up businesses in Ethiopia and Africa. Any new deal in the works for the upcoming second Africa Hotel Investment Forum in Ethiopia? The Eminence Jul Issue 10
We will be expecting three additional deals to be signed until then. Can we know who they are? At the moment I cannot disclose such information. It is at the discretion of the hotel owner and the international brand. But you will know when the time comes. The deals bring together international star hotels that can manage the brand, and local investors that build the hotels. Why is this model the most preferable? Why not choose to support the growth of local hotels with international standards or leave it to international hotels to invest here? We are not saying that this is better than the other one. We are not even the ones who decide this. This is at the full discretion of the hotel investor. What we do is provide the best alternative solution. What is the advantage of having international brand management? The big question is whether we have the right kind of skilled labor in the country. We don’t. If you look at Egypt or Kenya, or other African countries like South Africa, they surpass us in-terms of international hotel presence. In Egypt they have over 22 international Hilton hotels. Just Hilton. It’s the same when you talk about other brands like Hyatt, Sheraton, or Accor. So they have well trained labor in the sector. When it comes to our scenario, though Addis is the VIP capital of Africa, with significant historical, natural and cultural attraction we do not have enough high end international hospitality schools. Any real change in professionalism came from those who mainly got the chance to work at the Hilton, Sheraton, and recently Radisson. Moreover, the background of those investing in hotels is not in the hospitality industry. The majority were involved in trading, manufacturing and development before they invested in hotels. So when we ask them if they are going to manage the hotels they built, they say “I’m not interested in really managing it”. So we tell them it is possible to get international brands to manage it. These international brands have 5000-6000 properties worldwide. They have professional experience and The Eminence Jul Issue 10
can also send guests to Addis Ababa, as an added advantage.
creative in bringing Ethiopian Style of Hotel management.
Even if you bring foreign management, the labor law strictly limits the number of foreign nationals working in an Ethiopian company. So the problem of sufficient professional labor would still exist. Would it not be better to focus on developing high standard hospitality schools?
While knowledge transfer is significant, there are some who are worried about competition from international brands. Some local hotels are saying they may need protection from the government the same way banks do, because they will be unable to compete with international brands. What do you say to that?
Setting a high standard hospitality school is capital intensive, as it requires having your own hotel dedicated to training. You should be able to provide students with a proper kitchen area and a culinary experience. Those who were able to work for Hilton, Sheraton or Radisson, get this chance. They are trained in-house by world class trainers. International brands are corporate entities that have world class training systems. Currently, there’s a shortage of hospitality schools. You need to have over 300 professional members when investing in 150 room hotels. Which hotel school provides these many professional graduates?
It cannot really come to the point where we are bothered with these aspects. In fact we could say that it’s a free market economy. You cannot simply say block this, because it will have an adverse effect on foreign direct investment. But unlike other African countries, we are the exception. So far, all but one of these international brand owners are working in partnership with Ethiopians. The majority of benefits go to these Ethiopians, not the foreigners. The international brands come with their knowledge and expertise. It’s just a question of giving options. What options do we have? How can we really compete if we really want additional travelers to come to this country? That’s why we need to be able to learn more, fast. So this is the alternative solution we thought of at this stage. But the stake international managers get is not comparable to what local owners get.
Are there other alternative projects Calibra wants to involve in? In fact yes. Setting up our own hospitality training schools. It’s just at the project study stage. Having hospitality training schools will give young Ethiopians a chance to get professional training and encourage them to be innovative and
How much do the international operators get for bringing in their brand names? 29
local operators. Another one of your business ventures is Cucina Trading plc, in which Calibra is partners with Noah Real Estate. You have recently signed a deal with Spur Corporation to open a franchise restaurant. Is the franchise experience beneficial to Ethiopia? The idea behind the venture was coming up with a world class brand name establishment managed by Ethiopians. Since Addis Ababa is an important African city, having hotels is not enough. The guests who are staying in these hotels would like to go out and dine somewhere. But we don’t have enough world class standard specialty restaurants. We really wanted to put our footprints in this area as well. Spur is well known for its steak selections, which both Ethiopians and foreigners would like. I cannot be specific because it varies. But on average the management fee is 20pct of the net profit at the end of the day. It could be lower.
institutions?
When international brands come to manage local hotels, do they leave at a certain point in time? If so do they take their names with them?
Most of the big hotels are concentrated in the capital. Have you thought about bringing in clients interested in building resorts and hotels in tourist destinations outside of the Addis Ababa? Is there demand?
Most of the contracts last fifteen years. When they leave, they do take their name. What’s your opinion of the current Ethiopian Hospitality industry as a whole? It’s moving in the right direction. It’s encouraging. We have seen major growth in the last five years since we opened our company. The government has recently been giving much attention to the sector unlike before. The major priorities previously were agriculture, manufacturing and the like. In collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, key institutions like the Ethiopian Tourism Transformation Council, the Ethiopian Tourism Organization, and the Ethiopian Tourism Board have been set up in order to give assistance to the private sector and other active stakeholders. Once these institutions are well coordinated and set a clear direction of where the country would like to go, we would definitely be able to see much faster growth. Are you at all involved in any of these 30
Not as member. But I have good support for the upcoming African Hotel Investment Forum both institutions.
Yes, we do think of such things. The reason that hotels are concentrated in Addis Ababa is because the private sector wants to invest in something that brings a higher return. Because Addis is the political capital of Africa, where UNECA, AU headquarters and over 110 international diplomatic missions are based, investors can get a high return from conference tourism. But gradually, we will hear of investments.. As long as the regional balanced development is being taken care of, then definitely investments will come. Is Calibra a part of this? Are there any projects in the works? We have ongoing projects in administrative regions, especially at historical attraction sites like Bahir Dar, Axum, Lalibela, Langano and Hawassa. Can you mention some of them? It is at the discretion of the investors and
The advantage of franchising as I have explained is knowledge transfer. The more we are able to become educated, we reach a point where we can have our own unique brands, either at the restaurant or hotel level. Where is it located? When will it open? The first restaurant will be located at the Mezzanine floor of Abyssinia Plaza, owned by Noah Real Estate. It will be operational in the next six months. Currently the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is grading hotels using international standards. How does this affect what you do? What are the implications for the sector in general? I believe the grading will help the hospitality sector and all stakeholders in it. We never had a strong system in the past. It is confusing for international travelers coming here. The kind of five star they know and experience is not the kind of five star that we have been giving our selves. It’s all about giving confidence. The more systematic you get, the more it will reassure international customers. Do you have any plans to manage your own hotel in the future? Sure. We don’t want to remain consultants until the end. I know we will have our own star rated hotel when the time comes we will enter the sector The Eminence Jul Issue 10
Advertorial
The Eminence Jul Issue 10
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Advertorial
It’s Golden T lip Season Bringing 150 Years of Service to Ethiopia
“International standards, local flavours!” That’s what you can expect from the Golden Tulip Addis Ababa Hotel. When it opens its doors in July 2015, it is prepared to bring 150 years of international management experience and fuse it with the celebrated hospitality that Ethiopia is well-known and appreciated for. The fusion can be seen in many aspects of Golden Tulip. The hotel itself was established by the partnership of the local property owner Aschalew Belay, and the international Golden Tulip management. The four-star Golden Tulip is a part of the Louvre Hotel Group, which offers hotels ranging from the 1 star Première Classe to the five stars Royal Tulip. 32
Local themes are displayed in the interior design and services of Golden Tulip Addis Ababa. All the serving staff at the restaurant will be clad in Ethiopian traditional cloth. Tasteful Ethiopian artworks are incorporated in the wall paneling of all rooms and halls. At the same time, Golden Tulip Addis Ababa Hotel offers international design and service elements that are unprecedented in the Ethiopian hospitality industry. Accommodations include 90 spacious, tastefully decorated rooms including 5 diplomat suites, 17 executive and 68 deluxe rooms, 22 of which have twin beds. State-of-the art amenities provided include satellite television, in-room safe,
direct dial, international telephone and tea and coffee making appliances and hairdryers. The doors are fitted with an automated, do not disturb display sign that automatically lights up and locks the door at the touch of a switch. The ‘wait a moment’ and ‘make up my room’ options are also available on the display. You can take charge of your own comfort, since all rooms are equipped with individual AC controls. A digital clock within each mirror, central music system, and weight scales in every bathroom are added bonuses for guests staying at Golden Tulip Addis Ababa. The hotel also offers 24-hour laundry and The Eminence Jul Issue 10
room service. Golden Tulip is a pioneer in setting up bathroom accommodations for handicapped and differently-abled persons. By providing handle bars and wide space, it seeks to give comfort and convenience. Safety and security features at Golden Tulip Addis Ababa also keep up with international standards. The hotel ceilings are all equipped with sprinklers in case of a fire emergency. Dining facilities include The Spice Restaurant, which serves a wide variety of French and international cuisines from the buffet and a la carte menu. The thermostat dishes are always guaranteed to stay at optimum temperature. The Grab & Go coffee shop, which is the first of it’s kind in Ethiopia, aims to provide the fastest service in town by offering a fine selection of salads, snack, pastries and beverages within 15 minutes. The The Eminence Jul Issue 10
restaurant is located on the ground floor for easy access. Another restaurant, the Lemon Bar & Grill located on the first floor offers an extensive collection of Mediterranean cuisine and a rich grill. To top it off, the Havana Bar serves a wide variety of beverages around the clock exclusively for members and guests in the Diplomatic suites . If you are looking to host a meeting, conference, or ceremonial event, look no further. Like everything else, conference halls are state- of- the art at Golden Tulip Addis Ababa Hotel. Tana Hall is the largest meeting room and is designed to accommodate up to 200 guests at a time. It is the perfect venue for average-sized conferences and events. Langano, Shala and Zeway are similar events halls that are ideal for small-scale meetings, with the capacity to hold between 10 to 100 people.
To ensure your comfort, all halls are air conditioned and equipped with TV walls, projectors, flip charts, a PA system, TV and video player, LCD data projector and all other video conferencing equipment. Golden Tulip Addis Ababa Hotel is located less than a kilometer from the airport making it a convenient location for any businesperson, traveler, or tourist coming to Ethiopia for a conference, family vacation, or honeymoon. It is also less than 5 kilometers away from the African Union and a number of embassies. But no worries, you don’t have to encounter the bustling capital unless you step out. All rooms are fitted with sound proof windows to provide peace and quiet. Come experience an International Ethiopia. All are welcome to visit and see what we’re about 33
Architecture & Interior Design
Recrafting Memories The Personal Touch of Zehist Lodge
By Henok Solomon Staff Writer
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The Eminence Jul Issue 10
Zehist is a new culturally inspired lodge located in Bole near the Rwanda Embassy. Its owner is Dr. Amy Demissew, a medical doctor from Ethiopia. She moved to the Netherlands for education and stayed there for 24 years. Upon her return to Ethiopia, she discovered that her mother and father were splitting up. She decided to buy her parents home and convert it into a business in order to preserve childhood memories and keep their belongings. That was how Zehist Lodge, came to be. It is named after a city in the Netherlands where her two sons were born. Zehist Lodge is built on a 450 square The Eminence Jul Issue 10
meters place that consists of 10 rooms, a restaurant, an outdoor meeting area, and staff rooms. Dr. Amy designed the place based on her motto “where comfort meets tradition”. In this respect, she chose to make Zehist Lodge unique by incorporating typical Ethiopian tradition in her designs, furniture, and materials in a way that provides comfort. The biggest problem with locally made products is the poor finishing that decreases the quality of their outcome according to Dr. Amy. Her secret behind the beautiful décor of Zeist Lodge is Saint George Gallery located next to Sheraton Addis Hotel, which designs and creates each piece carefully.
Dr. Amy also mentioned that she could not find support for the elderly in other accommodations in the country, so in each bedroom entry there is a wooden support on the stairs that is very useful. The corners of the walls are also covered with beautiful cultural designs like traditional Ethiopian crosses and paintings sculpted in wood. Dr. Amy believes in the importance of details, so each piece is thought out carefully. For example, even the dust bins in each room of the lodge are creatively designed from cultural handmade materials like dry grass or sindedo. The bed sheets, curtains, and the sofa pillows are custom designed by Debora Lavita, a designer located in Kera, Addis Ababa. Lavita has also designed pieces for international fashion companies like Dolce and Gabana. Dr. Amy has a love for art and painting. She was involved in most of the designing and decorating work. For instance, she made the reception area and all the staff rooms out of wood painted with mordenti and traditional mat called selen and the roof with papyrus filla, which came all the way from Tana Lake in Bahir dar. Some of the arts have come from local galleries and others were designed specifically for Dr. Amy based on ideas she gave to artists who paint her visions accordingly. Another unique feature of the lodge is the cultural aroma in the rooms that are intended to bring a feeling of calmness to the lodge’s customers. The aromas of eucalyptus come from Ariti located near Hayahulet, Addis Ababa. Outside the main house and compound walls there are small stones of different shapes placed in the walls cement from the Kebana river, which was inspired by Dr. Amy’s memories of playing near there as a child. Because the stones are not as bright as she would like them to be, she painted them over with vibrant colors. A cultural library is under construction In- front of the outdoor meeting area. Hopefully Zehist lodge will be able to expand itself and give the customers much to see and enjoy 35
Commentary
Overcoming
‘The Boiling Frog’ Syndrome The boiling frog tale is a widespread anecdote describing a frog slowly being boiled alive. The premise is that if a normal frog is placed in hot water, it will jump out. But if it is placed in cold water that is slowly heated, it will not perceive the impending peril and will be boiled to its demise. The frog story is often used as a metaphor for the inability of people to react to significant changes that occur gradually. In leadership or life in general, landslides or hurricanes are seldom difficult to notice. Chaos is easily recognizable. But how about the still small wind incessantly removing a grain from a pile of sand – when will the pile cease to be? The reason behind our inability to notice small, detrimental changes, maybe pure oversight or neglect. However the essence of leadership is confronting negligence,; standing up and riding against the tide. Leaders are expected to notice the vanishing grain of sand from a secure pile. Yet almost always, leadership conjures up the image of a macho orchestrator, tackling lifesized gargantuan problems. Alas; that precisely is the struggle of a boiled frog. A few illustrations may be in order; and the examples can come from any field. Consider climate change. The loss of indigenous fruit-bearing adult trees did not come as a hurricane . Instead it was a gradual change. Few cared since such trees ceased to have economic significance. No one would have noticed the felling of the last small indigenous fruit-bearing tree. The trouble is, all around the world, such miniscule changes in our farms, forests, water sources and the atmosphere, went 36
unnoticed. We chocked our environment so much that it is gasping for breath. Combined, our small indulgences are already causing upheavals. Our earth is getting hotter; fragile ecosystems are destabilized; and desserts are expanding, shrinking the space for food crops. Climate change initiatives such as green growth strategy are simply our desperate scramble to save our souls. Sadly, only a few still realize the disaster. Another example is the slippery slope of mediocrity. People or communities don’t set out to be mediocre. We know that we reached there when leaders or employees accomplishing normal, mandatory actions are heaped praise as extra-ordinary fellows. Mediocrity occurs through a series of decisions, actions (or inactions) over a period of time. One particular area where mediocrity reigns is in the quality of products and services. When a ‘that will do’ attitude took over the ‘can do better’ mentality, we wondered, how did we get here? It sure wasn’t suddenly. We tolerated small dents; accommodated little inaction; accepted adulterated goods and services; permitted compromised solutions to rule the day. Corruption is another result of a boiling frog mentality. Many believe that corruption is a random, opportunistic and a separate disease attached to rulers, mainly state and government authorities. But that is only half of the truth. This social evil is creeping to normalcy as we conveniently miss the symbiotic relationship between rulers and subjects that feeds the dragon. How did it start? Oh, wasn’t it through delightful, open gestures of decency? Our cultures The Eminence Jul Issue 10
Simon Heliso is a Country Representative for Ethiopia at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs and author of the book “Yemeri Yaleh” (In Search of a Leader). He also served in leadership positions with World Vision International in Ethiopia, Burundi and South Sudan and the American Refugee Committee International in South Sudan. Pursuing his Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) at the Swiss Management simhelkuk@yahoo.com
praise praising superiors. Civility ordains primacy to elders. Saluting leaders with ‘empty hands’ is ungracious. But we failed to notice when politeness and graciousness crossed the line, and became ways of twisting the arms of the powerful for undue gain. When dealing with avalanches of wrong-doing became tedious, we shifted blame, claiming that ‘the systems failed to catch up with progress.’ A resignation reverberates loud: “we no longer create the system; it creates us.” Scary. On the corruption front, the frog looks rather too charred. The argument is clear. Leadership is a process that defies such a reality. Without discounting the efforts of wellmeaning leaders dealing with floods of incapacity, ineptitude and corporate myopia it is necessary that we think rather differently, on a broader scale. Major planned actions are important but we need a trickle of efforts that jointly create rivers of hope. A bottom up movement that unleashes capabilities of many, including other boiling frogs, is imperative. Four levels of action may be required: personal, organizational, systems and people related. On the personal level, it is high time that all leaders review and evaluate their own actions, goals and aspirations regularly. In the leadership guru Ken Blanchard’s own words, “take a minute: look at your goals, look at your performance, and see if your behavior matches your goals.” This is not just to ensure against ineffectual personal authenticity and accountability. It is also because followers tend to notice and emulate actions instead of words. The Eminence Jul Issue 10
Tackling indifference to changing realities will require organizational support. The boiling frog will need encouragement to explore the waters beneath the saucepan. Leading change is the quest; not coping with it. Organizational efforts are cemented when leaders rejuvenate systems to ensure excellence in execution. Systems should reward desired actions and punish undesirable ones effectively. People should be encouraged to act when something smells funny, even if it’s not on their job descriptions, including rewards when efforts improve effectiveness. Tolerance and politically correct response towards detractors have to be ruthlessly removed. Sufficient energy to crawl out of the pan can only be ensured when we develop people to act to the best of their abilities. Often, efforts in developing people are considered a sunk cost. This misconception comes from a failure to see the system as a whole. Organizations that discount the power and worth of their people have already decided their fate. Failure exhibits itself through lack of honest conversations with other boiling frogs in the pot, putting off of difficult dialogue and inability to rebuild trust when it is broken. Would that seal the resurgence of the frog? May be; perhaps not. Even after personal, organizational, systemic and people changes are achieved, it is hard to ensure response from a sleeping giant. However, the alternative, shying away from difficult decisions and actions is precisely a non-leadership that will ensure the frog is thoroughly cooked 37
Linda Tigani is an Ethio-Sudanese social worker and passionate advocate for social justice. Linda was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and is a graduate at Bard College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. She has a Masters in Social Work from the Silberman School of Social Work. She has dedicated her life to working with mothers and children to improve access and engagement in educational opportunities at ltigani@gmail.com
Commentary Commentary
Dear Ethiopia,
You are truly beautiful. You are filled with love, light, and energy. I look forward to seeing you rise. It is because of you that I rise. As a first generation child in America, I lived two lives in Sunset Park, Brooklyn New York: American and Ethiopian. Sunset Park is a community with many people identifying as Dominican, Puerto Rican, Mexican, Asian and South East Asian. I spent most of my life explaining to people that I am Ethiopian and not Latina, my family speaks Tigrinya and the national language is Amharic. After defending my identity, at least once a day, I would go home and ask my mother questions about Adwa, Tigray, and Ethiopia. I wanted to know the history as if I spent my entire life in my home country. I knew Ethiopia through home videos, music, food and church. My mother instilled a deep sense of pride and gratitude for being born an Ethiopian Woman. Once every few years, a family member would visit us and I would get to see my mother glow. Like every little girl, I wanted to be just like her and I still do. I wanted to dance, I wanted to speak the language and cook the food. Deep down inside, I felt that I was missing out on something special because we were not around more family or other Ethiopians. So at the age of 28, I decided it was time for me to return to my homeland. Approximately six months before I left for Ethiopia, I put out a Facebook post asking my friends if I should quit my job after I graduate and move to Ethiopia. Everyone said, “YES!” I spoke with my mom and we agreed it was time for me to take a trip as a reward for completing my graduate school studies with a Masters of Social Work. One week after graduation, my bags were packed, my room was clean and I was getting ready to take a flight from Newark, NJ to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. On January 31st I left New York City traveling with two imperative principles from my upbringing: trust in people will keep you safe and family is always first. I promised my mom that I would return to New York and begged her to stop crying. I wore my brother’s New York Giant’s jersey and cap on the flight as an outward sign that I was a proud Ethiopian Female Giant’s fan wherever I am in the world. I sent some final text messages to close friends who supported my move and told them all not to forget me! Once the flight took off, I realized I left behind expectations of what my mother’s country; I was ready to start fresh. With eager open eyes, I began my journey Sunday February 1st. Of course, I was overjoyed when the staff was annoyed that I couldn’t speak Amharic. I knew I didn’t have to defend my identity because I was home and I did have to explain why I am monolingual. Since my arrival, I have traveled throughout Ethiopia visiting Adwa, Axum Lalibella and Gonder. I have prayed in over 20 churches throughout North and Central Ethiopia. Walked through the tunnel of hell, took a ride in a Bajaj, had dinner on top of a mountain, visited Meles Zenawi, Haile Selassie and Menen Asfaw tomb. Took a taxi up Entoto Mountain and walked down to see the panoramic view of Addis Ababa. While walking through Addis, I saw two donkeys fight, sheep cross the road and joined in the eating of raw meat. I have learned, listened and danced to the music of many cultures within Ethiopia. I joined in communal prayer over our lost brothers in Libya. I fell in love God at Bisrate Gabriel church. Because of Gabriel, the beautiful trees that surround it and the ground beneath it, I have grown. Over my six-month stay, I have learned the importance of love and relationships. I have witnessed new relationships form, listened to the beginnings of a marriage of 50 years and anticipate the arrival of the newest and youngest member of my family. I have discussed, debated and argued for the good spoken by God and Jesus in the bible. My Christianity has strengthened and my commitment to fulfilling the word of Christ through continuing with social work around the world using a human rights and social justice lens. In two weeks I return to the United States. I leave with a better sense of who I am and where my people are from. I am returning with a deeper love for my extended family and a stronger commitment to developing Ethiopia. Through conversations with young men and women who were raised in Ethiopia and abroad, I understand and accept that it is my responsibility to contribute to my homeland wherever I am in this world 38
The Eminence Jul Issue 10
Commentary
This article was written by the Ethiopian Tourism Organization (ETO). The ETO has agreed to write regular commentary pieces that highlight current policy and strategic issues concerning the tourism sector. The organization can be reached at eto.org@gmail.com
ETO’s Involvement in International Conferences
Key to Promote Tourism
The third United Nations International Conference on Finance for Development is taking place for the first time on the African continent in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from July 19-23, 2015. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa will serve as the venue for the event. The conference will evaluate the progress made on the recommendations and consensuses reached during the previous two conferences in Montreal, Mexico and Doha, Qatar. It will also assist in finding sources of finance for global development agendas post 2015. An international business forum will take place as well as different side events. Nearly 7000 delegates from 193 countries will attend the conference including high-ranking, public officials, representatives of UN financial institutions, international bank, investors, global charities and international media. This is indicative of how far Ethiopia has come in-terms of building the capacity and infrastructure needed to host such international events. Putting into consideration the different kind of benefits a host country can get from such conferences, Ethiopia has been making preparations to pull off a successful event. Nearly 100 million ETB has been allocated from all ministerial offices in order to get the conference underway. A national conference organization and facilitation committee has been established to work alongside UN staff from the headquarters and local staff at UNECA. This committee is led by Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, and has two subcommittees under it for accommodation logistics and protocol affairs led respectively by Sufian Ahmed, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, and Tewodros Adhanom (MD), Minister of Foreign Affairs. The committee is planning to show the attendees Ethiopia’s economic journey for the past 20 years as well as key investment sectors that the government outlined in the second Growth & Transformation Plan (GTP II) during the conference. As the national tourism organization, one of the mandates given to the Ethiopian Tourist Organization (ETO) is marketing Ethiopia as a tourist destination The Eminence Jul Issue 10
and ensuring collaboration and alignment. Considering the significance such large-scale international conferences have for the country’s tourism, the ETO has decided that it will be involved in assisting the organizers and promote Ethiopia during such events. It believes that such conferences are a perfect opportunity to market Ethiopia as a tourist and MICE (Meetings, Industries, Conferences, and Events) destination. For this particular conference on Financing for Development, The Ethiopian Tourism Organization (ETO) is part of the National committee. Within the national committee, it is the ETO’s responsibility to give a presentation promoting the country’s key tourism attractions and destinations to talk about the successes achieved in the tourism sector so far and to introduce new investment opportunities in the tourism and hospitality sector to create awareness among delegates attending the conference. The ETO is also setting up the “Ethiopian Village Exhibition” to take place as a side-event during the conference. Two booths will be set up inside the conference halls of UN-ECA, to display Ethiopian products from the eight important economic sectors of the country. One of these sectors, tourism, will get its own booth while the other seven will share the other one. A coffee ceremony, in its entire cultural splendor will be presented during the entire conference alongside the village exhibition. Though the conference is four days long, the ETO has put together a tour package designed to show delegates different Tour destinations in Ethiopia for an extra 2-3 days. The ETO is hopeful that relevant investors and international media will join this tour, so that they can witness Ethiopia’s growth and potential as a tourist destination. Moving forward, the ETO believes that it’s responsibly to be present at big international conferences and represent Ethiopia in a streamlined and standardized manner as per its mandate 39
Mandarin
埃塞俄比亚航空公司的发展和未来 中非的友好关系） Ethiopian Airlines Capitalizes on the Growing China – Africa Relations By Daniel Benjamin Staff Writer Translated by Jiaqi Xie
埃塞俄比亚是世界上私人投资率最低 的国家，然而却是世界上公众和政府 投资资助最多的国家。虽然一直遭到 世界私人投资者的质疑和批判，但埃 塞俄比亚政府仍然对自己的国家感到 骄傲。成功的国家治理也必然会伴随 着反对和质疑的声音，让我们用数字 来说明为什么它的策略是有效的。 埃塞俄比亚近十年来一直是世界上经 济增长最快的国家之一，由国家控股 的埃塞俄比亚航空足以证明当地国有 公司、企业的盈利方式和水平。 近年来埃塞俄比亚航空一直引领着非 洲航空事业的发展，成为非洲航空利 润最多的航空公司。 在达到国际航 40
空领先水前，埃塞将会一直保持这种 前进的态势，并没有让步伐慢下来。 在其雄心勃勃的“2025目标计划”的 增长计划中，不难看出在不久的未来 埃塞航空将再度超越自我达到新的高 度，持续领航于非洲的航空事业。 在这长达十五年的展望计划中，埃塞 俄比亚航空将不断发展，计划成为超 过140架飞机的大型航空公司，跻身 世界前列。而新增的60架飞机将帮助 埃塞航空运送超过两千两百万世界各 地的旅客从而达到其“2025目标计 划”的标准。根据埃塞航空公司预 计，在2025年该航空公司将开通多大 146个直达目标地点，总收入将达到
一百亿美金，利润将达到十亿美金之 多。 对于埃塞航空公司来说，实现这个目 标将是艰难的，但仔细分析过去五年 的记录可以看到，在未来十五年的发 展中计将不会成为不可实现的目标。 在未来的几年内，人们将看到埃塞俄 比亚将组建更现代化的飞机舰队，其 中包括，空客A250-330和波音787等 大型客机。为满足日益增长的航空需 求，埃塞俄比亚航空已经启动更大的 基础建设项目来满足未来的发展。 为成功完成目标，埃塞俄比亚航空公 司已开启多个项目，其中包括由埃塞 俄比亚航空公司自行出资建造的价值 The Eminence Jul Issue 10
www.forum.planefinder.net
七百万美金的轻型飞机维修车间和 由中国进出口银行投资建立的价值九 千二百万美金的大型客机维修车间， 而其年货运量将达到一百二十万吨。 这也将成为世界上做大的空港货运码 头之一，而货运站的建设预计将在未 来四年内完工，耗资达一亿五千万美 元。 中国在埃塞的影响力已经远远超过其 在非洲经济贸易和投资的增长。中国 和非洲各国之间的关系一直是双边关 系的热点话题。中国的长期发展计划 将和其与非洲的关系将随着时间的推 移得到非洲各国的认可和支持。 埃塞俄比亚已然成为了一个采纳了大 The Eminence Jul Issue 10
量中国发展政策和模式的非洲国家， 该发展政策和模式大大帮助了埃塞俄 比亚的国有企业，并迎合消费者的需 求一路领先于非洲国家。埃塞俄比亚 航空于六年前首次聘请中国籍空乘人 员加入埃塞俄比亚航空，并取得了更 好的服务成绩。现在，在不断扩张招 聘中国籍空乘的同时，对员工进行服 务和普通话的培训更让日益增长的中 国乘客感到满意，中国文化在不断的 融入埃塞俄比亚航空，使其服务更加 国际化、舒适化和人性化。而正宗的 中餐馆和礼品店将在埃塞俄比亚首都 亚的斯亚贝巴越来越多。 相比中国的援助之下，价值两亿美元 的非盟建设资金就好比大海中的一
滴水，中国对非洲国家的帮助不仅仅 限于金钱上，中非之友谊将在埃塞生 根发芽。着眼于近年来埃塞俄比亚首 都亚的斯亚贝巴的建设，中国的使命 以体现的淋漓尽致，看到这些年的变 化，非洲人民深切的感受到，毫无疑 问中国与我们同在。 在埃塞俄比亚，有远见的埃塞公司和 集团都将自己的目标投入到中国市 场，就像埃塞俄比亚航空所做的一 样。据埃塞俄比亚航空透露，虽然目 前余额70%的游客通过埃塞俄比亚转 入非洲大陆，但保持和发展中非贸易 关系，增加战略合作才是保留和赢得 客户的重中之重。 41
Entertainment
Tourist Corner The Charitable Rasta Man
The Cycling Businessman An Ethiopian concept or way of thinking that you don’t understand: everything is basic, straight forward and the language is fine you just have to learn it.
The Eminence met Rubin in the 3rd hotel show at Millennium Hall while he was promoting his company. Rubin thinks Ethiopia has the peace and calmness you will never find somewhere else in the world. Rubin do different charity works for homeless kids in Shashemene and Hawassa. Name: Rubin Kush I am from: England Age: 55 I’ve been in Ethiopia for: 10 years I’ve been in Ethiopia because: of investments and making different industrial machines and food processing machines.
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Something that has been hard to find here but easy to find in your hometown: different food brands are hard to find here. There is a lot of food here, but most of the food is coming from Arab countries and we have the same food coming from the west, but they have a different taste. I am born in England but my parents came from Jamaica, so a lot of the food that I am used to I can’t get them here. Something that I would find easily in here but can be hard to find in my home town: Ethiopia is a natural country where all the resources are here, the landscape is here, the peace and the calm is here that you don’t find in other countries.
Levi is a cyclist from Australia. He came to Ethiopia after seven years because he liked what he saw during his first visit. The eminence met him at Millennium Hall promoting his cycling business here in Ethiopia. Name: Levi Lawrence Age: 50
Your least favorite thing in Ethiopia: I don’t like the poverty here. It’s been addressed by the government, but it’s still there and it’s a bit disturbing coming from the west, especially some of it can be avoided. There is a big gap between the rich and the poor here but it’s clear that the government is doing major work to minimize the problem.
I am from: Australia
Your favorite Ethiopian cuisine: Beyeaynet and mainly Alicha wot.
An Ethiopian concept or way of thinking that you don’t understand: there are certain things
I’ve been in Ethiopia for: 6 months I’ve been in Ethiopia because: I organize a cycling business called Ethio Cycling. I came to Ethiopia about seven years ago and I was here for a year. I really enjoyed my stay back then and I thought this was a nice place to come back to and I have come to do some more work and business.
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Magic Eye Discover the 3D image within Unlike the way you normally see images by directly looking at the surface, aim your lines of sight in the middle, right before the image or aim your lines of sight in parallel direction beyond the picture. See answer on page 45
that puzzled me, for example if I go to the vegetable shop and I want to buy two bananas or two of something I am told to buy a kilo of the vegetable and when I request for one or two they usually give me it for free and it’s a bit strange.
Your favorite Ethiopian cuisine: There is a restaurant in Kazanchis run by a famous Ethiopian chief named Chane. I would say that’s my favorite place for Ethiopian food and a specific food to mention I don’t mind tibs if its cooked with soft meat. I think Ethiopians prefer their meat quite chewy I prefer to have my meat quite soft.
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Your least favorite thing about Ethiopia: I think the bureaucracy can be a bit difficult related to administration. Sometimes it’s very difficult to get a sense of what the rules and the guidelines are relating to all sorts of things. If you go to an office you might be told something by one person, something different by someone else, so you don’t seem to have clear rules and guidelines and this can be something quite frustrating in that sense.
Place the digits 1-9 exactly once in each horizontal row, each vertical column and each sub grid region. See answer on page 45
SUDOKU
Something that I would find easily in here but can be hard to find in my hometown: The thing that is good here is the fresh fruit and vegetables particularly organic fruit and vegetables are easy to find. You can certainly find organic fruit in Australia, but you pay a lot more for it so here it’s a lot cheaper.
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Something that has been hard to find here but easy to find in your home country: I am a cyclist so there are things that are related to bikes that are part of my lifestyle that are very difficult to find like good inner tubes for the bikes. It’s also difficult to find cycling gloves. Related to food there are certain things that are hard to find in here for instance my wife needed coconut milk and we couldn’t find it around.
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Classified Best Halls in Addis Ababa Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Available Rooms: 12 Accommodates: From 30 - 500 People African Union (AU) Available Rooms: 40 Accommodates: From 35 -2, 500 People Sheraton Addis Hotel Available Rooms: 9 Accommodates: From 40 -450 People Hilton Addis Ababa Available Rooms: 8 Accommodates: From 20 -650 People Radission Blu Addis Ababa Available Rooms: 2 Accommodates: From 12 -120 People
Hangout Spots! Edna Mall/ Bob and Bongos Things to do: Watch box office movies, Skating, basket ball, cafés, 7D movies Lafto Mall Things to do: Read your favorite books & enjoy hot drinks
“Please let it be noted neither the editorial team nor the company is liable for any errors or mistakes on the sources of information. The list is in no specific order”. Yaya Village Location: Sululeta Things to do: Restaurant & bar, Horse Riding, Rooms & High Attitude training Liesake Resort and Spa Location: Bishoftu (Debrezeit) Things to do: Restuarants, Rooms, Spa Avanti Blue Nile Hotel Location: Bahir Dar Things to do: Bar and Restaurant, Rooms with overall city view, massage
What to see in Addis Ababa? Ethiopian Korean War Veterans Association Location: Afincho Ber The largest open market in Africa Location: Merkato The gold jewelry market Location: Piassa Holy Trinity Cathedral Location: 4 Kilo National Museum Location: 5 Kilo Ethnological Museum Location: 6 Kilo
Balageru Coffee Things to do: Read your favorite books & enjoy hot drinks
Park (Anebesa Gebi) Location: 6 Kilo
Bilos Café Things to do: Some of the best pastries in town
Ethiopian traditional clothes and jewelry market Location: Shiro Meda
Yogurt Inn Things to do: Free Wi-fi while enjoying tasty flavored yogurts
Panoramic view of Addis from Entoto Location: Entoto
Bora Amusement Park Things to do: Merry-go-round, 8D movies, Swings, Slides Ghion Hotel Things to do: Go - carts, swimming, Merry -goround
Places for Retreat
Kurifitu Resort & Spa Location: Bishoftu (Debrezeit) Things to do: Restaurant & Bar, Swimming, Kayaking, Spa, Rooms Kurifitu Resort & Spa Location: Bahir Dar Things to do: Restaurants, Rooms with Lake Tana View, Fireplace, Swimming, Spa Adulala Resort Location: Bishoftu (Debrezeit) Things to do: Restaurants & bar, Spa & Gym, Bungalows, Horse riding, fishing at Babo Gaya Lake & much more African Vacation Club Location: Langanoo Things to do: Restaurant & bar, Swimming, Kayaking, Spa, Rooms, Horse ridding, Game Zone and Different Beach Games
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Immerse yourself in Ethiopian Music and Dance Yod Abyssinia Location: Bole & Sar Bet Time: from 7:00 PM- Mid night 2000 Habesha Location: Bole Time: from 7:00 PM- Mid night
Night Life in Addis Gaslight Night Club Location: Sheraton Addis Club Illusion Location: Next to Ambassador Theater Black Rose Location: On Boston Building Champion Bar Location: On Boston Building Liquid Lounge Location: Next to Intercontinental Addis Hotel
Club H2O Location: On Yolly Building, “Chichiniya” Suba Lounge Location: Wollo Sefer on Ethio-China road Gravity Lounge Location: Next to Bole Medihanialem Church Fendika Club Location: Kasanchis
Your Home Away from Home for Your Extended Stay
Beer Garden Inn (Guest House) Total Rooms: 21 Location: Bole Medhanialem Road near Edna mall GT Guest House (Guest House) Total Rooms: 13 Location: Kirkos kifle ketema, 200m in from Dashen Bank on Sierra Leone Street Yeka Guest House (Guest House) Total Rooms: 14 Location: British Embassy across the street from the Bio-Diversity Institute Tizeze Hotel (Guest House) Total Rooms: 32 Location: In front of Bole Cargo near Amin General Hospital Addis Guest House (Guest House) Total Rooms: 12 Location: Bole road 5 minutes from Bole International Airport
Beautiful Scenic and Wildlife in Ethiopia
Simien Mountains National Park Location: Semien Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region Some of the animals that can be found: Gelada baboon, Simien fox & Walia Ibex Nechisar National Park Location: SNNPR Some of the animals that can be found: Burchell’s Zebra, Grant’s gazelle, Guenther’s Dik-dik, Anubis Baboon & Grey Duiker. Awash National Park Location: Southern part of Afar Region and northeastern of Oromia Region Some of the animals that can be found: Beisa oryx, Hamadryas Swaync’s Hartebeet Omo National Park Location: SNNPR Some of the animals that can be found: Burchell’s Zebra, Gerenuk & Kudu Mago National Park Location: SNNPR Some of the animals that can be found: buffalo, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, hartebeest, leopard, lion and zebra
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Bale Mountains National Park Location: Oromia Region Some of the animals that can be found: Topi, Lelwel Hartebeest, Bustards, Hornbills, Weavers & Starlings Gambella National Park Location: Gambella Region Some of the animals that can be found: Nile Lechwe,White-Eared Kob, Roan Antelope, and Whale-headed Stork Abijatta-Shalla Lakes National Park Location: Oromia Region Some of the animals that can be found: Great White Pelicans and Flamingo Yangudi Rassa National Park Location: Afar Region Some of the animals that can be found: Beisa Oryx, Dorcas gazelle, gerenuk and Gravy’s zebra
International Cuisines in Addis Al Mendi Location: Meskel Flower Specialty: Arabian Restaurants Bombay Brasserie Location: Near Meridian Hotel Specialty: Indian Restaurants Caribo Resturants Location: Sar Bet Specialty: Caribbean and African cuisine Castelli Location: Piassa Specialty: Italian Restaurant Chez Fasil Restaurant and Bar Location: Meskel Flower Specialty: Specialized in Nouvelle & Fusion Cuisine Gati-Thai Restaurant Location: Rwanda Embassy Specialty: Genuine Thai Cuisine German Restaurant Location: Near Japan Embassy Specialty: German food and beer
Police Stations Police Information Federal Police Commission AA Police Commission
991 916 011 157 21 21
Fire Brigade 1st Station Menilik II square 2nd station Addisu Kera 3rd station Mekanisa 4th station Nifas Silk 5th station Akaki 6th station Megenagna 7th station Bole
011 156 70 40 011 466 34 20 011 276 91 46 011 442 55 63 011 434 00 96 011 663 03 73 011 664 85 80
Phone Service Toll Free Information Service Federal Police Commission National Operator Fault Report Dial Up Internet Pre Paid Mobile Service/Bill Inquiry/Lost Mobile Registration/ Number Change Information Broad Band Customer Service PSTN Service Voice Mail Courier Service DHL EMS(Ethiopia) Federal Express TNT Skypok UPS Trans Express Ethiopia UN United Nations Development Program United Nations Children Education Fund United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Banks Abay Bank Addis International Bank Awash International Bank Bank of Abyssina Berhan International Bank Buna International Bank Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) Construction and Business Bank Cooperative Bank of Oromia Dashen Bank Debub Global Bank Development Bank of Ethiopia Enat Bank Lion International Bank Nib International Bank Oromia International Bank United Bank Wegagen Bank Zemen Bank
997 916 998 994 900 994 980 980 908 011 662 16 00 011 515 20 72 011 618 63 83 011 551 41 54 011 662 13 09 011 551 41 54 011 663 35 82 011 518 40 00 011 551 72 00
011 552 88 51 011 557 0502 011 557 00 00 011 551 41 30 011 618 57 32 011 158 08 67 011 122 87 55 011 551 23 00 011 552 27 59 011 467 18 03 011 467 40 87 011 551 11 88 011 550 49 48 011 662 60 00 011 550 32 88 011 557 21 13 011 465 52 22 011 552 38 00 011 550 11 11
Answer for The Magic Eye
Airlines British Midland (BMI) Egypt Air Ethiopian Airlines Emirates Kenya Airways K.L.M Royal Dutch Lufthansa Saudi Airline Yemen Airways
011 665 04 94 011 156 44 93 011 665 66 66 011 518 18 18 011 551 42 58 011 552 55 41 011 551 56 66 011 663 81 37 011 551 50 76
Hospitals Private Addis Cardiac Hospital Addis Hiwot Hospital Bete Zata Hospital Landmark Hospital Hayat Hospital Kadisco Hospital Public Black Lion (Tikur Anbessa) Hospital
011 663 47 20 011 618 04 49 011 551 41 41 011 552 62 29 011 662 44 88 011 629 89 04
Library Academy of Ethiopian Languages Addis Ababa Municipality Library Alliance Ethio-Française British Council Economic Commission for Africa library German Cultural Institute Italian Cultural Institute J.F Kennedy (A.A.U) National Libraries & Archives
011 551 59 26 011 155 01 11 011 155 02 13 011 155 00 22 011 551 72 00 011 155 28 88 011 111 34 27 011 111 04 33 011 551 62 47
Art Gallery Asni Gallery Ersas Art Studio Goshu Art Gallery Gigi’s Afro Asian Design& Fine Interiors Makush Gallery
011 123 32 44 0913 66 02 30 011 661 03 97 0912 20 43 37 011 552 68 48
Tour and Travel Eminence Social Entrepreneurs Koreb Tour Operators Kibran Tours Plc Rainbow Car Rental and Tour Services
011 823 71 82 011 662 3179 011 662 62 14 011 371 79 40
Online Classifieds 2 Merkato Latest Ethiopian Tenders and Bids BUY AND SELL (Ethiopia) Gulit online market Mekina online car market Kaymu What’s Happening in Addis Ababa? Pharmacy Abader Pharmacy Bata Pharmacy Ethio German Pharmacy
S u d o ku
011 551 12 11
www.facebook.com www.facebook.com www.facebook.com www.2merkato. com/tenders www.gulit.com www.mekina.net 011 662 43 97 011 655 21 34 0911 20 94 88
S o l u t i o n
Kuriftu Diplomat Restaurant Location: On Boston Building Specialty: “The ultimate global cuisine”
Tomoca Coffee Abissiynia Coffee Alem Bunna
The Eminence Jul Issue 10
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Some of the Best Coffee Houses
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Rainbow Korean Restaurant Location: Near Japan Embassy Specialty: Korean Restaurant
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The Eminence Jul Issue 10
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Phone : +251 115 158278 / 507074 Fax : +251 115 151338 / 504948 P.O.Box: 18401, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Address: Kirkos sub-city, woreda 8, in front of Yordanos Hotel. Email: info@enatbanksc.com SWIFT Code: ENATETAA 48
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