The eminence ll november 2015

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Words for Wolfgang

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The Eminence Nov Issue 14

IERCELY AFRICAN

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The Eminence Nov Issue 14


The Eminence Nov Issue 14

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Ethiopia 360

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Hidden Treat: A Taste of Spain in Addis

CONTENTS

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Where the Crocodiles Roam Adventures through Nech Sar Plains

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Interview

Invested in Africa Carlson Rezidor’s Plans for Expansion

Commentary Homeland of my Child Dear Ethiopia

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埃塞俄比亚旗帜节的故事 A Flag of Many Tales

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Art

Society A Flag of Many Tales

Fiercely African Hub of Africa: Addis Fashion Week

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Street Style Outfit Accomplices

24 Ethiopia’s Mother Theresa 28 A Balancing Act For Ethiopia

Milking the Demand Fonterra Anchors its Ship in Ethiopia Hoteliers at Large Africa Hotel Investment Forum 2015 4

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Early Risers: In Tandem with the Fog Thousand Words

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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. November 2015 ISSUE No 14

Managing Editor Tsewaye Muluneh tmuluneh@eminence-se.com

Editor’s Note

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efore I moved to Ethiopia, someone said to me, “Listen, you have to have a lot of patience to live in this country.” It wasn’t until recently, when I had my wallet stolen, that the advice in those lingering words became evidently clear. I had to buckle up for the process that was ahead of me.

Editor-in- Chief Haewon Asfaw hasfaw@eminence-se.com Bole s.c Woreda 03 H. No 129

Two months after losing my wallet, I am still in the process of trying to get everything back. My wallet contained my passport, Ethiopian origin card, California driver’s license and bankbook. My wallet also had all the documents I acquired to authenticate my foreign driver’s license in order to get my Ethiopian one. I was in the very last step of the process the day I had my wallet taken, which is why it was carrying such important records.

Deputy Editor-in-Chief Elleni Araya earaya@eminence-se.com Bole s.c Woreda 03 H. No 129

So far, the process has taken me to 4 police stations, Immigration, Foreign Affairs, the US Embassy, Kality Driving School and many times back again. I was told that I had officially been initiated into the city now that I had something taken and could now call myself a true resident of Addis Ababa for dealing with the process to retrieve everything.

Reporter Henok Solomon hsolomon@eminence-se.com New Media Editor Hanna Haile hhaile@eminence-se.com Contributing Editors Frehiwot Gebrewold fgebrewold@eminence-se.com Mandarin Editor Jiaqi Xie Contributors Carolyn Curti Daniel Benjamin Graphics and Layout Design Flore Leclerc Website Administrator Samson Tegegn Cover Picture Christophe Viseux Photographer Sentayehu Bekele Sbekele@eminence-se.com

Gonzalo Guajardo gguajardo@eminence-se.com

Finance and Administration Zinash Habte Distribution Tariku Tessema Editorial Address Tel. +251- 116-189-591 Address +251-Editorial 118-961-791 Tel. +251- 116-189-591 code 1110+251- 118-961-791 P.O.BOX 794 contact@eminence-se.com P.O.BOX 794 code 1110 social@eminence-se.com contact@eminence-se.com Web: www.eminence-se.com social@eminence-se.com Bole s.c Woreda 03 H.No 085 Cape Verde Street, off Web:inwww.eminence-se.com Africa Avenue front of Bole s.c Woreda 03 H.No 085 Cape Verde Street, off Sidama Lodge. Africa AvenueatinCentral front ofPP This edition is printed Sidama Lodge.03 H.No 414 Kirkos Subcity, Woreda ThisEthiopia. edition is printed at Central PP Addis Ababa, Kirkos Subcity, Woreda 03 H.No 414 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Eminence Nov Issue 14

When interviewing people who operate a business in Ethiopia, one question consistently comes up for me is: How can one possibly run a business in this country with the bureaucracy in place? Ethiopia has a lot of work to do in its plans to develop as a booming economy. Out of 189 economies, Ethiopia was ranked 132nd in regards to the easiest country to do business in according to the report Doing Business in 2015 conducted by The World Bank. The report exemplifies that Ethiopia is not keeping up with the development of the country in regards to facilitating clear and easy practices of taking care of business. From the lack of efficiency, helpful employees and communication between different offices and government bodies, processes are often long, depressing and more complicated then they have to be. A major problem is the way the work of civil servants is measured. In almost every government building and office I have been in there is extremely poor service and work ethic. At times, it almost feels like the people there to help you are attempting to do the exact opposite. There seems to be no jurisdiction in place and a majority of the time it seems as if people are not sure what they are supposed to do, who you are supposed to talk to or how they can help. Other times it feels like employees want to prove they have power over you and intentionally try to make processes difficult. With so much disorder, ironically there is still a deep sense of “officialism”-- from the classic rubber stamp in purple ink to the waiting games to the protocol that requires you to move from office to office. This process also breeds corrupt public servants. For many of the workers running the show in different government offices, it is not clear how their labor is being measured. It definitely does not seem to be based off their performance, leaving little capacity for fairness and productivity. Over the last decade Ethiopia’s economy has flourished and moved from being deemed as a poor country of famine to one of the fastest growing and most politically stable countries in Africa. If the country is aiming to truly progress into a developed and modernized society, serious and innovative solutions need to be made to create efficient systems, processes and civil servants. There needs to be accountability and transparency within government agencies that treat their citizens with respect and helpfulness that gets things done and moves the society forward. It is important for the government to have a strict review process of complaints and measure performance based on the number of applications processed. Good governance must start from the grassroots. If the official faces of the government that directly meet with citizens treat customers like they are dispensing them favors instead of providing services, which they are obligated to give, then it is no use talking about change. The unbearably slow and burdensome wheels of bureaucracy will keep crushing disgruntled citizens indefinitely. It’s time for meaningful and needed change!

@EminencEthiopia

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MONTHLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Credit: William Davison/Bloomberg

Ethiopia facing worst drought it has experienced in over a decade September 20, 2015

The first African Marriot Executive Apartments opened in Addis Ababa off of Meskel Square in Bole, adjacent to the UNECA headquarters. This $35.5 million project by Marriott International in partnership with Sunshine Business features 108 fully-serviced apartments that are fully furnished and equipped with luxury amenities and services.

EU allocates 540 million euros for Ethiopia’s road construction October 12, 2015

Flyawaysimulation.com

The European Union delegation to Ethiopia, which celebrated its 40th anniversary of bilateral relations to Ethiopia on October 10th, will be providing 540 million euros to the Ethiopian government over the next 5 years to support the country’s effort to build roads in rural areas, an endeavor it has been financing since 1997.

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Across Ethiopia rainfall levels have dramatically decreased causing the largest drought the country has seen in over a decade. With nearly 80pct of Ethiopia’s population working in agriculture and this sector making up 40pct of the nation’s economic output, the country is especially vulnerable. The government allocated $192 million in assistance since July, according to Mitiku Kassa, secretary of the National Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Committee. Though the Ethiopian government has been focusing on the most impacted areas, the UN announced that still nearly 8.2 million people are still in need of food assistance.

Air China to start flights to Addis Ababa October 17, 2015 Air China, one of China’s largest airlines, launched a new route to Addis Ababa, deploying a Boeing 777 and Airbus 330 aircraft thrice weekly for flights between Beijing and Addis Ababa. Airline industry experts say Air China will face a stiff competition from Ethiopian Airlines who has been flying to China since 1974 and currently has four destinations in the country.

credit: addisababaonline.com

New Business Ethiopia

ethiosports.com

Marriot Opens First Executive Apartments in Africa October 6, 2015

East Africa: Ethiopia, Djibouti Sign U.S. $1.11 Billion Deal to Construct Pipeline October 10, 2015 Ethiopia and Djibouti have signed an agreement to link the two counties by constructing a 550km refined petroleum products pipeline worth $1.55 billion. The project, contracted by Black Rhino Group and Mining Oil and Gas Services, will construct a 20 inch pipeline that will transport petrol, diesel and jet fuel from Damerjog port in Djibouti to Awash terminal in central Ethiopia, which are currently being delivered by road. The pipeline will increase energy security, aid economic development and reduce harmful emissions according to Brian Herlihy, the chief executive officer of Black Rhino Group.

The Eminence Nov Issue 14


fafricafashionweek

EVENTS NOVEMBER Alexander Von Humboldt Conference November 18 - 20, 2015 The Alexander von Humboldt Conference, organized by the University of Tuscia will take place at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The conference will cover areas like River basin modeling and management, socio-hydrology and interactions between water systems and society.

Ethiopia Banking & ICT Summit November 27, 2015 The Ethiopia Banking & ICT Summit, organized by the Cyber Security Summit, will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The conference will cover areas like ICT infrastructure security & testing, network design solution and best practices, enterprise risk security, cloud and social networks.

Addis Agro Food Exhibition Nov 27-30, 2015 Addis Agro Food Exhibition is a 4-day event being held at the Addis Ababa Exhibition Center in Meskel Square. This event will showcase products like agricultural machineries food technologies, and packaging. The exhibition offers important global investment opportunities for sectoral professionals in the agriculture & forestry industry.

Understanding Risk and Finance Conference November 17 - 20, 2015 The Understanding Risk and Finance Conference, organized by the Addis Ababa University will provide a forum for African policymakers to discuss effective strategies and approaches at regional, national and local levels to improve the financial post-disaster response capacity and mitigate the socio-economic, fiscal, and financial impacts of disasters.

The Eminence Nov Issue 14

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Gonzalo Guajardo

Ethiopia 3600: Facilities and Accommodations

Tortilla

As a land surrounded by many neighboring countries and also one that’s been touched by many regions, there have been many contributions that have shaped the Spanish cuisine we see today. Spanish food bridges flavors and ingredients from all over Europe, Africa and the Mediterranean Sea. Helen Niguse brings this flavors to Addis Ababa in her bar and lounge Donosti. By Haewon Asfaw Eminence Staff

If one had to portray the essence of Spanish Food, they could just grab a tray at an international buffet and put a little bit of each culture and region on to the plate. From the Roman influence of olives and wine; Arabs with their variety of nuts and gazpachos; Moors with their rice, nutmeg, saffron and fruits; and Columbus bringing back tomato, chocolate and potatoes from the Americas. Like a perfectly crafted arrangement of flavors, Spanish food marinates influences from across the globe, creating a taste that is uniquely its own. In Ethiopia, Helen Niguse is bringing the taste of Spain to Addis Ababa. Born in Jigjiga, Helen moved to Spain when she was just 21 years old, after getting married to her Spanish husband, who she met during his travels to Ethiopia. Ever since she was young, Helen had an interest in cooking and spent 8 out of her 15 years in Spain doing just that. She is now 36 years old with two children, ages 17 and 10, and running her own Spanish-influenced lounge named Donosti located in Anat Commercial center in Haya Hulet. When walking in to Donosti, the first thing one sees is the bar that takes up nearly the entire back wall, fully-stocked with a diverse collection of wine, beer and liquors. It has 8

a Spanish flag, a framed Argentinian soccer jersey and photos of San Sebastian and Donosti hanging above it. Another wall has a panoramic photo of Spain, which also takes up an entire wall. The ambiance is truly set up to generate a Spanish-like vibe. The colors of the restaurant are made up of gray walls, green chairs, wooden barstools with black cushions and low aluminum lights hanging from Russian Salad the ceilings. It has a cozy atmosphere where customers could relax and sip on their rum and cokes. Though Donosti is self-ascribed as a bar and lounge, the real secret is the food Helen prepares inside her kitchen upon advanced request. Because Donosti has not established itself as an official restaurant, it does not have your traditional menu and food orders are made similar to a phone consultation. The Eminence Nov Issue 14


“People call in and during the phone conversation and tell me what kind of food they want, the size of their group and when they would like to have their meal,” says Helen, “I then tell them what I can prepare and the price.” For Helen, it is not difficult to cook Spanish food in Ethiopia because the food is easy to make and she doesn’t have a problem finding the ingredients. She says she is prepared to cook just about anything, but if customers order something exotic, which requires ingredients from abroad like seafood and pork, she does not make it. The Eminence enjoyed lunch at Donosti on a sunny Saturday afternoon. We ordered some of the most popular Spanish dishes, Albondigas de Salsa which came out one after the other- both fresh and hot. The first thing to arrive was a dish called tortilla, one of Spain’s most well known cuisines. It is similar to a potato casserole and often referred to as a “Spanish omelet”. The dish is made by frying diced potatoes and adding eggs to the mixture to create somewhat of a thick-layered potato hash. The tortilla was creamy and decadent, yet fresh due its simple ingredients and seasonings. Next, was a generous serving of Russian salad. It is similar to the traditional potato salad filled with mayonnaise, carrots, eggs and potatoes. It was topped off with some salt, olive oil, and whole-pitted olives. Plates of Spanish meatballs called albondigas de salsa made of beef, egg, rosemary and breadcrumbs followed. They were covered in a thick spicy sauce made of tomatoes, carrots and onions.

Solomillo

The Eminence Nov Issue 14

The real highlight of the meal was a plate of perfectly seared sirloin steak, which was served with a side of roasted

Helen Niguse, owner of Donostia Bar and Lounge

potatoes. The dish is called solomillo and Helen shares that it is one of her most popular dishes. Sirloin steak is the same part of the ox that chekena tibbs is made of, giving the taster some of the softest meat of the animal. She seasons the dish simply with a bit of salt and black pepper and it is cooked to perfection. Fresh bread was eaten with every dish and the basket was never once empty. All the dishes together made for the perfect combination. Some of the tasters even put a little bit of each dish on a slice of bread before eagerly putting it into their mouths. Unlike some other places in Addis that set prices based on assuming people’s origin and class status, Helen says that she does not distinguish between Habesha and foreign customers. She believes in preparing delicious food that is affordable, and believes that the prices she sets are just that. For example, a dish of solomillo is priced at 120 birr and the food ordered by The Eminence, which fed a group of five, came out to 600 ETB. When asked what dish she recommends the most, Helen suggests solomillo and a dish of cooked mixed vegetables called minestra. She says the price of the dish depends on the type of vegetables used and if they are in season. As of now, Helen says people come twice or so a week in groups to eat Spanish food when she is at the restaurant. Currently, the buzz about Donosti and the food they are serving up is spread through word of mouth. “You need good capital to run a business and you need fans,” says Helen. With the restaurant being open now for only 8 months, she is still weighing her options about turning the bar and lounge into a full-blown restaurant. Until then, folks can give her a ring and place their order 9


Ethiopia 3600: Travel and Culture

Where the Crocodiles Roam Adventures through Nech Sar Plains

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In the southern region of Ethiopia is the Nech Sar Plains Park: a place swarming with crocodiles, wild animals and majestic views. It is one of Ethiopia’s most magnificent natural parks and the sights to see make it clear why that is! By Haewon Asfaw Eminence Staff

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This is just a taste of what one sees when traveling to the Crocodile Market in Arba Minch’s Nech Sar Plains (NSP). Nech Sar is one of Ethiopia’s national parks. Located just 507 km south of Addis Ababa in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region, Arba Minch is home to NSP, a place of lush greenery, wild animals and exotic plant life. NSP is positioned right in the Rift Valley between Abaya and Chamo Lake. It was established in 1974 (1967 EC) in an attempt to conserve the natural resources, animals and landscapes of Ethiopia. The park is about 514 km2 made up of 85pct land and 15pct water. Outside of the thrilling sights and sounds to experience at the Crocodile Market, NSP is also made up of diverse habitats, open grasslands and a groundwater forest. When exploring the park, one could travel by boat or ground vehicle.

Haewon Asfaw Ha

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he crocodiles rest with their mouths wide open on the swampy edges of Chamo Lake, bathing in the Arba Minch sun. Some swim amongst travelers drifting on the lake, grazing the edges of the blue metal boats. Giant hippos prop up for air, expelling heavy mists of water from their gigantic nostrils. Flocks of birds stand calmly in the lake waiting for the catch of the day. As an unexpecting fish swims by, hundreds of wings immediately begin to flap up and down ferociously in attempt to be the victor of the desired prey.

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When roaming the park by car, one enters the front gates of Nech Sar Plains and is immediately surrounded by lush greenery. The trees are so high that the sun is blocked, making it feel as if one was wandering through the forest at night. Eventually the entangled tree branches towering over you open up into a safari like landscape of plains.

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The Eminence Nov Issue 14


Nech Sar translates to “white grass” in Amharic. The park gets its name from the pale icy grass that covers the park during the dry season. During this time of the year, it appears as a yellowish straw-like color that also works as a magnificent contrast to the surrounding greenery. On the NSP trail, baboons fill the roads. As cars approach, they calmly grab their babies and the food they are munching on and slowly make their way to the side of the path, as if they know the drill. During the 30 km park tour, dozens of zebras surround the roads unalarmed by the cameras going off. A few even take some time to strike fierce poses before the crowd of onlookers get back in their cars and drive off. Stunning gazelles and antelope gallop and frolic across the plains. Wild birds of vibrant colors give life to the vast sky. Outlandish looking insects crawl amidst the grassy plains and unfamiliar reptiles slither by. According to park officials, NSP contains animals such as Buchelle’s Zebras, lions, Grant’s gazelles, waterbucks, baboons, monkeys, leopards, hyenas, African Civet Cats, , Black Backed Jackals and warthogs. Mengistu Meke, a Tour Guide and Guard of NSP, shares that there are nearly 1000 species, 6 of which are endemic to Ethiopia. Of these thousand species, there are more than 91 mammals, 33 reptiles, 351 birds, 8 amphibians, and 16 types of fish. “The park has been administered by Ethiopian Wildlife Conservative Authority since 2009 and park office partnership with local community and stake holders,” he adds. As the NSP trail continues, there are breathtaking panoramic views overseeing Lake Abaya, Lake Chamo and the Rift Valley cliff. There is also Forty Springs, which provides water for the people of Arba Minch. This is where Arba Minch gets its name, representing

The Eminence Nov Issue 14

the forty spring waters that are found in the area. The Hot Spring is also a place where many visit. It provides tsebel, which is holy water that is believed to heal many people from different diseases. Another sight to see in NSP Park is the Kulfo ground water forest. It is a magnificent place, full of life. When rain falls from the sky, everything becomes damp making all the colors of the forest come to life and smell like fresh eucalyptus. From the clear streams running through the forest’s greenery to the exotic plant life, Kulfo is truly a vivacious place for visitors. “The amount of people who come to Nech Sar depends on the season,” says Mengistu. During March to May and September to October the park experiences its heaviest rainfalls; the hottest months of the year are January and February; and the coolest months are November and December. One of the travelers spotted throughout the trail shared that they came to see the crocodiles, knowing that they are some of the largest to be spotted in Africa’s Nile. They get a taste of the animal life, along with the spectacular sceneries and views. In the Kulfo Forest, a large south Asian family of elders and children pop open their lunch containers of home cooked food and bottles of St. George beer and Miranda; a group of young Ethiopian men in their early 20s jump into the wide creek swimming and splashing each other with water; children try to see how much water they can collect from the stream in wide leaves they have picked off of colossal trees. With such wide variety of sights, wonders and visitors at Nech Sar, it is truly a place worth visiting when traveling to Ethiopia

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Interview: Wolfgang Neumann

Sintayehu Bekele

“Very obviously Africa has it all, but Africa also needs it all.”

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The Eminence Nov Issue 14


Invested in Africa Carlson Rezidor’s Plans for Expansion Wolfgang Neumann is the President and CEO of Rezidor, one of the fastest growing hotel companies and a member of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. Rezidor operates the brand hotels Radisson Blu, Quorvus Collection and Park Inn. The Eminence’s reporter, Elleni Araya, sat down with Mr. Neumann at the 2015 African Hotel Investment Forum to talk about Rezidor’s hotel openings, operations and future plans on the continent. How do you view this Hotel Investment Forum as compared to last year? What did you get out of it? It’s a very positive platform because it connects the hotel operator with investors, with consultants, etc. So there’s great momentum. It gets people together from all over Africa and different parts of the world. It’s wonderful to have it here in Addis, the capital of Ethiopia. And it’s very good exposure for Ethiopia also. I heard you speaking a little bit at the Forum about your presence in Africa. In which part of the continent are you the most present? We are present in 27 countries. We have 30 hotels in operation and we have 36 in development, so we are the fastest growing hotel company in Africa. We go with our two core brands – Radisson Blu and Park Inn Radisson. And we have just introduced a third brand Radisson Red, which is in the lifestyle select segment geared towards the younger generation: Millennials. This is very important, especially in a country like Ethiopia where 60pct of the population is under 25. This young generation has different expectations in their demand of hotels. The biggest presence, to answer your question, is in South Africa where we have 13 hotels – eight hotels in operation and five in development. The other key country for us is Nigeria: the largest populated country in terms of wealth, and oil reserves. It is an economic force of the future. But we are equally very much focused on East Africa. We are very focused in Kenya and we are very much focused on Tanzania and on Ethiopia. Have there been any new announcements about Carlson Rezidor investments in Africa at the Forum? We announced yesterday about the Radisson Blu Residence coming in Nairobi. It is the third hotel to open in Kenya after the Radisson Blu Nairobi and the Park Inn Nairobi, which shows you how much we believe in Kenya as a country. And we announced a new hotel in Algiers. There is a very solid economic growth [there]. So there’s potential in the future. Are any of the hotels you have in the pipeline in Ethiopia? The Eminence Nov Issue 14

No there’s no hotel in the pipeline in Ethiopia. But our plan for Ethiopia is to open a mid market hotel: Park Inn by Radisson in Addis. We believe there’s a real opportunity to open a mid market hotel in Addis Ababa. Previously we only had three branded hotels. But last year after Africa Hotel Investment Forum we had an additional six. Do you see this as a good thing or is that competition for you? Competition is not always negative, competition is very positive. I think in a city like Addis Ababa where there are a lot of international conferences, and NGO work, there is demand. So I think the important thing is for the government to monitor how much capacity it can actually absorb. I think the mistake, which happens in some other cities where you’re just opening too many hotels, should not be repeated. Hotel Standardization is currently underway in Ethiopia and Radisson Blu in Addis has also been rated. How do you feel about it and how does it match with your international standards? I think the step the government is taking to introduce standards is positive. It creates a certain equal footing and an understanding of what is delivered at what level. I think for a large company like ours we see this in a positive but relaxed way. Because for us, the customer comes to us primarily because of the brand. Radisson Blu is an upscale brand. We are a first class international hotel and business hotel. I think the customer knows what we stand for. Whether it’s four or five star graded....for our customers that is not critical. There are hotels that are clearly five star luxury, really operating in the luxury segment which we are not. What are the unique challenges of operating a hotel in Ethiopia? One is bringing the employment force to an educated level and the other is the supply chain: getting goods into the country in an easy, conventional and uncomplicated way. Because it’s very difficult sometimes to get goods into the country and you need to have a [smooth supply chain] in an international hotel.

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Gonzalo Guajardo

Interview: Wolfgang Neumann

International hotel operators including Neumann were listening attentively to economic forecasts.

Have any of the international hotels here tried to approach the government to address this issue? Because now that you are many, you also have lobbying power. Not that I know of! You would have to talk to our local team here, but I think in general the hotel industry always tries to unite the force that you have in getting the message to the government: One of the things the government has done extremely well here is to create an internationally competitive airline which is really a differentiator for Ethiopia. All the best connections offered now are by Ethiopian Airlines. Since there is a lot of demand for hotels, when any hotel opens up all the staff of an international hotel migrate to that new hotel for slightly better pay. Have you witnessed this challenge here? Yeah! Obviously. As new hotels open, they obviously want to pinch the staff that you have. [But] we have a culture which is called ‘yes I can.’ (He has a lapel on his coat that says ‘yes I can’). Our mission is to provide unique ‘yes I can’ services. Never take no for an answer. And that’s what really, really differentiates [us] from other services. I think that also allows us to really face the competition in an aggressive way. People love working for Rezidor because we provide working opportunities, we are dynamic and we are unconventional. That’s a great culture. In one of the panel discussions, you were talking about the responsibility international brands have to develop local talent. Tell us a little bit about what you think your responsibility in terms of knowledge transfer is? As a hotel company working in Africa, we take our

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responsibility to participate in the development of the continent and the countries we are working at, very seriously. In many instances, when you open a hotel, you bring in international specialists who come in and help to develop the expertise. But then, we have a responsibility to replace that management team with local nationals, and really bring local nationals into management positions. For example, here in Addis we have only two expats. We used to have I think 12 when we opened. Over 300 people in the hotel are local nationals. I think that’s important because you don’t want to ignore the responsibility that you have to make a difference in the community. How about the challenges in Africa? It seemed to me that the presentations yesterday indicated that the next three to four years are not that optimistic for Africa. Did you get that impression as well? Well it’s challenging at the moment. One is obviously that there is a decline in oil prices that is challenging key economies such as Nigeria and Angola, which are oil dependent. Then you have the economic headwind which you are facing in many of the countries. You have the Chinese who are investing less into the countries because of the economic difficulties which are facing China. And the currency devaluations are challenging for the countries. So yes. But I certainly believe that in mid-to long term, this economy is only going to grow. Many of the fastest growing economies in the world are African. Very obviously Africa has it all but Africa also needs it all. It has an amazing population that is keen and educated, so I think that the continent is quite huge

The Eminence Nov Issue 14


The Eminence Nov Issue 14

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Arts: Lifestyle & Fashion

Hub of Africa is the annual fashion week in Addis Ababa aiming to promote the African textile and leather business internationally to create platform for African designers on the world stage. This fashion extravaganza was organized by Mahelet Teklemariam, the founder and manag ing director of the Hub of Africa Fashion Week (HAFW). The show has been taking place for the past four years in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Mahelet was born in Addis Ababa, but was raised most of her life in New York. She returned to Ethiopia in 2008. With a passion for fashion, sh entered the industry as the fashion editor at Tadias Magazine. In 2009, Mahelet had the idea of creating a way to elevate the work of African designers and products from the continent. Along with her frien and former work partner, Linda Muritihi, they decided to name it “Hub of Africa Fashion Week”.

From the beginning, the goal for HAFW was for it not only to be a fashion show, but a platform to uplift African Designers and give them visibilit in the international market. This includes bringing in worldwide buyers and fashion editors to its annual shows. There are other activities tha take place during HAFW, which includes workshops, seminars and round-table discussions.

Fiercely African

The 2015 Hub of AfricaFashion Week was conducted in Millennium Hall from October 20thto 22nd. The event was organized by MaheletTekle mariam in collaboration with the Italian Embassy, Italian Development Corporation and UNIDO.

Hub of Africa hit the runway yet again for another exceptional fashion show with its biggest turnout yet. With over 17 designers from all over the continent and hundreds of attendees, this event is catapulting African fashion on to the world stage.

Henok Solomon

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hink of all the cultures and colors around the African continent. Now, put those variations together on one stage, and you get the Hub of Africa Fashion Week in Addis Ababa. It is a week of fierce cat walking models, brilliant artists, designers and fashionistas of the industry. It is also a place for Africa to unite and show off what has to offer the rest of the world.

been taking place for the past four years in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Hub of Africa is an annual fashion week aiming to promote the African textile and leather business internationally to create a platform for African designers on the world stage. This fashion extravaganza was organized by Mahelet Teklemariam, the founder and managing director of the Hub of Africa Fashion Week (HAFW). The show has

In 2009, Mahelet had the idea to create a platform for local designers and producers of textile and leather that can link them to the international market and give them visibility. Along with her friend and former work partner, Linda Muritihi, they decided to name it “Hub of Africa Fashion Week”.

Mahelet was born in Addis Ababa, but was raised most of her life in New York. She returned to Ethiopia in 2008. With a passion for fashion, she entered the industry as the fashion editor at Tadias Magazine.

The Eminence Nov Issue 14


From the beginning, the goal for HAFW was for it not only to be a fashion show, but a platform to uplift the work of African Designers and give them visibility globally. This includes bringing in worldwide buyers and fashion editors to its annual shows. There are other activities that take place during HAFW, which include workshops, seminars and round-table discussions.

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The last three HAFW shows were held under the themes sustainable development, eco-fashion and an editorial edition, respectively.

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This year, Hub of Africa Fashion Week was conducted in Millennium Hall from October 20th to 22nd, officially making it an annual event. HAFW was organized by Mahelet Teklemariam in collaboration with the Italian Embassy, Italian Development Corporation and UNIDO. The week consisted of an exhibition, a fashion show night, a round-table discussion and a media session with fashion professionals.

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The trade exhibition displayed over 150 international exhibitors in the fashion, textile, home and technology industry. This year’s show was by far the biggest one yet, with over 600 people in attendance. In a single night, 17 designers and artists from Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia showed off their magnificent designs, fabrics and accessories. Most of the Designs in this year’s show were inspired by the culture of the designer’s home country and were made from locally produced materials.

Designer: Yordanos Abera Yordi Collection

In addition to HAFW taking place in Addis Christophe Viseux

The show opened with the collection of Ethiopian fashion pioneer, Genet Paradise, whose work is featured on the cover of this issue. Yordanos Abera was one of the Ethiopian artists who followed presenting her collection “Yordi”. Some of her signature styles included brightly woven yellow tops attached to long skirts and black fabrics with vibrant patterns patched on. The colors of the various patterns she used truly made the outfits pop. Yordanos used fur tops to go with her black dresses. Samrawit Mersiehazen was another local designer who presented “Samra,” her leather bag collection that accompanied many of the clothing designs during the show. Her bags were designed with Tilet, colorful woven Ethiopian art usually found at the edge of Hager Libse (Ethiopian cultural cloth).The bags were presented in a variety of sizes for different occasions. Mahelet Afework (Mafi), another Ethiopian designer, showcased her line “Mafi”. She presented an assortment of accessories like necklaces, bracelets and custom-made sunglasses embedded with jewels. She also showed off her clothing line of flowing casual attire made up of earth tones like shades of khaki, brown and green. “These kinds of events are paving the way for the fashion business in Ethiopia,” Mafi shared, “It is playing a big role in linking our country to the world in terms of the fashion business.”

Designer: Ituze Ndutiye Colombe Collection: Inco

Aron Simeneh

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Ababa, there were six local clothing designers and three accessory designers involved.

Inco Design rocks the motto “Made to Fit” and models strut its modern look of vibrant colors and animal prints.

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Arts: Lifestyle & Fashion Designer: Mahelet Afework

Aron Simeneh

Collection: Mafi

Mafi Design showing off an edgy twist on Ethiopian cultural wear and trendy accessories.

It was quite an event to see. Not just to have Ethiopian fashion artists be exposed to the rest of the world, but to build a link between local designers with those from countries across the African continent. Arnold Murithi is a 19 year old designer that came all the way from Kenya to attend HAFW after winning a fashion competition in his country. His style consisted of turning traditional African prints into urban modernized trends like skinny jeans and short coats. During the final event of HAFW, a media session was held at Monarch Hotel. Sara Maino, Head of Talent and the Senior Fashion Editor of Vogue Italia, was one of the attendees, along with celebrity designer Marine Spaltora and Jean Claude, communication officer of the Italian embassy. They reflected and discussed their thoughts about the current status of African fashion and the Hub of Africa Fashion Week. The Eminence asked the professionals about what they feel is lacking in the Africa fashion industry in order catch the world’s attention. The key suggestion they named was having the government better support the fashion industry and its designers. “The government should support the designers and the producers of the fashion materials financially and facilitate the market,” said Sara Maino, “In addition, there has to be some e -commerce platforms.” She believes that facilitating this will help people in the fashion industry expose and sell their products. They also believe that the current laws are a bit tough and not encouraging in regards to imports, exports and taxation, 18

so it is suggested that working on this will help smooth the trade interaction and development of the fashion industry. Marine Spaltora shared that she is working with the Italian Embassy to provide technical support to Ethiopia and plans to bring some professional assistance to the country in order to help professionals locally. Natan Teklemariam, creative Director and Business Development Director for HAFW, was very happy about the turnout and progression of the event. “The feed back from both events were very positive,” he shared, “Most are calling it the best runway show ever held in Addis Ababa.” This turnout and feedback are encouraging him to make the show even bigger and better in the coming years. The media session ended with the Hub team announcing that Vogue Italia and Camera Nazional ledella Moda Italiana (National Chamber of Italian Fashion) have both shown interest in working with HAFW for next year in some capacity. Their plan is to grow and develop the event as an international standard event that is a must see for the international fashion industry makers. Sara Maino promised that she looks forward to coming back next year with her teammates The Eminence Nov Issue 14


Outfit Accomplices By Sentayehu Bekele Eminence Staff

Name : Betelhem Mekonen From: Lideta Sunglasses: Exhibition Center Bazaar Price: 250 ETB Bag: Gucci From the U.S. Lipstick: Sephora Price: 150 ETB

Shop Name : Chocolate City Shop Keeper Name: Meskerem Bekele “The best time for accessories comes after the Ethiopian Christmas because its the wedding season.�

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Arts: Thousand Words

Early Awakening In Tandem with the Fog Menagesha Forest 30kms West of Addis Ababa By Thomas Kidane Mashoo Special to Eminance

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Society: History and Diplomacy

A Flag of Many Tales The green, yellow and red flag of Ethiopia has undergone many changes throughout the years, though the colors have stayed the same. These pan African colors have also served as a symbol of hope for the rest of Africa. Since 2007, the country has created a new tradition of celebrating Flag Day, to commemorate this emblem of National Pride and Unity.

Sintayehu Bekele

By Henok Solomon Eminence Staff

Ethiopia celebrated its 8th annual Flag Day on October 20, 2015 G.C. in Addis Ababa. A very colorful ceremony was held in Abebe Bikila Stadium. High government officials, ministers, the Ethiopian Defense force and police department, participated in the ceremony, along with students from schools across the town and over 30,000 residents of all sub-cities in Addis Ababa. Addis Ababa Police pass through the crowd as part of the parade during the celebration (top); Artists from the National Theater perform traditional dance (middle); Marching band from the defense force proudly displaying the flag (bottom).

Different shows and short musical dramas were presented by the National Theater crew, marching bands performed national songs for the spectators and officials including Dr. Mulatu Teshome (President of Ethiopia), Ato Diriba Kuma (Mayor of Addis Ababa) and Ato AbaDulla Gemeda from the House of People’s Representatives presented a speech for the participants. During Dr. Mulatu’s speech, he said, “Our flag is a representation of a proud people that are the owners of early civilization and history and also

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it is the representation of the new Ethiopia that started a new successful unity.” He went on to add, “The new generation kept the cultures and customs from their elders and today our identity representation the national flag it is waved high.” The origin of using a flag in Ethiopian is uncertain. Some historians say it can be traced to the times of the Portuguese in 1844. What is certain is that with the country’s different political systems and administrations, the Ethiopian flag experienced several changes based on the era and system in place. The Ethiopian flag has had many faces shaped by the history of the country. During the reign of Emperor Menilik from 1889 to 1913, the Ethiopian flag had three pendants in the shape of sideway triangles. The top triangle was yellow, the middle was red and the lower triangle was green. The three pendants were later united into the traditional green, yellow and red horizontal strips that we see on the Ethiopian flag today. The unification of the three colors was intended to signify the unity of Ethiopia as well as Menilik’s desire to modernize Ethiopia. During the Haile Selassie regime from 1930-1974, the flag representing Ethiopia was the same green, yellow and red stripes, but with the Lion of Judah (Moa Anbessa) placed in the middle. It was officially used at the Emperor’s Jubilee Palace. In the Derg regime from 1974 to 1987, the Ethiopian flag was changed again to the plain green, yellow and red stripes, which were supposed to represent development, unity and patriotism. But, it changed again in 1988 when the EPRDF took over the country. This time the flag stayed as the green, yellow, and red horizontal stripes with the addition of a yellow star with yellow stripes in the openings of the star with the circle blue

Children from the National Theater entertained crowds with a performance.

background. The sign represents peace, unity and equality of nations and nationalities. It was in 2007 G.C. that the House of People’s Representative announced that the Ethiopian Flag Day would be celebrated every year to honor the flag. The most unique occurrence on this year’s Flag Day ceremony was that the longest flag was presented around the stadium. It was measured around 420 meters and the spectators got to hold the long flag around the stadium giving the day a really unique look. Helicopters from the Air Force flew over the stadium and spread Flag Day pamphlets to the spectators. Finally, the marching bands and scout teams from different schools passed through the crowd and greeted the audience. The ceremony ended with President of Ethiopia, Dr. Mulatu Teshome, hanging the Ethiopian flag while the marching band played the national anthem of Ethiopia, bringing the 2015 ceremony to a close

At 420 meters, the longest flag of the ceremony circled the stadium.

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Society: Enviroment

A Balancing Act for Ethiopia By Daniel Benjamin Special to Eminence

As one of the fastest growing economies in the world, Ethiopia has been keen on growing its manufacturing sector. Its green economy strategy has won admiration from many international leaders. For Ethiopian policy makers though, it is a carefully planned balancing act, they have to navigate, between preserving the country’s natural scenery and building mega factories.

E

thiopia is indeed a land of contrasts- spanning from arid and dry lowlands to green highlands with breath taking landscapes. Yayu, Illubabor is a perfect example of the country’s greenery and areas of impenetrable forestry that still remain in great condition. Via land transportation, Yayu is about 10 hours away from Addis Ababa on the Southwest part of Ethiopia in the Oromia Regional State; a lovely place where wild animals like gelada baboons run in groups and wild Coffee beans grow in dense proportions through out its forest. The area was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 2010 for its biodiversity and coffee genetic resources. Yayu is, “…the center of origin for the most popular coffee in the world, Coffea Arabica”, according to the UNESCO website. The Ethiopian government has also designated the forest as a National Forest Priority Area (NFPA). The drive to Yayu is full of life and Illubabor, Ethiopia is one of the most arable zones in Ethiopia. Immaculate local tall trees spear to the sky as if they have been in competition with each other for years; the mist rising from within the forest; white fog covering the lower altitude that comes and goes covering the majestic landscape; and heavy clouds racing over the mountains to interrupt the summer sun is beyond relaxing. Currently on the hills of this green lush is a huge fertilizer power plant under construction. The 54-acre power plant is being built by the Ethiopian Chemical Corporation. The actual construction of the project is contracted to the state owned mega enterprise, the Ethiopian Metal and Engineering Corporation (METEC), which in turn has subcontracted the civil aspects of the work to a private Ethiopian construction company Tekleberhan Ambaye Construction (TACON) PLC. Over 80pct of Ethiopians rely on traditional farming techniques as the main source of their income. Agriculture contributes about 40pct of the country’s total GDP. To many, who are cognizant of the fact that agriculture contributes greately to the Ethiopian economy, watching this huge fertilizer plant be built brings a sense of hopeful optimism. Especially when considering the difference it will make in the lives of so many Ethiopians. 24

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For the past decade, Ethiopia has been an economic success in most measures due to its policies focused on poverty reduction. Subsequently, Ethiopia has maintained a doubledigit economic growth on a yearly basis and lifted millions of its citizens out of poverty. Not only that, but Ethiopia is also a leading Climate Resilient Green Economy initiative proponent. This may lead one to give the country’s policy makers the benefit of the doubt in assuring that all necessary precautions and environmental protection concerns were well thought through before deciding to build this 500 plus million dollar power plant on the hills of biosphere reserve. Some of the power plant unit structures will be as tall as 108 meters high, containing various types of chemicals. In the long run, this mega fertilizer power plant could have unintended consequences on the local natural scenery and biosphere reserve decades from now. This is because the fertilizer production process releases emissions that are potential pollutants which adversely affect the local environment _ ranging from acid rain, water acidification and contaminations to the ground water on the local level and green house gas on the global level. The engineers say that won’t be a source of concern here, since the plant is designed to self contain its emissions. The fertilizer plant has been a source of employment to over 3,000 people and when it is finished, four additional power plants within two kilometers of each other are planned to be built there. When the project under construction is completed, it alone is expected to create employment opportunities to over 35,000 people. Furthermore, it will produce 300,000 Tons of Urea fertilizer and 90MW electricity annually.

Flore Leclerc

This is significant because, according to the Environmental Impact Assessment Guideline for fertilizer done by the Federal Environmental Protection Authority in Ethiopia, the use of fertilizer is only 18 kg/hct. That is one-fifth of the optimum use and less than 40pct of the total cultivated cropland area. In contrast, Kenya and Zimbabwe for example use 48kg/hct and 70kg/hct respectively.

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The positive impacts of the project have already been felt by local residents thanks to TACON. TACON built roads connecting the small town’s main social and religious institutions and their market. One elderly local attests to the improvements in the town saying, “During the rainy season the lack of decent roads used to prevent us from going to church or the market. Now, that is no longer our problem.” TACON representatives say the roads that cost the company over five million ETB were built as the company’s corporate social responsibility to the community. 25


Society: Environment

The energetic and young engineers at the site leading and overseeing the day-to-day work seem determined to see this project through. Some days their work schedule runs from 7am into the late night, working as late as 10pm on some nights. The half a dozen engineers we spoke to attest to the project’s safety with confidence. They recite and reference the detailed plans and its technicalities with conviction and sincerity. Their eager and upbeat nature is a reminder as to how significant this project really is for them and their country. They have internalized their contribution in the ongoing work and understand what that means for the overall economy of the country. Fertilizer power plants have had their risks. This is in part because the input source for fertilizer is Ammonia (a combination of Nitrogen and Hydrogen) and Ammonia is flammable in nature. Since 1921, there have been at least 18 major fertilizer power plant disasters around the world. They have claimed thousands of lives, injured thousands more and disrupted communities. The deadliest industrial accident (from a fertilizer plant) was in the USA, killing 581 people and injuring 3,500 people. This would be the first fertilizer power plant for Ethiopia, and as such, extreme care and strict safety regulations are important to ensure the safety of the employees, the local residents and the nearby biodiversity reserve. One of the reasons this area has been chosen to be the center 26

of five fertilizer production plants is because it is said to have a huge coal reserve. This is the most important input resource for the fertilizer production. Coal is burned and separated to garner hydrogen molecules in order to combine it with Nitrogen and produce Ammonia. According to the plan, the plant will consume 9.2 million Tons of coal annually to yield the 300,000 Ton Urea fertilizer output. The potential adverse negative impacts from burning coal are pollution, smog and those stated above such as acid rain and water contamination. The director of the project at the site points out to the near by flatlands from which the coal is to be dug out and brought to the plant for processing. When asked, “Wouldn’t that mean it would destroy so much of the green area that is currently covering the land?“ He disagreed, stating that, only a small area will be dug out, because there is a lot of coal reserve beneath. The project will not impact the nearby local forest and biodiversity reserve. This is not to suggest that Ethiopia does not give enough attention to its natural biodiversity or carbon dioxide emissions. In fact, Ethiopia has one of the most comprehensive green economy policies. Led by the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, representing the African continent, Ethiopia was one of the drivers behind the 2009 Copenhagen Accord. The deal the late prime minister helped broker was a great achievement for developing countries. High emitters agreed The Eminence Nov Issue 14


Daniel Benjamin

Luscious green plains of Yayu, Illubabor

at the conference six years ago to put forth an annual $100 billion of support towards developing countries by 2020. More than that however, the agreement stipulated for all countries to come up with a national green growth plan to progressively reduce their global carbon emission. For its part, Ethiopia shared its Climate Resilient Growth Strategy (CRGS) plan right then at the conference. The plan was ultimately to create a climate resilient green economy and become a middle-income country by 2025 without a net increase in green house gas emission. The protection and reestablishment of forests for their economic and ecosystem value is one of the “four major economic pillars to underpin the ‘Green Economy’” strategy as outlined in Ethiopia’s CRGS. Thus far, the country has carried out a lot of investment in infrastructure and renewable clean energy. Upholding its commitment to building and sustaining a green economy, Ethiopia submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCC) before the upcoming Climate Change Conference in Paris, France in December 2015. In its INDC, contingent to aid from bilateral agreements, Ethiopia intends to limit its net green house gas emissions. The proposal aims to have a 64pct reduction from the Business-As-Usual scenario that would otherwise be emitted by 2030. Years after all the planned fertilizer power plants in Yayu are The Eminence Nov Issue 14

fully operational; it is hard to imagine what the now thick and green forest will look like in the coming decades. Although having a wonderfully crafted plan is certainly one side of the equation, implementing it on the other hand is a different thing. The implementation aspect requires understanding and full engagement of lower level civil servants, the private sector and the general public at large. This is no walk in the park for citizens in a developing country. Often the long-term interests of the state or even personal ones are sacrificed for short-term gains to make ends meet. It is important that Ethiopian leaders show political will and commitment to carry out the country’s CRGS, thereby ensuring the continuity of the green economy vision throughout the country. That includes taking appropriate actions and necessary steps to leverage technology and minimize the adverse impact of power plants and the growing manufacturing industry on the environment. Persistent and continued education and close monitoring must be taken seriously for the plan to become reality. Development is a balancing act of compromise between protecting what there is and moving forward in the most efficient and productive way possible Daniel Benjamin has a BA degree in International Business and Economics from the University of North Texas, United States. He has worked with the U.S. government, Int’l NGO and the private sector. He can be reached at dbenjamin@eminence-se.com

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Society: Social Landscape

FORGIVENESS CLEANLINESS EXCELLENCE OBEDIENCE FRIENDSHIP KINDLINESS JUSTICE LOVE

Saving the Local Treasure Box

Sintayehu Bekele

UNITY

Though Ethiopia is a country where many international NGOs and aid-based initiatives operate, very few are locally funded. Muday Mitiku is a native Ethiopian that began a charity in her name to serve less fortunate children and their families. In fear that she would not be able to sustain her organization, she issued a statement of potential closure that led to immense help and encouragement of her many supporters.

By Henok Solomon Staff Writer

I

t was a very dark day for Muday Mitiku and her charity. Her organization, Muday that is committed to supporting less fortunate children, was getting cut short due to financial problems and the burden of sizeable loans she took from the bank to keep her charity a float. But, her announcement of possible closure created a public outcry that led to rallying support from her advocates to ensure Muday’s doors stayed open. Muday Mitiku was just graduating from college and preparing for the next chapter of her life after studying Pedagogy at Kotebe Teacher’s College. After finishing her education, she dreamt of having her own school where she could teach hundreds of kids. To turn this dream into a reality, Muday received her license to become an official school and rented a compound in Kotebe, located in the northern part of Addis Ababa. She opened the school in 2009 G.C. and named it Fresh and Green. The school was dedicated to

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teaching elementary school students from kindergarten to 8th grade. For Muday, everything seemed to be going smooth and she was living the life she always dreamed of having. But after a year, some strange things began happening in her school. Muday noticed that some of the students started to miss class and others were becoming passive attendants. Trying to get to the bottom of the problem, the school conducted an investigation and the what she discovered was terrifying. “I found out that some of the kids were missing school because their parents could not afford to pay the school fee and that the kids’ idleness was due to a lack of proper food,” she said. The decision Muday made next changed the future of Fresh and Green forever. Muday decided to continue educating the kids that could not afford to pay for the school, and even took in the less fortunate ones around The Eminence Nov Issue 14


the community for free. These children began attending school with those that could afford to pay their fees. This did not make the other parents happy. They became upset that their kids were learning with homeless and poor children. Eventually, the parents began to take their kids out of the school, leaving Fresh and Green with only the underprivileged kids to teach. ‘’After witnessing this happen at my school, the first thing that came to my mind was that I can teach these kids myself,” explained Muday, “So I decided to transform my school into a charity organization that helps less fortunate kids.” This led to the birth of Muday Charity Organization. It came to life in 2012 G.C., just three years after the initial opening of Fresh and Green school. Though it has a small financial and material capacity, it became an extension of the school, providing not just an education, but services like food and clothing. Muday, who says her hero is Mother Theresa, has been able to feed nearly 299 students and street children from ages three to twelve. As part of the program, the children are able to get clothes and school supplies, in addition to free meals and school opportunities. “When I see these kids every morning, it is the looks on their faces that keep me motivated and thinking about tomorrow,” says Muday. In addition to the services Muday provides for children, she also has a cooperative for mothers, which teaches them to make traditional items such as scarves, jewelry and shoes, which they sell for income. Nearly 1000 mothers have gotten training for these skill sets from the program and are able to work on their own independently and get income out of it. The products made by the mothers who are still dependent on Muday’s organization are only

sold inside the shops of Muday’s compound because the women can not afford to rent commercial shops in malls, which is hurting their market. Atsede Tazebu is one of the members of Muday Charity. She joined the organization four years ago because of her 9 year old child. “I heard about Muday through another mother. I brought my kid here and the organization accepted them with no hesitation,” shares Atsede. At the time she did not have a job and was really struggling to live, so she asked Muday for work and it was given to her. Muday has a total of 41 constant staff members serving the children: 31 staff teachers in the school; 7 voluntary cleaners who clean the compound, take care of sanitation and wash clothes; and 3 constant chefs who cook meals everyday from Monday to Sunday with no breaks. Adanech Getachew has been a cleaner at Muday for the past five years. “Since I started working, my life is settled. My child gets an education and food, so I don’t worry. I couldn’t ask for more,” she shares. The income for Muday is based on her small shops and dairy products such as milk and yogurt that she sells from the cows she owns. The organization also generates small income from the Mother’s Cooperative, though they struggle for lack of exposure in the market. There is no NGO or company that is providing sustainable support to the organization according to Muday. Muday Charity organization is licensed as Ethiopian Society under the charity and societies proclamation NO 621/2009. Muday charity organization is licensed as a local NGO. According to Muday she can get 90pct of her donation from foreign countries and she can get the remaining 10pct from local donors.

Colorful bags hand-crafted by the women of Muday’s Mother’s Cooperative.

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Society: Social Landscape

But, with no consistent donors to support her, Muday was forced to take a 1.5 Million ETB loan from the bank to keep the organization going. The bank set the loan amount based on her business license. They hold on to your business license as an assurance that you will pay back your loan, shares Muday. If you cannot pay them back, they will take it away. This was the main reason Muday felt the need to close the charity a year ago.

A mother of Muday’s Mother’s weaving

Cooperative clothes

to

produce for the market.

“I decided to close the organization because I felt like I couldn’t take on the burden anymore,” she said. Because she felt like she owed too much money to different people, she decided to work on her small businesses and pay off her debts. Participants of Muday’s

Then things took a turn.

mothers

“When I announced this news, a lot of people began texting and calling me the whole day,” said Muday. Her supporters told her not to close the organization and that they would help her with anything she needed. Following this, Muday was invited to be a guest on the famous TV show “Seifu”, which plays on EBS. This exposed her to millions of people. Following her appearance on the show, some of the popular comedians conducted a campaign throughout the town to raise money for Muday. From this rally of support, Muday was able to get thousands of birr from different companies and celebrities. Seifu himself donated 200,000 ETB, which was money he took from his wedding budget. There was also support from big corporations like Radisson Blu, who feeds the children nutritious breakfasts, the same meal they serve their hotel guests. Also, different people from abroad and locals came to visit the charity after hearing about the work they do.

cooperative

assist the weavers by making yarn out of raw cotton.

Children use the space in the Muday compound as a playground for games like hide-and-seek

“I was in tears when I saw people doing what they could for the organization,” said Muday, “It makes me feel like these kids have someone to look out for them besides me and getting this attention motivated me to keep going.” Now even though Muday is still struggling to pay her debt, the organization is still going. When she talks about the future of the organization she says, “We will keep going and I have hope that more people will get involved in this organization and we will be able to take in more kids to take care of”. The last massage Muday wanted to transmit to the world is: “Come and let’s help the nation together”

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Astede Tazebu is a mother who has given herself to the charity organization and her willing devotion can be seen in her very busy days cooking and cleaning at Muday.

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Society: Business

Milking the Demand

Fonterra Anchors its Ship in the Ethiopian Market ‘Since 1886’. That is the tag line on the packaging of the Anchor powdered milk brand, which hit Ethiopian stores in recent months. It is meant to underscore the manufacturer Fonterra’s experience of over a century in the milk manufacturing business. With this head start, Fonterra is making its mark globally. By agreeing to set up a blending plant in Faffa Foods S.C., Ethiopia became one of the 100 plus countries where Fonterra opened up shop. As part of its brand visibility strategy Fonterra gave a tour of its new factory inside Faffa Foods S.C. to Ethiopian Journalists. By Elleni Araya Eminence Staff

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t has been nearly two months since powdered milk from the international brand Anchor entered the Ethiopian market. Blue and red Anchor Milk billboards and posters are already plenty in Addis. So too are the 32 gms Anchor sachet, the 300 gms Anchor cans and the 900 gms Anchor box that sell affordably for 5 ETB, 50 ETB and 160 ETB respectively. With 18 distributors in major towns like Assossa, Bahir Dar, Dessie, Hawassa, Logia, Mekelle, and Nekempt, and 150 Tons of powdered milk distributed, the manufacturers want to make it clear that Anchor is officially in the local dairy business. Demand for this business is good. Despite having the largest cattle population in Africa at 50 million, 20pct of which are cows, Ethiopia has an under-supply of milk and other dairy products due to low production and poor collection mechanisms. Thus, urban consumers turn to powdered milk as a substitute. With no local powdered milk manufactures, the price of imports is high. In 2014 alone Ethiopia spent $10 million in powdered milk imports according to various reports. This gap was noticed by Faffa Foods S.C., a company established by the government in 1962 to manufacture affordable food items that lessen malnutrition. After Faffa was transferred in 2009 to Petram, a private import and distribution company, it engaged in the packaging and distribution of a powdered crème milk product, Abay. The raw materials were supplied by New Zealand Dairy Manufacturing giant, Fonterra Co-operative group, which owns the Anchor brand. The company itself is owned by farmer cooperatives and controls 95pct of the dairy industry in New Zealand in addition to being the second largest milk manufacturing company globally. Though the raw materials were imported, it was the first step towards import substitution for Ethiopia. The second step came when Fonterra signed a $10 million joint venture deal with Faffa to set up a blending factory

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Anchor factory workers are in the final stage of the packaging the powder milk for distribution.

for its flagship Anchor brand in December 2014, which it has been producing since 1886. In the deal Fonterra would have controlling shares of 70pct. The blending machinery was set up in a 1,200sqm factory within the Faffa compound in Akaki Kaliti district. According to this new arrangement, Anchor powdered milk is still being imported. This is because the machinery to spray dry liquid milk is costly and there is not enough milk production in the country to produce powdered milk, according to Fonterra general manager Zeco Ibo Kassim. However, blending is done locally with over 30 vitamins and minerals added to the powder before it is packaged and sold.

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Fonterra conducted a study, which revealed that these 30 vitamins and minerals are the most common nutrients that most Ethiopians are deficient in, according to Zeco. Packaging material is also provided locally by Unlimited Packaging PLC. The factory has a production capacity of 6,000 Tons, but will only produce 4,000 Tons, which is the current demand, according to Fonterra’s research. This year, it is starting off by producing 2,500 Tons. Regardless of importing the powdered milk, Fonterra’s prices have remained cheaper. A competitive brand sells 400 grams for 145 ETB when compared with Anchor’s 50 ETB. When inquired how this was possible, Zeco answered that Fonterra is currently at a break-even price and will remain so for three years to build up the Anchor brand. Even then, however, Fonterra would still try to profit from economies of scale rather than price increase. “This goes to show you the prices you have seen in the market so far have been exaggerated,” he told The Eminence. Asked whether investing in a spray drying system (which costs $20 million) is in the future plans of Fonterra, Zeco says the focus will be more on the value chain, i.e increasing liquid milk production and consumption in the country. This is the promise that Fonterra made to the Ethiopian government when it first entered the country.

Working to reduce malnutrition in collaboration with the Ethiopian Nutrition Society and the Ministry of Health is also part of the plan, he says. Once production is up, the product will be exported to other African countries. Though Fonterra has more than 100 centers globally this is its first entry in Sub-Saharan Africa. The blending factory currently employs 65 people, but plans to double that number. The current managers and marketers are from SriLanka. Though its aims are big, Fonterra is starting small. Currently, its strategy is to instill brand awareness through providing affordability, availability, awareness and accessibility. Still the affordable price is attracting demand, according to two kiosks that The Eminence talked to. Consumers also vouch for the taste. According to Zeco, Fonterra has spent a year researching which taste would be suitable for the Ethiopian palate. This resulted in a tiny bit of sugar being added to the blend in addition to the 30 fortifying vitamins and minerals. The minerals and vitamins are especially useful for children ages one to fourteen. A supermarket operator The Eminence talked to said that demand was especially high for the 32-gram sachet, which gives two glasses of milk, but that delivery of the product was inconsistent on the side of Fonterra

In New Zealand, which has 6 million cows for its four million people, a cow can produce 30 liters of milk a day. In Ethiopia, however, a cow only gives 1.68 liters per day. “We are going to increase this number by improving the quality of the feed,” Zeco told The Eminence. According to him, Fonterra has tried this in Sri Lanka, where cows on average give 1.3 liters. “In two years time Fonterra was able to make cows give 4.8 liters.” Factory workers preparing to blend the powdered milk with the necessary minerals and vitamins to give the milk the nutrients it needs.

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Society: Hospitality & Tourism

Hoteliers at Large

The 4th Africa Hotel Investment Forum The who’s who of the global hotel industry were all at Sheraton Hotel for two days this past month wheeling and dealing to open new hotels on the continent. The 4th Africa Hotel Investment Forum saw many investments in the pipeline for Africa although not a lot for Ethiopia. Despite recent hitches like downturn in oil and commodity prices, Ebola, political unrest and terrorism threats, the consensus was that Africa was poised to grow. And a lot of international brands were willing to put their money where their mouths were. By Elleni Araya Staff Writer

If anyone wanted a crash course in how the international hotel industry operates, then Sheraton Addis was the place to be between September 30-October 1, 2015. Over 436 people ranging from the top ten international brand hotels, consultants, real estate developers, researchers, airline managers and media were attending the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) held for the second time in Ethiopia.

Gonzalo Guajardo

In between making backroom deals in the halls and first floor meeting rooms of the Sheraton, these attendants

were dissecting the African Hotel industry in detail at Lalibela hall through presentations, plenary meetings and Q & A sessions. Words like ‘branded hotel supply’ (the amount of international brands in an area), number of keys (rooms available in the hotel) and the “F” word (Franchising) were being thrown around constantly. How Africa was faring was important to international hotel operators who wanted to know if their existing and potential investments would be protected. Putting up close to $2300 for standard registration, these attendants meant business.

Presentation after presentation talked about a positive rise for Africa in the future.

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The Eminence Nov Issue 14


“I think it’s the most important forum in Africa for open investment and it has many players. It’s important to be there,” Antoine Guego, C.E.O of Accor hotel services told The Eminence. This top tier French Hotel chain which has brands like Ibis, Novotel and Pullman, is the number one hotel operator globally with 3,800 hotels worldwide, of which 94 are in Africa. Though such international operators are used at hotel investment forums in different parts of the world, it was only four years ago that they began to have such a centralized platform in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Ethiopian consultant group Calibra Hospitality & Consultancy Business PLC claims the credit for bringing the event to Sub-Saharan Africa after contacting the organizers, Bench Events, during a Middle East and North Africa Hotel Investment Forum held in Cairo. They convinced the organizers that they would have the government support the forum if they brought it to Africa and Ethiopia. Despite their lobbying efforts, the forum was held in Nairobi for its first two years before coming to Ethiopia in 2014 and again this year. The result of bringing the Hotel Investment Forum to Africa was an increase of investors for branded hotels. In 2014, when Ethiopia hosted the event for the first time, it was announced that six new international brands would be coming to Ethiopia. It was a big deal for the country which only had three branded hotels since the Hilton opened in the 1960s. This importance was reflected when Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn opened the ceremony. This year’s installment came with a lot of investments for the continent as a whole, but only two for Ethiopia. Hilton, the first international hotel to open in the country, announced that it is opening a resort & spa in Hawassa in partnership with local company Sunshine Business PLC. The total investment is $42 million dollars. Accor Hotels is also bringing in its Novotel brand to Ethiopia. In partnership with local Ethio-Canadian businessman Yosef Neway, they will open the 150 room hotel behind Churchill Ave. This is the third investment for Accor in Ethiopia. It will manage a Pullman hotel, which will open in 2017.

Wheeling and Dealing take place during the two day Africa Hotel Investment Forum.

The other investment is an unfortunate venture. Across Estifanos Church on the side of Bole road, there have The Eminence Nov Issue 14

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Society: Hospitality & Tourism been two unfinished buildings that have been laying in that state for nearly a decade. Real estate developers have changed hand three times, but nobody has completed the buildings that were supposed to be Ibis and Novotel. “Well, I cannot say that we are absolutely happy about it…I have to say that when I see the stages of the building today which didn’t move an inch since we left, I’m happy to have other partners moving quickly,” Guego said when asked about the buildings. Some local hotels were also around looking for new partners. Intercontinental Addis was one of those hotels seen shopping around for a new brand following the dispute it has with the international Intercontinental brand about copyright. Though there were slim pickings for Ethiopia, Africa as a whole was getting a flurry of investments. Accor announced that it will open 200 hotels by 2020 in addition to the 94 hotels it already has in Africa. Carlson Rezidor, renowned for its Radisson brand will also open a Radisson Blu Residence in Nairobi by 2016 and another hotel in Algeria. Starwood Hotels and Resorts which owns the Sheraton brand also announced seven new deals for different brand hotels including Westin that will be opened in Egypt, Mali,

Fittingly, Sheraton Addis provided a sumptuous international selection for participants to enjoy during lunch.

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The Eminence Nov Issue 14


Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal and Tanzania. These strings of international investments are bound to continue if investors put any stock in the two published reports to come out of AHIF: the African Hotel Report 2015 published by consultancy firm Hotel Partners Africa, and An Overview of the Hotel Real Estate Sector by JLL. According to these reports, Africa is poised to grow despite the current downturn of oil and commodity prices, the Ebola epidemic of the past year and political unrest. It has some of the largest growing population and countries. Measuring the continent’s potential by the number of branded hotels in each country, the African Hotel Report concludes that most of Africa is undersupplied. Compared to North America which has 6,754 branded bedrooms per a million people, Sub-Saharan Africa only has 76 and North Africa 435 per million. The report dubs Ethiopia the ‘sleeping giant of East Africa’ with only three existing branded hotels that have 879 rooms. “Significant development potential exists across the country” it concludes. For Ethiopia, such attention can be a double edged sword. Already there are around 600 hotels in the country that can be used by tourists, according to data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Some local hotel owners The Eminence talked to over the past year say that the government should

protect the growth of local brands and grow them rather than bring competition from outside that are draining foreign currency away from the country. On the other hand, some advocate for the entry of such brands. Neway Berhanu, co-owner of Calibra Hospitality and Consultancy business PLC is one of those who supports branded hotels coming for Ethiopia and facilitated most of the management agreements of the recent international hotel management deals. According to him, international hotel management companies are instrumental in knowledge transfer. This view is supported by the government. This year both Amin Abdulkadir, Minister of Culture & Tourism at the time and Solomon Taddesse, head of the Ethiopian Tourism Organization gave a speech at the Forum encouraging investment activities. International hotel operators however are not affected by such debates. They are just eager to profit from a growing demand. “I told you Africa is a....I don’t like to say a playground but it’s really where everything will happen,” Guego from Accor told The Eminence summarizing the feelings of international hotel operators, “And I want to be where things will happen, not where they happened before.”

In between meetings and discussions, many backroom deals are conducted during the Africa Hotel Investment Forum.

The Eminence Nov Issue 14

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Commentary : Dear Ethiopia By Carolyn Curti Special to Eminence

F

rom the time my daughter was adopted as a 19 month old to her visiting Ethiopia when she was seven and again when she was 12, we have experienced the love and the richness of a community and a country.

Carolyn Curti and her daughter Ruby live in Minnesota. Carolyn is a communications specialist for a local municipality, and Ruby is a busy middle schooler. Both love being a part of the generous Ethiopian community in Minnesota. For the past 11 years they meet monthly with several families, all who adopted children from Ethiopia.

I knew when I adopted my daughter that keeping a connection to her origins would be important, but with each passing year it becomes even more important for her (and me) to know where she came from. We live a blessed life; we have been warmly welcomed into the Ethiopian community in Minnesota. A cadre of Ethiopian college students or recent college graduates,have become role models and teachers for children adopted from Ethiopia and their families. My daughter is learning dance and a little bit of Amharic, and we are also learning Ethiopian customs and culture. We are also blessed because we have been able to travel to Ethiopia twice in my daughter’s young life. The first time was a whirlwind of tourism, traveling to Bahir Dar and Lallibela. We traveled with another family with two children born in Ethiopia. We absorbed the sights, smells and sounds of this beautiful country. We were stunned at the majestic Blue Nile Falls. We were overwhelmed by the spirituality and faith we felt while visiting churches and monasteries. We appreciated the kindness and generosity of all Ethiopians. We cherished the food, clothing and artwork; items we could buy so that we could bring a little bit of Ethiopia home with us. It was a brief visit, and our traveling companions and I knew we had to come back as soon as we were able. In the summer of 2015, we set out again, traveling with two families. This time was different. Our children were 11 and 12 years old, budding teenagers becoming more selfaware of who they are, where they come from, and who they will become. We as parents were apprehensive of what their reactions might be about what they lost and their understanding of how different their lives could have been. We flew on Ethiopian Airlines, excited by the sounds of Amharic from the airline crew and fellow passengers. Immediately upon touching down we gave a sigh of relief. The long plane ride was tiring and we were happy to be in the warm embrace of Ethiopia. We quickly passed through customs, anxious to see our friends and check into the guest house for a brief rest before spending time in the capital city. We marveled at how much Addis Ababa had grown: more cars, more 38

people, and more development. We were excited to see the light rail line being built, realizing what an impact that will have on the city. After just two days in Addis Ababa, we flew to visit Gondar and the Simien Mountains. In Gondar we started with a delicious meal honoring Ethiopian foods and customs. A musician played as we ate a delicious meal of Ethiopian foods. The City of Gondar was amazing. We marveled at the history and impact King Fasil and his heirs had on the country. Our guide delighted us with stories about Gondar. He challenged the kids to memorize the names of the six emperors of Gondar. He took us to a local church and to see Fasiledes’ Bath. Too soon the day ended and we prepared for a visit to Simien Mountain National Park. The Eminence Nov Issue 14


Dear Ethiopia, The Homeland of my Child

Captured Moments: Carolyn and her daughter Ruby (top); Ruins of King Fasil’s castle in Gondor (right); Ruby, along with her travel companions Sophia, Selamnesh, and Mussie during their visit to Ethiopia (bottom).

Again we were amazed by the beauty of this country. As we drove to the park, we passed people working industriously, as new schools and new roads were being built. We saw youngsters hurrying to school or tending cattle. We saw men and women carrying items to market.

Ethiopian history.

Then we arrived at the top of the world. The Simien Mountains is a World Heritage Site, having special culture and physical significance, and we immediately saw its significance to the world. We hiked into the mountains and were entertained by the Gelada Monkeys.

Finally, we went back to spend a few days with our friends in Addis Ababa. We did a lot of shopping and ate at several restaurants, but most significantly we visited locations that had great significance to our children. We spent a day at the National Museum, learning more about Ethiopian history and seeing the remains of Dinkinesh. We saw artwork, musical instruments, tools, and artifacts from past rulers.

The next day we were off again, traveling to Lalibela. We were very excited to visit the holy city and the many beautiful churches. Words cannot express the meaning of visiting this part of Ethiopia. It instills a sense of faith in all. We had a new guide on this part of our journey. He filled our heads with so much information and stories of growing up in Lalibela. In two short days we visited the churches of Lalibela, and we learned about

The Eminence Nov Issue 14

Next stop was a visit to Debre Zeyit, near Addis Ababa. We drove on the newly paved highway, to a lodge located on a beautiful lake and surrounded by stunning plant and bird life.

We visited Ethiopia Reads, an organization that provides books to encourage youngsters to read. We drove through the city of Addis Ababa, each of us lost in our thoughts about how we became a family. And then all of the sudden our journey was over. We returned to the United States and got back into our routine, but we will forever be changed by our visit to Ethiopia 39


MPage andarin Page Mandarin

埃塞俄比亚旗帜节的故事

埃塞俄比亚于国际日至2015年10月20日举行了第八次 年度旗帜节,这是埃塞俄比亚近年来形成的传统的节 日,象征着政治的稳定和民族的统一。今年的旗帜节 在AbebeBikila体育馆举行,隆重而丰富的仪式以及 表演活动让整个体育场充满了欢乐的气氛。政府的高 级官员,埃塞俄比亚国防军和警察局的员工都参加了 此次仪式。不仅如此,此次仪式还聚集了来自全国各 地的学生以及超过30000的亚的斯居民共赴盛举。 埃塞俄比亚国家大剧院的表演者们表演了丰富多彩的 节目并演奏了音乐剧,由著名军乐队为观众以及埃塞 总理穆拉图特肖梅先生奏了庄严的进行曲。并由总理 穆拉图特肖梅先生、亚的斯亚贝巴市长AtoDiribaKuma和人民代表Ato AbaDulla Gemeda分别做了精彩的演 讲。 40

在演讲中穆拉图表示:“国旗是我们的骄傲,印证着 我们的文明和历史,印证着我们埃塞俄比亚的统一与 繁荣发展,展示着埃塞俄比亚新的起点。”他接着 说:“新的一代将保持和发扬我们国家的传统习俗和 文化,从前辈的手中接过传统的旗帜更要将其高高舞 起!” 在埃塞俄比亚的历史长河中,有着多种多样不同形状 颜色的旗帜。在Menilik皇帝由1889年到1913年的统 治时期,埃塞俄比亚旗帜是由三个横向三角形拼接而 成。而三个三角形从上到下的颜色是黄色,红色和绿 色。而今天我们所看到的国旗就是由这个旗帜演变 而来,只是改变了颜色的顺序由绿黄红这样的颜色组 成。而这种改变也正是象征了埃塞俄比亚的统一以及 对现代化的渴望和向往。

The Eminence Nov Issue 14

credit bttethiopia.com

By Henok Solomon Staff Writer Translated By: Jiaqi Xie


Sintayehu Bekele

事实上,埃塞俄比亚使用国旗的起源并没有一个科学的定 论。一些历史学家说,其起源可以追溯到1844年葡萄牙侵 略时期。然而,可以肯定的是,随着国家不同政治制度和 政府的管理,国旗也随着时代的变迁以及政府制度的改变 而变化着。

表着国家和民族的和平、团结以及平等。

好比在1930到1974年由海尔塞拉西执政埃塞俄比亚的这个 时代,国旗则是由绿黄红的横条中间镶嵌着一个狮子犹大 的图案,这象征着皇室的威严驾驭者这片土地。

此次旗帜节的庆祝仪式上,最特色最吸引眼球的是在球场 上展出的长达420米的旗帜,观众手持旗帜的一角在观众席 撑起这面巨型旗帜,而体育场上空的空军也装扮着国旗飞 过体育场。而国家宣传步更是为观众发放了旗帜节的小册 子让人们更加了解这个有着特殊意义的节日。

而在1974年到1987年德格政权时期,埃塞俄比亚的旗帜则 改为纯绿色,以黄色和红色的条纹镶嵌其中,这代表了当 代时期政府渴望发展,团结和爱国主义。 在此之后,1988年埃塞俄比亚人民民主革命阵线接管了这 个国家。这一次国旗在蓝色的背景下镶入了金色的开口星 星,并保留了绿色黄色和红色的水平条纹。这些符号则代

The Eminence Nov Issue 14

在尽力了无数次的变迁后,埃塞俄比亚于2007年(国际日 至)由人民代表众议院宣布,将每年的特定一天作为纪念 节日以纪念埃塞俄比亚旗帜的历史变革。

在仪式的最后,来自不同学校的仪仗乐队迈着整齐的步伐 从体育场中穿过并向观众致意。而随着总理穆拉图特肖梅 手持国旗庄严肃立,伴着庄严国歌的响起,此次仪式也进 入了尾声。

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Entertainement

The Eminence Pick of the Month Movie

He Named Me Malala This 2015 American documentary directed by Davis Guggenheim, examines the events leading up to the Taliban’s attack on Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani schoolgirl and now Nobel Peace Prize laureate, for her activism and speaking out for girls’ education in her region in Pakistan. The film highlights an important story about a young girl’s courage.

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Book

See Me by Nicholas Sparks A couple in love are threatened by secrets from their past. Colin Hancock has a history of bad decisions and violence that he is trying to leave behind them. Maria Sanchez is the epitome of conventional success with a traumatic history of her own. By chance encounter, Colin and Maria’s lives cross and love unexpectedly takes a hold of them. As a series of chaotic incidents occur, the two of them are tested terrifying ways. Will their past destroy the fragile relationship they have begun to build, or will their love protect them, even in the darkest hour? The Eminence Nov Issue 14


From www.ethiopianbeberediaries.com

Recipe: Injera Firfir

Magic Eye

• 2 large onions, chopped • 1/4 cup canola oil • 1-2 tbsp. berbere •

3 ounces tomato paste (it comes in 6 oz cans, so 1/2 can)

• 2 tomatoes, chopped • 1/4-3/4 cup water • minced ginger and garlic • 3-4 pieces injera, torn into pieces • 1-2 hot green peppers, de-seeded and cut into thin strips

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

• salt

Cook the onions for several minutes until they start to soften and turn translucent. Add the oil. When the oil is hot add the berbere and stir. After a few minutes, add

http://www.forum.planefinder.net/www.magiceye.com

the tomato paste and cook for several more minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes, garlic, ginger, and a bit of salt, and cook on low-medium heat until the tomatoes are thoroughly cooked. Add the water and bring to a simmer. It should look like a really thick tomato soup at this point. Add the injera and stir, gently chopping the injera as you mix it in. Continue cooking until the injera has absorbed all of the liquid. Top it off with jalapenos and enjoy!

Music

The Eminence Nov Issue 14

(C) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2015 All Rights Reserved

Ephrem Tamiru The Reunion Ephrem Tamiru remade his most popular songs from the 1970s. Again with Roha Band, the most popular group from the time. The tracks are recorded and produced by Roha Band and mixed by Abegasu Shiota. The album contains 11 tracks of the most influential tunes of his time..

SUDOKU

Place the digits 1-9 exactly once in each horizontal row, each vertical column and each sub grid region. See answer on page 45

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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: Arat Kilo National Museum Location: Amist Kilo Ethnological Museum Location: Sidist Kilo

Balageru Coffee Things to do: Read your favorite books & enjoy hot drinks

Park (Anebesa Gebi) Location: Sidist 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

The Eminence Nov Issue 14


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

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

Tomoca Coffee Abissiynia Coffee Alem Bunna

The Eminence Nov Issue 14

magiceye.com

Some of the Best Coffee Houses

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

011 665 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

011 551 12 11

Tour and Travel Eminence Social Entrepreneurs 011 823 71 82 Koreb Tour Operators 011 662 3179 011 552 88 51 (C) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2015 All Rights Reserved Kibran Tours Plc 011 662 62 14 011 557 0502 Rainbow Car Rental and Tour Services 011 371 79 40 011 557 00 00 011 551 41 30 Online Classifieds 011 618 57 32 2 Merkato Latest Ethiopian Tenwww.2merkato. 011 158 08 67 ders and Bids com/tenders 011 122 87 55 BUY AND SELL (Ethiopia) buysellethio.com 011 551 23 00 Gulit online market www.gulit.com 011 552 27 59 011 467 18 03 Mekina online car market www.mekina.net 011 467 40 87 Kaymu et.kaymu.com 011 551 11 88 What’s Happening in Addis whatsoutaddis.com 011 550 49 48 011 662 60 00 Ababa? 011 550 32 88 011 557 21 13 Pharmacy 011 465 52 22 Abader Pharmacy 011 662 43 97 011 552 38 00 Bata Pharmacy 011 655 21 34 011 550 11 11 Ethio German Pharmacy 0911 20 94 88

Answer for The Magic Eye

Kuriftu Diplomat Restaurant Location: On Boston Building Specialty: “The ultimate global cuisine” Rainbow Korean Restaurant Location: Near Japan Embassy Specialty: Korean Restaurant

997 916 998 994 900 994

Airlines British Midland (BMI) Egypt Air Ethiopian Airlines Emirates Kenya Airways K.L.M Royal Dutch Lufthansa Saudi Airline Yemen Airways

S u d o ku

S o l u t i o n (C) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2015 All Rights Reserved

Bale Mountains National Park Location: Oromia Region Some of the animals that can be found: Topi, Lelwel Hartebeest, Bustards, Hornbills, Weavers & Starlings

Police Stations Police Information Federal Police Commission AA Police Commission

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The Eminence Nov Issue 14


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The Eminence Nov Issue 14

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The Eminence Nov Issue 14


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