The Eminence ll October 2015 by The Eminence Magazine

The Eminence Oct Issue 13

Ethiopia 360 Yummy History! The Capital’s Oldest Pastry Shops

CONTENTS

Sacred Beauty Upon the Flat Topped Hills Debre Damo Monastery

It’s Masaala Season Celebration of Meskel Kambatta Style Dr. Yacob Arsano

Interview

Chosen For the World’s Stage The New Miss World Ethiopia 2015

Commentary Discovering a New Identity Henok Yared

The Dark Corners of a Hotel Business in Ethiopia

Yibeltal Alemu

A paradox of Abandonment and Care

38 Mandarin page 40

Art

Dorothy Hanson

Through The Thin Line Art Therapy

20 Street Style 24

Society Anniversary of the Second War Cry Recounting the Second Italian Invasion When Death Comes Knocking Dr. Menbere Tsehay

Interior Design Goes Ethiopian Saint Georges Gallery

Cross Over: Meskel in the New Age Thousand Words

The Eminence Oct Issue 13

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. October 2015 ISSUE No 13

Managing Editor Tsewaye Muluneh tmuluneh@eminence-se.com Editor-in- Chief Haewon Asfaw hasfaw@eminence-se.com Bole s.c Woreda 03 H. No 129 Deputy Editor-in-Chief Elleni Araya earaya@eminence-se.com Bole s.c Woreda 03 H. No 129 Reporter Henok Solomon hsolomon@eminence-se.com New Media Editor Hanna Haile hhaile@eminence-se.com Contributing Editors Frehiwot Gebrewold fgebrewold@eminence-se.com Bezawit Bekele Mandarin Editor Jiaqi Xie Contributors Dr. Menbere Tsehay Tadesse Dr. Yacob Arsano Ybeltal Alemu Dorothy Hanson Henok Yared Daniel Benjamin Graphics and Layout Design Flore Leclerc Website Administrator Samson Tegegn Photographer Gonzalo Guajardo Gguajardo@eminence-se.com Sentayehu Bekele Sbekele@eminence-se.com Finance and Administration Zinash Habte Distribution Tariku Tessema Editorial Address Tel. +251- 116-189-591 Editorial Address +251- 118-961-791 Tel. +251- 116-189-591 +251- 118-961-791 P.O.BOX 794 code 1110 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: www.eminence-se.com Africa Avenue in front of Bole s.c Woreda 03 H.No 085 Cape Verde Street, off Sidama Lodge. Africa Avenue in front of This edition is printed at Central PP Sidama Lodge. Kirkos Subcity, Woreda 03 H.No 414 This edition is printed at Central PP Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Kirkos Subcity, Woreda 03 H.No 414 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Eminence Oct Issue 13

Editor’s Note Faulty Launch: The First 12 Days of Addis Ababa’s Light Rail Transport

s one of the fastest growing capitals, the public transportation in Addis Ababa, made up of old taxis, a limited number of minibuses and overcrowded buses, cannot keep up with the needs of the city. So, it came as great news when on September 20th, 2015 Addis Ababa began operation of its first urban train system, the first of its kind in Sub Saharan Africa. This Chinese-funded project (constructed by China Railway Group), which cost nearly $475 million to build, was intended to create a more efficient system for commuters to travel throughout the city, fill infrastructure gaps and alleviate issues of traffic congestion. In an interview on September 23,2015 with The Reporter, Getachew Betru, CEO of Ethiopian Railways Corporation, spoke on the concern of traffic congestion, sharing that he believes the train will help ease the problems. Yet, there are already challenges that the new railway system is presenting. One of The Eminence’s reporters rode the train for the first time last week from Lancia to Saris. He got his ticket from the blue ticket booth and waited in the station for the train to arrive. Though the government stated that the wait for the train would be approximately six minutes, he waited for 30. By the time the train came, it was so packed with hundreds of people that he couldn’t board and had to wait another 20 minutes for the next train to arrive. It was still packed with people, but he managed to make his way inside. Moreover, it seems transportation problems are increasing. Vehicles need to wait by the crossing paths of the train tracks to make their way across safely. It is causing major traffic jams, which makes getting to work and heading home a nightmare. Because the taxis are running slower and getting to destinations later, taxi lines are increasing, waits are becoming longer and the overcrowded trains do not seem to be solving the problem. The crowdedness and congestion makes it easier for thieves to do their job, which is something the government needs to keep a close eye on. It is important that the train does not become another issue stifling the traffic and transportation safety issues of the city. The government should quickly find solutions to these problems before they become the status quo. The steps it took to install AC within the compartments is a good start. Other solutions should come just as swiftly. It would be a shame if something that took this much investment and created this much excitment, met with the same problems as Anbessa Bus and our good old blue and white minibuses. We should strive for something better for our Ligtht Rail Transport (LRT)

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MONTHLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

credit source- trueafrica.co

credit

Dashen Brewery Anounces Arsenal Partnership September 25, 2015 Arsenal Football Club has announced that Dashen Brewery will be its Official Beer Partner with the signing of a three-yeardeal. It was announced that the partnership will help Arsenal get closer to its fans in Ethiopia and will focus on supporting Dashen Brewery’s community based initiatives with coaches from the club taking part in grassroots football development projects in Ethiopia according to Arsenal.

cred: community-tourism-ethiopia.com

credit source: bbc.com

source: arsenal.com

Commencement of Ethiopia’s Long Awaited Railway September 20, 2015 The first modern tramway in sub-Saharan Africa opened in Addis Ababa on September 20, 2015. The Chinese-funded two-line rail project cost $475m with a carrying capacity of 60,000 passengers. The launch of the railway is expected to advance the country’s economic development. The tram is 34-kilometres (long and is said to have accessible ticket prices.)

Premier of Lamb in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia September 10, 2015 Lamb, the first Ethiopian movie to be selected at Cannes Film Festival in France, premieres in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the National Theater. Director Yared Zeleke, who confessed that he was the most nervous about showing the film to an Ethiopian audience was present at the premier with the actors to welcome 200 invited guests.

Ethiopia Celebrates National Tourism Day September 28, 2015 Ethiopia celebrates the 36th World Tourism Day in Somali Regional State of Ethiopia for the 28th time in the country under the theme “One Billion Tourists, One Billion Opportunities”. Gezahegn Abate, Public and International Relations Director at the Ministry, said the celebration will regard the development, protection, and promotion of cultural, historical and natural tourist destinations through symposiums, beauty contests, etc.

Ethiopia Represents at World Athletics Championship September 20, 2015 Ethiopia took over the women’s 5,000 metres final during the World Athletics Championship in Beijing, China. Almaz Ayana took first place with a time of 14 minutes, 26.83 seconds, leading an Ethiopian sweep of the medals. Senbere Teferi, 20, took the silver medal in 14:44.07 minutes and Genzebe Dibaba finished third in 14:44.14 minutes.

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EVENTS OCTOBER Opening of Poster Exhibition September 15 - October 30, 2015 at GoetheInstitute Marking the 25th anniversary of German unification, the Federal Foundation for the Study of Communist Dictatorship in Germany and the Federal Foreign Office are bringing a poster exhibition of texts and photos that portray the process of revolution and unification. The exhibition depicts both the inner German development as well as the diplomatic negotiations that paved the way to reunification.

Addis Ababa will host its third edition of Hub of Africa, one of Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major fashion events. With 15 international designers and rising African designers will take the runway to display rising African designs taking over the continent and world.

credit hubofafricafashionweek

The Hub of African Fashion Week October 23-25 at Millennium Hall

European Film Festival October 2- October 17, 2015 European Film Festival will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia! Organized by the European Cultural Institutes, Istituto Italiano die Cultura, Alliance Ethio-Francaise, British Council and the Goethe-Institute. 16 films will be screened and shown at the Istituto Italiano, British Council, Alliance Ethio-Francaise and Goethe-Institute.

Ethiopia Summit 2015 October 28-29, 2015 Bringing together Ethiopiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading policy makers and business leaders with international executives active or interested in expanding in Ethiopia, opportunities will be explored and challenges tackled. The event will be held at Sheraton Addis with speakers including PM Hailemariam Desalegn and Tewolde Gebre Mariam.

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Ethiopia 360: Facilities & Accommodations

Kaldis, Bilos, Natani, Robi, Kebe... and the list continues. Pastry shops and cafeterias are integral to the identity of Addis Ababa. Currently, it is the upscale pastry establishments around Bole that attract the attention of high-income residents and expats. But, The Eminence is paying homage to the pioneer pastries and cafeterias in Addis that have served customers for more than four decades amidst three regime changes. Surprisingly, these long-standing establishments are also the ones that still sell cake at unbelievably cheap prices without compromising taste! By Elleni Araya Staff Writer

Belay Teklu Pastry

Sentayehu Bekele

his old pastry place is an enduring gem from yesteryear. Entering it, one feels as though time is moving at a slower pace here than elsewhere in the capital. The cake display counter, table and chairs are the kind of furniture pieces that adorned most pastry houses in Addis two decades back, though many places are now giving way to modern interior design. A piece of cake at Belay Teklu sells for 7 ETB and hot drinks for 3 ETB. This is welcome news to the pockets of pastry goers who are now often shelling out 25 to 50 ETB both for pastries and macchiatos at the frequented upscale pastries in the city. The ground and top floor of Belay Teklu is crowded by customers of all ages and backgrounds. At anytime, you can find people surrounding the pastry display ordering takeaway. It is a busy place.

cleaner at Trinakria Bakery in Asmara, due to his father’s deteriorating health. By the time his father died, Belay who at 18 years old was the eldest of seven children, was managing a pastry shop owned by an Italian named Captain Bolpatti. He had since been involved in the hotel business and fruits and vegetable market, which have now ended in bankruptcy. This forced him to move to Addis Ababa where his younger brother Zemui Teklu lived in June 1958. It was soon after that he opened his most successful and long-lasting business.

Located in the hustle and bustle of Mercato, Belay Teklu is the first ever Ethiopian owned pastry shop. It was opened on October 30, 1959 as St. George Pastry by Eritrean born nationalist Belay Teklu and his childhood friend Gebretensai Tedla in the market corner known as Beg Terra (sheep market). Gebretensai would leave after two years to open his own well-renowned pastry shop, famous for selling Panatoni bread.

As the road in front of the pastry shop was being reconstructed into a two way street connecting to Piassa, Belay Teklu moved to its current location at Gesho Terra (Hops Market) on Gobena Aba Tegu street. It is a two-story building that houses the cafeteria, the cake factory, and the offices of the managers who are the sons and grandsons of the owner. The pastry shop, which was a modern building at the time, was essential in transforming the area previously festered with pickpockets into a bustling business center. Though the owner has passed away in 1998, his family and veteran employees try to keep his legacy. It is one of the reasons prices are so low.

Since then Belay has ran the original pastry shop himself. The business was not new for him, as he has been working at Italian-owned bakeries in Asmara since he was a teenager. According to his autobiography Love of the `Motherland, he first started out as an oven

”To begin with, we don’t have to worry about rent,” Amanuel Belay, 55, the eldest son and manager of Belay Teklu told The Eminence. “Moreover, our father believed in getting small returns from a large number of people than heavily profiting from few.”

The Eminence Oct Issue 13

Gonzalo Guajardo

Yummy History ! The Capital’s Oldest Pastry Shops

Hops Market Transformed : The two storey pastry shop established in 1968

Belay Teklu currently employs around 30 people. Upon visiting, The Eminence had the honor of meeting three veteran employees, Afework Bultu, a Barista for 55 years, Aregay Bahta, who has worked as the sales and human resources manager for 45 years, and Habte Beza, who rose through the ranks from a waiter to head pastry chef during the last 42 years. These men were hired in their early twenties and have grown, started families and aged at Belay Teklu. It is their home now. ` “I was supposed to resign a few years back, but they told me that I can still keep on working half days to support myself and stay active. If not for this, I would have spent my days drinking and wearying my family,” Afework shares with wistful eyes and a toothless grin.

Even the Emperor himself has once come in the car across the street, in order to view a picture depicting African Unity that hung outside the pastry. The picture was commissioned by Belay Teklu, which now hangs in the halls of UNECA. Now everybody comes to enjoy pastry, Amanuel says. “Even old ladies come to rest after attending church.” Belay Teklu also serves as an apprenticeship establishment for Technical and Vocational students studying baking. There were even students that now work at popular pastries in town including Kaldis, according to Habte, the head pastry chef. Currently a cloud looms over this landmark pastry establishment in Addis. Redevelopment plans by the municipality require that the building be demolished. Though the sons have tried to have it registered as a landmark, the pastry in its current location is just three years shy of the 50-years-in-existence requirement to be considered as such. “We are talking with the municipality, and they have promised to give us land around the area, but have not yet agreed to let us keep this one,” Amanuel told The Eminence. Whatever the outcome, Belay Teklu & Sons Pastry Plc still intends to keep on standing and serving it’s abundant customers.

Aregay remembers when a piece of cake at Belay Teklu sold for 10-15 cents, and milk for 25 cents. The average salary was 25ETB-30ETB, he recalls. A full Tort cake used to be 3-5 ETB. A big wedding cake of six layers sold for 120 ETB Eldest son, Amanuel, remembers that when he was a child most people did not enter the pastry shop, but instead sat in their cars and ordered takeaway. “It was frowned upon to buy cake and even bread outside of your home instead of baking it yourself,” he says. The nobility and ministerial appointees of Haileselassie however used to frequent Belay Teklu in their long Peugeot cars with their family in tow.

Afework Teklu (left), Amanuel Belay (center), Aregay Bahta (right)

Enrico’s Pastry Can any Addis Ababan truly boast about their citizenship to the capital if they have never tasted Enrico’s cakes? Small as they may be, they are tasty treats! And most people passing by Churchill Avenue find themselves turning right at the last block on the way to Addis Ababa City Administration, to get a lucky bite out of the famous Mill follies before they are sold out. A single piece of cake sells for 8 ETB at Enrico’s. Yet, interms of taste it can stand toe to toe with any of the upscale pastries in town. As one of the oldest pastry shops in Addis, it was first opened in 1954 (1946 EC) by Italian sailor Enrico Lonini and his Ethio-Ital-

The Eminence Oct Issue 13

kele

ehu Be Sentay

ian wife Julia Milavcha Lonini. Both have passed away and so has their daughter. The pastry now belongs to their granddaughter Julie Marie Akunie who lives in the US. Addis Abate, a veteran employee of 28 years, has served the role of agent and manager of Enrico’s for the past nine years. The pastry shop is situated in the Italian Corner of Piassa, on General Wingate street. The Café is at the bottom floor of a 12 bedroom apartment belonging to Lonini. On the bottom are three shops, including the pastry shop. Except for one apartment room and Enrico’s, the rest was reclaimed by the government when Dergue took power after 1974.

Ethiopia 360: Facilities & Accomodotions fessor Mesfin Woldemariam, was once a regular and a fleet of students and young activists would come to Enrico to be able to hold a conversation with him. Now it draws in crowds from various areas of Addis who have a taste for the mouthwatering butter and egg cream combination Enrico uses for the batter of its pastries. People have to be wise about the time they pick to go to Enrico. As soon as fresh pastries come out of the bakery they are sold out within two hours. A new batch of fresh cakes is first served from the kitchen early in the morning, and replenished again at ten, at noon and at three. Invariably, Enrico closes at 5 to the disappointment of sweet tooths who have a full day’s work away from Piassa. After fasting season when there is a high demand, the shop puts out as much as 9000 cakes a day!

Enrico provided the Birthday cake during the infamous celebration of the emperor’s 80th birthday.

Prices have remained cheap without compromising quality because of the small portion the cakes have, according to Addis. Moreover there is no additional cost, because the property belongs to the owners and the old Italian baking ovens are in tip-top shape.

Sentayehu Bekele

Addis’s father, Abate Addisu was also a veteran employee of Enrico’s since it opened. He had worked side by side with the owner, and managed the place until his death 20 years ago.

A fresh batch of pastries come out of Enricou s kitchens four times a day only to be sold out.

“While I was waiting for my 12th grade matriculation results, my father pulled me to work, saying nothing good comes out of loitering around town for vacation,” Addis remembers. “So I started running errands and learning the different aspects of the job. Though he was meant to study accounting and leave, he had stayed on at Enrico’s since. Even now Addis is hands on. When The Eminence visited Enrico, we found him mixing batter for the batch of cakes that were supposed to come at noon.

Sentayehu Bekele

Overtime, Addis has noticed that the customer base has changed to businessmen. “Employed residents who have a salary come maybe once a month, but businessmen frequent the place more often,” he shared.

Ale,ayehu Bedir has loyally served Enrico for the past 44 years

Enrico’s cakes were considered the best during Haile Selassie’s time. The emperor himself has celebrated two birthdays including his infamous eightieth birthday, with cakes served up by this Italian pastry. Embassies, and the nobility were also frequent customers of Enrico. Still now, a lot of old customers frequent the place. They sit and read their papers or hold discussions about current affairs. Human Rights activist, Pro

Aside from Addis, the oldest veteran at Enrico’s is Alemayehu Bedriu, who has worked at the pastry shop for 44 years. He started working there in 1964EC as a waiter. Still now he stands by the Cashier showing guests in and taking their order. He remained loyal to Enrico because of the high pay and loyalty. “I was paid 80ETB at Enrico’s which was a high salary at the time,” says Alemayehu who remembers cakes being sold for 15 cents a piece. “What would be the use of hopping from one place to another when I have had it so good?” While there, Alemayehu has raised a family of five and built a house. With loyalty from waiters like Alemayehu and manager Addis who make sure quality is consistent, Enrico is sure to provide the same standard of product and service for years to come.

The Eminence Oct Issue 13

Kyriazis Patisserie Nameless : Kyriazis Patisserie operates anassumingly near the corner of st. Jote St.

or’s time,” Fanuel reveals. The only thing they changed is the color of the wall. Unlike Enrico and Belay Teklu however this Café is more populist having served a middle and low income customer base during the emperor’s time.

Cunningham Street is one of Piassa’s oldest and most popular roads, which serves as a shopping center for Italians and later as a hangout spot for the fashionable youngsters of Addis. A few steps into the road, which starts at the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation Headquarters, there is a narrow alleyway that leads to Ethiopia’s oldest hotel Taitu called St. Jote St. On this narrow path, a cafeteria with no name or advertisement posted on the outside operates unassumingly. Passerby could simply overlook this place unless they take a closer look.

“I have heard this was a popular dating spot and that it was the meeting center for realtors and dealers who want to do business,” Fanuel shares. Even now The Eminence observed many people waiting for friends at the café while enjoying pastries. One was Zewdu Endale who was waiting on his friend while treating his six year old daughter Loza to pastries. Loza was hard at work gobbling two small cakes with chocolate toppings, while eyeing the ice-cream she held in her left hand. Zewdu was first introduced to Kyriazis when he came to visit his brother who worked at the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation. “This was where I would wait for him,” he says. He admires the fact that prices have not hiked that much over time.

Fanuel Shewangezaw, 37, son and current manager of the pastry shop since his father passed, does not know when the pastry was established or what the Kyriazis family did in Ethiopia. So the exact establishment date is not known. An old document that traces old Greek families in Abyssinia mentions a Kyriazis Zaharoplasios who operated a pastry shop in Addis Ababa. Author Micheal B. Lentakis, in his 2005 book ‘Ethiopia, A View From Within’, mentions taking secret lessons with the Kyriazis brothers after foreign schools were banned during the Italian occupation. “Kyriazis had a bakery-cum-sweetshop and ice cream parlor, and soon all the Kyriazis brothers took up this trade. I still have very close ties with some of them…” Lentakis writes. This puts the establishment of the pastry as early as the 1930’s. Like Belay Teklu, the decoration and furniture of the Patisserie is a throwback to a different era. “The chairs, tables and wood paneling on the walls have been the same since my father bought the shop during the emperThe Eminence Oct Issue 13

Sentayehu Bekele

Inside though it is a different story. Every chair is packed by customers and you would find a cashier who does not have time to catch his breath. Everybody wants a taste of Kyriazis Pattiserie’s cakes and ice-cream (Gelato). Kyriazis competes with Enrico for the honor of being the first ever pastry place in Addis. Currently it is owned by an Ethiopian family whose patriarch Shewangizaw Zewge bought the place in 1964 EC from a Greek family named Kyriazis.

Shewangezaw Hailu (left), Zenu Hassen (middle), Nuri Hassen (right)

Currently cakes sell for 6 ETB including VAT. People tend to sit a while at Kyriazis. Though there is a sign that thanks customers in advance for not reading newspapers inside, several paperboys enter the café and customers can be seen with newspapers covering their faces without bothering to hide from the waiters. Veteran employee at Kyriazis, Zenu Hassen, has worked there for 42 years . He is a second father figure to the seven children of Shewangezaw, as Fanuel attests, Nuri Hassen, who serves alongside him has laso been owrking at Kyriazis for 34 years. Between the two of them, customer’s needs are answered promptly no matter how busy the cafateria is: a rare thing for Addis cafe’s seen with newspapers covering their faces without bothering to hide from the waiters 11

Ethiopia 360: Travel & Culture

By Fitsum Berhane Special to Eminence

Ethiopia adopted Christianity in the 4th century AD. The Ethiopian royal family traced their lineage back to a liaison between the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon. Haile Selassie, the last Emperor who was revered by Rastafarians, was believed to be 155th in line from this regal meeting. The first in line was credited in some quarters as bringing back the Ark of the Covenant from the Holy Land to Axum in the north of the country. Debre Damo is one of the oldest monasteries that trace this historical legacy of Christianity in Ethiopia.

Sacred Beauty Upon the Flat Topped Hills Debre Damo Monastery mountaintop to stretch down and lift up the holy man. It was then that Saint Aregawi settled on the mountain making Debre Damo his abode. The other eight saints settled around the Tigray countryside and all have their own church named after them.

credit 6kilo.com

The Eminence Oct Issue 13

sfay nye Te

Medha

Photo By : Daniel Benjamin, Eminence Staff

These rock churches are found in Gheralta, Tsaeda Imba, Atsbidera, Haramat, Ganta Afeshum and many other places scattered unevenly over an area of 180 x 140 kms. Gheralta, northwest of Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, is the home of a quarter of the rock churches. Some are famous for their stone workmanship, ancient paintings and old manuscripts. Others are known for their magnificent views and difficult ascent. Such great churches as Abune Yemata (Guh), Mariam Korkor, Debretsion (Abune Abraham), Yohhanes Maequddi, Abune Gebre Mikael and Selassie Degum are in the very heart of Gheralta, making it the home of these rock churches.

Credit

ebre Damo is the name of both a flat-topped mountain, or amba, and a 6th century monastery. The mountain is a steeply rising plateau in the shape of a trapezoid located west of Adigrat in the Zone of Tigray, the northern most region of Ethiopia. It is about 1000 by 400 meters in dimension with an elevation of 2216 meters above sea level. The Debre Damo monastery, which dates back to early Aksumite times, is said to possess Ethiopia’s oldest existing church. Legend has it that while Abba Aragawi, one of the ‘Nine Saints’, was wandering at the foot of the cliff; he judged that the plateau above him was a suitable place to live a solitary life. God, hearing his wish, commanded a snake living on the

Tigray has more than 120 rockhewn churches. It was in 1966 that a religious father named Abba Josief astonished many people by reading out the list of all the churches. Before then, there were only two or three churches known to scholars.

After a four-hour drive from Axum and another two-hour stiff uphill walk from where the road ends - lies the monastery of Debre Damo. It is situated on a cliff top in one of the wildest parts of Tigray. The monastery is accessible only by getting pulled up a sheer cliff by a rope made of “plaited leather”. Visitors tie the rope around their waist and are then pulled up by a monk to the top of the cliff. Visits are only accessible to men and male animals. Women and even female animals are forbidden to set foot into the monastery, and must remain under the cliffs and pray from there. Debre Damo is unique and unforgettable. The bluff on which Damo stands is a real-life Shangri-la. It is remote and beautiful, far from the hustle and bustle of the 21st century. The cool celestial island of rock offers panoramic views over the surrounding countryside and complete seclusion and peace for the hundred or so monks and deacons who live there.

After fourteen centuries, the monastery of Debre Damo has experienced little change. Rare visitors are usually led to the home of the high priest paying respect. Then they are escorted to appreciate the interior of the monastery and surrounding area, which boasts a spectacular panorama view of the Tigray Highland. Today, there are about 600 monks and priests that live in the 150 stone houses on the mountaintop. Their life is almost entirely self-sufficient, with homegrown crops, livestock and cisterns collecting rainwater. Debre Damo is magnificent in terms of its location and extensive collection of priceless treasures that have remained intact until today. It has become a prominent monastic and educational centre for the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Many books have been written there and distributed to churches throughout Ethiopia. The feast of Saint (Abune) Aregawi is celebrated on October 14thon the Ethiopian calendar (October 24 Gregorian calendar), which culminates in a pilgrimage to Debre Damo from all over the country Fitsum Berhane works for Magnificent Ethiopia Tours. He can be reached at methiopiatours@gmail. com

Credit kassaltour.com

Debre Damo is known for having the earliest existing church building in Ethiopia still in its original style. The monastery’s treasures include an extensive collection of illuminated manuscripts, among them the oldest surviving text fragments found in Ethiopia. They have been kept intact despite the monastery’s 1,400 tumultuous years of history. The church now houses about fifty manuscripts, although the monks claim they once possessed no less than a thousand.

Another gem secreted within are the intricate carvings on the beams and ceilings of the ancient church around where the monastery is built. They are beautifully Debre Damo.

The Eminence Oct Issue 13

Ethiopia 360: Travel & Culture

It’s Masaala Season

By Yacob Arsano (PhD) is Associate Professor of Political Science & International Relations and Director of AAU Press, Addis Ababa University. He can be reached at yarsano17@gmail.com

Celebrating Meskel Kambatta Style!! In the official calendar of the country, the first day of Meskerem is the New Year and the 17th day of the month is Meskel.

The festival is celebrated during mid Meskerem in almost all parts of Ethiopia under different names and in a variety of fashions. For instance, in Wolayita it is known as ‘Ghifata’, in Hadiya as ‘Maskala’, in Kaficho as ‘Maskaro’, in Shinasha as ‘Garo’, and in Ghurage, northern Ethiopia and most cities in the country, including Addis Ababa, as Meskel. Wherever and under whatever fashion and name Meskel is celebrated, it is celebrated as a season of joy, love, peace, hope, reconciliation, family reunion. The festive season is indeed an occasion of home coming for family members living and working in other places. This is also true for Kambatta, where this festivity is known as Masaala and is celebrated in an elaborate manner.

he month of Meskerem is indeed a month with unique celebrations and joy in many parts of Ethiopia. Generally, the month is associated with brightness and prosperity, as it emerges from the dark, rainy, muddy and impoverished Kiremt season to the brighter, sunny, blossoming and more prosperous time of the Thibi season. In Kambatta, a special festivity takes place in Meskerem called Masaala. The beginning of Masaala cannot be determined, but it has always been part of the cultural life of Kambata community from time immemorial. Every year, Masaala comes with expectations of good health, long life, reconciliation, reunion, peace and prosperity. Masaala has three stages- the phase of preparation, the peak days of ceremonies and the phase of extended celebration. Preparation for Masaala begins on the first day of Meskerem. On this day children, usually under the age of 12 go to the woods in groups, and collect and fetch fresh grass known as ‘Lenjaa’. They collect this deep green ceremonial grass while singing ‘holle-holle-ho!” Parents and older members of the family give blessings to the children and accept the Lenjaa as an essential mark heralding the advent of the upcoming Masaala season. The Lenjaa is then tied in bundles to the pillars and door frames in the house symbolizing the coming of Masaala.

For instance, piling fire wood in sufficient amount for the entire Masaala season; procuring salt, spices and animal leak; enclosing “Kaloo” for feeding livestock during the two peak Masaala ceremony days; purchasing new clothes especially for children; and purchasing a ‘Masaali Thiiko’ (often fattened bull) in a group of four, six or eight family heads is common ahead of the festive season. The two preceding days of the main Masaala, i.e, Thursday and Friday, are very significant in the entire festive tradition. The Thursday is designated as mother’s day known as “Wotha Bari”. Mothers offer soft food to the family known as ‘Oulaamo’, which is especially prepared from local spinach and butter. It is often served with Wasaa bread from Enset. The day is a serene and special one for two reasons: it heralds the coming of Masaala and mothers come in the forefront of the joy of the festive season. Then the two weeks following the first day of Meskerem continue as a busy time of preparation for all sorts of materials and provisions.

Gonzalo Guajardo

On the same day, older boys fetch especially designated twigs for the ‘Marhisho’ (ceremonial bonfire) which takes place outdoors. The elders of the village on their part erect the pillar for the Marhisho around which the dried twigs are affixed, until the Marhisho gets a conical shape with a sky-ward protruding pillar from the center. On the same day mothers begin selecting a special food item known as ‘Atakani Waasa’ for the eve of the main Masaala days. The first day of Meskerem is the beginning of Masaala season. Then the two weeks following the first day of Meskerem continue as a busy time of preparation for all sorts of materials and provisions. This will be necessary because nobody is expected to do normal work during Masaala other than preparing food for the family members and guests.

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SNNPR Culture & Tourism Bureau

During the following days in the immediate week the unmarried young men go around singing “helele bali-helele” and dancing in the village and throughout the community. Other young men venture even farther to other areas performing “Ghifata” chants and dances. The unmarried young women on their part get together in the immediate village and sing and tease the young men through their songs. The girls do not go out of their own village. The young men and women are awarded presents by older folks, often money for the performances. With the money collected, the young men and women organize parties known as “Karamaacha” in the home of one of the young men or women with the consent of the parents.

Partying Southern Style: Young men and women have a special dance during Meskel celebration in the Southern region

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migrationolo.com

Food and drinks are abundant during Masaala. Villagers go around to each house in rotation and invite one another with the best food of the season. Meat meals play the central treat. People feast on raw meat, Gored-Gored (cut raw meat with butter seasoning), Kitfo with Aiyb or Gomen (buttered steak tar tar with cottage cheese or kale). Cooked or roasted meat meals are served. No person is left out from the food parties. Rich and poor folks intermingle and enjoy Masaala together. The week of Masaala is additionally special because the joy and festive spirit is extended and shared with family members and relatives in other locations. Family members visit their relatives in far away villages and bring flowers and lots of presents of special food items. Young son-in-laws visit the families of spouses thereby renewing the reunion and respect to the parental in-laws.

Time to Feast: During Masaala people feast on Kitfo, Ayib or Gomen (steak tar tar with cottage cheese or kale) The entire season following Masaala is the season of initiation into manhood or womanhood for those who went through circumcision during the pre ‘Masaala’ season. The ‘Masaala’ celebration continues during the following weeks and months until the harvesting season commences. Many of the occasions bring together young men and women to enjoy fun and courtship. At the end of Meskerem, ‘Masaala’ ceremonially ends at the kickoff party of all villagers. An animal is sacrificed in an outdoor celebration. Food and drinks are improvised by all villagers for the occasion. ‘Masaala’ is the ultimate festive season of renewal, happi ness, love, peace, etc. It is a joyful ceremony where the problems of the past are left behind, individuals, families and the community members embrace the hope for prosperity in the times ahead. Many elements of ‘Masaala’ might have been changed or modified over the time in tune with the new preferences of the increasingly modernizing times. Inasmuch as ‘Masaala’ characterizes the cultural identity and social affinity in Kambata, it is a culture worth preserving both interms of internal union and linkage with the rest of the Ethiopian society

Interview: Miss World Ethiopia

Chosen

For

Miss W the Wor l orld Et hiopia d 2015

Stage

Shega event hosted this year’s Miss Ethiopia World contest at Kaleb Hotel. Out of the 11 women that competed for the title of Miss Ethiopia World, Kishanet Teklehaimanot took the title to represent the country in 2015. The Eminence’s reporter, Henok Solomon, sat down with Kishanet and talked to her about her life experience that led her to become the next Miss Ethiopia.

What is your background? I was born and raised in the Tigray Region in Adigrat town. I grew up in a big family with five sisters and three brothers. I attended my primary education in a school called Jainadog in Adigrat town. Then I enrolled in ninth grade at a school called Finote Birhan. The rest of my highschool years were spent in a mission school called Tsinseta Lemariam. After finishing secondary school with good grades, I joined Hawassa University’s computer science department.

As Ethiopians, what was your parents’ reaction when they first heard your interest in working in the modeling industry? Were they supportive? Oh... Especially when you are from a Tigre family it is different (laughing). But my family was a bit different, especially my father because he was educated. He didn’t actually complete his education, but he was exposed to different things. For instance, he is a Ge’ez speaker, which is rare right now. He has also been in many parts of the country.

What’s the meaning of your name? Kishanet is a Tigrian name and when it is translated it means “relief”. Some people find it hard to pronounce. (Laughing)

He used to insist that we complete our education, especially his daughters. His major objective was for us to finish school. He used to say, “I don’t want to construct a concrete building on the ground, but build up wisdom in my kids.” When I told him I wanted to be a model, he understood because he saw that I could do that side by side with my education. So when I told him “Baba I’m doing this thing, I am competing in a pageant,” he first asked me if I believed in it and when I said yes, he was happy. He was even the one that bought the clothes and materials and helped me prepare for the competition. The same goes with my mom, she was always by my side as well.

When did the feeling of becoming a model emerge? It emerged when I was a kid. I can say that comments from my family were one of the first reasons I wanted to be a model. They used to say, “This girl would be great if she became a flight attendant”, which was a prestigious job at the time. Beyond that, in my teenage years, the comments I got from friends and people made my interest to be a model grow even more. 16

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When did you first walk on the stage as a model? I was 16 years old at the time and a grade 11 student. It was the Miss Adigrat High School Beauty Pageant in 2002 E.C What is beauty to you? This is a good question (laughing). I say this because that was one of the questions asked during the contest. Beauty for me… of course there is something that attracts you from the outside, like height or walking style, but all that without the support of internal beauty is nothing. You have to build yourself up with knowledge, humanity, good manners and respect for others. Good manners are important, especially for women. But that is not an issue for Ethiopian women; we are very respectful of others. The other big thing is confidence. If a girl builds her confidence and respects herself she is beautiful to me. Now you are Miss Ethiopia; that’s a big Achievement. What were some of the challenges you faced to get to this level? I’d like to start from the beginning. Like I said earlier, I started modeling as a career in my first beauty contest in 2002 at Mrs. Adigrat High School. It was a great contest. I got into the top 10. After a while I entered into another competition, Miss Adigrat. During this competition I won in a surprising manner. The feedback from the audience was very overwhelming. I honestly thought I was interacting with my family rather than a crowd in a contest. I felt like the whole town was mine; that boosted my confidence and it made me feel like I could do anything. After this confidence boost, I represented Adigrat in the Miss Tigray contest held in Mekelle in 2003 E.C. Again, I got in the top ten level, which was another encouragement for me. When I was in the university, I got involved in another contest. I was doing all of that to get this title that I have today. It cost me a lot of sacrifice and patience because it was the dream that I had since I was a little girl. In 2006 I got into the contest prepared by Murad Mohammad for the title of Miss Ethiopia. The contestants got lots training, lots of professional assistance and lots of experience from that contest. I built connections with a lot of people and I understood where my potential was. I built my confidence and I personally believe that I gained a lot of from last year’s contest.

Ethiopia. But she raised all of us with great discipline giving us wisdom, education and everything a kid needed. In addition, my mother is a strong worker. She didn’t discriminate between gender roles and did anything she believed would generate income for the family. I grew up witnessing that. By the way my mother is a model farmer. She got awarded two times by the former Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and the current Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. Professionally I respect Liya Kebede, Maya, Yordanos [Teshager] and Iman [Abdulmajid] from Black models. Naomi [Campbell] did amazing things, especially fighting to open up opportunities for Black models in the fashion industry, so she’s an inspiration as well. She is someone that seeks equality for black women so she speaks to me. She has made me realize I have to build my inner strength. There are few modeling schools in Ethiopia. Do you think talented people who can change the business are getting out of those schools? Yes, I believe there are good modeling schools now. The first schools you mention when you talk about the modeling business are Hora Communication and Abyssinia Modeling. They are doing a pretty good job. They don’t just teach modeling, but they also teach acting, psychology and other related lessons, which will make students professional. When other companies need models for movies and commercials, they directly contact these companies. This brings a bright future for the girls too, so this is good. Generally the status of modeling schools in Ethiopia currently is good. But, if you see other countries, it is alarming how much work still needs to be done. We need to build our knowledge base by reading. We need to work on personal development. Then we would be unbeatable because naturally we are a beautiful people. We need to support this gift. If this happens, I am sure we can make it to the top and represent Ethiopia on the world stage.

What is your diet? People looking at you would want to know what the secret is behind that body. [Laughs] To be honest I eat like every Ethiopian. If I have to eat shiro, I eat shiro. If I have to eat something else, I will do that. But after of course, a woman’s body will not stay as it is, so I have to start going to the gym. Doing physical exercise is not only good for our shape, it also helps our health and social interaction as well, so it’s very basic thing. Who do you say is your role model professionally as well as in life? To answer this question honestly, the first role model I can think of is my mother. She is the mother of 9 children. Raising 9 kids is a very challenging task for a woman, especially in The Eminence Oct Issue 13

Interview : Miss World Ethiopia Have you ever thought that one day you will represent your country in the world stage as Miss Ethiopia? I believe that human nature essentially wants to be good. Sometimes your life gives you meaning when you are good to others and support the less fortunate. I have had an interest to help others during my childhood years, even before I entered the modeling and pageant world. I was planning to launch a charity organization by the name “Mother of All”.

I did the proposal back in 2004 EC when I joined the university, but I didn’t have that much financially to turn this dream into a reality. But, the name that I have now as Miss Ethiopia is big in representing my country and it is big in my life. Winning this contest will make your voice heard and can be used as a ladder for my plan to make this charity organization come true. The Miss World pageant is in China. When are you leaving? I am leaving on December 19th. It is about 3 month from now.

Gonzalo Guajardo

What’s the process after this? What will be next? As Ethiopians, we have beauty, we have respect and manners, but as I said earlier we need professional knowledge. We are lacking in exposure. So there is a lot of things I need to work on to be on the same level with the other contestants from around the world. I have to stand out from 100 or so women. So I know I need to work hard to develop myself. You are judged based on your communication skills and how active you are. This is a stepping-stone. You can do a lot if you win the crown. So they also pay attention to what you plan to do afterwards. But in general, I am really happy and honored to represent my country on this huge platform. Our country is on a good developing track now. The world is seeing our country in a positive light. So I am representing and adding more value to that. That is the most exciting thing to happen.

Since you are Miss Ethiopia, lots of people are looking up to you. What is your advice for younger people who are dreaming of being a model and reach your level? Taking care of your self is essential. When I say taking care of yourself, I mean both physical and personality development. We are young. There are a lot of things we need to stay away from. If we are planning to represent our country, we need to develop work on ourselves, in terms of knowledge, manners and

“The world is seeing our country in a positive light. So I am representing and adding more value to that.” confidence. Girls who want to be models need to educate themselves. Even if they cannot go to schools they can update themselves online. If they keep working hard, when the right time comes, they can shine. All they have to do is believe in themselves and keep on trying. Of course throughout the process there are a lot of challenges that make you lose hope and make you think all your efforts in vain. But you have to let go of that for the sake of your dreams. If they overcome the challenges then can make their dreams come true. Related to this, what is the biggest challenge of having modeling as a career in Ethiopia? The lifestyle we have in Ethiopia may not permit us to do a lot of things. When you do modeling you need to keep yourself fit at all times. You need to network and meet a lot of people. You need to build your knowledge. If you have confidence you can do all these things. You can make it happen. Challenges won’t stop you. Lastly, let me give you the opportunity to share your final thoughts if you have anything left to say? Thank you. I’d like to thank my family, my close friends from high school and people who have helped me throughout my journey. For those who always believed in me and always thought that I was going to make it to this level one day. Sometimes I used to be amazed that people believed in me that much. It is because of them that I am here today. In addition, thank you to all my supporters, fans, for my family and all my work colleagues who were there during the process of everything The Eminence Oct Issue 13

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Arts: Art & Literature

The volunteer efforts of artists in different fields is currently helping to make Art therapy part of the official rehabilitation services provided by Amanuel Specialized Mental Health ospital. Considering the dearth of professionals in the meantal health field and the stigma attached to mentally ill patients, this is a welcome addition for the administrators of the only mental health hospital in the country

y p a r e h T

quiet resolution was forming in Yidnekachew Mulugeta’s heart in September 2014. This resolution would later give rise to a volunteer movement at Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital, a facility on the verge of making Art Therapy an official rehabilitation service provided to patients. It began small, as a vague idea developed amongst friends. On the 2014 Ethiopian New Year, Yidnekachew decided he would dedicate some of his time to volunteering. “Until then my life had been about self discovery and doing By Elleni Araya what I love,” says the painter, who is a graduate of both the Staff Writer Alle School of Fine Arts at Addis Ababa University and the Fine Arts Department at Teferi Mekonnen Technical and Vocational School. “But at some point a life that’s not lived serving others starts to get hollow.”

h g u o r Th e n i L n i h T e h

The first person Yidnekachew called after he decided to volunteer was his close friend of sixteen years, artist Seble Woldeamanuel. They started brainstorming how they could best apply their skills. After exploring different options like working with orphans or children with autism, Seble came up with the idea to provide Art therapy at Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital. Up until then, Yidnekachew did not know Art Therapy was a formal method of treating mental illness. He did, however, have an idea about the therapeutic effects of his craft. He had witnessed it in himself and the art students he taught for the past seven years through Next Generation NGO located near Goethe Institute. “I remember my students feeling comfortable enough to share their deepest thoughts with me when we were discussing their paintings,” he recalls. “After our conversation you can see a burden lifted off their chests.” Yidnekachew himself has discovered the power creative outlets had on self discovery and stress relief, when he first discovered painting in high school. “To a certain extent you cannot lie in art, so the truth inside you comes out and you feel free,” he explained. After reading and researching the subject, Seble and

Yidnekachew approached Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital’s young deputy general director, Dawit Assefa (MD) in October 2014. They were unsure what their initial reception would be. “We just wrote our ideas on a piece of paper,” Yidnekachew admits. “We didn’t have a proposal or anything.” What happened afterwards was astonishing for them. “Dr. Dawit stood up from his chair and thanked us for our interest,” says Yidnekachew, “He told us he was thinking about this issue just five minutes prior and then started giving us a tour of the hospital.” Dawit also recalls that day with clarity. “We welcome such proposals,” he told The Eminence As one of only 51 psychiatrists in a country with a population of 83 million, he knew too well the dearth of adequate services to

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A Creative Outlet: The works of rehabilitated patients who were in the Art Therpay program at Amanuel were displayed at the Hilton Exhibition.

patients. Although mental health consultations are provided in other hospitals and health bureaus, Amanuel is the only hospital specializing in mental illness in the country. It treats 600-800 patients a day and there are 270 beds in the hospital, with 90pct always occupied by in-patients. This is not enough to address the prevalent mental health issues in the society. The Ethiopian Mental Health Association Website cites a 2003 research which states that mental illness accounts for 20pct of illness in Ethiopia. Because of the colossal gap between patients and doctors, many mental health services are provided by trained mental health professionals who are not psychiatrists. But their number does not even reach a thousand. This gap, and the nature of the illness itself, calls for many professionals from other fields to become involved in the rehabilitation of patients, according to Dawit. Encouraged by this immediate acceptance on the part of the hospital, Yidnekachew and Seble, started their tour. Dawit showed them the ward dedicated to Awgechew Terefe, the long living and prolific author who was treated for schizophrenia at one time in Amanuel. Upon a request from Dawit, Seble

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and Yidnekachew created the mosaic honoring Awgechew, which is currently hanging at the center. Two months after their initial tour, a wide room in the rehabilitation ward was availed to Yidnekachew and Seble for them to start the project. They began the program on a Monday in January 2015, with a group of 17 hospitalized patients whose medical background they had read beforehand. Recalling that first day Yidnekachew shares, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We told them they could paint and write whatever they wanted and It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even 30 minutes into the class when they asked, where have you been all this time?â&#x20AC;? That was the moment that Yidnekachew realized this was not something to be taken lightly or stop once it had started. More than the illness, a great burden to the patients is the stigma and marginalization by the outside community, according to Yidnekachew and Dawit.

Arts: Art Therapy “They are starved for genuine connection from others in the outside world.” Yidnekachew shares. “The fact that they can talk and interact with people besides doctors has proved much more useful to their healing process. Dawit also attests to this. “We only just understood that the benefits were this much,” he told The Eminence. “Because there is stigma on the patients even from family, Art Therapy is a big tool to bridge that separation.” Once things were underway, Yidnekachew and Seble have been going on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to provide the class. Usually the group starts with a prayer and then takes a tour of the grounds. Then they are given a topic to paint on. Sometimes a large canvas would be set up so that everybody could work together. There are certain colors patients use that are warning signals or could lead to a breakthrough in diagnosis and treatment. There was one instance during the session where patients were drawing the contents of their heart, when one patient depicted a previous trauma he experienced. “The Art Therapy has helped with diagnosis, because some emotions can better be explained through art than words,” Dawit explains. “ The way they draw gives some ideas. A spark is revealed whether he has been abused or undergone trauma. Since this gives hints then that can be a direction for therapy where we can confirm the idea.” But more than the diagnosis it has helped break down the walls that exist between the patients and the outside community.Since the volunteer program started, Yidnekachew and Seble, who is currently abroad, have worked with three different groups of patients. Sustainability became a concern after a while. After talking with Dawit, Yidnekachew brought three groups of people for a visit. The first group was Yidnekachew’s students and other art students from different schools. Another group of professionals also visited. But the group that made the biggest impact were the 15 artists that Yidnekachew invited. Thomas Kidane, a free-lance photographer and art dealer, was one of the artists that visited and regularly volunteers. Like most volunteers, he went through some anxiety about 22

visiting Amanuel in the beginning. “You start remembering all the wrong things you heard about place, like being scared to be hit by a stone,” he laughingly admits. “But we were told by Dr. Dawit to approach normally, and what we saw was completely different than our misconceptions.” For the past three months different artists have been volunteering and community outreach has been expanding. There have also been campaigns on Facebook, spearheaded by Yohannes Molla calling for people to donate drawing materials and books. Amanuel has also hired three art therapists that work on music, art and crafts, according to Dawit. The movement gained climax when an exhibition showing the art works of hospitalized patients opened at Hilton Hotel. Thomas was one of the volunteers who helped organize the exhibition titled “Through a Line”. “It has helped a lot in breaking down stigma,” says Yidnekachew. Around 10,000 people attended the two-day exhibition held in ball room I of the Hilton, which the hotel provided to Amanuel free of charge. Dawit was also able to marshall the resources of many people and artists. Currently Yidnekachew and Dawit are working on designing a program that can make Art Therapy a permanent feature of the services offered at Amanuel. So far budget for resources has been coming from the hospital, donations, the sale of crafts made by patients and from the sale of a quarter of the paintings displayed at the exhibition. The Hospital has also been pushing the Addis Ababa health Bureau to allocate a budget for the therapy. Reflecting on the past year, Yidnekachew has said that it has been a transformative and rewarding experience. He is amazed that things came together with such ease and a lot of people have been receptive to the program starting from their first visit at Amanuel with a scrap paper. “As the title of the exhibition indicates, I think that there is a thin line, a narrow path that everybody needs to find,” he mused. “If they do find it and pursue that path then everything connects because it is meant to be.” The Eminence Oct Issue 13

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AArts: rts: Lifestyle & Fashion Art & LIterature

Name: Yakob Zewdu Age: 19 From: Haya Hulet Hair Style: “Balotelli is the hairstyle. I got this cut because I love the footbal player [Balotelli] and it looks good too.”

Name Beyene Kebede How many years did you stay in this Business : I’ve been cutting hair for the past 6 years. What are the styles most frequented in Addis? Most people get clean cut or normal cut. When it comes to style there is full Balotelli, half Balotelli, and French hairstyle. Most of the kids preferFrench and clean cut hairstyles. The adults prefer medium sized clean cut. 24

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Name: Dukaye Amare Age: 20 From: Bole Hair style: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just felt like cutting my hair, so I went to my barber and he did this. I loved it though.â&#x20AC;?

Name: Redahegn Abebe How many years did you stay in this Business? I cut hair for the past 14 years.

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Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the hottest style at the moment? Styles mainly come from famous people. Starting around 2004 E.C haircuts like Bala toli and Nani emerged. It first started with kids and then adults also started to get those haircuts.

Arts: Architecture & Interior Design

Saint George Gallery

By Henok Solomon Staff Writer

Interior Design Goes Ethiopian

I Gonzalo Guajardo

t all started in 1991 G.C. Saba Alene was just a little girl when her family pulled her out of school due to the political instability occurring in the country. From then on, she spent every day in her family’s furniture business. This became Saba’s destiny. This is where the inspiration and love of art and furniture making sunk into Saba’s heart. Her family’s furniture business was based on European styles and fashion. But, this way of making furniture did not draw Saba’s attention. With the same quality in mind, she wanted to make furniture in her own cultural style and identity. It was 24 years ago that Saba decided to start her own furniture shop near Fil Wuha. She rented a house from Dej Azmach Ligaba Tasew, a patriot who fought in Ethiopia-Italian war, and has kept the house to this day. Saba began producing various furniture and art pieces that are inspired by Ethiopian culture and art. After 6 years, Saba’s sister, Selam Alene, joined the business and became the manager at Saint George Gallery. The Gallery produces various furniture items, jewelry, decoration materials and handcrafts like cushions, tableclothes and scarves. These beautiful pieces of furniture can be used as interior design elements in hotels and homes. They have the power of giving a place a decidedly Ethiopian identity, without compromising aesthetics. Ethiopian traditional craft has its own style and identity. Since Ethiopia has more than 85 nations and nationalities, each individual culture adds variety to the handiwork. The Tibeb for instance is a great reflection of this unique identity. Tibeb is a tapestry of different designs woven out of cotton threads with vibrant colors. It usually decorates the edges of the sleeves and seam of Ethiopian Traditional clothing. The weavers that make Tibeb are true artists that tirelessly come up with intricate designs It takes two days for weavers to produce Tibeb for a single pillow.

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Gonzalo Guajardo

The Gallery creates handcrafts in a workshop situated behind the display room. “The one thing that is different about us is we don’t hire our workers by salary, we rather pay them by piece rate.” Selam says. “This will make them more productive and its better payment for them.” In Saint George gallery everything is produced locally and culturally processed. The leather couches up for sale are a good example of this. The leather is dried using natural sunlight and salt before it is designed into different shapes and sizes. There are about four types of designs to the couches. These designs depict early Ethiopian art and includes tales of old legends including the story of queen Saba and King Solomon. The leather beds are also made in a similar manner and are adorned with artistically crafted crosses and line on the wooden frame. Saba is also a collector. She has an assortment of historical and cultural goods in her gallery. She has headrests (a sort of pillow made out of wood) of different shape and sizes which represent the styles of various nationalities of Ethiopia. Furniture boxes, dining tables etc…can be found in the gallery. But these are not for sale, because they are currently rare to

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find and Selam wants to preserve them. Art collection is also a major feature in the gallery. Art pieces by well known artists are displayed in cultural frames. The gallery and the artists share the profits if someone buys the art. In 2012, St. George Gallery became international. It opened a second gallery in Alexandria Virginia in 2012. The acceptance was amazing according to Selam. “A lot of people loved our products and influential people like Bill Clinton and Bono visited,” she told The Eminence. People who want to purchase pieces from the Virgina gallery place orders online, and the item is shipped from Ethiopia. A cultural Ethiopian custom-made couch will cost 110,00 to 130,000 ETB at St. George. Custom made beds are cheaper costing 60 ,000 to 70,000 ETB. Pillows for sofas are priced at 430 ETB. Artworks are offered for anywhere between 1000 to 90,000 ETB. These prices are affordable, according to Selam. “People spend much more on European and Chinese products, but they would get extra benefits from buying Ethiopian, as it is more durable.”

Arts: Thousand Words Cross Over Meskel in the New Age Demera celebrations at Meskel Square Addis Ababa, Sunday September 27, 2015

By Gonzalo Guajardo, Eminence Staff

The Eminence Oct Issue 13

Society: History & Diplomacy

Anniversary of the Second War Cry Recounting the Second Italian Invasion After the battle of Adowa, at a time when an offer of friendship seemed too good to be true, the Italians were quick to restart an amicable relationship with Ethiopia. But colonial ambitions are not that easy to get rid of. After the facist party assended in Italy, it was only a matter of time before the europeen counrty was to launch a second offensive on october 3rd in order to reclaim its past “ greatness”. As the anniversary of this second invasion approches the Eminence recounts the series of events that led to the second war cry and its aftermath. By Bezawit Bekele Special to Eminence

he course of Ethio-Italian relations after the historic battle of Adwa defied expectations in its amicable nature. It was only a year after Adwa that the Italians were welcomed back to the court of Emperor Menelik. The diplomatic ties continued and during Regent Ras Tafari Mekonnen’s European tour in 1924, he received a warm welcome in Rome with crowds chanting ‘Viva Ethiopia’, ‘Viva Tafari’. The relationship was fortified by the Treaty of Peace and Friendship signed between the two nations in 1928. The treaty envisaged the construction of a road between Assab, the capital of then Italian colony Eritrea, and Dessie. This flowery image of friendship didn’t mean that Italy had abandoned its colonial ambitions towards Ethiopia. In fact since the Fascist party took power

in Italy in 1922, it aspired to restore the country to the glory of the Roman Empire. As early as the year the Treaty of Peace and Friendship was signed, Italy was resorting to an old trick used during Adwa: the policy of subversion. An ambitious conspiracy in line with this policy was concocted between Italian Baron Franchetti and the Governor of Gojjam Ras Hailu in 1932. The plot was to free former Emperor Lej Iyassu who was imprisoned in Gojjam and depose Emperor Haile Selassie. It was an epic failure with the former Emperor being transferred to more protected custody in Grawa, near Harar, and the former Governor of Gojjam facing the same fate of imprisonment. Starting from 1932, the Italians were also mobilizing a force of 60,000 Askaris from Eritrea and 22,000 officers from

fori fam

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Italy. General Emilio De Bono, Supreme Commander of the Italian operation against Ethiopia, was not satisfied with this and asked Rome for reinforcement The Italians were forced to completely

of 100,000 more men and 100 aircrafts. shift their focus to Ethiopia after Benito Mussolini’s plans to expand in Austria were frustrated by Adolf Hitler of Germany in 1934. December of 1934, a crucial confrontation on the border between Ethiopia and Italian Somaliland known as the Walwal’ incident was a clear indication of the war to come. Although it was the Ethiopians who sustained more losses, the Italians asked for an official apology and reparations. The Italians were in fact waiting for the right moment to launch their offensive. Mussolini didn’t want another Adwa and was careful to make sure that all preparations were in order. Haile Selassie was aware of the preparations for an attack through his network of informers in Eritrea. Although he had high hopes that the League of Nations would intervene to halt Italian aggression, he was also pragmatic enough to prepare for defense. This included the levying of a tax on every Ethiopian of age and looking for new allies and new sources of weaponry.

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the Ethiopian people to the impeding war. In a famous speech on 18 July 1935, the Emperor said “… anyone who dies for his country is a fortunate man, but death takes what it wants, indiscriminately in peace time as well as war. It is better to die with freedom than without it.” In contrast to Benito Mussolini who is famous for his shouting and gestures, Haile Selassie as per his nature was reserved and refrained from showing emotion.

credit martinplaut.wordpress.com

Haile Selassie’s efforts to amass weapons were complicated because of the arms embargo on the two nations, as well as pressures of Italians on suppliers, such as Switzerland, Poland, Belgium and Greece. Mussolini’s ally in the Second World War, Adolf Hitler was more cunning. Until the beginning of the war between the two nations, he supplied Ethiopia with weapons worth 3 million marks because it served Germany’s interests in Austria for Italy to be locked in a war in Ethiopia as long as possible, while promising Rome that no such supplies were being provided.

On October 3 1935, the Italians crossed the Mereb River on the Ethiopian border in the north. It was a point of no-return. The force, which crossed the Mereb on the command of General De Bona, was 110,000 men armed with 2300 machine guns, 230 cannons, 156 assault tanks and 123 airplanes. The offensive force proceeded without any resistance in three fronts in the directions of the town of Adwa, Enticco and Adigrat. The Ethiopians chose to withdraw for two reasons. One was diplomatic; to demonstrate to the world that an invasion was taking place; and the second was tactical to draw the Italians to the center and stretch their suppliers. On October 6, Adwa fell into the hands of the Italians, and a month later on November 8, they controlled Mekelle. However, this pace wasn’t satisfactory for Mussolini. He decided to replace General De Bono with the more ruthless Marshall Pietro Badoglio.

While preparing for a defensive, Haile Selassie had not abandoned diplomatic negotiations. Some of these were clandestine meetings with Italians in different positions and the Emperor’s people such as the one between the Emperor’s secretary Tadesse Meshesha and physician of the Italian legation, Edoardo Borra, in the hopes of coming to an agreement. The Emperor actually participated in some of the meetings. Through his military advisor General Eric Virgin, Haile Selassie was told that a single decisive battle and victory such as in Adwa can’t be achieved with the current Italian force and he should opt instead for guerilla warfare. There were, however, serious obstacles to making this method successful. The first was that while guerilla warfare required a civilian population willing to support the guerilla fighters, such unity and harmony didn’t exist especially in the periphery.

The Eminence Oct Issue 13

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The Emperor himself prepared and distributed to officers a booklet, which is a hundred pages long stating measures to be taken against attack. In successive speeches in 1935, the Emperor who was losing hope, worked to initiate the morale of

Abyssinian troops dismantled Italian guns and are transporting them forward to outmaneuver the Italians.

Society: History & Diplomacy

until ctober 18, after Adwa and Adigrat were controlled by the Italians that the Ethiopian forces began their marches from Addis Ababa. Haile Selassie himself left Addis Ababa with the Imperial Guard only after the fall of Mekelle on November 28, 1935. The counter-offensive began in January 1936 on three fronts. On the Western front, the forces were led by Ras Emeru Haile Selassie, a comrade of the Emperor from early childhood, while in the center Ras Seyoum Mengesha and Ras Hailu held the fort and in the Eastern front Ras Mulugeta Yegezu, the Minster of War was deployed. The only success the Ethiopians could achieve was the orderly retreat of the forces of Ras Emeru on the Western front of Gojjam and Begemeder. The forces led by Ras Mulugeta, a veteran of Adwa, were devastated at Amba Aradom, South of Mekelle and Ras Mulugeta was killed during the retreat; a defeat that left 6,000 dead. The leaders of the central front called to assist Ras Mulugeta arrived too late and were themselves engaged in a battle with the Italians at Timbien from February 27-29, 1936. The Italians won this battle with the Ras Seyoum and Ras Hailu narrowly escaping capture and joining the Emperor. In addition to the strength of the Italians in the air and their use of poison gases, they were also numerically superior with the Ethiopians being outnumbered almost 4 to 1. The lack of coordination between the commanders of the different fronts also contributed to the defeat of the Ethiopians.

The League of Nations dubbed Italy as an aggressor nation on October 10, 1935. Although this meant that the arms embargo on Ethiopia was lifted and sanctions were laid on Italy, the Leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sanctions were not harsh enough to debilitate the Italians. They were economic rather than military in nature and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t affect the three important products coal, oil and steel. Although Emperor Haile Selassie had called for general mobilization on September 25, 1935, it was not

The final show down, the battle of Maichew was fought on March 31, 1936. The Emperor, who throughout the counter-offensive was set against one decisive battle, changed his mind and decided to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors, Emperor Yohannes IV and Emperor Menelik. He actually took the battle to the Italians as opposed to waiting for their offensive. The battle took 13 hours and was very violent. 8000 died on the Ethiopian side while Italy lost 68 officers, 332 Italian soldiers and 873 Eritrean Askaris. The Ethiopian forces in retreat were further attacked and plundered by the Rayya and Azebo people still holding grudges from the campaigns against them in the 1920s on the ground and by the bombs and mustard gas of the Italians from the air. The forces led by Badoglio arrived in Addis Ababa on May 5, 1936 and two days earlier on May 3rd, the train with Emperor Haile Selassie and his entourage reached Djibouti on a long journey of exile, which ended with his victorious return on May 5, 1941 after 5 years of fierce struggle

The Eminence Oct Issue 13

Society : Legal Corner

When Death Comes Knocking

uch as every one enjoys life, its antonym death is inevitable. The law therefore gives as much attention to the event of death as it does to birth. In a way legal personality is a legal fiction, in the sense that rights and obligations are attributes of the law. In law, birth endows legal personality to human beings while death brings it to an end. The eternal question in law, therefore, is how to take care of those rights and obligations of when someone passes on. To talk about the consequences of death is not to wish anyone evil, but to prepare oneself for the inevitable. Although the issue of inheritance is as old as humanity itself, either in the form of transfer of proprietary rights and obligations or transfer of status, it takes different forms across societies. The central point is how to balance the interests of the surviving relatives with that of the deceased. Should the law give priority to the freedom of its citizens to decide on how to dispose their property after death as they wish or to the interests of the survivors of the deceased, particularly children, to get a fair share of the property of the deceased? The Ethiopian law of succession considers these, sometimes conflicting interests, with an inclination to favor the former than the later. Anyone has the liberty to transfer his/her rights after death through a will to individuals of choice to the extent of leaving nothing to his/her natural heirs. The law does not impose an heir on anyone, one can exclude even children from inheritance provided that reasons are given in the will for making such an exclusion. No part of the deceasedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s property is reserved to natural heirs, however close they may be to the deceased. Such testamentary decisions can be made in a will that can take either of three forms: public, holographic and oral. While the scope of oral wills is limited (the value of the disposition cannot exceed 500 Birr) and time (as they lapse if the testator does not die in six months), a person can transfer almost anything through the other two provided the formalities required by law are met. Spouses do not have a legal right to inherit their partnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rights when the other half dies, although each has the right to receive one half of the common property. The wife or the husband, as the case may be, gets nothing from the share of the other. The inheritance passes to the natural heirs, and to the State when there are no heirs, although the deceased is survived by his or her spouse. In cases where there is little or no community of property during marriage, the surviving spouse gets no part of the otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s property at the time of

The Eminence Oct Issue 13

Menbere Tsehay Tadesse, (PhD) is the former Vice President of the Supreme Court of Ethiopia. He was also a former judge at COMESA Court of Justice. He can be reached at menberetadesse@yahoo.com death. Close as spouses are between one another, they get nothing by operation of law when death separates them. The deceased can of course transfer to the surviving spouse all or some of the property if he/she so wishes. Should a person die without making a valid will, the law fills the void by distributing the property to relatives based on degrees. There are four degrees for purposes of distributing property: children (first degree), parents (second degree), grandparents (third degree) and great grandparents (fourth degree). All other relatives inherit by representation. Thus, a brother is not directly an heir under Ethiopian law and can only inherit by representing his own parents. Neither are grandchildren directly entitled to succeed their grandparents so far as their own parents are alive. In general, relatives in the collateral line (brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, etc.) are not called direct heirs. The law calls relatives in the direct line first and collaterals come into the picture only by representing those in the direct line. Once a person becomes an heir at law, the principle is that each gets an equal part of the inheritance regardless of sex and nationality of the heir. Besides, the heirs share the totality of the assets and liabilities of the deceased, thus taking the form of a universal succession. Needless to mention, some rights die together with the person and cannot be transferred to the next of kin. Such rights include ones that are so personal that they can only be enjoyed by an individual during his or her lifetime. Examples are abound, but the right to vote and a position in an office can be cited as good examples. A person becomes an heir either because that person is luckily picked by the law or by the deceased in his will. That notwithstanding, there is a fundamental point that must be met, i.e., whoever aspires to succeed another must live long enough to see another dying. In other words, only those who survive the deceased get a piece of the pie. Of course succeeding another is a right and no one has an obligation to take the property or liability of another. If one opts to succeed, however, he/she takes the assets as well as the liabilities. In a patrimony where the credit side (the liability) is higher than the debit side (the assets), there is likely to be less fight over who comes before whom in succeeding the rights and obligations of a dead person. These laws apply to everybody including expatriates and visitors and regulates any legal relationships during their stay in Ethiopia

Commentary : Dear Ethiopia

Discovering a New Identity By Henok Yared Special to Eminence

he gentle sounds of the night swelled. They soon overwhelmed the loud thoughts within my head, as I lay awake on a metal mattress staring up into the darkness. The rowdy beat from the eskista music playing at a nearby bar enlivened the otherwise quiet evening. Yips of a hyena cut sharply through the darkness. The night was calling me. I quietly rose out of the bed I shared with my brother and stepped outside onto the porch. It was one of the first nights I spent in Ethiopia. Looking up into the stars, I breathed in deeply, enjoying the chilly, crisp air of this strangely familiar country. I left the compound, closing the gate behind me, and took to the streets of Kaliti. To my surprise, even though it was the middle of the night, everyone seemed to be out enjoying themselves. Lots of people outside of the bar were discussing, laughing, and drinking. I stepped through a few tires and crossed the street, continuing down the main road. As I continued, the number of people did not lower; people walked together and conversed in front of shops. The city of Addis was alive and did not sleep.

Immediately when I arrived in Addis, as if enchanted by a girl, I fell for the young and beautiful city. It was so vibrant with life. The multitudes of shoppers in Merkato; the busy construction workers dashing between their various projects; the humble priests praying in front of the Holy churches gave Addis a unique charm I had never experienced elsewhere. Interestingly, Addis offered a different perspective for a city in Africa: a beautiful one. The many hills and valleys throughout the city lifted and depressed new office buildings and residential areas; the plethora of equatorial trees decorating the city added splendor to the visage of the African capitol. And while the picture of Addis was captivating, there were as many things to do as there were to see. I would often take the taxis through the city, and walk around different neighborhoods mixing in with the people. Even with all of its construction and traffic, I had grown to love Addis. Ethiopia in 5 weeks: Bete Giorigis, Lalibela

Being the first of my family to be born in America, I was raised as a Habesha in America. However, I had always found it difficult to relate to these differing lifestyles at the same time, leaving me to wonder sometimes who I really was. I was restless as a teenager, and no matter how many friends I accumulated or how popular I was, I never truly felt like I fit in. As I had never been to Ethiopia before, my dad decided it was time I go before I got too busy with college. Our odyssey to Ethiopia was planned to be 5 weeks long: we would spend the first couple of weeks in Addis and then travel north through Bahir Dar, Gondar, Lalibela, Mekelle, Axum as well as many other major cities on the way. And then later, we would go south through Adama awnd then on to Hawassa. Our first stop in Ethiopia, however, would be the capital city.

The Eminence Oct Issue 13

Despite the fact I had grown to become quite enamored with Ethiopia, there were some aspects of it that were challenging to me nonetheless. One day, as I was preparing to leave my grandmaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house to further explore Addis, something had stopped me in my tracks. I saw a young adult about my age cleaning something behind the house. Before I had assumed he was one of the tenants renting part of my grandmaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s land. I saw him dressed in rags, covered up to his chest in mud. With his bare feet, he traveled back and forth in and out of the gate on the rocky path leading into the compound. And like an earthquake a question roared through my consciousness: Why was I not in his place? What fate had predetermined that I would be the lucky one to travel the country and he would be stuck working in the mud? I remember seeing that he was tired and gave him the coke I was about to take on my journey. To my shock, he accepted my gift and gave me a big genuine smile as he cheerfully thanked me. Never before had I seen someone that had so little, but was still so happy.

Ethiopia in 5 weeks: Fasiladas Castle, Gondar; Tsion Mariam, Axum; Bahir Dar

As I continued my travels throughout the country, I began to develop a certain sense of pride in being Ethiopian. I recall visiting Wemezekir (National Archives and Libraries Agency), near the National Bank, planning to spend half the day reading there. I remember being stunned when I found the library was almost completely full with students who seemed to be studying. However, it was summer time and I knew most students should have been on break. In America I had never seen a library so full even during the school year. Even though there was such a stark difference between the rich and the poor in this country, in conversations I had with youth my age, I could see within many of them a great resolve, a determination to improve their status. I also had the great fortune of being able to tour the African Union headquarters. I roamed through the halls staring at the portraits of great men, pride swelling in my chest when I realized how truly instrumental Ethiopia was in the development of the AU. It was as if the longer I stayed in Ethiopia, the more reasons I found to be confident in my heritage. Throughout my journey in Ethiopia, because of the warmth and passion of the people I met and the places I saw, I never once felt out of place in this country. In fact, I was drawn to the land and people. I felt comfortable. Maybe this was because I had always been a minority living among whites and now I was living among my own people. Maybe I felt the way I did about Ethiopia simply because it is in my blood. Whatever the case, Ethiopia to me truly felt like home. And I understood that even though I do not speak Amharic well, I am an Ethiopian. With this newfound identity, I developed new ambitions. I would work harder than I did before, to soon return to Ethiopia to be part of the amazing growth that is happening in this country. I began to envision a new age, where with the aid of returning diaspora, a new generation of leaders in Ethiopia would rise to power, creating a movement of unstoppable change. And these young seeds would find root in their identity as Habesha, and a new flower would bloom once again Henok Yared is an Ethio- American college student who came to visit Ethiopia for the first time this year. He can be reached at henokyrd@gmail.com The Eminence Oct Issue 13

Commentary : Hospitality & Tourism Yibeltal Alemu is a Human Resources Development Manager and former G/Manager of the Addis Ababa Hotel Owners Association, Yibeltal has been engaged in the hospitality sector for the last decade. He can be reached at ya_yibe@yahoo.com

ay by day, remarkable changes are observed in the hospitality sector of Ethiopia. The country is a growing tourist destination, leading many international hotel chains to emerge. Yet like many other sectors, the hotel business is not reaching its full potential due to various shortcomings. These inadequacies can be classified into three major categories: limitations associated with the pre-opening of a hotel, drawbacks during the opening phase of a hotel and the negative aspects after a hotel starts operation. These problems require the collaboration of the following bodies: Hotel Owners Although we cannot generalize, a good number of hotel owners get into the hotel business despite their lack of exposure, educational background, experience or interest, simply because they believe it is PROFITABLE. Most do not even conduct thorough research, or compile a plan before they turn hoteliers. For a majority of them PASSION is not a driving force. Moreover, money concerns namely the compounded interest rate of banks, rushes hotel owners to start operation without finalizing the little details of construction; adequately testing infrastructure and services before hosting customers; and properly and sufficiently training staff members. In short, it takes more than mere ambition and large investment to stand out in the booming hotel business of Ethiopia. A clear vision, lucid mission, and commitment are a must! One way to circumvent the challenge of owners who lack adequate time, keen interest, relevant training, experience, or interpersonal communication skills, is to employ an experienced manager who has all these things.

The Dark Corners of a Hotel Business in Ethiopia

Hotel Professionals Nowadays, it is not unusual to come across hotel professionals that steal items and money from clients, their employers and colleagues; take shortcuts; and shift from one hotel to another in a very short period of time. Undoubtedly, the type and number of hotel professionals that you have can either kill or cure your business. Traits that are critical for hotel professionals include hospitability, politeness and commitment to the vision of the hotel, integrity, self-discipline and obedience. Is the customer always right? ; Being in the hospitality industry requires swallowing your pride and serving everyone equally to the farthest extent possible. Hotel & Tourism Training Institutions When it comes to training institutions in the hospitality sector, it is not the number of students who graduated from the institution in a year that matters, but rather the volume of real professionals who will deliver high quality of service passionately. The education must be interactive, practical and based on internationally accepted and up-to-date standards and materials. Unfortunately this is not the case. Most graduates of these training institutions lack both theoretical and practical knowledge and skills. Even though, they are sent to different hotels for practical training, no one actually follows up if they are seriously attending the trainings. Suppliers Frequently the integrity of hotel suppliers comes into question. Most are observed providing substandard items, which are critical for the hotel such as meat, fish and vegetables. Instead of coming at the specified date and time, they arrive late. They do not respect

the exact specifications given to them and usually deliver the wrong amount, quality or type. They also sometimes mix quality products with expired ones and park and unload items where they are not supposed to. Suppliers should understand that honesty in their dealings profits and benefits them in the long run. Designers/Contractors Generally, the design of a hotel is different from any other office building, shopping center, hospital or mall. A hotel is comprised of distinct units that provide swift service without crossing the path of hotel customers. These From the offices to kitchen, room service staff area and elevator staff members and materials are entirely different. At times, owners of a hotel pick inexperienced and inexpensive designers and contractors to build their hotels far from functionality and convenience. This could be from designers not creating customized jobs to the ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s demand continuing to shift. Other stakeholders such as and Hotels Association and Government bodies Reviewing Hotel Associations abroad would be very beneficial. They are adept at ensuring quality is delivered in their member hotels. Every effort must be expended to organize all hotels in Ethiopia, reduce corruption and bureaucracy amongst government officials, and to mobilize members to deliver outstanding service to customers. In short there is no single magical pill that could cure all the challenges in the hotel industry. A critical review of all stakeholders involved in hotels is essential in coming up with an effective and detailed solution The Eminence Oct Issue 13

The Eminence Oct Issue 13

Commentary : Experiencing Ethiopia

A Paradox of Abandonment and Care

Dorothy Hanson is an American who has lived in Ethiopia for the past 10 years. she is involved with Noble Cause Elder Care and Support, which assists with training, government awareness and skills. She encourages people to join and come on board to assist the beautiful elders who preserve Ethiopia’s culture and heritage. She can be reached at hagodcares@gmail.com

very day she sits by the side of the road near my villa. She is begging. A few small coins appear on the cloth spread before her. Most people ignore her. I say, “Igzehaber yestelign” - may God give you what I cannot- and my companion says, “Never mind, don’t say anything.” She is old, bent and small in frame and demeanor. I wonder if she can see. I raise a silent prayer for her and move on.

Around every church one finds older persons among the disabled- all are begging and many people entering the church compound give what they can. In addition, food is distributed to this collective group of needy people on church holidays. Most of the churches have small rooms on the periphery of the property. I know of more than one that welcomes those who are HIV positive to be housed there.

Another day, workmen are digging along the still shaded unpaved road in front of my house. Water stands in the ditch and the usual path across the ditch is no longer there. I watch as a woman approaches, her feet uncertain, as the ground has changed since yesterday. Calling to the workers, I ask them to help her. Yes, it is the same woman who sits by the road begging. She is feeling with her cane and her feet. Her sight must be very limited. The worker drops his tool and approaches her. She takes his arm and he guides her across the changed area, safely onto the unpaved road. Then, she reaches up to kiss her helper on both cheeks, while grasping his hand in appreciation.

In the city the elderly woman with means is always accompanied by a family member or a servant. Other passengers move so that she is provided a good seat, easily accessible. She is assisted on and off the taxi with care and everyone waits patiently as she takes a little longer to step down onto the road. The poor elderly woman may not have someone with whom she can travel.

He drops to the ground and kisses her feet. The elderly beggar is respected and cared for by the common worker. I am blessed for opening my gate and observing this early morning scene. She continues up the road to her usual spot. She did not see me, she does not know me, but I know her. The elderly beggar who sits by my road everyday was loved, respected and cared for by a stranger early in the morning. This is Ethiopia’s culture towards the elderly. If this is so, then why are so many of Ethiopia’s elderly people living in poverty and abandonment? In the rural areas of Ethiopia, adult children migrate to the city to find work and build a better life. “I’ll be back. I will send you money,” they say. But the elder goes months, even years without hearing from their son or daughter. She feels abandoned and unloved. She continues to live off the land, possibly the very land on which she was born- raising chickens, weaving baskets, herding her neighbor’s livestock and hauling water. Life is hard and very busy, but it is also very lonely and she yearns to get word from her children. Then one day she is heard cursing her son, the one who left first. An elder’s curse is powerful and those who hear her words are afraid for him. One begins to understand why Ethiopia’s rural elders live in poverty – many are abandoned. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church welcomes all needy persons, including the elderly. 38

With careful observation, Ethiopians are watching and they assist – from making sure elders cross a busy intersection safely to finding them the correct taxi. However, one can also observe youths scoffing, ridiculing the elder. This generates cursing from the elder when life is so difficult; it is the behavior that brings out the older person’s fear and hatred. It is expected for an elder to be respected, cared for and loved. That is the culture taught in Ethiopian families, but now when one gets older and is in need of care they are met with laughter anddisrespect! It is intolerable. Ask an elder, “How old are you?” Many don’t know, but they can tell you stories that anchor their birth in the history of Ethiopia. For example, when one says, “I remember the Italians”, this tells you that they are at least 80 years old. When you hear, “My parents told me about the Italians”, then they are in their mid-seventies or younger. So, as you travel about Ethiopia, be observant, look for the elders and listen to what they have to say. They are the storehouses for the history and culture of Ethiopia. Listening also communicates deep respect due to him or her. Whenever you can, join the Ethiopian habit of assisting and caring for them, loving them with a meal or giving a donation of clothing or money. There are also ways one can get involved in assisting the elderly such as getting involved in organizations. International Older Persons Day is celebrated on October 1 – and this year will be the 24th year to be celebrated in Ethiopia. This year’s International theme is “60+ Counts, Sustainability and Age Inclusiveness in the Urban Environment.” The Eminence Oct Issue 13

Johannes Belz

The Eminence Oct Issue 13

credit bttethiopia.com

Sacred Beauty Amidst the Flat Topped Hills

The Eminence Oct Issue 13

Mandarin Page

Debre Damo Monastry 自公元四世纪起，埃塞俄比亚就接受了基督教。埃塞俄比亚皇室的血统可以追溯至所罗门王和希巴女王。海尔塞拉西一世----备受拉斯特法里教崇敬的最后一个皇帝---被认为是王室的第155代。排在第一个的是位处于北国的圣地到阿克苏姆被带回的约柜。德布勒达摩即是埃塞俄比亚遗留的基督教历史中，最为古老的修道院之一。 By Fitsum Berhane Special to Eminence Translated by Jiaqi Xie

德布勒达摩既是一座平顶山、也是一个公元六世纪修道院的名字。山是呈陡状上升的梯形，位于阿迪格拉特西部的提格雷区，埃塞俄比亚的最北部。约有海拔2216米高。德布勒达摩修道院，可以追溯到最早的阿克苏姆时期，据说是埃塞俄比亚现存的最古老教堂。传说，当“九圣人”之一的阿巴阿拉加维浪迹至山脚下时，觉得山上的高原对他来说会是一个居住的好去处。上帝听到了他的心愿，便命令一条住在山顶的蛇下去将这位圣人抬上山。德布勒达摩修道院即建造在圣人阿拉加维在山顶上居住的地方。其他八位圣人都在提格雷区附近有以他们命名的教堂。提格雷区有多达120个以上的岩洞教堂。1966 年，一位名为阿巴约瑟夫的神父读出了清单上所有教堂的名字，震惊了许多人。而在此之前，那里只有两到三个教堂被学者所知。

有人说达摩所在的地方正是一个现实世界中的香格里拉。它遥远和美丽，远离喧嚣扰攘的二十一世纪。天界般的岩屿赐予了人们俯视周围乡间的全景视野。在那里，人们也可以看到数百僧侣居住在那里的平和景象。德布勒达摩保存了埃塞俄比亚最早期的建筑风格。修道院的珍宝中包涵了各类珍贵的文稿，其中就有埃塞俄比亚现存历史最悠久的文本片段。尽管修道院已历经一千四百多年动荡的历史，院中仍然留存下来了约五十本文稿。尽管院中僧侣一直坚称他们拥有不止一千本以上的历史文稿。

另一个珍宝则是修道院梁上错综复杂的雕刻。它们由精美的木板雕成狮子、大象、犀牛、蛇、羚羊、长颈鹿和骆驼。大量的绘画作品也被保留了下来，包括一些对阿巴阿拉加维建立德布勒达摩历经十四世纪后，德布勒达摩修道院经历了一些小小的变动。稀有的游客通常会这些岩石教堂在许多地方不均匀的分布着，约招致来自大祭司的敬意。他们会被护送着欣赏有四分之一的岩石教堂都在提格雷的省会--加德布勒达摩修道院的内部与周边地区，并站在拉尔达。而这些岩石教堂中，有些是以他们的提格雷高地上，领略壮观的全景视野。迄今，石头工艺、古画和旧手稿闻名。有些则是以它大约有六百名僧侣和祭司居住在提格雷高地的们壮丽的风景和极难攀登的高耸而广为人知。一百五十座石屋中。他们的生活基本完全靠着这些身处加拉尔达中心处的壮丽教堂使加拉尔种植本土作物、饲养牲畜和收集雨水自给自达成为了名副其实的岩石教堂之家。足。从阿克苏姆出发，历经四个小时的车程与两个小时的崖路攀登--终于抵达了德布勒达摩修道德布勒达摩的地理位置与其留存的众多完好无院。它位处于提格雷最荒野地区的一个山顶之损的稀世珍宝使得它如此之宏伟壮丽。它已经上。游客腰间系着绳子，然后被一位僧侣从崖成为了一个著名的修道院和埃塞俄比亚东正教顶拉上去。只有男人与雄性动物才能进入修道教堂的教育中心。许多书籍均在那里所写，并院。女人甚至其它雌性动物都不允许踏入修道传递给全埃塞俄比亚其它的教堂。亚丽盖维圣院一步，只能停留在崖底，并在那里祈祷。宴于埃塞俄比亚日历每年十月十四日举办，全国各地对德布勒达摩的朝圣将在那一天达至巅德布勒达摩修道院是如此的独特、令人难忘。峰 The Eminence Oct Issue 13

Entertainement

The Eminence Pick of the Month Movie

Transporter: Refuelled Frank Martin is living a less perilous lifestyle than he had previously, transporting classified packages for questionable people. Things get complicated when femme fatale Anna and her three accomplices orchestrate a bank heist and the kidnapping of Frank’s father. It’s all part of a grand plan to take down the human trafficker who victimized her years earlier. The eminence picks this movie as a movie to see in October enjoy Initial release: September 4, 2015 (USA) Director: Camille Delamarre Film series: The Transporter Film Series Story by: Robert Mark Kamen

Book

Queen of Shadows Queen of shadows is the fourth volume in the New York Times bestselling series Throne of Glass. It continues Celaena’s epic journey and builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world. She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne she will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. Publishing Date: September 1st 2015 Publisher: blooms bury USA Children Page number: The book has hard cover and 648 pages.

The Eminence Oct Issue 13

Magic Eye

www.magiceye.com

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

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

Music

Zeleke Gesese Ayzone Zeleke Gesese released his eagerly awaited album after several years. The majority of the albumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tracks are reggae tunes, but different Ethiopian cultural tunes are also incorporated. Most of the tracks are produced by the famous producer Elias Melka. The lyrics talk about love, patriotism, peace, and unity. The title song, Ayzogn, talks about being courageous and passing through lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s obstacles.

The Eminence Oct Issue 13

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

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

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 Oct Issue 13

Bale Mountains National Park Location: Oromia Region Some of the animals that can be found: Topi, Lelwel Hartebeest, Bustards, Hornbills, Weavers & Starlings Gambella National Park Location: Gambella Region Some of the animals that can be found: Nile Lechwe,White-Eared Kob, Roan Antelope, and Whale-headed Stork Abijatta-Shalla Lakes National Park Location: Oromia Region Some of the animals that can be found: Great White Pelicans and Flamingo Yangudi Rassa National Park Location: Afar Region Some of the animals that can be found: Beisa Oryx, Dorcas gazelle, gerenuk and Gravy’s zebra

International Cuisines in Addis Al Mendi Location: Meskel Flower Specialty: Arabian Restaurants Bombay Brasserie Location: Near Meridian Hotel Specialty: Indian Restaurants Caribo Resturants Location: Sar Bet Specialty: Caribbean and African cuisine Castelli Location: Piassa Specialty: Italian Restaurant Chez Fasil Restaurant and Bar Location: Meskel Flower Specialty: Specialized in Nouvelle & Fusion Cuisine Gati-Thai Restaurant Location: Rwanda Embassy Specialty: Genuine Thai Cuisine German Restaurant Location: Near Japan Embassy Specialty: German food and beer

Police Stations Police Information Federal Police Commission AA Police Commission

991 916 011 157 21 21

Fire Brigade 1st Station Menilik II square 2nd station Addisu Kera 3rd station Mekanisa 4th station Nifas Silk 5th station Akaki 6th station Megenagna 7th station Bole

011 156 70 40 011 466 34 20 011 276 91 46 011 442 55 63 011 434 00 96 011 663 03 73 011 664 85 80

Phone Service Toll Free Information Service Federal Police Commission National Operator Fault Report Dial Up Internet Pre Paid Mobile Service/Bill Inquiry/Lost Mobile Registration/ Number Change Information Broad Band Customer Service PSTN Service Voice Mail Courier Service DHL EMS(Ethiopia) Federal Express TNT Skypok UPS Trans Express Ethiopia UN United Nations Development Program United Nations Children Education Fund United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Banks Abay Bank Addis International Bank Awash International Bank Bank of Abyssina Berhan International Bank Buna International Bank Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) Construction and Business Bank Cooperative Bank of Oromia Dashen Bank Debub Global Bank Development Bank of Ethiopia Enat Bank Lion International Bank Nib International Bank Oromia International Bank United Bank Wegagen Bank Zemen Bank

997 916 998 994 900 994 980 980 908 011 662 16 00 011 515 20 72 011 618 63 83 011 551 41 54 011 662 13 09 011 551 41 54 011 663 35 82 011 518 40 00 011 551 72 00

011 552 88 51 011 557 0502 011 557 00 00 011 551 41 30 011 618 57 32 011 158 08 67 011 122 87 55 011 551 23 00 011 552 27 59 011 467 18 03 011 467 40 87 011 551 11 88 011 550 49 48 011 662 60 00 011 550 32 88 011 557 21 13 011 465 52 22 011 552 38 00 011 550 11 11

Answer for The Magic Eye

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

011 665 04 94 011 156 44 93 011 665 66 66 011 518 18 18 011 551 42 58 011 552 55 41 011 551 56 66 011 663 81 37 011 551 50 76

Hospitals Private Addis Cardiac Hospital Addis Hiwot Hospital Bete Zata Hospital Landmark Hospital Hayat Hospital Kadisco Hospital Public Black Lion (Tikur Anbessa) Hospital

011 663 47 20 011 618 04 49 011 551 41 41 011 552 62 29 011 662 44 88 011 629 89 04

Library Academy of Ethiopian Languages Addis Ababa Municipality Library Alliance Ethio-Française British Council Economic Commission for Africa library German Cultural Institute Italian Cultural Institute J.F Kennedy (A.A.U) National Libraries & Archives

011 551 59 26 011 155 01 11 011 155 02 13 011 155 00 22 011 551 72 00 011 155 28 88 011 111 34 27 011 111 04 33 011 551 62 47

Art Gallery Asni Gallery Ersas Art Studio Goshu Art Gallery Gigi’s Afro Asian Design& Fine Interiors Makush Gallery

011 123 32 44 0913 66 02 30 011 661 03 97 0912 20 43 37 011 552 68 48

Tour and Travel Eminence Social Entrepreneurs Koreb Tour Operators Kibran Tours Plc Rainbow Car Rental and Tour Services

011 823 71 82 011 662 3179 011 662 62 14 011 371 79 40

Online Classifieds 2 Merkato Latest Ethiopian Tenders and Bids BUY AND SELL (Ethiopia) Gulit online market Mekina online car market Kaymu What’s Happening in Addis Ababa? Pharmacy Abader Pharmacy Bata Pharmacy Ethio German Pharmacy

S u d o ku

011 551 12 11

www.facebook.com www.facebook.com www.facebook.com www.2merkato. com/tenders www.gulit.com www.mekina.net 011 662 43 97 011 655 21 34 0911 20 94 88

S o l u t i o n

Rainbow Korean Restaurant Location: Near Japan Embassy Specialty: Korean Restaurant

Some of the Best Coffee Houses Tomoca Coffee Abissiynia Coffee Alem Bunna

The Eminence Oct Issue 13

magiceye.com

Kuriftu Diplomat Restaurant Location: On Boston Building Specialty: “The ultimate global cuisine”

The Eminence Oct Issue 13

To place an advertisement on The Eminence Magazine, please contact us with the following address:

+251- 116-189-591 +251- 118-961-791 contact@eminence-se.com social@eminence-se.com

The Eminence Oct Issue 13

Phone : +251 115 158278 / 507074 Fax : +251 115 151338 / 504948 P.O.Box: 18401, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Address: Kirkos sub-city, woreda 8, in front of Yordanos Hotel. Email: info@enatbanksc.com SWIFT Code: ENATETAA 48

The Eminence Oct Issue 13