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 Unlike
its thriving neighboring city in the north, Gondar - the seat of 44 churches
and a capital of illustrious kings like Fasiledes and Bakaff - this town
further south seems to have been forgotten by History. However, it was once
the capital of the legendary Emperor Theodros who shunned Gondar for most
of his rule. The town has also seen more than its share of battles such
as between Ras Ali II and Dejach Wube, Birru Aligaz and Dejach Wube as well
as the recent civil war between the Dergue and EPRDF. What
is the name of this town 50 kilometers from the shores of Lake Tana?
Answers
to Spotlight.
These
two battles of the late 80s between the Dergue and its opponents symbolize
the largest and most devastating military defeats any Ethiopian government
had experienced in its history. The first one occured shortly after Colonel
Mengistu had the legendary General Tariku Ayene, the commander of the Nadew
Command demoted and executed. The second one occured in Western Tigray where
the 3rd revolutionary army was completely annihilated paving the way for
the TPLF to capture the whole of Tigray and then the rest of the country.
What
are the names of these two battles?
Answers
to Spotlight.
 Perhaps,
one of the most ambitious developmental plans in Ethiopia's History, the
original Tana Beles project was launched in 1987. Salini Construction company
and Studio Pietrangeli who had worked on projects such as the Legedadi dam
and now Gilgel Gibe I, II and III were tasked to build an agro-industrial
complex complete with a new airport, hospital, and residential units to
as many as 45,000 settlers. The original project was abandoned when EPRP
kidnapped some of the Italian engineers in 1987. Now re-launched as part
of the Tana Beles dam project, the integrated project is planned to provide
irrigation water for thousands of hectares of land. Which specific part
of Ethiopia is this project located and what is the name of the indigenous
people who inhabit this area? Answers
to Spotlight.
One finds a good number of words of foreign origin in modern Amharic, Tigrigna and Oromignna languages. E-mail us the answers if you can guess the origin of the following words: Kofia, Coolie, Qemis (kemis), shemeez, nehas, gumruk, nefs, shanTa, feres, mehandis, qumar (kumar), Tirs (tooth), and dem (blood). Answers to Spotlight.  Born
in 1926 in Ankober-Shoa, he is, perhaps, among the most seasoned and consummate
professionals in the Ethiopian civil service with most of his career spent
in the banking sector. Imprisoned by the brutal Dergue between 1976-1981,
he recently wrote two outstanding books; one a prison diary and the other
a treatise on the tumultuous years of 20th century Ethiopia. An entry on
his book "A Tripping Stone" reads "...I was allowed to see
my family members at the office for a brief moment today, in the presence
of the prison staff. Mother, my cousins Woinshet Habte Michael, and Assegedetch
Mamo and Maaza came. For a moment we were speechless taking in our physical
appearance to see how much we had all changed." Who is this extraordinary
person, the country and its people are yet to honor with the distinction
he and his family deserve? Answers
to Spotlight.
 Made
from stone masonry in the 1920s by one Professor Papadopoulos of Greece
who was invited by Emperor Menelik to teach in Addis Ababa at around the
turn of the 20th century, this magnificent building is located by the Belay
Zeleke road. The building now houses a well-known hotel. What is the name
of this hotel which - incidentally or purposely - sits across the Gojjam
Hotel? Answers to Spotlight.
 Overlooking
the country's most overpolulated region, Welayta - Sodo & Alaba Koliti
area, this mountain stands at an imposing 4000 meters above sea level. Due
to pressure from poulation growth, this mountain has been ploughed in almost
all direction. What is the name of this mountain that is considered the
ancestral homeland of the colorful Welayta-Sodo people of Ethiopia? Answers
to Spotlight.
Born
in the Debre Tabor region of Gondar province from a very modest background,
this Colonel of the Imperial Body Guard of the 1950s rose to prominence
in the pre-1960 coup attempt era. A favorite of the Emperor who personally
groomed him to the top security position in the country, his life came
to a tragic end with his involvement in the 1960 military coup attempt.
The Emperor is widely quoted to have expressed shock that this Colonel
was among the coup plotters. Who is this intriguing Colonel? Answers
to Spotlight.
 This
engineer who rose to become one of the most effective and beloved mayors
of Addis Ababa was also the first Ethiopian engineer with a doctorate degree.
His contribution to the country include his role in the construction of
Koka dam, Gode airport, Assab Refinery, Gode bridge across Wabe Shebelle
river, Awash Tendaho road, Jima-Agaro road, Bedele-Metu road, Legedadi dam,
and tens of other projects. Imprisoned by the Fascist Dergue in 1974 for
8 years and later released, he is now survived by his equally dynamic and
talented wife Sister Jember Teferra (now Dr. Jember). Who was this extraordinary
unforgettable Ethiopian? Answers to Spotlight.
 Rising
almost 2400 meters (7800 ft) above the floor of the southern Main Ethiopian
Rift (MER) - also known as the Great Rift Valley - this mountain chain provides
a rich water catchment area. The runoff from this mountain chain eventually
goes to the Arba Minch aquifers which feed the famous '40 springs' that
have lent their name to the city of Arba Minch. What is the name of this
mountain chain whose north side is inhabited by the Dorze people?
Answers
to Spotlight.
 There
are at least three ways of getting to the beautiful and rich city of Jimma
from Addis Ababa. The well-known and short road involves crossing the old
Gilgel Gibe bridge which recently collapsed. The repair is not expected
to be completed till November 07. The second and less-travelled road was
built over the last 20 years and involves a trip through the Rift Valley.
The third one is the one currently being used and follows a westerly direction
only to branch at this city now famous for its great beer. Do you know which
cities these two major road cross?
Answers
to Spotlight.
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In a timely article, Professor Negussay discusses how Ethiopia came to being occupied by Meles' TPLF and Issayas' EPLF in the past 17 years. Professor Negussay Ayele, a long time contributor to Ethiopians.com, traces the roots of these two groups and their continued undermining of the Ethiopian state. He further investiagtes the role of the Ethiopian military implosion under Col. Mengistu as a major contributor towards the military occupation of Ethiopia by these two entities. Article here. August 12, 2008. Dr.
Gedion Getahun discusses tranparency and corruption in an article entitled
"Tranparaency International and Worldwide Corruption".
Article here. March 08.
 "How
would Nelson Mandela have dealt with the Shimagles? asks Professor Solomon
Terfa challenging the Shimagles who negotiated with Meles for the release
of the Kinijit leadership. Article
here. August 8, 2007.
Response to Ato Ephrem Madebo - August 07. Pofessor Solomon writes about the issues of sovereignty and democracy (November 2007). Against the backdrop of the recent statements by Ato Sebhat Nega of TPLF reminding Ethiopians that TPLF remains more committed to Eritrea's sesession than even EPLF and Mr. Meles' continued obsession of anti-Ethiopian sentiments, Professor Negussay writes a powerful article on "On the Identity of PM Meles Zenawi and His TPLF Regime in Ethiopia". Article here. June 30, 2007. For the third time in less than 18 months - in response to popular demand - we re-publish the article written by Professor Solomon Terfa challenging PM Meles' stand on Ethiopia-Eritrea relationships. The professor writes, "In conclusion, I would say that the Prime Minister knows that it is inevitable that Badme will be incorporated into Eritrea. The question then becomes: why is he posturing? Because he wants to save himself from the wrath of the people of Tigray who will be outraged by his decision. It would be insane for the world to let this man start another cataclysmic war just to retain his power. What he should do is explain to the people of Tigray why he has decided to let Badme go and convince them why it is in their best interest as well as the interest of humanity that they should accept his explanation." Full article here. Re-published - June 19, 07.  Controversy
is not new for us here at MediaET's Photo Essay Team. As we sat down for
an editorial meeting for this week's story on the upcoming Ethiopian Millenia
celebrations, some of our members complained that the stories they do in
Ethiopia are sometimes repackaged by the US-based team resulting in editions
that come across as too critical. Of course, the US-based team argued that
is not the case and insisted that it is their mission to say things as they
are. The people who write the check finally prevailed and suggested that
the Addis Team tell the story as they see it. "No spice, no awaze,
no qbe, no curry - but plain vanilla," quipped the US team. Photo
Essay here. May 27, 07.
 Our
Photo Essay Team returns with a story on the housing boom in Addis Ababa
fueled by - they muse - 'well
to do (we are not sure about that) Ethiopian expatriates, various type of
shady people who have made money in the EPRDF-era, political appointees
and cronies' and - we add - hard working Addis Ababans. We know this edition
will earn them - as usual - some admirers as well as detractors; but their
contract with MediaET ties our hands. Article
here. April 1, 2007.
 "...More
to the point, Meles has always cared more about Eritrea than about Tigray
or Ethiopia and Ethiopian causes and in reality, if not in rhetoric, he
still does today", writes Professor Negussay Ayele, a long time contributor
to Ethiopians.com. Article
here. March 20, 2007.
 In
an upcoming photoessay issue, we cover the story of mushrooming private
colleges and universities in Ethiopia's major cities. Population explosion
coupled with high urban unemployment (estimated as much as 25-30% among
25-35 year olds) and lack of economic opportunities among the vast majority
of city dwellers have produced a dangerous mood, particularly among the
young. Those who can afford tuition are increasingly attracted to 2 and
4 year diploma and degree programs to be competitive. More Photoessay Click here. |
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"Maybe,
it is the realization of this fact by the current government and its race
against time or else the confluence of multitude of dramatic historical
forces arrayed to have a say in the country's future, that the most significant
and least understood event in the country today is the expansion of higher
education." write our Photo Essay Team as we prepare for the Ethiopian
Millenium. 
"...We
all know that Meles takes a personal interest in Internet. For example,
broadband is down after 10:00 PM as the Prime Minister surfs the Internet,
posting articles (with weird pen names like Kebede, Mengew, etc), doing
his doctoral research, and chatting with Jeffrey Sachs at Columbia on
Google Talk. The bald man is not happy that the Tech Park will gobble
up boardband 24/7,"
comments a member of our Photo Essay team in an uncensored piece explaining
why the long rumored Technology Park still remains illusive.