Photo Essay - The Ethiopian Millenia - View from Qebena

- Photo Essay - Habesha Millenia - May 27, 2007

The Ethiopian Millennium - View from Qebena

Only three months remain before the much anticipated Ethiopian Millennium on September 12, 2007. Much has been said about the upcoming New Year and Millennia. The government is using the occasion for too much propaganda about the event. The event is declared to be the Millennium of Africa, on the last year meeting of Africa's heads of states in Addis Ababa. A secretariat has been set to coordinate the moment. Two expatriates Ato Seyoum Bereded and Ato Mulugeta (The son of the Ras Asrate-Kasa) were nominated as director and deputy of the event, respectively. It has been almost a year since the secretariat was established; although no meaningful work is accomplished yet. Many are saying the secretariat is "teeth-less lion" - talks too much but nothing practical is done yet. Almost everyday, the Ethiopian state media continues to spread propaganda about the Millennium. The secretariat is planning the celebration to be spread out over the year 2000. A huge number of Ethiopians and non-Ethiopians are expected to come. Estimated numbers for the guests has now jumped to 700,000 (between September and December 07). There is a rumor that the Ethiopian Airlines is already booked especially around September and January. The issue of Hotels and hostels has become a huge business news in the media by the public and tour operators. There aren't enough rooms for this many people - as everyone knows. It is always very difficult to look for room, when there is a big meeting like the AU heads of state in Addis, let alone with this expected big crowed. The new Addis Ababa city administration is considering the use of some of the finished condominium houses for rental. Others are saying many of the people who will come are Ethiopians and every one will go to their relatives home leaving the hotels free for foreigners. Even the Prime Minister has asked the people to show respect for guests by leaving hotel rooms for foreigners.

The reaction from the public is mixed. Almost every Ethiopian is interested in the event but for most people, it is like appeasement to celebrate in the current condition with EPRDF. Many peple want - and even have officially asked for - the release of CUD leaders in order to make the celebration inclusive of all the people. Nothing is coming out from the government side sofar and the secretariat is saying politics is beyond its mandate. This is deterring many from being part of the process and even some are becoming against it. In a recent meeting regarding the Millennium, a known journalist and social worker was quoted as saying "why not these guys let our leaders free and make us active participants of this amazing event? It is like a coup-d'etat to be part of the event with CUD leaders in the jail. Therefore, a considerable portion of the people are either neutral or inactive observants of the event.

On the other hand, a lot is going on in the city. The Addis Ababa administration is trying to repair old roads and roadsides. Many new roads are being constructed; many of the old buildings are being painted, particularly at Piassa, Arat Kilo and Merkato. A student at the Indian Community School was overheard commenting "Don't this people know any other color except green and purple; it is so boring to look every thing in green and purple all of a sudden from the class room". Many are saying that the millennium has nothing to do with the government. A number of young adults are planning to get married or to give a birth on the millennium. Surprisingly many big hotels are already booked for marriage parties for the Millenia. A typical example is Global hotel. All weekends in April and May are booked for marriage parties.

Some are planning to make use of the business opportunities. A number of hotels and hostels are being constructed. Many buildings, business and restaurants are named in relation to the Millennium. A large poster advertising "Millennium Carnival at MicroLink College" was recently put up. The Sheraton hotel had put up a big digital watch that counts down up to the Millennium. Ato Abisolom yehedego (an Ethiopian of Eritrea origin) owner of Keste Demena sponge factory has used the last patriots day celebration by producing big and even some funny posters about the Millennium.

There are also a number of non-profit works being planned by the secretariat and the public such as building of schools, parks and an initiative like "One book to home" - books to be collected at the airport from returnees and to form a library and distribute the rest books to colleges. Then other most important event advocated by the secretariat is "planting two indigenous seedlings by the millennium". This will help to fight the amazing desertification in the country. Following this call activities have started. A good example is a youth club called "TENA KEBENA" at Agoza sefer and Kazanchis which is one of the dirtiest and most polluted corners of Addis. They plan to clean the village and plant indigenous threes. The occasion was amazing as it brought together people from different background and age groups. The old man (President Girma) is shown on the left planting a tree.

We hope to celebrate the once-in-life-time Millenia with lots of enthusiasm; but guilt, anger and regret about our imprisoned Kinijt leaders in Akaki continue to overshadow the planned event.

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