Crisis of climate, land use underlies Ethiopia’s drought

Chris Herlinger, a New York-based freelance journalist, reports frequently on humanitarian issues. He was recently on assignment in Ethiopia and after a visit to Adigrat, a town in northern Tigray that borders Eritrea, he wrote about how crisis of climate, land use is underlining Ethiopia’s drought problem. “It is a place where forests once thrived but where rain is now scarce. It rained only five days here from June to August, a third of the usual amount, and the land resembles the desert border areas between Mexico and Arizona,” he says in his apparently well informed article, whose full text that I am taking the liberty to publish here.

It says a lot about Tigray that people can’t legally cross the border with Eritrea but cattle can. “It is a chain of disaster,” Fr. Teum Berhe Danne mused one morning recently about life in this northern province that borders Eritrea — a locale that almost seems to define the word hardscrabble.

Art exhibition at German House

An emerging Canadian photographer, Salima Punjani, came up with twenty seven engaging body of work, most of them taken at Addis Ababa’s Merkato market. Objects and people in the market seem to be her preoccupation, and her vivacious picture of chaos at Menalesh Tera sparks this show.” I started focusing on photography as a primary medium when I first visited Merkato in Addis Ababa,” she wrote in a flyer describing her works. “Each object, person and process involved in the market is reflective of struggle, symbiosis and perseverance. I couldn’t stop taking photographs after being exposed to such aesthetically beautiful and meaningful interactions,” she says.
Though some of the works look a little too easy, most of Salima’s photographs are clean, cool and immensely appealing. The complete range of her activity is laid out in wonderful rooms of German House four-floor galleries, in an exhibition that will run from December 8th until January 20th 2012.

Going on a photo road trip

A presentation on photography and writing craft was hosted by the Museum of Modern Art of Addis Ababa yesterday,December 6, 2011. Displaying snaps they have taken during road trip in four sub-Saharan African countries, different photographers explained about the collection that they said were able to capture ordinary people going about their daily lives in the street.The 12 photographers (ten from Nigeria and the other three from Ghana, Sudan and Ethiopia) traveled about 12 000 km from Lagos to Addis Ababa to record, document and share visual imagery that reflects contemporary African life.Each shared wonderful stories about his photographing and what he hoped to share with spectators.

The Arc of Covenant on the move?

A British newspaper says a problem of a leaky church roof could be about to give the world the chance to glimpse the legendary Ark of the Covenant.
That’s because the claimed home of the iconic relic – a small chapel in Axum – has sprung a leak and so the Ark could now be on the move, Daily Mail wrote.
The Ark is a sacred container written of in the Old Testament. It is said to contain the original Ten Commandments tablets, as well as some manna, the mythical food that the Israelites ate while wandering through the desert.
It was made of wood, but covered in pure gold. On top, two cherubim faced each other, their wings outspread to form the “throne of God”. It’s supposed weight has been widely debated, with numbers ranging from 180 to 8,000 pounds!
Theologians have never been able to agree on the Ark’s fate, but many believe Menelik I brought it to Ethiopia. Menelik was the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, and was the first Jewish emperor of Ethiopia.

Quiet and secluded, Aregash Lodge offers luxury

The last decade has seen a number of exciting new lodges make their debuts in different parts of Ethiopia. Though not yet numerous, the new breed of country hotels and lodges are every bit as polished as their chic urban counterparts. The eco-friendly lodges have the added advantage of protecting the heritage and culture of the land whilst at the same time increasing in a small way, knowledge and understanding of this country. In a series of posts, Addis Journal will feature ten unique spots that are spread out in every direction from the capital. The lodges are chosen for their spectacular locations, outstanding guest amenities and commitment to conservation.

Located in the outskirts of Yirga Alem town, midway between Awasa and Dila, Aregash Lodge is by far the most attractive of those lodges. Situated in 11 acres of land, the bold and beautiful house deep in the wood is inspiring of awe in the true meaning of that word: a feeling of solemn wonder. 317 kms away from Addis, it is only three hours drive.

The sad story of our films

A graduate of Theatre Arts at the Addis Ababa University, Aron Yeshitila wrote two stage plays and three screenplays. He received an award as best screenwriter at the 3rd Ethiopian International Film Festival in 2008, for the film he wrote and produced MIZEWOCHU (The Best Men), for which he received outstanding reviews. Aron has worked as a journalist and editor for several weekly newspapers in Ethiopia, including Addis Fortune. In 2010, he contributed an article for a book entitled Theater in Sub-Saharan Africa, published in Germany. In this contribution to Addis Journal, the young film maker laments about the poignant story of the nascent film making in Ethiopia, how an excessive tax of the state is making it difficult for the film makers to get financial return and how this all is affecting the quality of the film production.

Few months ago I received a phone call from a friend who just released a new film. He had to wait for six months before his turn was due to screen his movie at cinemas in Addis Ababa.
“Hi John, how is the movie going at Ambassador Cinema?” I asked.
“Good we are getting 900 to thousand people in a day.” I could feel his high spirit.
“Wow! Congrats that is it. You hit it finally” I said.
“Yes, but we are expecting more because . . . you know . . . this is not a lot”, this time with a slight concern in his voice. It is a feeling that I sympathize with.

Messay Kebede’s book receives critical acclaim

A new book by the renowned Ethiopian professor and author Messay Kebede dissecting the Ethiopian revolution has been met with great acclaim, University of Dayton’s website wrote.
Ideology and Elite Conflicts: Autopsy of the Ethiopian Revolution is the best and most thorough analysis of the causes and implications of the Ethiopian Revolution to date, Theodore M. Vestal, professor emeritus of political science at Oklahoma State University, is quoted as saying on the website.
“Messay Kebede has written an enormously important book. He definitively places the Ethiopian revolution as one of the 20th century’s ‘great revolutions,’ on par with the Russian or Chinese in terms of scope of transformation,” said Terrence Lyons, co-director of the Center for Global Studies at George Mason University.

New reggae music preaches African unity

“Chiggae” is the debut Amharic language album from Hailemichael Getnet, better known by his stage name as Haile Roots. The 31-year-old singer came up with a display of real roots, showcasing compelling, melodic riffs and interesting lyrics. The 13-track album, arranged and composed by Elias Melka, takes you on a journey of love, righteousness, empowerment, and is filled with rhythms that blend perfectly with his incredible voice.
Haile first came to attention years ago when he was featured in Teddy Afro’s ‘Bob Marely’ and he later released a single track tilted ‘Yes I’ that he played live at Juvents Club and Millennium Hall. That single track is included in the newest album under a different title, Ethiopia.

Sultan to be crowned in Afar

Hanfare Ali mirah

A ceremony to celebrate a new sultan’s accession to the throne will be held in Afar Region in a week’s time. Hanfareh Ali Mirah will succeed his late father, Sultan Ali Mirah as the spiritual chief of the Afars. The new sultan will be crowned at an outdoor coronation ceremony to be held in Asayta, capital of the Afar region on November 10, 2011.
Both spiritual and traditional leader to the two million Afar people who live in a triangle shape region between Eritrea, Ethiopia and Djibouti, the sultan will assume important responsibilities at both regional and national levels, Aramis Houmed, advisor to the new sultan, told Addis Journal. The move follows the death last April of Sultan Ali Mirah.Aramis said the appointment will make the process of succession smoother and more orderly.While traditional leaders hold few constitutional powers, they continue to exert significant influence, the advisor said.They are seen as custodians of both religion and tradition.

Paintings capture movement & color

Amare Selfu, an accomplished artist and art instructor, has been working and teaching at the Addis Ababa University’s School of Fine Arts since the past six years. He is being featured in an exhibition at National Museum of Ethiopia from October 6 to October 12. The exhibition titled En Gulf offers a varied selection of vibrant, color-drenched works, capturing the nuances of social interaction, urban life and landscapes. Amare’s paintings, an impressionist artist, captures movement, color, passion and produces an immediate emotional reaction.