SCRUFFY SCRATCHES


SCRUFFY SCRATCHES

Construction workers are hard at work around the Welo Sefer area with street artwork in the background. It requires a permit from the Addis Abeba Arts, Culture & Tourism Bureau, which has welcomed the crafty offerings. What used to be stereotyped as a pastime for idle youth has become a staple feature of the urban contemporary landscape. This contrasts the sweeping crackdown on outdoor advertising as part of a new batch of reforms introducing zonal aesthetic standards. A massive campaign implemented by the Code Enforcement Authority last year removed thousands of advertisement posts across the city aspiring for digital display boards.  


In-Picture

BOOK NOOK

A recessed section of the wall of Prosperity Party's HQ building is just the place for an outdoor bookstall in the vicinity of Arat Kilo roundabout, on Queen Elizabeth St. Arat Kilo is famous for its confluence of administrative, religious, and educational centres. With Brehanena Selam Printing Press also nearby, newspaper and books sales were naturally drawn to the area. This seller captures a unique way of displaying and selling printed material in an outdoor setting, though rain would be a ca...


In-Picture

LION'S LAIR

One of Addis Abeba's emblems, the distinctive lion statue looks towards the 53-storey tall Commercial Bank of Ethiopia HQ building, juxtaposing heritage and contemporary architecture. The black stone monument, sculpted by French artist Maurice Calka, commemorated the Silver Jubilee of Emperor Haile Selassie in 1955 and sits adjacent to the National Theatre, formerly Haile Selassie I Theatre. CBE's HQ, costing 304 million dollars, is the tallest in East Africa at 209 metres. It has joined the l...


In-Picture

GLASS GLEAMERS

A long pole is used to clean the exterior windows of Best Western Plus Pearl on Cameroon St in the Bole Brass neighbourhood. The adjacent road is currently under corridor development project and would suffer from heavy dust, adding burden to the gentleman's work. Three Best Western hotels are conveniently located within five kilometres of each other in Addis Abeba. The Best Western Plus is situated near Edna Mall roundabout, while the Best Western Premier Dynasty is found in Wello Sefer, across...