FORTUNE+ VIDEO SPONSORED CONTENTS ADVERTORIALS FORTUNE AUDIO Fortune Careers TRADE AFRICA Election 2026 New TIME REMAINING UNTIL ETHIOPIA’S NATIONAL ELECTION 0Days 0Hours 0Minutes 0Seconds



CULTURAL ECHOES


CULTURAL ECHOES

A minibus at the Stadium Taxi terminal carries a stack of leather‑skinned drums bound for holiday celebrations. Carved by hands that honour generations, the kebero’s deep rumble evokes joyous moments and ancient rhythms. Its voice, like laughter among friends, seems to make the earth itself tremble in celebration. Together, these drums speak a language older than words—a living rhythm that unites community and memory, inviting every footstep, every heartbeat, into the timeless circle of Ethiopian song. During Easter and other festivals, hides from cattle, sheep or goats are crafted swiftly into kebero and atsado drums, ensuring the plains and highlands alike resound with their living pulse.

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In-Picture

BOTTLE MOUNTAIN

A mountain of plastic takes a pit stop. As the sweeps during the day in Addis Abeba, an Isuzu truck loaded with tightly bundled sacks of discarded plastic bottles rolls through a fuel station, carrying the leftovers of a city's daily consumption on its back. The towering cargo, tied together like an oversized puzzle of waste, pauses between pumps and traffic as commuters move around it. In a scene where fuel powers journeys and plastic tells a story of what those journeys leave behind, the truck...


In-Picture

DANCING COLOURS

Under the bright Addis Abeba sun, a burst of colour, rhythm and tradition takes centre stage. Dressed in vibrant cultural attire, performers bring movement and music together at the new Addis Abeba City Administration Theatre Houses Enterprise Children and Youth Theatre in Flamingo, on Africa Avenue, transforming an ordinary public space into a lively showcase of heritage. With shields raised, feathers swaying and traditional steps echoing through the crowd, the scene feels like a conversation b...


In-Picture

SCULPTED MEMORY

Under grey skies, in front of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), inside Addis Abeba Park along Menelik II Avenue, stands a striking tribute to the late Hachalu Hundessa. Mounted on horseback, the statue captures the singer and activist in a symbolic pose, holding a microphone, shield and spear, a blend of artistry, courage and memory. Surrounded by lush greenery and quiet pathways, the monument feels less like a silent figure of stone and more like a storyteller, carrying melodies, strugg...