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Jul 5 , 2025 . By Peter Singer

Are We Responsible for Our Choices?

Since ancient times, thinkers have pondered whether we freely choose our actions or if they are determined by forces beyond our control. That debate has been given new impetus by scientific discoveries that have advanced our understanding of the causes of our behaviour. Robert Sapolsky, a Stanford U...

Jun 21 , 2025 . By BEREKET BALCHA

Matters of Manners

As we walked down the road from Mexico (then Maychew Square) to AU (then OAU), the four of us munched on what we called Nechu Qolo, properly called Shimbra Dube, bought from Mebrat Hayl recreation center. Thousands queued in the Bingo hall there, eyes glued to cards as winning numbers were called. Vendors selling qolo, chewing gum, and lewz (peanuts) swarmed the gates, catering to the players. A familiar argument erupted among us over whether to take our "wuyiyit" taxi or spend the transport money on the delicious snack. My classmate Binyam Bisrat and I always voted for the snack. My younge...


Jun 14 , 2025 . By BEREKET BALCHA

A Tea Leaf's Journey to Self-Reliance

At a weekend bazaar hosted at the Zobras Olympiakos Greek Club, I stumbled upon a Frenchman with a ponytail and fluent Amharic. He ran a stall offering herbal tea, wild honey, and artisanal organic products. Among his samples was a selection of cheeses with a pleasant, authentic taste. But the real standout was a specialty tea made from lemon verbena, a plant prized for its use in herbal infusions, essential oils, and natural remedies. The plant's medicinal benefits are widely recognised, but for me, its most alluring feature was its rich, aromatic fragrance. I bought about 200 grams of dri...


Jun 7 , 2025 . By BEREKET BALCHA

Saving A Thousand Mathiwoses

I was barely 18 in 1994 and just beginning my freshman year at Addis Abeba University when a friend asked me to accompany her on an errand to the nearby St. Mary Cathedral. The seat of the Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate, this church is to Ethiopia what San Pietro is to the Vatican, a spiritual and historical anchor. That was the only time I entered its sacred grounds, with its towering old trees, austere architecture, and the quiet weight of decades of devotion. As my friend prayed, I sat on a garden bench, surrounded by the cool shade and the scent of flowers and incense. The warm evenin...

View From Arada

Jun 28 , 2025

Healing Rivers Spurs City to Bend Growth Around Its Restored Spine

Over the course of several months of regular site visits, I have watched Addis Abeba's rivers transform from refuse-choked channels to polished corridors of urban life. The transformation, driven by t...

May 31 , 2025

Facing the Mirror in Turmoil, Change the World

A recent BBC documentary spotlighted a familiar face in war-torn Port Sudan—a city now bearing the scars of a protracted civil war. It was Husam Abdulsalam, a violinist I had come to know from his s...

May 24 , 2025

Animals Need A Better World Too

A three-legged cat loiters at the gates of the Louvre, not the Parisian Museum, but a high-end French restaurant in Addis Abeba where I have had the privilege to dine on several occasions. The sight i...

May 17 , 2025

Moonlight in Zoma

A leisurely Sunday afternoon at a coffee shop near Mekanisa Abo Mazoria turned into a spontaneous adventure. Over coffee, my friend mentioned a nearby park often described as a nature lover's paradis...

May 10 , 2025

Out of Addis, Digital Dreams Rise

Two years ago, to the day, a Joy Hack event organised by iceAddis brought together young coders in a creative sprint to design computer games and draft accompanying articles. Held over three days on t...

May 3 , 2025

Eternal Echoes and Living Legends ALEMTSEHAY WODAJO

A haunting painting of St. George at the Armenian Church by Selam Amsalu lured me toward an unlikely exploration. I had never stepped foot inside the Teferi Mekonnen School of Fine Arts, but Selam's w...

Apr 26 , 2025

The Ararat Connection

You don't need to travel to Old Jerusalem to know that its quarters are clearly marked: Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Armenian. The last, while Christian, stands apart: home to the Armenian Apostolic...

Apr 20 , 2025

Addis's Easter Art Bonanza

Passing through the grand foyer of the Sheraton Addis, I expected “The Art of Ethiopia” to be a premium event. But what I saw exceeded all expectations. Hundreds of people, mostly young, swarmed t...

Apr 13 , 2025

Fast and Furious on a Bumpy Road

Once in a while, even the most efficient services falter. That's what happened the day my host in the small German city of Heilbronn accompanied me to the train station for my trip to Frankfurt. With...

Apr 6 , 2025

A Tale of Two Cities Addis and Dire

A 90's music clip kicks off with a fast-paced electronic beat, instantly taking you to a nightclub. Berhanu Tezera - one-half of the legendary duo Lafonte - delivers the opening lyrics with his signat...

Mar 30 , 2025

Mary Armede Done That, Seen It All

A small café near the Vatican Embassy (Apostolic Nunciature) at the turn of the millennium takes me back to my carefree university days. It was my favorite retreat during school breaks, a place where...

Mar 23 , 2025

Sweat, Smiles, and Saddle Sores A Change in Perspective

When I received my newly prescribed reading glasses, I was intrigued by their dual function. The lenses were segmented: the upper half for reading, while the lower half protected against UV rays and s...

Mar 16 , 2025

Celebrating GebreKristos Desta

My first encounter with GebreKristos Desta's work was through his poem Yemejemeriaw Ken (The First Day). The verse brief and direct, rapidly escalates toward the climax of the story. In fewer than hal...

Mar 9 , 2025

Farewell to An Oriental Culinary Gem

When I was savouring my favourite dish at the China Bar and Restaurant, Assorted Noodles and Beef Sizzling, I did not realize it would be my last meal in a place I had frequented for close to 15 years...

Mar 2 , 2025

Push the Edge, Grasp the Dream

Sometimes, the unexpected happens when daily routine is disrupted for no clear reason. That was my experience one morning in February 2025. I had gone to bed late, as I often do when something lingers...

Feb 23 , 2025

Treating Passwords Like Toothbrush, Virtual Schemes Endanger Unsuspecting Public

I spent a quiet Saturday afternoon at one of my favourite hideaways, La Patisserie Cafe, known for its excellent pastries and coffee. While my car was being washed, I enjoyed a slice of cake and a cup...


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Civil Society Feels the Squeeze as Reform Era Unravels

Six years ago, Ethiopia was the darling of international liberal commentators. A year earl...

Editorial | Jul 5 , 2025

Apparel Market Struggles Beneath a Second-Hand Deluge

Each June, Addis Abeba's high-altitude chill arrives with afternoon downpours, soaking sch...

Featured | Jul 6 , 2025 . By RUTH BERHANU

When Pepper Burns the Purse

The late-morning sun cuts through Addis Abeba's usual haze and lands on Haile Garment, an...

Agenda | Jul 6 , 2025 . By YITBAREK GETACHEW

Unity at the Budget Vote Tensions at Question Time

The federal legislature gave Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) what he wanted: a 1.9 trillio...

Fortune News | Jul 6 , 2025 . By BEZAWIT HULUAGER