A Rare Moment

In the middle is Tekeda Alemu (PhD), a committed technocrat who recently retired after serving the foreign office during the successive regimes; to the left is Fesseha Desta (Col.), a founding member of the Dergue; Hassan Moalin from the ONLF; and, Abebe Teklehaimanot (Maj. Gen.), a.k.a Jabie, former TPLF fighter. To the far left is Hallelujah Lulie, an acting director of the Institute for Strategic Affairs, the organizer of the seminar.


A Rare Moment

A rare and one of a kind moment took place at the Sheraton Addis, where individuals with diverse and contested backgrounds gathered today, November 28, 2019. They claimed the front row at a seminar organized to revisit the legacy of Walelegn Mekonnen, one of the student movement leaders who authored a political essay that arguably defined the course of history in Ethiopia whereby Emperor Hailesellasie was deposed. His grandson, Be'edemariam Mekonnen (Prince) was seated between Lencho Letta, the founder of the OLF, and Gebru Tarekegn, a professor emeritus and former activist of the underground movement, the EPRP. In the middle is Tekeda Alemu (PhD), a committed technocrat who recently retired after serving the foreign office during the successive regimes; to the left is Fesseha Desta (Col.), a founding member of the Dergue; Hassan Moalin from the ONLF; and, Abebe Teklehaimanot (Maj. Gen.), aka Jabie, a former TPLF fighter. To the far left is Hallelujah Lulie, an acting director of the Institute for Strategic Affairs, the organizer of the seminar.

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In-Picture

WHEELING HUSTLE

Multitasking at its finest unfolds on the streets of Adey Abeba, where a man navigates his way in a sleek, electric-wired wheelchair. But his ride is more than a mode of transport, it doubles as a mobile vending station. As he glides past pedestrians, his chair displays an array of goods, offering snacks, plastic bags, and small essentials to those on the move. Morning commuters stop briefly, intrigued by this unusual blend of mobility and enterprise, while others pass by with wide-eyed curiosit...


In-Picture

SECOND SPIN

Worn-out tyres roll back and forth through Mercato, steered by grease-stained hands of mechanics in faded overalls. Some will soon stand as makeshift signposts announcing a repair shop open for business; others will find new lives as flower pots, stools, or playthings in alleyways. In this market, the largest open market in Africa, nothing truly retires, everything gets a second spin...


In-Picture

SOLE REST

A well-earned day off for shoes that have walked more miles than most of us dare to dream. On the sidewalks of the Bethel neighborhood, sneakers line up to dry while the shoeshine trades polish for gossip, stitch up tired soles, and sneak in a chat with friends, because even shoes need a social life. The air hums with laughter and wax mingling, and the occasional clink of a shoeshine brush hitting a tin of polish. For a few hours, the streets are a quiet hub of camaraderie, creativity, and the u...