Holiday Bazzars Reveal a City Split by Price, Policy, and Public Mood
At the heart of the city, the Zemen Gebeya New Year bazaar inside the Exhibition Hall behind Meskel Square was ready for the season. From the outside, strings of bright lights wrapped the venue, music spilt onto the street, and eager shoppers shuffled toward the gates, each paying a 200 Br entrance fee before stepping into the bustle within.
On first glance, the bazaar had all the trappings of a holiday fair. There were food stalls, colourful booths stacked with perfume, jewellery, electronics and clothes. Children tugged at their parents' sleeves, stalls sizzled with the scent of roasted m...