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May 4 , 2025 . By NAHOM AYELE

Curtain Falls on a Capital Stage as Theatre Fights for Its Life

Key Takeaways Despite an increasing production rate, the National Theatre struggles with a substantially reduced audience size post-pandemic. Financial pressures, heightened by steep increases in stage rentals, drive playwrights to seek alternative venues, impacting the quality of perfor...

Apr 19 , 2025 . By BEZAWIT HULUAGER

From Cassette, CD Dreams to Cloud Streams

Key Takeaways Kuku Sebsibie's transition to digital singles represents a shift in the domestic music industry. The Ethiopian streaming market is projected to grow, with revenues expected to reach 7.1 million dollars by 2027. Established artists benefit more from digital platforms, while mid-tier musicians face a financial crunch. The youth and the diaspora play crucial roles in the digital engagement and consumption of Ethiopian music. Artists like Kuku are leveraging new media to keep musical traditions alive in the digital age. Seven years in the making, Kuku Sebsibie...


Apr 19 , 2025 . By YITBAREK GETACHEW

Butchers Bet on Easter Boom as Costs Cut Deep Into Profit

Takeaways Easter in Addis Abeba sees butcheries rejuvenated with new white paint, synonymous with cleanliness. Scepticism persists as consumers demand genuine improvements, not just cosmetic changes. Price surges and supply issues mark meat as a luxury post-Lent, impacting consumer choices. Communal traditions like "Qircha" provide an economic alternative to steep butcher prices. Regulations and tax policies deeply influence the meat market's preparation for Easter. The Easter holiday is around teh corner, and Addis Abeba already gleams with fresh paint. Across the capita...


Apr 19 , 2025 . By AKSAH ITALO

When Injera Met Sushi & Mandi Displaced Tibs

Takeaways Addis Abeba's Bole Rwanda quarter is rapidly evolving into a global culinary hub with the opening of international eateries like Dar Muluk Al Yemen. The proliferation of foreign restaurants shows Addis Abeba's evolving urban culture driven by economic liberalisation and a growing expatriate community. The city's restaurant growth represents economic opportunity, yet supply chain constraints reveal the need for better local resource integration. Global culinary ventures in Addis Abeba contribute to cultural diplomacy but raise concerns about market saturation and...

Feature

Apr 19 , 2025

Easter Crowds Flock to Flashy Bazaars as Costs Climb With the Hype

Key Takeaways: Meskel Square's Easter bazaar thrived on strategic brand promotions and corporate sponsorships, driving consumer traffic and engagement. Comparable venues like Millennium Hall...

Apr 6 , 2025

When the Lift Lets Users Down

Key Takeaways: Human stories, like Hiwot's and Mekdes', reveal dire safety lapses in Addis Abeba's rapidly constructing high-rises, and elevators' functions. Systemic issues arise from insuf...

Mar 16 , 2025

Trapped Between Sunlight, Soaring Costs, Farmers Struggle to Ditch Diesel

Fenta Atele gazes at the shrinking shores of Lake Abaya, in Southern Regional State, worry etched on his face. Until recently, the lake's plentiful water allowed him and his fellow farmers to irrigate...

Feb 9 , 2025

Publishing Industry Contends with Soaring Costs, Shifts Digital

Walelgn Ayele, an aspiring young author, faced a harsh reality when he attempted to publish his first book. Printing 1,000 copies of a 450-page book would cost nearly half a million Birr. He quickly r...

Feb 2 , 2025

City Embraces Yoga, Meditation for Wellness

Rihan Demsew, engaged in the import and export trade in Addis Abeba, sought a solution to her work-related stress and long hours, which led her to join a meditation and yoga centre. Rihan also lives w...

Jan 19 , 2025

New Roads Stimulate Post-Dusk Energy, Revamp Evening Scenes

Melese Gizaw, a former soldier from the Derg regime, finds himself drawn to cafes since leaving military service. He enjoys listening to music of Mohamoud Ahmed, a sound that accompanies his reflectio...

Jan 19 , 2025

TikTok Powers Business, Impairs Safety

Layne Lemma, a 31-year-old woodworker, initially crafted the Kirar, the traditional string instrument, for a private company. His career took an unexpected turn when he discovered TikTok two years ago...

Jan 19 , 2025

Addis Abeba's Hidden Traps Threaten Public Safety

Sewnet Abel's experience in September last year highlights the hidden dangers of Addis Abeba's streets. On his way home from work near Megenagna, the 33-year-old hotel worker fell into an open manhole...

Jan 12 , 2025

Paper Bag Industry Thrives, Plastic Ban Looms

Bethelhem Dejene has noticed a growing demand for paper bags. After completing a contracted project, she decided to continue producing paper bags with the same team. As the founder and CEO of Zafre...

Jan 5 , 2025

Turning Pages, Breaking Barrier

Ten entrepreneurs reveal the ups and downs of building businesses. From turning coffee waste into oil products to digitizing traditional equb, they share how personal experiences, local problems, and...

Jan 4 , 2025

Christmas Rush Drives Exhibition Boom, Economic Uncertainty Looms

Bazaars and exhibitions are springing up across Addis Abeba, tapping into the festive Christmas shopping season. The Addis Abeba Exhibition Centre is hosting a large Christmas event organised by Robus...

Jan 4 , 2025

Lalibela Struggles to Recover from Pandemic, Conflict Fallout

Lalibela town draws thousands of Ethiopians each year to celebrate Christmas (Genna). Tourism expert Netsanet Teressa, a regular visitor for work, notes that many now prefer flying over driving, citin...

Jan 4 , 2025

Demolition Boosts Cargo Profit, Disarrays Communities

The streets of Abo Mazoria around Mekanisa, once bustling with people, now lie in silence. It is now filled with debris and dust. On the morning of December 26, 2024, the area seemed almost unrecognis...

Dec 15 , 2024

E-bikes' Flat Tyre Seeks Authorities' Goodwill

For Netey Tesfaye, an electric bike offered a chance at a decent living, delivering goods across the bustling city. He used to earn between 350 Br and 450 Br a day, until September when his journey wa...

Nov 16 , 2024

Independent Forex Bureaus Offer Valued Choice

Waktole Abdulahi, a long-time resident of Norway, was relieved when he was able to secure 260 dollars at one of Addis Abeba's newly opened independent forex bureaus. For his travels and securing a yel...

Oct 27 , 2024

Fire Engulfs Mercato, Exposes City's Safety Flaws

A former teacher, Tesfaye, has lost two out of his three shops during a fire breakout last week. His sister was managing one of the shops while their family's livelihood depended on it. He had seen th...


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When Pension Funds Nap Inflation Steals the Blanket

Pensioners have learned, rather painfully, the gulf between a figure on a passbook and a l...

Editorial | May 3 , 2025

Curtain Falls on a Capital Stage as Theatre Fights for Its Life

Key Takeaways Despite an increasing production rate, the National Theatre struggles...

Featured | May 4 , 2025 . By NAHOM AYELE

They Worked for Decades, Now They Struggle to Survive

Key Takeaways: Many Ethiopian retirees live on pensions that barely cover the incre...

Agenda | May 4 , 2025 . By BEZAWIT HULUAGER and RUTH BERHANU

OROMIA BANK LAUNCHES 'MILKII' APP TO JOIN DIGITAL FUEL RACE

Oromia International Bank introduced a new digital fuel-payment app, "Milkii," allowing cu...

Fortune News | May 3 , 2025