FERTILE FANCIES


FERTILE FANCIES

A corrugated tin fence is painted over with greenery and trees around Arat Kilo as the corridor development project snaking through the neighbourhood nears its end. The high fences have become ubiquitous across Addis Ababa, hielding locations incompatible with the city's reimagined aesthetic. Mayor Adanech Abiebe revealed two weeks ago that the ambitious project tallied up to around 33 billion Br with meticulous spending.The project, closely overseen by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD), is reviewed every 100 days for performance and progress. While the majority of the architectural concepts stem from a city-wide structural plan devised nearly seven years back, novel elements were introduced by the current administration toward realizing 'smart city' goals. A concerted effort has been launched by authorities to replace combustion engine vehicles with electric alternatives, endorse cycling and promote waking


In-Picture

DIMMING FLASHBACKS

A retired red BMW and a well-worn sofa still in use sit side-by-side around CMC. Relics of past journeys, their faded forms rich with memories, now they sit as outdoor junk. Addis Abeba generates approximately 750,000tns of municipal solid waste annually with an average per capita household waste of 0.45kg a day. Most of it is dumped in landfills, although illegal open dumping and burning remain widespread practices. Landfills and neighborhoods are increasingly burdened by plastic waste and used...


In-Picture

BACK TO THE FUTURE

A man walks his donkeys around Abrehot Library, Arat Kilo, Addis Abeba's newly upgraded neighbourhood, where sleek asphalt and modern architecture meet the timeless pace of animal transport. With nearly 10 million donkeys, Ethiopia ranks number one in the world for its donkey population, a testament to their enduring role in the nation's economy. Modern corridor developments in Addis Abeba, intended for swift motorized transportation, stand in stark contrast to the continued reliance on donkeys...


In-Picture

FLAT LINES

A man is pouring water on the evenly queued Jerry cans, in the streets of Adey Abeba, around Saris. The city's 5.2 million residents require a staggering 1.3 million cubic meters of water daily. However, supplies stand at around 800,000 cubic meters. This has young men race door-to-door, selling jerry cans for around  40 Br.  While this fills immediate needs, it's just a quick fix to the city's deeper water crisis. Recent road development has resulted in water supply interruptions due to pipel...