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

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In-Picture

SOLID COTTON

This sculpture, nestled in Shiro Meda, the bustling heart of Addis's traditional clothing scene, stands as a towering tribute to the women who spun cotton by hand for generations. In every curve and contour, the statue echoes the quiet strength of those whose hands transformed humble cotton into vibrant cloth, keeping tradition alive one delicate thread at a time. ...


In-Picture

TURF POLITICS

In Addis Abeba's Cherkos neighborhood football turf wars, everyone's a player, and a referee, until it's their turn to swap the whistle for cleats. With public recreational spaces in short supply, these pitches are more than just play, they're the capital's unofficial stress therapy clinics durng the rainy season where most young boys are out of school and have time to waste on their hands and not worry about school work for a few months. ...


In-Picture

CONCRETE JUNGLE

Who needs amusement parks when your daily commute includes dodging puddles, navigating algae swamps, and performing tightrope acts on a concrete moat? This overpass in CMC offers all the thrills, no ticket required. Just bring an umbrella, hiking boots, and maybe a kayak. A lone pedestrian clutches a checkered umbrella like a lifeline while weaving along a narrow strip of semi-dry ground. On either side: stagnant green water, mud, and neglected concrete barriers that seem better suited to a demo...