FULL CIRCLE


FULL CIRCLE

A striking image of felled trees up on the pedestrian walkway around Bole surprises onlookers accustomed to greener hues. The area was endowed with increasing trees in the lead-up to the African Union Summit, giving urbanites a sweet escape from the scorching sun in the capital. While it does not look it today, historical sources indicate that in the early 20th century, about 42 million hectares, or the equivalent of nearly 35pc of Ethiopia’s land area, was covered with forests. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's (PhD) Green Legacy initiative has attempted to restore some of the country's shades with an annual campaign going on ever since he ascended to power.


In-Picture

COIN CONQUEST

The dashboard of the Mexico-to-Qera taxi is not just for navigating streets but a mini-museum of world history. Coins featuring rulers from across the globe rest here, each a tiny testament to a leader's reign. The tradition of placing a ruler's portrait on coins dates back to the Kingdom of Aksum (around 270 CE), which encompassed parts of modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea...


In-Picture

TREASURE HUNT

Children search for sellable scrap metal in a demolition site around the Qera area. They usually sell the metals which were once a support material for the building columns for a meagre sum and use the money to pay for a sleeping compartment at night. Where development leaves its mark, they navigate the remains...


In-Picture

SARIS SPINS

Business is booming at bike shops in the Saris Adey Abeba area. A city-wide corridor development project, built with over 33 billion Br, has brought brand new bike lanes, making cycling an alternative transport option. But watch out pedestrians—the City Administration is enforcing fines starting from 150 Br for walking on the lane, as part of an awareness creation method that sparked interesting online debates...


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