HEFTY GREEN


HEFTY GREEN

Street vendors around the Shola area take a rest in the shades of the capital's newly planted trees. Upon reporting on its 10-month performance before Parliament, the Agriculture Minister, Girma Amentie indicated that up to 43pc of the arable land in the country has been rendered acidic. This requires large amounts of limestone to be imported from abroad; the tight forex crunch has not allowed the Ministry of Finance to fund the endeavour easily. Following the rallying call of the Prime Minister a staggering six billion seedlings were planted during the year, bringing the total number planted over the last five years to 25 billion.  


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ETHEREAL SOLACE

The recently unveiled statue of the late singer  Ali Birra glistens in the foggy weather around the Haile Garment area. Art in all its forms has been intimately weaved into the tapestry of Ethiopian history since the advent of Axumite civilisation. Be it paintings etched into the walls of churches across the country or the endemic pentatonic musical scale, art has provided an escape in times of war, drought and strife. As Ethiopia ventures into a new year haunted by inflation, conflicts and uns...


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PRICKLY FIGS

Bundles of sticks and figs are sold for 40 Br around the Gofa area, as urbanites prepare for Mesqel celebrations. Soaring prices of everyday amenities in the capital as conflict resurges in Ethiopia's north has Addis Abeba residents haggling fervently in this holiday season. As the price of a quintal of teff stabilised above 10,000 Br mark this year and a kilogram of onions soared past 100 Br, city dwellers have been counting pennies trying to stretch their holiday budget. The capital's trade bu...


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BEATIFIC SPARKS

Mesqel Square fills with smoke as thousands gather to mark the eve of the eponymous holiday by lighting ritual bonfires. Followers of the Orthodox Tewahdo Church celebrate the day each year that marks the rediscovery of the "True Cross" in the 4th century. The evening is set against a backdrop of hymns by choirs armed with unique Ethiopian church instruments. Mesqel celebrations take place two weeks into the Ethiopian New Year weaving into the early months a festive spirit rarely seen throughout...


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