PASTEL PLUMES


PASTEL PLUMES

  The iconic 70 Dereja stairs around Ras Mekonen Bridge are undergoing thorough renovations along with the neighbourhood—a structure built by Armenian architects during Emperor Menelik's reign. Ras Mekonen, then governor of Harar, commissioned the construction of the eponymous landmark that has survived a century. As the City Administration ramps up efforts to finish the ambitious corridor project before winter rains, a new aesthetic has started to bloom, marked by a polished, sleek—cosmopolitan veneer.

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In-Picture

DIGITAL DETOUR

A sign advertising the Telebirr mobile payment service hangs inside a taxi, promising passengers a seamless, cashless fare experience. QR codes, Merchant IDs, and Operator IDs offer multiple ways to pay if only the network held up. In a city racing toward "cashless" status, many can't help but chuckle at the idea of tapping phones in beat-up, overcrowded taxis where connectivity is as wobbly as the suspension. Modern finance meets old-school transport, with results that are, at best, aspirationa...


In-Picture

COMMUNITY LIFT

From left: Fekadu Beshah, Heineken Ethiopia Sustainability & CSR Manager; Shewit Kebede, Social Impact Ambassador; Tolawak Feyissa, Koye Feche District Mayor's Office; and William Mills, Heineken Ethiopia Corporate Affairs Director, cut the inaugural ribbon at the launch of new homes. Heineken Ethiopia built houses for over 45 households in Koye Feche Sub-district, Sheger City, Oromia, empowering communities through dairy, cattle, and poultry farming initiatives...


In-Picture

PIPE LIFE

A pipe around Filwuha offers a refuge. Among a towering stack of Reinforced Concrete Drainage Pipes, a small space has been claimed as a home. The makeshift shelter inside one of the pipes contains a simple bed of blankets on a wooden board and a pair of worn-out sneakers, providing a glimpse into a life of resilience and illustrating a powerful image of survival in a harsh setting. A few scattered belongings hint at the daily struggle to meet basic needs. The contrast between the cold concrete...