TOTTERING TOWERS


TOTTERING TOWERS

  A hurried renovation transpires on a conjoined pair of small buildings around the Mercato area. Many old buildings in the vast marketplace are remnants of shops built by Yemeni merchants who relocated from the old Arada area in the 1930s. The area has a thriving informal sector economy from which thousands earn daily bread. According to studies by the Centre for International Private Enterprise, nearly one-sixth of Ethiopia's urban employment is in the informal sector. Some studies have estimated the size of the informal economy in the country to be as high as a third of the GDP.


In-Picture

CULTURAL ECHOES

A minibus at the Stadium Taxi terminal carries a stack of leather‑skinned drums bound for holiday celebrations. Carved by hands that honour generations, the kebero's deep rumble evokes joyous moments and ancient rhythms. Its voice, like laughter among friends, seems to make the earth itself tremble in celebration. Together, these drums speak a language older than words—a living rhythm that unites community and memory, inviting every footstep, every heartbeat, into the timeless circle of Ethi...


In-Picture

ALL ABOARD!

A sleek, eco‑smart bus glides into Mexico Square, its digital displays and silent engine a playful jab at the worn vehicles it replaces—battle‑scarred from years of ferrying passengers and weathering carelessness. In a world racing toward intelligent, green technology, getting people to sync up still feels like boarding an old bus: everyone's on their own schedule. Yet here's a promise of change—one smooth ride at a time. Change is like that friend who shows up unannounced, redecorate...


In-Picture

LIGHT HOUSE

Step into a gift shop around next Ellily Hotel in Casanshis, that glows with charm with light stands lined up at the entrance to welcome shoppers. A vibrant parade of lamps in all shapes, sizes, and colours lines the entrance, beckoning shoppers inside. From cosy bedside accents to bold centrepieces for dining and living rooms, these fabric-clad lights double as thoughtful gifts and stylish décor essentials. Each lamp seems to whisper its own personality—some quiet and warm, others bold and t...