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Dec 28 , 2024 . By Bereket Balcha

Humility in Victory, Denial in Defeat

The boxing arena erupted with the shouts of expectant crowds as the long-awaited rematch for the world heavyweight championship unfolded. This bout was a sequel to the controversial first fight between the two unbeaten titans, Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. Usyk had claimed victory by split decision...

Dec 21 , 2024 . By Bereket Balcha

The Power of Memes in Shaping Cultural Evolution

A person's hand is seen throwing pens into an empty wine glass while the Christmas carol "Jingle Bells" plays in the background. The goal is to create a viral video by successfully landing one pen in the glass. After several failed attempts, the person runs out of pens and abruptly tells the friend recording, “Just turn the camera off,” as the screen cuts to static. This type of graphic storytelling, particularly popular on social media, is known as internet memes. According to Britannica, an internet meme is an amusing or interesting picture, video, or post shared widely online. Social...


Dec 14 , 2024 . By Bereket Balcha

Honouring Uncelebrated Contemporary Achievers

I didn't realize while watching Gladiator Part Two that Ejigayehu Shibabaw, (a.k.a. Gigi), a renowned Ethiopian singer, was among the vocalists featured. Gigi, celebrated for her extraordinary vocal range and themes, had been absent from the public scene for many years. Her comeback could not have been more emphatic, contributing to the soundtrack of a blockbuster sequel to the 2000 epic series. The film, with a production budget of 250 million dollars, has grossed over 370 million dollars to date. It has also garnered nominations for various awards, including the Oscars and accolades in th...


Dec 7 , 2024 . By Bereket Balcha

Cherishing the Loved Ones A Reflection on Life, Loss, and Loneliness

The cinema hall at the National Theatre was nearly empty, with just half a dozen people attending, including two projectionists running the movie from a laptop. The film, part of a three-day Japanese Movie Festival in Addis Ababa, was a somber depiction of the life of a 70-year-old Japanese widow. I learned about the event on its final day and hurried to attend, only to find that the movie had already been playing for 45 minutes. Although the show was scheduled to start at 7 PM, it had begun an hour earlier at 6 PM. Thankfully, the film was lengthy, so I managed to follow most of the story. ...

View From Arada

Nov 30 , 2024

No Pain, No Gain Detour Until the Dust Settles

One morning, I had the rare chance to drop off my son at his class at Addis Abeba University. Being on vacation made this possible. Under normal circumstances, getting to work on time and drop-offs is...

Nov 23 , 2024

A Verdant Oasis in a Concrete Jungle

I found myself savouring the first leisurely moments of my vacation. Sitting at John Graham's corner in the Olympiakos Greek Club, the world slowed down for a while. With good dinner and a tangy crisp...

Nov 16 , 2024

The Parallel Universe of Comics

In a world where knowledge grows at an unprecedented pace, imagination remains the limitless frontier pushing humanity forward. While knowledge informs us, imagination is what propels us toward innova...

Nov 9 , 2024

Addis Abeba Stays Under the Weather

Each year around this time, Addis Abeba's dry chill settles in, catching me and many others off-guard. I find myself closing windows tightly in the morning to seal in warmth. My once-routine walks are...

Nov 2 , 2024

Cold November with Long Shadows of Conflict

The stakes of the upcoming U.S. election extend far beyond America's borders, rippling across continents already destabilised by growing conflicts. As the world watches, America's polarising campaign...

Oct 26 , 2024

Prospectus Puzzle in a New Frontier

When I received an SMS notifying me about Ethio telecom's 10pc share offering, I was genuinely intrigued. The public sale of shares from a major state-owned enterprise, which dominates the telecom sec...

Oct 20 , 2024

Preserving Roots During Globalisation

“The key to our people's survival does not lie in weapons or wealth but in culture.” This quote, which resonated with me while watching a documentary, captures the essence of how societies endure...

Oct 12 , 2024

The Day Earth Moved Beneath Us

I was lying in bed one day feeling like I was on a gently rocking boat, though no reason for the movement was visible. I had been in a relaxed pose for some time and wondered what could have caused t...

Oct 5 , 2024

Addis Abeba's Cultural Kaleidoscope Redefines Its Emerging Identity

I recently picked up a takeaway chicken Mendi meal from a Syrian restaurant on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, near the Jakros neighbourhood. The owner, a seasoned chef of Arabic cuisine, greeted me...

Pollution Amidst Greening Moves

My brother and I visited the Bole Arabsa neighborhood after a funeral, where my brother noted the significantly better air quality compared to downtown Addis. He described the fresh air as "food for t...

Sep 21 , 2024

The Merkato Multiverse

The sight of a porter carrying over 10 mattresses over head while zigzagging through the commotion of pedestrians and vehicles of all types epitomises what Merkato is all about. Africa's largest open...

Sep 14 , 2024

Confronting the Ghosts of Conflict, Trauma

I found myself deeply engrossed in an interview on local media. The guest was Seble Hailu (PhD), a psychologist known for her efforts in addressing trauma. The host set a sombre tone from the outset...

Sep 8 , 2024

A Kaleidoscopic Year of Tradition, Transformation

The New Year air is supposed to be filled with a sense of renewal and continuity—a blend of the familiar and the evolving. This annual cycle, while a marker of time's passage, also serves as a momen...

Sep 1 , 2024

Location Trumps Innovation, Apparently!

Legend has it that James Bruce, a Scottish traveller and writer on a mission to find the source of the Nile River, once expressed his disdain for locals eating raw meat at the imperial palace in Gonde...

Aug 25 , 2024

Post-Olympic Bitter-Sweet Taste

The love affair between the people of Ethiopia and Olympic games dates back to Abebe Bikila's historic barefoot marathon win in Rome over half a century ago. Since then, generations of athletes have r...

Aug 10 , 2024

The Fast Lane of Addis Abeba’s Life

Addis Abeba's streets are a mix of commerce and survival, where vendors and beggars are amidst the chaotic traffic in pursuit of a living. At every stoplight, the streets transform into an open-air...


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Agenda | Dec 29,2024

Escaping Underemployment, Facing Low Wages at Home, Scam Factories in Myanmar

Editorial | Dec 28,2024

The Bureaucrats Turn to Masters of Misrule, Architects of Uncertainty


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The Bureaucrats Turn to Masters of Misrule, Architects of Uncertainty

On a flight between Juba and Addis Abeba, Stefan Dercon, a professor of economic policy an...

Editorial | Dec 28 , 2024

E-bikes' Flat Tyre Seeks Authorities' Goodwill

For Netey Tesfaye, an electric bike offered a chance at a decent living, delivering goods...

Featured | Dec 15 , 2024 . By KALKIDAN NEGASH

Escaping Underemployment, Facing Low Wages at Home, Scam Factories in Myanmar

Shikur Naser, a 25-year-old civil engineering graduate, left for Bangkok, Thailand, in Sep...

Agenda | Dec 29 , 2024 . By ROBERA GETACHEW

DREAMS BETRAYED, TRAFFICKED, ENSLAVED

A 25-year-old civil engineer graduate left for Thailand in September 2023, lured by the pr...

Fortune News | Dec 29 , 2024