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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...

Nov 30 , 2024 . By Bereket Balcha

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 not practical. The drive was smooth until I reached Arat Kilo roundabout. I assumed the construction there was finished. But I had forgotten the Arat Kilo-Amist Kilo corridor was still under construction. We had to detour through Kidist Mariam and Yekatit 12 Hospital to reach the Faculty of Business & Economics campus. Taking the direct route would have been a nightmare as there was severe...


Nov 23 , 2024 . By Bereket Balcha

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 crispness of cold Sprite infused with a slice of lemon, I began to enjoy the indulgent calm which is a rare respite from the relentless pace of daily life. To my right, under the glow of floodlights, a few dedicated players enjoyed a lively tennis game on the red clay courts. The garden hosted couples and youthful laughter echoed from a soccer match and basketball court. All of this unfolded amidst...


Nov 16 , 2024 . By Bereket Balcha

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 innovation, creative expression, and new realms of possibility. Albert Einstein famously remarked, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world.” From ancient myths to modern-day cinema, imagination has given rise to captivating narratives that entertain coupled with insights into humanity's deepest questions. Comic art, in...

View From Arada

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...

Aug 3 , 2024

Hidden Costs of Constant Decision Making

It seemed only a matter of time before Joe Biden caved in to step aside from the November 2024 presidential race. The pressure had mounted with publicly raging discourses. On a personal level, I belie...

Jul 27 , 2024

The Virtual Pursuit of Happiness

A close friend introduced me to an application called "Hamster Kombat," which at first seemed like any other online game. With simple graphics reminiscent of classic games like Sonic X or Super Mario...

Jul 20 , 2024

Extinguish Hate Before it Devours

A 20-year-old man, fresh out of high school, crawled over a rooftop with a rifle, planning to commit the unthinkable. With his life ahead of him, he made the dreadful choice to take a life. This acti...


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Columns

Commentaries | Dec 07,2024

For Developing Economies, the Finance Landscape Becomes a Wasteland

Life Matters | Dec 07,2024

Navigating Grief with Young Children

My Opinion | Dec 07,2024

Is the Loss & Damage Fund Becoming an Empty Promise?

Sunday with Eden | Dec 07,2024

Culinary Negligence: The Decline of Addis Abeba's Dining Scene

Agenda | Dec 08,2024

National ID Footprint Stumbles Over Limited Acceptance, Printing Quality

Editorial | Dec 07,2024

Fueling Reform, the Petroleum Sector Caught Between Monopoly Missteps, Market Liberalisation


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Fueling Reform, the Petroleum Sector Caught Between Monopoly Missteps, Market Liberalisation

For decades the Ethiopian Petroleum Supply Enterprise (EPSE), a state-owned giant entruste...

Editorial | Dec 7 , 2024

Independent Forex Bureaus Offer Valued Choice

Waktole Abdulahi, a long-time resident of Norway, was relieved when he was able to secure...

Featured | Nov 16 , 2024 . By KALKIDAN NEGASH

National ID Footprint Stumbles Over Limited Acceptance, Printing Quality

Dawit Arega, a tourist guide for 14 years, has encountered difficulties with his National...

Agenda | Dec 8 , 2024 . By BEZAWIT HULUAGER

IN DIGITAL ID, PROMISE MEETS CHAOS

The National ID Program, a.k.a Fayda, has met citizens with the kind of contention that br...

Fortune News | Dec 8 , 2024

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