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 with a warm smile. Hailing from Damascus, he is part of the diaspora that fled Syria's nearly decade-long conflict. His command of Amharic was impressive; we conversed effortlessly without slipping into English. His restaurant operates around the clock, taking orders online and in person, offering convenience that has endeared him to his clientele.
It is not uncommon now to see Syrians in Addis...