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Jan 18 , 2025 . By Bereket Balcha

Roha Band Creates a Legacy Carved in Stone

Some bands define a generation and leave a lasting mark, becoming anthems for their time. The Beatles, a renowned group from the 1960s to the late 1980s, hold the record for 180 million certified album sales. This band of twenty-somethings from Liverpool started their career in Hamburg nightclubs, w...

Jan 11 , 2025 . By Bereket Balcha

A Journey Down Memory Lane, Alumni Reunion

When a couple of old elementary school friends started chatting on WhatsApp, I was curious but unsure what they were planning. Soon, they created a group named after our elementary school and graduation year. It was clear they were organising a reunion for the class of 1990,  the year before the regime we had known since birth was overthrown. Their ambition intrigued me, though I doubted their chances of success. Initially, the group was small, with about six friends who had stayed in touch over the years. We struggled to remember the names of everyone in our graduating class of 48. One of...


Jan 4 , 2025 . By Bereket Balcha

A Pinch of Music, Tragedy, Tech Shifts

I would rank December as one of the best months in 2024. I may be biased by the fact that it was a vacation time for me, enjoying exciting travels during the Christmas season, and finally taking time to recuperate after a busy and testing year. The icing on the cake was my visit to the Africa Jazz Club for an end-of-year show. The Monday show was star-studded, featuring veteran vocalist Girma Beyene, a timeless icon in the Ethio-Jazz scene, alongside the legendary composer Mulatu Astatke, virtuoso lead guitarist Bibisha (Mengesha Teferi), and Giovanni Rico, the bass guitarist from the legen...


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, leaving Fury reeling from his first professional loss, which tarnished his previously unblemished record. Fury's frustration was not entirely unfounded, as the split decision indicated that at least one of the three judges had scored the fight in his favor. In the months leading up to the rematch...

View From Arada

Dec 21 , 2024

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...

Dec 14 , 2024

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 r...

Dec 7 , 2024

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...

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...


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Columns

Commentaries | Jan 18,2025

Tight Monetary Policies Risk Stifling Economic Growth, Undermining Business Confidence

Life Matters | Jan 18,2025

Media Coverage of Africa Skews Towards Negativity

My Opinion | Jan 18,2025

Social Media as It Should Be

Sunday with Eden | Jan 18,2025

Acts of Kindness Create Lasting Legacies

Agenda | Jan 19,2025

Traditional Weaving Unravels as Chiffon Takes Over, Demands Dwindle, Costs Rise

Editorial | Jan 18,2025

Breaking the Chains to Protect the Vulnerable During Painful Reforms


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Breaking the Chains to Protect the Vulnerable During Painful Reforms

Adanech Abebie, the mayor of Addis Abeba, addressed last week a warm-up session for her pa...

Editorial | Jan 18 , 2025

New Roads Stimulate Post-Dusk Energy, Revamp Evening Scenes

Melese Gizaw, a former soldier from the Derg regime, finds himself drawn to cafes since le...

Featured | Jan 19 , 2025 . By YITBAREK GETACHEW

Traditional Weaving Unravels as Chiffon Takes Over, Demands Dwindle, Costs Rise

Asamenew Arba, a weaver operating from a building housing micro enterprises near Shero Med...

Agenda | Jan 19 , 2025 . By BEZAWIT HULUAGER

THREADBARE TRADITIONS, WEAVING UNRAVELS FAST

The looming scarcity of essential imported materials has overshadowed traditional weaving...

Fortune News | Jan 19 , 2025