New Year’s spirit is always high and vibrant, but the holiday market seems to have gotten a bit slower and quieter. “Business is very slow” is a common complaint from basically everyone, from big companies to small shop owners; it is an unusually slow season.
As expected, the holiday market also reflects the slower movement of things as well as not so cheap goods. Food items that are a must for the holiday will, like live chickens and sheep along with butter, all come at a small fortune. During the holiday week, butter is being sold from 290 to 320 birr per Kilo.
During holidays it is a common scene to see herds of sheep and goats that are to be consumed for the holiday along with men carrying live chickens in neighborhoods. Although it is said the day before a holiday is the best time to buy sheep and chicken, as vendors usually get anxious to get rid of their stock and go home, there have been times that this has not been the case.
During the days leading up to the New Year, a small sheep was easily selling for 2,000 birr with a midsized sheep costing 2,500 and above. The delight of having a sheep continues to be out of reach for many during the holiday and those that cannot afford to spend that much will simply buy beef from the butchery to make a special meal.
Chicken, another holiday favorite is what many resort to, and for this holiday it is selling between 350 to 500 birr. As most people prefer to buy live chickens for religious and freshness reasons, processed frozen supermarket chickens still remain cheaper. It’s not all about meat, vegetables remain as important during the holiday. Although not a lot of change has been seen with vegetables lately, some items such as garlic which skyrocketed around two years ago, hasn’t shown any difference. Garlic is sold for 120 birr per kilo, red onions which are extremely important for most holiday meals are sold for 20 birr per kilo.
The above prices are usually found in open markets, prices at smaller fruit and vegetable kiosks around the city will be higher. As always, in some markets, shoppers will be able to get discounts if they are buying in bulk.
While it is always fun to go visit holiday expos at the Addis Ababa Exhibition Center; with all the excited crowds, music and food, the shopping experience might be less that fun.
Especially looking at imported items such as clothing, household items, accessories and house wear, they all have hiked up prices and the most common reason for this unfair pricing is the fact that the exchange rate of the dollar has increased, making imported goods more expensive. Although that might be true for some things, vendors are also taking advantage of the situation. The expo, however, remains a really good place to buy locally produced items such as leather products like shoes and bags, and cooking oil, or spices for Ethiopian dishes, as well as pasta and cultural wear.
“The holiday market always increases; none of the items has decreased once the market hikes, the prices of butter, eggs, vegetables, red pepper powder and onions have shown a slight increase,” an early shopper says.
New Year’s market stagnates
LAST LAP FOR RAINY SEASON
“Art is a matter of interest and ofcourse talent…and an atmosphere to develop.” Lecturer Negussie Woldetsadike, Alle School of Fine Art and Design.
Happy to be home in Addis Abeba, despite the rain and slowly dissipating jetlag, I had to “touch road” according to the Jamaican city slang. Of course art was on my mind, namely what has happened over the winter, which was filled with record setting rain and lots of wind. I started at Alle School of Fine Art and Design, specifically to glimpse the art work of the recent grads, which I did. Thankfully, I was also in time to catch the award ceremony for the summer class for children and youth. The summer program has existed for over 35 years and is fed by parents who see talent in their children and decide to expose them to the pedagogy of art early on. Alle Senior Lecturer and coordinator, Ato Negussie Woldetsadike shares, “The six week program offered during Kiremit over the past decades helps to immerse children with a love and talent for art. The program focuses on children under 10 and above 12 in specially designed courses to meet the age of the students. Art is a matter of interest and ofcourse talent…and an atmosphere to develop.” He also commented that the opening of more art schools around the country and art in the general curriculum will help develop students. I asked Gesh Negussie for words of advice for the rising generation of artists being seeded during the summer program, especially for our girls, as I saw an almost 50/50 ratio during the ceremony. “If you have the gift you are welcome but you must be willing to work hard.”
Another activity at the Art School during summers are the number of visiting aspiring and established teachers from outside the capital city of Addis Abeba . These teachers are not necessarily art teachers, some are in sports and other disciplines, but they participate every summer in classes towards earning a 5 year degree in art. Another highlight of my visit was the newly curated sculpture garden in the rear of the Art School. I penned a piece several months ago that looked at PM Dr. Abiy’s visit to the art school and promise to refurbish the abysmal condition of the garden we came to know and accept, diffidently, over the years. So said so done. Thanks to Zoma’s simply ingenious curator Meskerem Assegued and renown multidisciplinary artist Elias Sime, the art school has a space fit for faculty, students and visitors alike. They can experience the art school’s history through meandering stone paths filled with flowers and lush green grass, dotted with sculptures from the mid 20th century to 21st century. According to Director Agegnehu Adane, “The design reflects the flow of Ethiopians and Africans in general. Meskerem designed a space that fits the Ethiopian personality and culture and has included a generous amphitheater space for performance art and other activities. We hope to open the space to the public soon.” He then reminded me that His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selessie I visited the sculpture gardens every Sunday after church. I am certain The Majesty would approve.
I then headed to Guramayne Art Center in Piassa, an historic old home converted into a quaint gallery space hosting the New Bright Community Development Center exhibition. Curated by the Center’s art teacher, Elias, I was amazed at the level of talent and thoughtfulness that went into each work. The exhibition included the works of young students, teens to twenty, exploring notions of social justice, education, identity and poverty in myriad media. Paintings, drawings, installations were a refreshing expression of a plethora of topics near and dear to our youth. Guramayne has a host of activities and exhibitions coming after the New Year so we will keep you posted.
In closing this last article of 2011 ET Calendar, I must say that 2012 art scene in Addis is looking good. For instance, Ethiopian artist and lecturer based in Washington D.C., Mekbib Gebretsadike, was one of the visiting art teachers at Alle Summer Program. He teaches art at Howard University and was happy to share his excitement about working with the students and sharing new techniques as he prepares for a solo show next week at the Art School. Also on on the horizon are several shows scheduled for Addis Fine Art Gallery, the premier international gallery in our capital city. While St. George, Lela and Lafto Galleries, respectively have solo and group shows in the making, hopefully showcasing some of our well know favorites while presenting some of the fresh new talent in town. I am ready for the New Year in art in Addis and look forward to sharing some of the stories behind the artists to be featured in 2012. It was a good one…2011 farewell.
Dr. Desta Meghoo is a Jamaican born
Creative Consultant, Curator and cultural promoter based in Ethiopia since 2005. She also serves as Liaison to the AU for the Ghana based, Diaspora African Forum.