According to the Addis Ababa City Fire, Emergency Prevention and Rescue Agency’s annual report, 83 people were killed in the city from floods and fires. Holes from construction sites contributed to another 88 people being injured. Flooding and fires damaged many shops and homes causing a loss of 408.4 million birr.
In total there were 535 floods and fires this fiscal year. This included the fire that damaged 140 shops near the Grand Anwar Mosque in Mercato causing 57 million birr in property damage.
Two weeks ago a pregnant woman and her two children drowned when they were trapped by flood waters while washing clothes by a river in Asko. Police have yet to find their bodies.
Poor safety management of construction sites means that floods are increasing according to the report. Bole Sub- City, one of the most affluent places, had 83 incidents while Adiss Ketema and Kolfe had 65 and 64 accidents respectively.
In the previous fiscal year 531 accidents occurred in the city, snatching the lives of 83 people and injuring 119. Negatu Mulu, Communications officer told Capital that helicopters and boats should be purchased because they could be used to save lives.
“Two weeks ago there were floods in Akaki and it took hours to borrow boats and helicopters from defense forces and later the helicopters came but we did not manage to rescue people and finally our rescue workers swam and saved the people’s lives. If we had a helicopter and boats we could manage our service when big fires occur.”
A recent study by the Agency disclosed that 121,000 households across all sub- cities and 1,000 government and private institutions are vulnerable to flood disasters. The study identified 143 places as high risk and stated that if the necessary relocation or reconstruction is not made soon disasters may kill thousands and damage 4.5 billion birr in property. Many of the risky places are found in Gullele and Nifas Silke Sub city where there are homes near river and drainage sites.
Riversides in Addis Ababa have been a source of worry for residents. They have been dogged by landslides, pollution and lack of development for ages. But due to a spate of development activities, that might change soon.
The research found that Addis Ababa Rivers and riversides face problems which include: badly polluted segments through direct discharge of domestic waste generated mainly from households and institutions; river bank erosion; and inaccessible rivers and riversides.
Eighty three perished in fire, floods this year
Appliance distributor celebrates silver jubilee
The prominent home office and hotel appliance importer and global brand agent OMEDAD marked 25 years last week by celebrating with staff and customers. The company which was established with five professional entrepreneurs has also transferred its leadership to the next generation.
OMEDAD, Office, Machines, Electronics /Equipment, Domestic, Appliances, Distributors, was established in 1992.
“Most of us met in the business colleague when we were young,” Getamesay Degefu, the board vice-chairman of OMEDAD said. “But we started the company when most of us were around 50 with one million birr capital.”
The founding members talked about what they learned in college and working as employees as opposed to being entrepreneurs. Legesse Yirga, Abate Baye and Kinfemichael B.Selase are co-founders.
When launched, the company had no employees and the five shareholders worked at everything. However, now OMEDAD has around 600 employees with half a billion birr working capital. The company gave its employees a bonus of two month’s salary as a reward.
“We have employees who worked at the company for 25 years,” said Getamesay. “We benchmarked the top payers’ experience when we started when we didn’t have such resources and we facilitated ways for them to improve their career. Most of our leadership positions in our company are possessed by the employees who we accepted as entry level. Happy employees are a key to a success in our company,” added Getamesay.
The 12 floor business center and hotel in the Bole area are among the company’s achievements. Its transfer into a production company is now in the pipeline with an ongoing furniture company around Dukem area. Also, it is building a headquarters in the Nifas silk area, a conference center at Gerji and expanding its hotel & business center.
After the second generation took over the management three years ago the company has been performing even better, according to Kumela Gragne the board chairman.
“We believe they will hand over more than what we did to the third generation,” he said.
OMEDAD is celebrating the anniversary through charity work to give back to the society by supporting orphans until they finish school.
OMEDAD is known for its quality products supplies and its after-sales maintenance follow-ups. The company is a long time exclusive distribution agent for more than 1,000 products from Europe, the Middle-east, Africa, and Asia. PANASONIC, Olympia, RICOH UNICAL, OCEAN, and IGNIS are some of them.
“The nation is losing a significant amount of foreign currency from low-quality imports,” said Kumela. “Almost half of the imported materials are below the standard and that causes consumers to purchase them multiple times. We import long lasting materials.”
The company also faced a lack of finances during its initial days because there was only one commercial bank. That’s why the founding members justify their engagement in the founding of three private banks and one insurance company.
“Without a strong financial system, it will not be possible to create a strong private sector in general,” said Getamesay. “We get 95 percent of our finances to form these private banks now.”
The founding members said the past fiscal year, due to the foreign exchange crunch, it was tough but the current change gives them hope. They also told the media the unfair competition in the market was the biggest challenge for them.
The five founding members which all exceeded 75 years said that there were times which they disagreed on matters but the value of their relationship rather than money has made their journey smooth.
“We never vote for a decision instead we decided after a discussion we trust each other and we implement it with trust and love,” they revealed.
“That’s what we want to share for our fellow companies and emerging business to succeed in their partnerships.”
OMEDAD has 25 outlets, 8 in are the capital and the rest in the major commercial cities.
ART FOR HEALING
“African art is functional it serves a purpose. It should be healing, a source of joy. Spreading positive vibrations.” Mos Def
Art is cross cutting and though we may not associate art and health, art therapy, in the West since the ‘60’s, has been emerging in Africa for the past decade. Art therapy is defined as an expressive therapy using the creative process of producing art towards physical, mental, and emotional well-being. There are diverse approaches, materials, media and therapists that play a pivotal role towards the diagnosis and healing of children, youth, adults and elders alike.
As the practice increases in Africa, I wonder about two things. The first is the effectiveness of art therapy in Africa, as introduced by the West. South Africa had this concern and researched the appropriateness of Western approaches, in consideration of the African narrative and social constructs in the postcolonial era. Thankfully, recommendations of the Health Professionals Council of South Africa include the need for developing a South African approach to art therapy in the interest and respect for the use of traditional African methods and artifacts. In Tanzania partnerships with international organizations create community based programs that depend on students and volunteers. Next door, Kenyans are working with the Art Institute of Chicago and George Washington University to develop relevant programs in the country. I am not an expert in this field but I am an advocate for alternative forms of treatment that are natural and noninvasive, especially for the treatment of mental health, an area Black folks don’t deal with well.
The second thing I wonder about is the potential for use of art therapy in everyday life. Again, I am not a professional, but I do have some anecdotal experience. In October 2005 I launched the DYMDC Children’s Art Project with my four youngest children and Artist Merid Tafesse. We provided support for homeless, orphaned and vulnerable children in the Arat kilo/Piasa area, known as “The Village” due to the African proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child”. The Village was part of my Corporate Social Responsibility policy; providing meals, school fees, bath facilities etc. for up to 75 children per day on average. The one thousand square Kara meter compound, in the ‘cut’, was surprisingly filled with flowers, green grass, wall murals and lots of love.
Artist Mulugeta Kassa provided art instruction; Choreographer, Prof. Ras Mikey Courtney gave dance classes and performances; Reggae artist, Ras Seyoume assisted with music and Art Director, Merid Tafesse, provided mentorship and oversaw art activities. The Village hosted well-known personalities including Poet Gesh Sebhat GebreIgziabiher and renowned Singer, Tsedenia GebreMarkos, along with exhibitions for the children and artists including Tamrat Gezaghen. Residencies and special activities provided opportunities and space for artists such as Eyob Kitaba, commissioned to create the 10 meter high sculpture for the DH GEDA building on Bole Road. We hosted paint parties where leading Ethiopian artists would spend the day at the Village painting murals with the children through out the compound. Finally, we had many cathartic talks with the children about their artistic expressions while observing extreme change in behavior.
It was clear that The Village was utilizing art therapy, organically. Every poem read, every note sang, every drawing displayed, every touch and moment with an artist gave the children an occasion to heal. My maternal instincts and observations as to the power of the arts and artists on the children were continuously confirmed. Whether watching them being pried away from painting to eat lunch; listening to them speak about the significance of creating a piece unique to only them; or reviewing painful pieces depicting unspeakable experiences; it was clear to me. They were immersed in the process of creating art, as much as the process of self-healing? We witnessed behavioral changes from extreme aggression and frustration felt by these forgotten children who morphed into the most generous, caring and honest youth. They nurtured one another with goursha, a common tradition on the compound, especially on those days when there were more mouths to feed than expected. We turned no child away. Thirteen years later, The Village children are college graduates including art school; business owners; parents and new generation of givers, sponsoring kids to attend kindergarten under their own volition.
In closing, it is common to seek alternatives to improve and maintain mental and physical health and a daily dose of art is another regiment to add to exercise and healthy meals. And for the healthy person, trying to avoid reaching the point of needing a therapist, why not seek to relax the mind and body through art? Sip and Paint events; adult coloring books; visits to art exhibitions; and engaging in art activities at home or work during break time can relax the mind and ease some of the everyday stress. To quote activist and rap icon Mos Def, “African art is functional it serves a purpose. It should be healing, a source of joy. Spreading positive vibrations.”
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.
Give me back my Ethiopia
I was at a Kebele (the lowest administrative unit) office for having an identification card. A pretty and coy office girl led me to a desk. The worker, a gentleman with his hair as white as snow, sitting on a swivel chair grabbed a yellow family file. It seemed he was looking for my name in the file. Next, he started filling in my name, age, the organization I am working for… Then, he stopped scribbling and looked at me. He squeezed his little eyes twirling behind a pair of thick spectacles.
“What is your ethnicity?” he enquired.
I looked intently at him without saying a single word. Then, I told him to take down that I am an Ethiopian. The man beamed mockingly and asked me again which ethnic group I belong to. A kind of ‘you idiot, say something about your ethnic background’ question…
“I am serious. I cannot tell you anything else about what you are asking for. Please, put down the word ‘Ethiopian’ in that blank space of the ID card.”
“What a funny guy you are! It seems you are a been to or a diaspora guy! … Hey, the diaspora guy, say something!” He pushed the ID card aside in a sort of dismay reflected in his small contorted face and stared at me leaning his cheek on his palms. He kept on gazing at me for about thirty seconds. Then he said, “I have a lot of things to do, my brother. This is a public spot. It is not a tavern! Did you get me? I can tell you that there is no time for jokes here… At least, try to value the people lined up behind you…” He showed me again a distorted mocking face.
“I cannot tell you anything which is different from what I have just told you, brother.” I was almost irritable. I clinched my fingers which were about to twitch.
“Ok, if you are not ready to tell me where you are from and your ethnicity, my dear diaspora guy, I am going to put in this space your ethnic background… I will do that for you! Does that make sense?”
“What does that mean?” I requested looking at him surprisingly.
“Simple! We all know you people from Amhara. You are always giving rise to problems whenever you are requested this question. So, it is not that much difficult to know who you are… your ethnic background,” he said cheerfully as if he discovered something hidden.
“I did not say I am Amhara. Did I? C’mon! Did you hear me saying that word? Why did you want to jot down that word without getting confirmation from me?”
“Because you Amhara people are so rigid that you are not willing to speak about your ethnic background,” he said showing a look of pride in his face.
“My brother, you are creating a problem. You are uttering what you are supposed to retort by your good-for-nothing bosses. Hey, listen up to me now! I am not ashamed of speaking about myself. Being Amhara, Oromo, Tigre, Wolita, Sidama, Somali, Afari… is not a crime. No need to mention such a thing here. But, what I want to tell you right now is that I don’t feel like carrying that tag! I want you to get that shit out of your head? I say I am an Ethiopian. Put that very word in your card! You have no the slightest right to snatch this title from me. Take heed of the fact that I was born and brought up in this very capital, Addis Ababa. My mother was also born here in this same place. So, what do you think I am? What do you need me to say? Of course, I am an Addis Abeban if you like. Can you jot down that? I tell you something… I want to be identified as an Ethiopian. Did you get that, bro? … Did I make myself clear?”
“Ok, tell me this? … Where is your father from?” he enquired.
“Cool down, bro! You are making a fuss over such a trivial issue. I can’t really tell you where my father is from. He hadn’t told me this before he passed away; neither did my mother. I am very sorry he is nowhere at present to prove this for me… For that matter, none of my family members was interested in this damn thing…” I could not carry on with my talking as he cut in.
“Oh! … What are you talking about? …You are killing my time… my precious time which I should give to the people that need our endeared service here! Please… please! I haven’t got a single minute to spare for you guys. Talking over this thing with you people is nonsense!” He pushed the ID card aside and tapped the table with the tip of his pen calling the next man behind me.
The other day I happened to be in an office for an interview to get a job. After probing me with a lot of questions, one of the examiners put forward to me the same question I am still facing in this country of mine.
“Where are you from?”
“Addis Ababa!” I was as fast as a flung-out pen knife to give my response politely.
“I mean your ethnicity… what is your ethnicity?” He said with broad but false smile.
‘Oh, my God! What is the significance of asking about ethnicity for a job which commonly demands professional efficiency?’ I taught to myself. Then, I cleared my throat and said: “I don’t know if this is… I mean…eh… eh… I was born and raised here in Addis Ababa. I think you can take down that I am an Ethiopian… Will you, please? I am sorry, I have no any idea for sure about my ethnic back ground.”
All the examiners suddenly burst in to laughter. Some of them were seen wiping their smiling wet eyes. What blunder did I make to swipe these gentlemen with laughter? … I was dumbfounded to notice that they were looking at me as if I came down from planet Mars. After this, I realized on the dot that I lost the chance of having the job… Then after, I heard from one of the examiners the last words. “Thank you for coming for the interview. We are through with our questions. You can go!”
I lost many things over the past 27 years for such simple thing. I have been deprived of my right to be an Ethiopian. I was rather made a laughingstock by some naïve individuals who failed to understand me. Some say with laughter making fun of me saying, “yearada lij biher yelewim”. This is to mean that a city boy has no ethnicity. This was our Ethiopia in which many poor innocent citizens like me were not given the chance to be Ethiopians.
Now the bygone time is long-gone (I believe it is a long-gone time). So, let bygones be bygones! … This day, things have been changed. We are embarking on the threshold of reform. The crooked act of belittling our Ethiopia in the bygone times has gone never to return. Therefore, please do give me back my Ethiopia. Allow me to be an Ethiopian. Don’t give me the go-by.
By Haile-Gebriel Endeshaw
