Words that have been used
to describe the late Honorable Dr. Senedu Gebru include Resistance
fighter, philanthropist, educator, feminist, patriot, author, teacher
and mother. History may
remember her foremost as the first woman elected to Parliament, but her
contributions to this nation were so many and varied, she
could rightly be considered Ethiopia’s Renaissance Woman of the 20th
century.
Although it might seem like more Ethiopians from abroad are moving back to Ethiopia than ever before, it is also true that the much greater outflow of Ethiopians leaving the country in search of better opportunity abroad, continues unabated.
Written by Melaku Sahlu - Horizon Ethiopia Staff Writer
Tuesday, 18 December 2007
It's founding, growth and development, are not rooted in colonization. Just over a century old, Addis Ababa
is the last of many capitals of the great Abyssinian Empire over the past 2000 years. The capital has shifted every few centuries primarily due
to exhaustion of wood resources for fuel and construction.
The Establishment of Addis Ababa
In 1881, Emperor Menelik II moved from the north to the Entotto mountains to allow him better control of southern
Ethiopia. In 1886, the capital was moved from the hills down to the current site of Addis Ababa reportedly due to Empress Taitu being drawn to
the Fel Weha hot springs. The new location was also more advantageous due to its potential for expansion and Emperor Menelik named it, Addis
Ababa – “New Flower”.
Ethiopia's victory over Italy at Adwa in 1896 was a stunning defeat of a European power which solidified Menelik’s
power and fame and brought peace and stability to the region. Addis Ababa survived as the permanent capital of Ethiopia for a number of reasons.
First, foreigners who had flocked to the capital of the now famous Menelik II, the 'Champion of Adwa.', invested heavily in the city
constructing elaborate homes and shops. Secondly, the completion of the railway from Addis Ababa to Djibouti in 1917 expanded trade and firmly
established Addis Ababa as the political, commercial and cultural capital of Ethiopia. Third, when wood for fuel and construction was exhausted,
Emperor Menelik imported and successfully planted vast quantities of the fast-growing Eucalyptus tree seedlings from Australia thus averting
another relocation of the capital.
Emperor Menelik was a progressive king who was quick to embrace new ideas and technologies. Thus electricity, telephone,
camera, the gramophone, postal service and the automobile were all introduced to Addis Ababa during his reign.
The Italian
Occupation
By the mid-1930's, Addis Ababa with a population of 300,000 was firmly established as the nation's capital and largest
city. Thus Mussolini’s Italy targeted Addis Ababa for capture and colonization seeking not only revenge for their humiliation at Adwa in
1896, but also a slice of the 'African Pie' that had been divied up by other European nations. On May 2, 1936, Emperor Haile Selassie I fled
Addis Ababa, anticipating the Italian invasion of the capital. During Italy’s five year occupation of Addis Ababa, Italian & Ethiopian
laborers constructed dozens of European style offices, shops, flats and houses. The city plan was drafted in accordance with a strict social
policy of segregation of races. Thus, Casa INCIS (Kazanchis) and Popolare were established to be Italian-only sectors. During their short stay,
the Italians constructed a paved road network and a dam at Gafarsa to provide water and power to the city.
Post War
Development
After the Italian retreat in 1941, Emperor Haile Selassie continued Menelik’s legacy of modernizing the city by
expanding road construction and telephone service. He established the country’s first airline and modern airport as well as trade centers,
banks, insurances and modern government structures. Haile Selassie established many elementary, secondary and vocational schools as well as the
nation’s first university. He invested large amounts of capital to bring in scholars from abroad for the education sector and also granted
scholarships to students with good grades to study abroad and bring back their education and experience to Ethiopia.
Addis Ababa began its rise to mega city status
between 1967 and 1975 when rural to urban migration in Ethiopia was at its peak. This growth upset the social balance of the city as more people
competed for jobs in all sectors. Inflation combined with a lack of jobs for qualified college graduates led to widespread student protests. A
coup ensued in 1974, toppling Haile Selassie’s imperial regime and established a socialist military government.
Addis during
the Communist Regime
During the Derg’s 17 year reign commencing in 1975, almost nothing was done to develop the capital city since the
government’s priority was first to consolidate power through defense/military build up and secondly to rural development, in particular in
the area of combating illiteracy. Additionally, the Derg regime’s communist ideology was against private sector development, so economic
growth in Addis Ababa was very slow.
Though the population of Addis Ababa continued to increase between 1975 and 1987, the rate of growth declined. Rural to
urban migration decreased mainly due to a 1975 reform program which provided economic incentives for peasants to stay on their land and strict
government restrictions on travel between 1975 and 1980.
Meti Yilma is a radio show host, poet, writer, MC, one time tv
personality and a number of other things besides. Including, a top 4 finisher in 2006's Survivor Africa.
Sehin Teferra
is a freelance trainer and consultant with an academic background in
international development and gender equity. She has written since her teens, and invites your comments and
thoughts on her observations.
There is no question that there is a lot of agricultural investment occurring in Ethiopia right now. The question is how much of that is being initiated by Ethiopians?
Despite a global downturn in real estate prices, it seemed like Ethiopia's market was impervious to it all. But there are signs which point to an inevitable downturn in the near future. Just how far down prices will go is anybody's guess.
After emigrating abroad, going to school and then opening a successful business in London, it only took a vacation to Tewodros Tadesse's hometown of Hawassa to convince him to leave everything behind and move back once and for all.
ESAI celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Horizon Ethiopia would like to congratulate them on their achievements through the years and wishes them another decade and more of continued success.
He’s broken every record he’s ever gone for so what mission are we talking about? Here’s a clue…it has absolutely nothing to do with sports.
Internet connection rates take another dive.
Coffee Round Table held at Hilton right after EAFCA 2010 and ECX's launch of Direct Specialty Trade.
There is no question that there is a lot of agricultural investment occurring in Ethiopia right now. The question is how much of that is being initiated by Ethiopians?
Despite a global downturn in real estate prices, it seemed like Ethiopia's market was impervious to it all. But there are signs which point to an inevitable downturn in the near future. Just how far down prices will go is anybody's guess.
After emigrating abroad, going to school and then opening a successful business in London, it only took a vacation to Tewodros Tadesse's hometown of Hawassa to convince him to leave everything behind and move back once and for all.
ESAI celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Horizon Ethiopia would like to congratulate them on their achievements through the years and wishes them another decade and more of continued success.
