Addis: the vibrant city

BY LEULSEGED WORKU

It is early in the morning. There are squatter community living in blue plastic shelter that erect here and there. They are not legal houses, but they a living place for legal people. Children with school uniform have stood in front of their plastic shelter. These shelters are a place where the poor struggle to survive. There is no refrigerator, no TV or rest room. They are simply a plastic shelters.

Once, this area was the dwelling places for the poor founders of Addis Ababa. But, one or two years ago they have cleaned away by city Administration.

Not far from these plastic shelters, there stood Sheraton Addis--one of the international hotel in the city. It is a place where one can enjoy the beauty of life; it is a place where you can find the wealthiest individuals; it is a place where you can get standard service. Unlike the previous plastic shelters where toilets are considered luxury, here in Sheraton restrooms are really “recreation” rooms. They are a place where your ears will enjoy with best classical musics.

Addis Abab is one of the most dynamic cities in Africa. As the population of the city is growing rapidly, meeting the housing demands of residents has been one of the major challenges. Hence, the city government is making unreserved efforts to address the acute housing problem in the metropolis. The construction of massive condominium housing units across the city is one of these efforts.

Moreover, to help change the face of Addis ababa, the city government has launched the urban renewal program. Some parts of the inner city old neighborhoods have been demolished to build modern condominium blocks. To that end, the city government is pumping huge amount of money into housing programs.

Very recently Italian photographer and writer Adrianon was here in Addis. During his stay he had organized a photograph at Taitu Hotel. And I had been with him to ask the objective of his photograph exhibition and his experience here in Addis.

Adrianon has visited Ethiopia for the first time in 2012. when he came to Ethiopia he was impressed with everything he saw. It is a generous land where you could find a real meaning of warm treatment. It is also a land where you can find different cultural practices and full of history. Before I came to Ethiopia I had a negative perception about Ethiopia and Ethiopians. This fear came to me due to Italian occupation of Ethiopia during the colonial era. Thus, i had a false perception that the people might have a negative feeling towards me. However, to my surprise, they were treating me like a brother.

Starting from that time, whenever I need to talk about Ethiopia, I prefer to start from its people. Ethiopians are very generous to me. They have a culture of treating any man warmly. No matter what your color is, if you approach them positively they are always positive for you.

According to Adrianon, Addis Ababa is the political, cultural and economic nerve center of Ethiopia. It is also the land of African Union, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and other relational and international Organizations. The city bring together leaders and business men to shape and enhance the region's economic and political transformation.

As the “diplomatic capital” of Africa, Addis Ababa is making a fast economic progress. In fact, the political climate of the city is highly favorable to nurture a robust democracy, good governance and enhance social economic development.

Responding the theme of his photographs, Adrianon said, my pictures are the reflection of the vibrant city of Addis. This city is moving very fast. Everything in Addis abab is in constant change. Addis Ababa is a young city, just 125 years old. This city is the symbol of African renaissance. Thus, i can say that, My pictures are mainly focused on the new developmental activities of the city. I was here some years ago and I can witness the economic progress throughout the city. The new Bole road and other infrastructural development are my examples.

The city is experiencing a massive urban expansion, evolving at a fast pace. Its population is expected to rise from 3milions in 2010 up to 8milions in 2025. In order to cope with the housing emergency in a city where 80% is classified as “slum”, in 2005 Ethiopian Federal Government has started a “condominiums” building program, for a middle class which however is not yet consistent.

An economic growth between 8 and 10 per cent of the GDP in the latest 10 years (one of the highest rates in Africa), the outstanding achievement in schooling (almost 100%) and in infant mortality (decreased by 40% since 2000), wait in Ethiopia to be paired by a more equitable wealth distribution.

During my stay with him, Adrianon further commented that, government's effort in building new condominium units is very encouraging. But, policy makers and other concerned bodies should also consider the social parts too. According to him, while resettling people during rehabilitation programs they (policy makers) should also be careful in keeping the social bondage of that particular community. In this regard, they must keep intact the previous social bondage.

According to him, the experience of other countries shows that, no matter what kind of house you provide them, no matter how shabby house they have, people needs their previous social bondage. Thus, while government and policy makers cleaned the area for developmental activities or to construct condominium, they should be concerned about the social needs of that particular group.

Writer and photojournalist Adriano Valerio Marzi was born in Rome 1976. Specialized in reportage, he has traveled in more than 50 countries in the Americas, Africa and Asia.

Attended Terza Università di Roma, after graduating with full marks in Political & Environmental Economics he has specialized on Development Economics & International Cooperation at Iuss Master in Pavia. For a number of years had been working for UN agencies and Ngo's worldwide. Then, according to Adriano, he decided to devote himself fully to his passion- storytelling.

Adriano is a traveler with a notebook and a camera walk through deserts and forests, climbed the Alps, the Andes, the Himalayas and the African roof.