Back in Addis
Back in Addis after a two months break in Europe. This time I feel I am coming back to a familiar environment, I can’t quite call it home as this … Continue reading
Embassy life in Addis
As I am preparing to travel to Europe for the summer and momentarily interrupt writing on this blog, I need to mention a few words about the “true expat life” … Continue reading
The Emperor’s old Palace
I am currently reading a fascinating biography of the late emperor Haile Selassie by the Italian historian Angelo del Boca, an author who has written extensively about the Horn of … Continue reading
Fall of the Derg
Last week Ethiopia celebrated the fall of the Derg regime (on 28 May on the international calendar to be precise). The Derg (which means committee in Amharic) was the bloody … Continue reading
Addis 1960s Architecture
I recently attended a conference at the Goethe Institute on 1960s architecture in Addis. Addis may not be known internationally for its architecture, however it has some unique examples of … Continue reading
Expat life carries on as AU celebrates its 50th anniversary
I don’t need to mention that Addis Abeba was in the news this weekend with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the African Union, the pan-African organisation based in … Continue reading
Job not permitted
There are days I really have no inspiration to write so limited my life in Addis feels. If I didn’t constantly make an effort to get out to expose myself … Continue reading
Ethiopia in America
Back into my golden cage after a temporary escape to NYC. Hard to come back after two weeks of freedom. To my surprise, what I enjoyed the most there wasn’t … Continue reading
Women in Addis (V): Amakeletch and La Parisienne pastry shop
Amakeletch Teferi is another woman entrepreneur who runs a successful business in Addis. Initially trained as an agronomist, she set up the chain of café-bakeries La Parisienne a with her family 15 … Continue reading
Women of Addis (IV): Bethlehem and her soleRebels organic shoes
Everybody in Addis is wearing soleRebels shoes or sandals, the fair trade shoes developed a few years ago by young woman entrepreneur Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu. At just 32, she is … Continue reading
Salambo in Addis 