The Millennium fever is in full swing, fuelled by a debate following the disclosure of a private businessman's spending of his own money in a project perhaps off-mark for a concert hall. Although none of his 10 million dollar investment comes from the public coffer, many appear to be disgusted by the degree of extravaganza they are promised to see in just a few months.

Gossip corridor is divided over the wisdom of this investment. Some claim they would rather see the money spent on hospitals and schools, while others argue that you can only place a priority on projects involving public funds. The latter appear to be respectful of what an individual does with his own money so long as he operates within the bounds of the law.

But whether the Sheikh is to attend one of the early millennial events this week is yet to be seen tonight. President Girma W. Giorgis and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, on behalf of the Government of Ethiopia, have sent out close to 1,000 invitation cards to a cross section of people to attend a dinner party at the Jubilee Palace tonight, according to gossip. Many of the business people, including those who are known to be distasteful of the ruling party, are included in this invitation that requires a strict dressing code: black suit, traditional outfit or a military uniform.

It would be exciting to see many of the invitees adorn the hall and carpeted stairs of the Palace where top brass of the Emperor's government once did in the same room. It could also be an opportunity to gauge for those who are not invited, for whatever reason, how mush they have fallen out of favour in the eyes of the powerful Revolutionary Democrats.

If you were to think Sunday's dinner, called in connection with the 16th anniversary of the fall of the brutal Derg regime, is all for the week, hold your breath. There is more to come the following day; the synod (executive committee) of the Revolutionary Democrats has invited a much shorter list of Sunday's invitees for yet another dinner at the Officers' Club. These selected few, close to 200 according to gossip, will enjoy the audience of the chief priest of the Revolutionary Democrats.

This dinner, scheduled to begin at 6:00pm on May 28, is on the anniversary of the day when the rebels, led by Meles Zenawi, ousted the once seemingly mighty military force in sub-Saharan Africa, 16 years ago.

Yes, wars have been fought in the past Millennium. Indeed, they were won and lost, even though many of them were told in the twisted eyes of their writers. If you were to be challenged to name one of these thousands of battles fought on Ethiopian soil, within and against aggressors, as the victory of the Millennium, gossip bets that the quiz would be exceptionally difficult. Not so much so for the Revolutionary Democrats.

Those who are privileged enough to be on the list of Monday's dinner have received invitation cards from the ruling party that described the victory on May 28, 1991, as the "Victory of the Millennium", claims gossip.

Well, as tradition has it around here, every anniversary needs something that makes it peculiar for the year. This is thus the year of the Millennium, and anniversary of the victory. Cheers, for those who will be dinning and wining celebrating the "Victory of the Millennium" today and tomorrow nights.