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New Year's Eve was joyous. It looked like the
residents of the metropolis took to the streets to
entertain themselves and guests in the closing hours
of the waning year and made it their own business in
spite of the cancellations of the Big Run and other
events at Meskel Square. Thousands of families were
out in the streets of the capital as never before;
many were walking their children enjoying the
illuminated street lights. The head lights of the
jammed vehicles were unexpected extras to brighten
the already illuminated capital.
The security officers stood in bewilderment watching
the peace and tranquillity that filled the
atmosphere perhaps wishing to join the band. Nature
proved its worth; the weather was ideal. The roads
were even crowded more nocturnally than they are
during daytime. The sun rays in broad daylight were
as hot as red pepper of yesteryears.
After the planting of trees and cleaning the city,
it seemed that all the preparations of the Ethiopian
Millennium celebrations, being celebrated after
seven years of the rest of the world's Millennium,
were sized by the musical concerts and glowing
sparks of fireworks at different locations in the
capitals of the federal states and Addis Abeba. The
metropolis in particular had organised musical
concerts at the Millennium Hall, opposite the Bole
Bridge, Jan Meda and the National Stadium and
fireworks at different places. The residents of the
Addis, however, had their added concerts at
convenient sites including Meskel Square, albeit for
a short while, Mercato, Arada and many other
localities. The media was doing a plausible job
touring around and keeping viewers all over the
world in touch with what was going on in these
places.
The Bole Hall hosted not only government officials
and dignitaries but also heads of neighbouring
states that came to celebrate the Ethiopian
Millennium which is also the African Millennium. The
most exciting event of the evening was the apt and
historic speech delivered by Alpha Omar Konare
(Professor), chairperson of the African Union (AU)
Commission. If the whole point of the Ethiopian
Millennium was to promote the country by telling its
history to the rest of the world, I think nobody
could do it any better than the Professor. In fact,
the historic chronology could have been converted
into graphics and displayed at City Hall or any
other convenient forum. People called from Europe to
tell me of their appreciations of the speech.
Music was aplenty; it looks like music is in the
veins of Ethiopians. That does not by any means
confirm that every piece of music presented was
flawless. Some people complained that at such a
prodigal moment like the Ethiopian Millennium
designed to show the world Ethiopia's cultural
heritages, staging a Western musical concert at the
prime time of the ceremony was just out of tune to
use the musical parlance.
The guest band may have international fame because
of the qualities of its modern music and its
celebrities. That however, has very little to do
with the Ethiopian Millennium. The country ought to
have benefited from this special forum by delivering
her unique wealth in music of the 80 or so
nationalities and ethnic groups.
The stage was excellent and the sound system had
little to be desired. Some of our soul veteran
singers seemed to be either presumptuous or unaware
of their audience's ability to judge good music when
they hear it. This writer had time and again
advocated on behalf of Aster's perception of
Ethiopian music.
After watching on ETV what she presented on the eve
of the New Year, I thought perhaps the feeling of
complacency has surged into the head of 'Ethiopia's
little Aretha Franklin' whom we used to endear so
much. Frolicking all over the stage is best left for
younger ones, and her voice was no different than
her shout or yelling.
Elsewhere too the songs were filled with nostalgic
lyrics accusing Ethiopians in the Diaspora oblivious
of the amount of foreign exchange remitted to the
poor country that pledges to eradicate poverty by
all means. The singers tell us that there is nothing
like one's own country meaning the Ethiopians in the
Diaspora ought to come back.
Where do the Ethiopians that have come and invested
their money on various lucrative projects get the
money from? The funny thing is that these same
singers advise the Diaspora to do something for
their beloved country!
Have you noticed that most of the so called new
albums released is vocal about loving "Mama
Ethiopia"? How can one express his love for his
country?
Seven years ought to have been enough time to
produce a couple of musical producers and directors
as well as programme coordinators who could have
managed the whole show properly. We have one year in
hand to prepare for the welcoming of the Third
Ethiopian Millennium.
The Millennium celebrations was not only about
planting trees, cleaning streets or listening to
music and watching fireworks. It was also about
freedom from prison for hundreds of prison mates who
surprised their families by their unexpected
presence at home. It has also brought some
money-induced happiness to hundreds of thousands of
civil servants who were paid their increments for
the New Year.
I have witnessed the bliss of a teacher who was able
to buy a ram for his family paying 700 Br and walk
with raised head, both hands in trouser pockets.
Money makes all the difference if market prices are
controlled somehow. The Ethiopian Telecommunications
Corporation (ETC) cell phone subscribers were also
happier when they saw that SMS messenger services
were set free. Rhetoric seems to be materialising
for at least active civil servants.
The Millennium is a glimmer of hope for millions of
Ethiopians who wished tolerance, peace and
prosperity for their country. Sheikh Mohammed Al-Amoudi,
who was deservedly awarded a special Millennium gold
medal at a special ceremony held Thursday evening in
the presence of all government officials at the
Grand Palace, promised that he would like to
eradicate the word poverty from the Ethiopian scene
within the coming five years; Insh' Allah!
The ball has started rolling. It is for the rest of
us to accelerate its momentum.
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