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I
begin writing this column this week, a bit anxious
and dismayed. Although there may be a significant
number of issues that raise the concern of residents
of this city, mine focuses more on our priorities.
As a society, and a somewhat informed public, it is
sad to note the topics of interest that seem to be
grabbing the general attention are far from being
worthy of time, let alone front page news.
Today, I would like to discuss the sudden
infatuation and fad that has begun surrounding the
celebrity. It seems that the rise of the magazine
culture has also given rise to the love of
celebrities and celebrity gossip that comes along
with them. When we get to hear the daily actions and
intimate secrets of a person, we begin to feel that
they are a part of us, we may even take it so far as
to assume we know that person.
This was never much of an issue in Ethiopia, as many
actors that went through the theatre and television,
as many popular musical artists as we have had,
their status was never taken to the extremes, to the
point where their lives would be considered one’s
own. This could partly be attributed to the fact
that the two main religions, Orthodox Christianity
and Islam, for the most part, condemned that sort of
thing anyway.
These days, this does not appear to be the case. It
seems as though the public is more infatuated with
the celebrities in the country rather than with
their own daily lives. Though this could be deemed
the same form of celebrity infatuation that is seen
in most every other part of the world, I suppose it
bothers me a bit that it has seeped into such a
proud and seemingly impenetrable people, a nation
that has never been colonised.
There is no better example than the sensationalism
over the recent arrest, and consequent denial of
bail, of Tedros Kassahun (Teddy Afro) that has
gripped the media and the general public; he has
become the topic of conversation among both fans and
non-fans alike. The Prosecution alleges that Teddy
was driving his BMW at 1:30am in Kebelle 14 of Arada
District, when he hit a pedestrian, who was crossing
from the right to the left side of the street.
Dereje Yibeltal was killed as a result of Teddy not
giving him the right of way, this according to the
prosecution. The defence, on behalf of Teddy on the
other hand, claims that he did not kill anyone and
that the dent on the BMW came from a wall he hit
because he was driving while drowsy.
However you may want to interpret the allegations
and defence stances of the case, it behoves me to
think that this is what the media feels to be the
most interesting thing to feed to the public, or
even more worryingly, that the reading and listening
public is so eager to hear it so much. Although the
subject may be interesting to mention in passing,
like the kind of conversation you use to fill up
awkward moments, I am appalled that it is receiving
the sort of media coverage that it has been.
Let us, really quickly, take time for a reality
check. We are living with a double-digit inflation;
life has become so expensive, that many are not able
to provide for their families anymore. The political
landscape in which Ethiopia currently exists is
actually non-existent, outside of a semi-flexible
tyranny. Electricity is something that we have to
pray for these days, as if it is some miracle from
God as opposed to a service that we are paying for.
Water is just about as scarce, especially in urban
areas, with lakes and rivers disappearing at an
alarming rate. Food shortages, as well as their
steadily increasing prices have made three meals a
day a dream, once again.
With all these issues, not to mention unemployment,
gas prices, lack of infrastructure housing, and
deforestation; where are our priorities if the front
page of every single newspaper in town has a pop
star and his arrest as the leading piece? What
exactly is the message being sent and received? Have
we, as an-information starved public been given the
information that we would rather read more and more
about one pop celebrity rather than about the more
serious endeavours of our nation and people? Or is
it that the media thinks that this is what is in the
forefront of our brains and therefore that is the
thing that is going to grab our attention and push
us to buy the paper and for it to sell like
hotcakes? Whatever the game that is being played
here, I am certainly not pleased with it.
Entire features and analysis is being done on this
young man. This is by no means an attempt to take
anything away from his achievements at all, on the
contrary he should, like all others, be given his
due. That is, after all, what the arts and leisure
sections and magazines are for. But when serious
print media goes so far as to give a traffic case
(granted one that turned into a criminal one) this
much coverage, especially when the person involved
is an entertainer (for crying out loud look up the
root of the word Azmari, when you get the
chance) when we are living in times of dire straits
is inexcusable to me.
Let me blow the archaic horn as I am prone to do,
once again, and remind everyone that this is not
something that our fathers and their fathers before
them would have done. They would not have lined up
at the High Courts if Tilahun Gessesse was arrested
for something, they may have said something like “deros”
but not fanaticized over it, as is the case now. I
wish we will all come to our senses, hopefully
sooner than later.
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