‘Readers are leaders’
By Tsion Aklilu
Ethiopian Books for Children and Educational Foundation (EBCEF), was established with the aim of encouraging and the habit of reading. It has been almost six years since it started its noble movement.
The organization is launching a book celebration week for the fourth time with ‘Readers are leaders’ as this year’s motto.
Starting from today, April 1 the celebration is expected to last for seven days. President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Girma Woldegiorgis, is expected to inaugurate the launching of the celebration. EBCEF has organized different programs, one of which will be awarding star readers. International Children’s book Day, the anniversary of the organization and book and bread days will be some of the celebrations through out the week. At the inauguration, President Girma will also open the first model school library in Ethiopia, Chavel's Library and Reading Center which EBCEF has established in Yewket Fana Elementary and Secondary Public School.
Lucy in family affair
By Tsion Aklilu
The Beatles were the shining band then. Lucy in the Sky, one of their famous tunes , was not just a rock song. It became the name for the ‘first’ human being of the universe.
In 1974, two archeologists, Donald Johansson and Tomy Gray, unearthed the 3.2 mil year old Australopiticus de afarensis. Ethiopia from then on is identified as the foundation of human evolution.
Much has been said about Lucy worldwide. “Ups and downs of Lucy and her family are narrated in the novel,” says author Dereja. Almost nothing has been said or done about this valued ‘mother’ of all human beings according to science. Twenty five years since her discovery, the real fossil was displayed in public only twice.
Dereje feels this generation has a lot to do to maintain the culture and history. “People take her as a nobody, but she is the first citizen of the universe”
He is not a historian or history student but rather studied mathematics. However, Lucy has touched his heart. Whenever he went to visit the replica of her fossil, a feeling of loneliness strikes him-seeing her sealed in the cold and broken glass. So he picked up his pen, devised a story, set a plot and assembled characters to accompany the Lucy of long ago.
Dereje is expecting his book to be launched officially on April 29, 2007 at the National Museum. “It is the home for this poor thing since the book is about Lucy we should feel her spirit at the inauguration”, said a passionate Dereje.
Ethiopian features on m-net’s deal or no deal
Ethiopian Amsale Banteheyehun will be featured on the M-NET game show DEAL OR NO DEAL on Monday April 9. DStv audiences can see her play for a cash prize on the show. The 28-year-old Amsale, nicknamed Mimi, is an IT officer in Addis and holds a BSC in Computer Science. Describing herself as sociable, witty, fair, optimistic and friendly, Amsale says that if she wins the big USD 100 000 show prize, she will "invest it, give it away or join graduate school."
But whether Amsale wins big on the show depends on whether she chooses the right combination of suitcases!
For audiences who don't know how DEAL OR NO DEAL works, read on...
At the start of each episode, the contestant is asked to pick one suitcase from 26 available cases.
That sealed suitcase is then given to the contestant, to remain sealed while the game is in progress.
Then the game of choice begins: the contestant must open the remaining 25 suitcases one at a time. As the suitcases are opened so the amounts revealed are struck from a big screen money grid, bringing us ever closer to knowing what amount is held in the contestant’s case.
But there’s a catch…
The Show Banker can buy back the contestant’s case, based on what amounts are left in play and on what the banker feels the case is worth. So at predetermined intervals the contestant is given a bank offer. The contestant now decides whether it is a ‘Deal or No Deal’ – to take the bank offer or to continue opening cases.
If the contestant decides not to take the deal and then opens low value cases, then the greater the chance that their sealed case has a lot of money inside it! Thus the next bank offer is likely to also go up. But if the contestant opens high value cases, then the lower the chance that the sealed case has a lot of money inside it…In this case, the banker may choose to lower his offer!
So will Amsale make a good deal? Tune in to DEAL OR NO DEAL on M-Net (DStv channel 3) to find out.
Right on Yitagesu
By Tsion Aklilu
Up and coming singer Yitagesu Getachew has released a single under the theme One-to-One. He is expecting his complet album to be released before the new millennium dawn.
Yitagesu said, “One of my songs is about the millennium and I am hopeful it will feature on the celebrated day.”
The first time he appeared on stage was three years ago at a talent show. The contest was held at Alem Cinema where he won the category of ‘best amateur musician’. According to Yitagesu that win motivated him to proceed with his career.
He wrote and produced “Likim Yalech” . Which advises on HIV/AIDS. He said he has invested about 70 thousand birr in producing the track.
Africa 2000
Botswana
Africa 2000 is a special section that will appear regularly up to the Ethiopian new millennium festival and through out the millennial year. Africa 2000 features a brief arts and culture profile of each AU member state. Capital believes that an enhanced awareness of the rich diversity of Africa will help in making the New Ethiopian Millennium a truly African celebration. We hope that Africa 2000 willeducate, inform, update and help promote intra-Africa relations as envisioned by the 8th Ordinary Summit of AU Heads of State.
Brief history
Botswana is in southern Africa and a country of marked contrasts. It is midsized by African standards but is actually larger than Spain. Surrounded clockwise by a sliver of Zambia and Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia, Botswana is one of Africa’s most sparsely populated countries. The area was first settled by bushmen, of which only scattered communities remain . The Bantu people then inhabited the area. In 1886, the region fell under British control and was named Bechuanaland. Great Britain was compelled to move into the area to stem incursions by the Boers and Germans of South Africa. Botswana gained independence in 1966.
From balmy swamplands to the searing heat of the Kalahari Desert and the cool breezes of the plains regions, Botswana offers fascinating sightseeing. It is an arid land but with so few people to support and with agriculture non-intensive, Botswana is mainly a mineral resource economy.
Botswana is in many respects the envy of most developing nations. This is because of its great economic resources of minerals and precious stones which has enabled it to give its people a per capital GDP approaching 10,000 USD - the highest figure in sub-Saharan and second only to Libya’s.
Coupled with a very small population size, this economic prosperity has enabled the citizens to acquire not only the basic amenities of life but also to live at a standard more akin to developed nation. Botswana could indeed be considered Africa’s most successful country… if it were not also the hardest hit victim of HIV/AIDS anywhere in the world. The disease has afflicted the nation in ways and on a scale that is hard to imagine, let alone understand and combat. With infection rates at 37.7%, Botswana has nearly 400,000 HIV positive people in a population of less than 1.7 million. The only saving grace of the rich economy has been universal funding of anti-retro-viral drugs by the government.
Botswana Art and Culture
Botswana’s indigenous inhabitants are the Hotentot Bushmen whose semi nomadic culture is challenged but still manages to survive. The life of the bushmen is one of harmony with his enivorment and a repect for nature that borders on worship. Cave paintings and rituals display a seamless partnership with a harsh landscape which demands an active understanding of the enviorments importance. An oral people, bushmen history is alive in their stories and legends, which are the highlight of the firelit evenings when the clan gathers for fellowship.
Modern Botswana’s art and culture is heavily influenced by its large neighbors and most strongly by South Africa. Botswana’s music scene is much like that of the tunes coming out of the mining and shanty towns of South Africa. Not all that surprising as a large number of Botswana's work in South Africa. It’s not only the southern giant that has influenced Gaborone sounds, but also the DRC-the continental music powerhouse with its infectious style which has become the definition for African music.
Botswana is better known for its authors, which are very few, but with worldwide readership bolsterd by favourable criticism at international book awards. Among the more successful is the late Bessie Amelia Emery, a mixed race Botswana best known for “ When Rain Clouds Gather 1957, her debut novel and ‘Serowe– The Village of The Rain Wind’, 1981, which pays tribute to her home town.
Art and culture have been particularly affected by the country’s high HIV/AIDS infection rate as many young and promising singers, poets, painters and other artistic personalities succumbed to the virus.
Vital Facts
Location: - In Southern Africa, Namibia on North and West, South Africa on S, Zimbabwe on NE;Zambia on N.
Area:- 600,370sq km
Topography: - Kalahari Desert in SW, swamps in North, plains in East.
Population: - 1,640,115
Distribution : - 51.6% urban
Principal Ethnic Groups: - Tswana 79%, Kalanga 11%, Busarwa 3%
Principal Languages: - English (official), Setswana
Principal Religions: - Christian 72%, none 20.6%
Government Type:- Parliamentary Republic
Head of State and Government:- President Festus Mogue, since 1998
Capital city:- Gaborone, 199,000
Major cites:- Mabatho, Serowe, Palapye
Economy:- Diamonds, copper, nickel, salt
GDP Growth:- 3.5%
Per capita GDP:- 9,200 USD
Currency:- pula (BWP) 5.36-1 USD
Literacy:-79.8%
Life expectancy :- 33.9 male, 33.8 female
AIDS Rate:- 37.3%
Daily Newspaper circulation:-27 per 1000
TV sets:-21 per 1000
Radios:-154 per 1000
Internet:-80,000 users
Facts and figures are the latest available at time of publication and may not necessarily be the most accurate .
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