Africa
2000
Republic of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone has only recently emerged from the most horrifying
period in its history. In what will always be noted for its sheer
brutality, the Sierra Leone civil war devastated this small nation.
The combatants sank to such depths of depravity that they spared
no one - man, woman and child - the lucky survived with one or more
limbs forcibly amputated (without an anesthetic) to serve as a lesson.
Sierra Leone is West Africa's poorest country with the exception
of now narcotics infested Guinea Bissau. Yes, there are immense
reserves of valuable natural resources, including diamonds, that
hold the promise that Sierra Leone, if it continues along its current
peaceful path, will provide its citizens with a substantial livelihood.
However, decades of misrule have left the country impoverished even
by lowly African standards.
Sierra Leone is to the United Kingdom what Liberia is to the United
States as both nations were founded by former slaves brought from
across the Atlantic - the same rotes that took their ancestors into
bondage.
Sierra Leone's capital Freetown was established in 1787 by the British
government to be "a safe haven for Freed Slaves". The
progeny of these 'returning natives' now make up a community known
as Creole, which numbers a little over 70,000.
Sierra Leone became independent in 1961 following a process which
started with a pre-independence constitution in 1951. The nation
became a republic in 1971. However, politics began to show all the
signs of single party rule - in fact, such a system was adopted
officially by a 1979 referendum. The move to autocracy did bring
peace and stability for a while but poor governance and endemic
corruption compromised the "progress" achieved.
In 1996, a peace accord signed between the government and the Revolutionary
United Front ended a 5 year civil war that cost over 10,000 lives
Multi party politics was brought back in but a 1997 coup led to
new instability.
Nigeria intervened to restore Ahmed Tejan Kabbah.
Facts and Figures
Location- West coast of West Africa, Guinea on north and east,
Liberia on South
Area-71,740 sq km
Topography-Heavily indented coastline with mangrove swamps, wooded
hills, plateau in interior mountains in east
Population-6,005,250
Distribution - 39% urban
Ethnic Make-up-Temne, Mende, other tribes, Creole
Languages - English (official), Mende, Temne, Krio (English Creole)
Religions -Muslim, indigenous beliefs, Christian
Capital City - Freetown
Government Type -Republic
Head of State and Government - President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, since
1998
Currency - Leone (SLL) 2952.00 = $ 1 US
Gross Domestic Product - $ 4.9 bln
Per Capita GDP -$ 800
Economy -Diamonds, light industry, oil refining, coffee, ice, cocoa,
peanuts
Electricity Production - 240 mln kwh
Literacy - 35.1%
Life Expectancy - 38 male, 42.5 female
AIDS Rate - 1.6%
Ports - Freetown, Bonthe
Airports - 1
Rail Roads - 120 kilometers
Vehicles - 36,000 units
Telephones - 24,000 lines
Radios - 274 per 1000 people
TV sets - 13 per 1000 people
Internet -2005 users
Facts and figures are the latest available at time of publication
and may not necessarily be the most accurate.
Giorgio Gaslini,Italy’s
famed pianist in Addis
By Kirubel Tadesse
The piano is widely used in western music for solo performance,
chamber music, and accompaniment. It is also very popular as an
aid to composing and rehearsal. Although not portable and often
expensive, the piano's versatility and ubiquity have made it one
of the most familiar musical instruments. Together with the piano,
there are few talents the world appreciates for years of creativity
and contributions which have novelty and greater uniqueness.
Names like Girma Yiferashewa and a few others pop into our minds
if we are asked to come up with a short list of talented pianists
in Ethiopia. Last week the Italian Cultural Institute hosted world
renowned pianist, Giorgio Gaslini, for a solo performance enjoyed
by hundreds.
Giorgio Gaslini presented classic jazz, traditional and free improvisation
non stop for over 90 minutes. The audience appreciated the performances
from which some are his own compositions including 'Addis' which
he wrote after he arrived here for the performance. The audience
was also introduced with some stories of famous composers as Gaslini
took time to share his expertise, stories and experiences after
every two or three pieces.
A piano player, composer, Milanese orchestra conductor, world famous
and widely popular Italian jazz musician, Giorgio Gaslini, has to
his credit three thousand concerts and has made eight disks. He
has also composed soundtracks to more than 40 films.
From 1976 to the present, Gaslini has toured fifty countries on
all continents. He visited China and became the first jazz musician
to be invited by that country.
‘Demakochu’
: Opening-up pages of Ethiopian history
By Abiy Demilew
Exploring the richest pages of Ethiopian history, quite a number
of books have been written both by Ethiopians and expatriates in
various languages and in different times.
Coming from the thicken richness of the history of the country,
the number of the books written and their availability is always
marked by questions and confusion.
As history is only a story made by human characters, not much has
been written about the men and women behind the pages of history.
But sighting out the values and contributions of these personalities
marks a special connecting bridge between the former and present
generations by shining role models. This continuity helps to colorfully
score the future look of the country and its people.
Written and produced by Solomon Telahun and Simret Gebre Mariam,
Demakochu / the Illuminants/ is making a debut this week.
The color combination and cover design of the book catches the attention
of anyone and opens-up the reading appetite. Big names from various
walks of life have attested the quality and value of this book,
on the front, inside and back jacket.
The book dwells on 160 years of shining icons of different professional
scopes. From Onesis Nesiba a.k.a, Aba Gemechis, pioneer of Oromo
writing [1824-1923], to contemporary athlete Derartu Tulu, the book
explores different Ethiopian icons who made a difference in their
professional perspectives.
The book has every reason to be unique as it has gone beyond simply
writing a profile of someone to a well researched presentation which
explores various written materials like magazines, journals, newspapers,
radio features and most of all, numerous numbers of interviews conducted
by the writers themselves, to enrich the content.
Demakochu features politicians, poets, writers, athletes, music
writers and conductors and many others, in its collection of twenty
profiles.
Prof. Ashenafi Kebede, one of Ethiopia's greatest cultural treasures
- as composer, conductor, ethnomusicologist, historical musicologist,
music educator, novelist and poet - died May 8, at age 60, founder
of the country's surviving music school, Yared, and best known of
his masterpiece Shepherd with the flute and Emahoy Tsigemariam Gebru,
the first Ethiopian woman classical pianist, known of her piano
pieces, have been featured on pages of the book from the music category.
Laureate Tsegaye G.Medhin, Ethiopian leading poet, playwright, historian,
anthropologist and philosopher, Bealu Girma, journalist and writer
of classic books, Debebe Seifu, Poet & playwright have shined
pages of Demakochu with their countless contribution towards the
Ethiopian literature and the betterment of the society.
Besides their personal profiles and journeys in life, Demakochu,
in its colorful, poetic and descriptive presentation, reveals the
symbolic significance of the illuminants glittering in the pages
of Ethiopian history.
Even though there have been other initiatives and efforts in publishing
Ethiopian icons of bigger values and contributions, Demakochu seems
more organized and fully energized to dive beyond time and bring
out well researched profiles of the twenty icons in a single volume.
This book might be a significant input for all who are interested
to explore their own historical backgrounds and the characters behind.
This could even mean more for the young generation to draw its own
role models and build self-pride.
Demakochu, a meaningful drop of self reflection, also clicks a point
in adding value to the Ethiopian literature and to the availability
of organized written materials for today's and tomorrow's researchers
and writers.
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