Africa 2000

Kingdom of Morocco

The Kingdom of Morocco is a fascinating mosaic of Berber, Arab, Black African, French and Jewish influences making for a diverse population of 32 mln.
The kingdom is one of just three remaining monarchies in Africa and derives its name from its original inhabitants – the ‘Moors’ (a Berber people). The area was also a part of various empires including Carthage and the Roman Empire.
The Arabs arrived in the mid 600s and by 683, had conquered present day Morocco.
The Berbers were again on the ascendancy when by 1000 they had established a powerful empire known to Europe as the feared Moors and occupied the entire northwestern region of Africa and almost all of Spain for several centuries.
Indigenous Moroccan kingdoms began to decline in the late 1800s as first Spain and more significantly, France dominated the land. The locals however, did not accommodate subjugation without putting up a struggle. Between 1911 and 1933, there were uprisings against French colonial rule.
Morocco gained independence on March 2, 1956. The same year saw the international port of Tangier – one of Africa’s most beautiful cities, return to its rightful hinterland.
Spain also gave up its enclave of Ifni in 1969. However, despite Moroccan displeasure Spain continues to hold on to Mellila and Ceuta, on the Moroccan mainland.
The late King Hassan II was crowned in 1961 and ruled for 38 years until he passed away in 1999 after a long illness. King Hassan II was highly respected in his country and also as one of Africa’s elder statesmen. Under Hussan II, Morocco registered significant strides in economic development and the late ruler is accredited with providing Morocco stable but firm guidance.
He was succeeded to the throne by son and heir in line King Mohammed II, on July 23, 1999. The new king instituted a series of political and economic reforms including a consultative monarchy with a bicameral legislature. Morocco is reputed as a multi-ethnic, multi-language nation with a strong tradition of secularism. Morocco earns more income from the service sector (45%) than from agriculture (40%). The service sector boasts Morocco’s dynamic and highly lucrative tourist industry and the nation is one of Africa’s premier tourist destinations.

Facts and Figures
Location- North west Africa, Western Sahara on south, Algeria on east, Spain on north, Atlantic on the west
Area- 446,550 sq km
Topography- Mountain ranges, plains, plateaus and pre-Sahara zone into south
Population- 33,757,175
Distribution –58.7 % urban
Ethnic Make-up- Arab-Berber
Languages – Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French
Religions – Muslim
Other cities- Casablanca,Tangier, Agadir, Fes, Safi
Capital City – Rabat, pop- 1,647,000
Government Type – Constitutional monarchy
Head of State–King Mohammed VI, since 1999
Head of Government- P.M. Abbas El Fassi, since 2007
Currency- Dirham (MAD) 8.11 = $1 US
Gross Domestic Product - $ 152.5 bln
Per Capita GDP -$ 4,600
Economy – Barley, wheat, citrus, food proe, leather products, textiles, mining, tourism
Electricity Production – 21.4 bln kwh
Life Expectancy – 68.9 male, 73.7 female
AIDS Rate – 0.1%
Airports – 26
Literacy rate- 52.3%
Ports- Agadir, Casablanca,Tangier
Rail Roads – 1907 kms
Vehicles –1.8 mln units
Telephones –1.3 mln lines
Radios – 247 per 1000 people
TV sets – 165 per 1000 people
Daily newspaper circulation – 29.1 per 1000 people
Internet –6.1 mln users

Facts and figures are the latest available at time of publication and may not necessarily be the most accurate.

Forum drama educates theatrically

By Kirubel Tadesse

Forum plays are different in their setup from regular theatres as they let the audience participate in the performance and influence the storyline. Forum theatres are very interactive. The term ‘forum theatre’ is used to describe a particular style of workshop in which participants can intervene in short plays to enable the exploration of a particular subject or behavior which a group of teachers and graduating students from Finland found suitable to adopt on its three week tour of Ethiopia.
The group is composed of five teachers and ten students from North-Karelia College Niittylahti and theatre group Teatteri-Traktori. They visited four schools starting from February 16 to March 7, 2008. The language barrier was not a problem as it didn’t stop the future youth workers of Finland from sharing their experience and educating children through their performances.
The ten students, accompanied by their instructors, have been teaching students in the four schools including ‘Gelem’, a pubic school in Kaliti and also in Awassa, on how to draw cartoons and set up educational games and dramas. The forum plays average about 30 minutes and were enjoyed by students of the participating schools, who are between 10 and 16 years. Mainly, the forum plays deal with hygiene and environmental issues, offering students a chance to ask questions and hold discussions afterwards.
The students from Niittylahti College are part of the colleges international youth work studies and it is believed that they experienced lessons that prepare them to pursue careers as youth volunteers.
Leakoistinel, one of the girls supervising the painting class for students between 8 to 12, at Brass Youth Academy, Addis Ababa, explained to Capital that it was a very challenging experience. Even though she was in a country she had never heard of and does not have the skills to communicate, she said that she was very hopeful about her visit’s outcome and the attitude of the people she would meet.
Kaisa Mustonen, one of the voluntary teachers that accompanied the students, told Capital that the experience didn’t only benefit the Ethiopian students who were taking classes lasting between one and three hours, it also gave an opportunity for the visiting students to experience Ethiopia and its art and culture.
Antero Lehikoinen, another voluntary teacher, explained that his students had to overcome the communication challenge and were forced to use mainly non-verbal communication “It was out of 1500 students that these 10 volunteers were selected and I think that the lessons about hygiene and human rights the Ethiopian schools asked for and we took part in can be very rewarding for both of us,” added Lehikoinen, “if we can build up the network we want, it can be an annual event where our graduating youth workers come to Ethiopia and teach students while experiencing a time which we believe strengthens their readiness for their future career.”
Even if it was only a day or two that these visiting students spent with the local children, they seem to be egger to know and learn what both offer for each other.

‘Japan Week’ launched

By Addis Mulugeta

Japan Week, an exhibition aiming to promote the strong bilateral ties between Ethiopia and Japan was opened last week on March 4, 2008 and will stay open till March 17. During its stay, the Exhibition that is sponsored by Japan Embassy will display various cultural, sporting, intellectual and business events.
At the opening ceremony held in the National Museum where the exhibition will take place, Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia, H.E Kinichi Komano said that traditional and handicraft products were displayed during the opening of the event held in National Museum. The exhibition was open to the public free of charge.
The Ambassador also announced that a workshop was also held on March5, with the aim of promoting business relations between Ethiopia and Japan. The workshop was held at the Ethiopian Development Research Institute (EDRI) under the joint auspices of EDRL and the Embassy of Japan. It targeted to share the findings of studies with stakeholders and to explore possibilities of trade and investment between the countries. Ambassador Komano stated that the Embassy of Japan recently conducted a series of studies on industries with export potential in Ethiopia.
On March 8, as part of the Japan Week, there was a JUDO demonstration at the Addis Ababa City Hall Theatre. JUDO that is a part of martial art is a well known traditional Japanese sport.
In the year 2000 the trade between Ethiopia and Japan was 11.595 million yen. Out of this sum 6.401 million yen is the amount Ethiopia exported to Japan.

100 meter canvas graces
Maskal Square

By Addis Mulugeta

The largest painting ever made by Ethiopian artists, measuring 100 meters long, was on display at Maskal Square March 7, 2008 to support the on going national campaign against early marriage, with the motto - "Stop Early Marriage".
The campaign is organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) together with local advertising company Cactus. The canvas involved 30 Ethiopian artists.
According to Dr Monique Rakotomalala, representative of UNFPA, the painting can also be complimentary for International Women's Day March 8 that was celebrated yesterday.
"The event at Maskal Square will be reinforced by four days of consecutive celebrations organized by the Ministry of Women Affairs organized. And this year's event is expected to make a milestone in enhancing the understanding of the public, policy-makers and development stakeholders on early marriage," added the representative.
The team of artists that participated on the canvas painting brought together an interesting mixture of styles, ages and gender to express their feelings for the fight against early marriage
"Art is one of the means to express feelings and a way to transmit societal issues," said a representative of the artists.
A similar imitative is also planned in the regions during the coming few months.
Early marriage is one of the prevalent forms of gender-based violence in Ethiopia resulting in negative consequence on women's and girl's reproductive health, maternal deaths, fistula, HIV/AIDS transmission and other negative psycho-social problems. Rural-urban migration and susceptibility to poverty, physical and sexual abuse is an established consequence of early marriage.
Prolonged and obstructed labor can result in obstetric fistulas,
which disproportionately afflict very young and first-time mothers. It isestimated that more than 9,000 new fistulas occur annually in the country.
Child or early age marriage is mostly practiced among the peasant communities and crop producing highlands of Central and Northern Ethiopia, with a national prevalence of 54.6%. Also several ethnic groups in the South and South West of Ethiopia have occurrence rates of between 50-80%.

Awarded soon: The best Ethiopian film on Rights and Justice

This year for the first time, a high profile jury will award the best Ethiopian film or documentary on Rights and Justice. Ethiopian film makers were invited to submit their films on the topic until February 15, 2008. The festival crew has received many high quality entries and we imagine the jury will be having a hard time deciding on the winners of the Addis International Film Festival Award on Rights and Justice (AdIFFA 2008). The best 7 entries will be presented to the audience on the final festival day, March 30, at the Sebastopol Cinema (Exhibition Center). Come and join the award ceremony when the 1st winner of the AdIFFA will be announced.
The festival team is proud to announce the designer of the first AdIFF Award 2008. The young Ethiopian artist Alem Teklu will be creating a unique award that combines the festival’s topic Rights and Justice within Ethiopian tradition. She won’t let anyone take a glimpse at her work before the award night, so we are all excitedly awaiting its disclosure on March 30th. To Alem, art is part of human rights: “Everyone should have the right to do what one feels inside – believe in yourself to be able to create something”. After experiencing a youth filled with suffering and hardship, she opened an arts and crafts school which she recently changed into the MAHTOT Training and Rehabilitation Association, where young Ethiopian artists are ensured of an affordable education.
All in all, it will be an exciting glamorous night when the jury has made its decision and announces the winner who will receive the unique award of the Best Ethiopian Film Maker on Rights and Justice for the first time in the festival’s history. Don’t miss it!