Africa
Unite
Africa is poised to establish a prosperous and united continent.
The many obstacles in the path did not dissuade Pan-African heroes
of the past from reaching for a United States of Africa. As is our
generation’s duty to contribute to the inevitable attainment
of that goal, Capital is pleased to announce the inauguration of
‘Africa Unite’ a weekly series dedicated to raising
awareness about Africa, its political and economic history, continental
organizations and the great personalities of past and current eras.
We would like to thank the many readers, embasstes and organizations
who forwarded comments, suggestions and encouragement through out
the last 54 weeks of Africa 2000, Capital’s just ended series
of country profiles. We are confident that your valuable feedback
will continue as you enjoy Africa Unite. This first edition focuses
on a general profiling of the continent.
Location - Between Asia and the Atlantic Ocean, Europe to the north,
Antarctica to the south.
Area - 29,805,695 Sq Km, 22.8% of earth
Topography (major features) - Africa’s geography includes
nearly all the geographic features and climatic conditions found
on earth. Africa straddles the equator and is mostly tropical. The
north is arid semi-arid and desert. The dry Sahel belt ends in Chad
where the more fertile parts of Africa begin – from the far
west to the highlands of Ethiopia, across and down the DRC and into
southern Africa. High mountain ranges, powerful rivers and large
bodies of freshwater add to Africa’s often lush and un spoilt
character.
Population - 934,499,752 (2007); 14.2% of world total. By 2025=
1,338,002,438
Top 5: Nigeria – 135,031,164, Ethiopia – 81,010,511,
Egypt – 80,335,036, DRC- 65,751,512, South Africa –
43,997,203
Distribution – 31% urban (approximation)
Diversity – The far northern rim is Arab, general north is
Arab-Berber, Sahel region is populated by Berber, Fulani, Fur, Zagawa,
Tamazig and others. Central and West Africa is hugely diverse: Bakongo,
Bantu, tribes, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Mandinke, Ashanti, Ga and scores
of others too many to list here. East Africa hosts the 81 peoples
of Ethiopia, the Nuer, Anuak, Kikuyu, Luo, Masai, and others. The
Great Lakes region is populated by the Pygmies, Hutu, Tutsi, Buganda,
Urundi, Ocholi etc. The Southwest is home of the Ovambo, Herrero,
Ovimbundu. Southern Africa has the Shona, Ndebele, Zulu, etc. Ethnic
diversity in Africa includes over 850 distinct tribes and thousands
of sub-groups. The various ethnicities have their own languages
with numerous dialects.
Equally diverse is the spiritual realm. The continent is overwhelmingly
religious. Hundreds of indigenous faiths survive alongside, with
or blended with Christianity and Islam. There are sizable Jewish
communities in South Africa, Ethiopia and Morocco.
Political Capital City – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – headquarters
of the A.U, UN/ECA
Regional Capitals – Nairobi, Cairo, Arusha, Abuja, Dakar.
The African Union (AU) succeeded the organization of African Unity
(AAU) on July 9, 2002 at a special conclave in Durban. South Africa
The AAU was established in 1963 and over the next decades, it’s
primary mission; the total decolonization of Africa was nearly complete.
The AU is composed of 53 member states with the exception of Morocco,
which had fallen out with the AAU over the latter’s recognition
of Western Sahara (SADR).
The focus of the AU is the socio-economic development of Africa
and fundamentally differs from the political mandate of the AAU.
The AU is a much stronger organization with a mandate ranging from
monitoring good governance standards and financial transparency
to intervening to prevent or stop genocide and gross human rights
violations in any of its member states.
A Peer Review Permanent Committee oversees that the AU founding
principles are respected.
Art through Nile countries
By Addis Mulugeta
An exhibition containing the work of six Ethiopian and six Sudanese
artists opened on March 19, 2008, at the City Hall, featuring a
prolific style of art. The exhibition will be open for the next
seven days. The opening ceremony was attended by Ambassador of Sudan
to Ethiopia, Addis Ababa City Mayor Berhan Deressa, UN representatives
, invited guests and others. The exhibition is believed to strengthen
the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Abdurman Abdela one of the Sudanese artists told Capital that Sudan
and Ethiopia are neighboring countries which share the river Nile
and there are similarities between the two country’s arts
like the colors and elements they apply.
This is the second first time that the Sudanese have come to Ethiopia
for such purposes. They have plans to participate in other exhibitions
not only in Ethiopia but also in third countries with Ethiopia artists.
Alem Teklu an artist who spent 10 years in art told Capital that
she met with the Sudanese here at the exhibition.
“We got a very good appreciation from the people during the
opening ceremony. The difficulty is that most Ethiopians do not
understand what they are trying to say through their works. Their
work is really something to be appreciated and encouraged.
Yonase Sahele Belay is also another Ethiopian artist and explained
that this is just a cultural relationship between the two countries.
Art and artists
By Addis Mulugeta
Art is one of the reflections and identity of a given country
in general and ethnic ties in particular. Ethiopia is a mosaic with
unique cultures and 80 varieties of languages. Oromia is one of
the nine regional states of Ethiopia with a prolific culture, art
style and devoted artists. It is imperative in any community to
appreciate and even award individuals who are involved and devoted
to the development of a given culture, art or language.
Accordingly, Subi Promotions, has taken this initiative of late.
It has attempted to select and present accolades to legendary and
young artists who are engaged in reflecting the state’s culture
and arts. Various people have also taken took the opportunity to
express give their appreciations and reflect their feelings to the
artists.
After a long process of vacillation of whether artists should be
awarded or not, Subi reached a final decision of presenting awards
to them. A committee of eight individuals who are composed from
different positions of the state of Oromia discussed on the idea
of awarding which group of artists first. However, Oromia singers
in different categories took the first position. Journalists of
the state of Oromia and owners of music shops selected 30 singers
in three different categories on March 6, 2008 at the Hilton Hotel
for the finale.
This first awards ceremony by Subi Promotions will have 20 to finalists
to be presented with different accolades. Singers are divided into
legends, who have been singing for about at least 25 years, modern
singers who have at least one album in the last 10 years, and traditional
singers who have one album for the last 10 years. On the other hand,
the awards include one music video , Oromian sonnet writer, three
painters, three authors and three actors.
The finalists are the living musicians of Oromia-Ali Birra, Ali
Shebo, Elfinesh Keno, Hallo Dawit, Legess Abdi, Neho Gobena, Shaba
Sheka, Shentem Shubisa, Yenus Abdulahe and Zerhun Wodajo under legendary
artist. Birhanu Zena, Gebi Edaho, Getachw Hailemariam, Herda Ganfre,
Keder Seid, Korkonji Sinbo, Meti Jemema, Tadesse Gemech, Tsgay Dendena
and Umer Suliman fell into the category of traditional artist. On
the third list, Abeba Abeshu, Adem Harun, Bikila Goyita, Dagime
Mekonnen, Dawit Mekonnen, Alamo Ali, Keme Yesuf, Mehadi sheka, Mehammed
Sheka and Salia Sami have been selected as finalists in the modern
category.
More cinematic excellence
If you have enjoyed the first two days of the 2nd Addis International
Film Festival Award (March 21-30, 2008, Sebastopol Cinema- Addis
Ababa Exhibition Center) with the Ethiopian premiere of Black Gold
and the screening of Ethiopian films such as Harvest 3000 (by Haile
Gerima), The Father (by Ermias W/Amlak) or the more recent Menged
(by Daniel Taye Workou), rest assured that more excellent films
are on their way.
Tonight, Sunday March 23rd at 6 p.m., witness the compelling The
Greatest Silence: Rape in The Congo, a feature length documentary
that the director shot in the DR Congo on the fate of women and
girls in that country’s intractable war. Lisa F. Jackson,
the director herself will be at the cinema to answer questions on
the breath-taking documentary. She is currently touring the world
with her film: “Most importantly I want as many people in
as many countries as possible to see the film. The issue of
rape being used as a weapon of war is not “a woman’s
issue” or an “African” issue; it is an issue that
touches all of us. And I look forward very much to hearing
the reaction to the film from the audience in Addis.”
All in all, this festival will take you from women’s issues
to workers’ rights and consequences of globalization –
all themes that are still very actual issues in countries from one
end of the world to another: Argentina, Brazil, Angola, RDC, Benin,
Ethiopia, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Finland and more.
Last but not least, we invite you to the Ethiopian-films special,
the big finale on Sunday, March 30th. This year for the first time,
a high profile jury will award the best Ethiopian short film on
Rights and Justice. The best 8 entries handed in by Ethiopian film
makers will be presented; come and join the award ceremony and witness
the first winner to receive the award, a unique designer piece by
Ethiopian artist Alem Teklu.
For more information on this festival visit us at ww.addisfilmfestival.org
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