As friends came to visit last week, I thought of some places and attractions to visit together in Addis Abeba. The first place that came to mind was the Entoto park and so we drove one morning to one of the entrances, expecting to spend a few hours there. However, the park is large and there are many things to see and enjoy, so that it took us most of the day. The park is well laid out with a good infrastructure and interesting attractions, especially for families and younger visitors. It was a weekday and so there were very few visitors. I could not help but wonder how the various investments would make sufficient returns to be profitable enough to sustain themselves. However, wherever we paused for a drink or a bite, there were attentive waiters and workers to provide their friendly and effective services. We truly had an enjoyable day.
The next day we decided to visit the Unity Park, which is equally impressive when it comes to design, lay out, access to historical buildings, combined with the zoo and the garden with indigenous plants and trees. Parts of Ethiopian history and its archives are displayed and made accessible in various ways, including interactive computer and video images. The visitor is informed about the various religious influences throughout history, the story of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon and their son Menelik I, who brought the Ark of the Covenant to Ethiopia. The political history is also described clearly and in a digestible manner, including a display of Ethiopian rulers and their legacies. One of the highlights of Unity Park is the historic Menelik Palace, the former residence of Emperor Menelik II and Empress Taitu. The palace has been well restored and transformed into a museum, offering visitors a glimpse into Ethiopia’s imperial past through a fascinating collection of artifacts, photographs, and interactive exhibits. In the Presidential Palace, visitors can explore the offices and meeting rooms used by Ethiopia’s leaders. The palace provides insight into the country’s governance structure and the role of its political leaders in shaping its future. Unity Park is not only a place of historical significance but also a hub of cultural activity and community engagement. Throughout the year, the park hosts a variety of events, including concerts, art exhibitions, and cultural festivals, bringing people together to celebrate Ethiopia’s rich diversity and heritage. Several school classes also visited the park and it is clear that it offers a great opportunity to educate children on Ethiopian political and religious history as well as on some of its flora and fauna. The children seemed to have a great time, especially when spotting the cheetah’s and lions in the zoo.
A recurrent theme of the museum, I noticed, is the mention of unity amongst the Ethiopian people throughout various critical times including famine, war, and conflict, while religious differences did not seem to hinder people to work and live together in harmony.
In that respect I found the former prisons in the basement of the Presidential Palace particularly impressive with a very clear timeline description of the acts of the Derg regime in the centre of the room, enforced by still and motion pictures along the walls.
The visitor is reminded of cruelties of the past and the long-term consequences of man-made disasters. We left the basement in silence, shocked by the injustice forced upon so many, not so long ago, and touched by the statement of President Sahle Work Zewde, that she made in her inaugural address in 2018:
“When there is no peace in the country, mothers will be frustrated. Therefor, we need to work on peace for the sake of our mothers.”
Ton Haverkort
ton.haverkort@gmail.com
