Cross-Shaped Church Replica is a Reminder of Ethiopia’s Medieval History
Washington, D.C., USA - December 21, 2017 -Elizabeth Tsehai, founder of ET Curates, Inc., announced the launch of the Lit Up Lalibela, an illuminated replica of Ethiopia’s Church of St. George.
“Built in the 12th century when the Crusades made pilgrimage to Jerusalem dangerous, the church tells a story that resonates today,” said Tsehai.
For the more than 250,000 Ethiopians living in the U.S., the Lit Up Lalibela decorative replica is a way to showcase their heritage. A portion of the proceeds will go toward preservation efforts in Lalibela.
The area where the church is located is also a prime location for astronomical endeavors. By increasing awareness of the church and its historic significance, Tsehai hopes to promote the efforts of the Ethiopian Space Science Society to build a state-of-the-art observatory in Lalibela. This could reestablish the area as center of knowledge and innovation.
The miniature version memorializes the Church of St. George, (Bet Giorgis), one of 11 monolithic churches each carved from a single unbroken formation of volcanic rock. The LED lights of the Lit Up Lalibela reference the candlelit ceremonies that are conducted there to this day.
The Lalibela churches are a unique engineering and architectural accomplishment. Lalibela was one of the first locations to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Originally called Roha, the site was renamed for King Lalibela of the Zagwe dynasty who commissioned the construction of the churches in the 12th century to be a “New Jerusalem.” Lalibela is a revered site in Ethiopian Christianity. It remains a living heritage and draws thousands of worshippers and tourists each year.
Lit Up Lalibela is designed by Ethiopians and provides a reminder of the world’s interconnected history. The cost of each replica of the Church of St. George is $20 and a portion of the sales aids in preserving an irreplaceable piece of this history.
Media Contact Company Name: E T Curates, Inc. Contact Person: Elizabeth Tsehai Email: etsehai@lituplalibela.com Phone: (202) 450-7736 Country: United States Website:https://www.lituplalibela.com/
Life-changing scholarship opened up to Ethiopian students
The University of Manchester’s Chancellor, Lemn Sissay, has attended a special event in Addis Ababa to officially extend a transformational student scholarship to Ethiopia.
Talented candidates from Ethiopia will now be able to apply for places through the University’s Equity and Merit Scholarships, which currently fund students from Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania to take a postgraduate course that isn’t available in their home country.
Now into its eleventh year, Equity and Merit has helped more than 200 students who have a desire to learn skills that will transform their home countries, build their careers and implement projects which have benefitted thousands of local people.
Lemn Sissay MBE is a poet with Ethiopian heritage who regularly visits the country. In his role as Chancellor, he is the ceremonial head of The University of Manchester and has been supportive of a number of new initiatives such as a scholarship for black male law students. He said: “I am very happy that during my time as the University’s Chancellor the Equity and Merit Scholarships have been extended to Ethiopia, a country that I know well and love. I have seen first-hand what a difference these scholarships make to people.”
Lemn launched the scholarships at the British Embassy in Addis Ababa last night (20 December) alongside senior representatives from the Ministry of Education and local universities and Dr Alula Pankhurst from the University of Addis Ababa.
Dr Pankhurst is an alumnus of the University of Manchester, where he obtained his PhD in Social Anthropology. His links to Manchester don’t end there however, as he is also the grandson of Sylvia Pankhurst, the suffragette who was also a staunch champion of Ethiopia during World War II, and was born in the city in 1882.
“
I am very happy that during my time as the University’s Chancellor the Equity and Merit Scholarships have been extended to Ethiopia, a country that I know well and love. I have seen first-hand what a difference these scholarships make to people.
The Equity and Merit Scholarships announced at the event are now open for applications from exceptional individuals who can demonstrate both academic excellence and a commitment to the economic or social development of their home communities
The scholarships are jointly funded by the University and its donors. The University covers the tuition fee in full and the generosity of donors covers students’ living costs, flights to the UK and visas.
In the past the students have used their newly gained knowledge to fight diseases such as malaria, build low-cost housing for slum dwellers or bring electricity to remote communities. In many cases the scholarships have not just transformed the students’ lives but those of their people living in their home towns or cities.
Joanne Jacobs, from the University’s International Office, oversees the Equity and Merit Scholarships. She said: “Equity and Merit scholarships really do change lives. The students we’ve had over the last ten years have all been exceptional and have made a genuine contribution to the development of their countries.
“Ethiopia has close links to The University of Manchester through our alumni and our Chancellor, and we are really happy that there has been such support at the event tonight.”
One of the University’s current Ethiopian students is Eyob Balcha Gebremariam, a PhD student in Development Policy and Management. He said: “Manchester is a great place of academic excellence, diversity and also socio-economic and political history.
“I would say to my fellow Ethiopians try your best to join The University of Manchester and have an amazing opportunity of reigniting your academic and non-academic career.”
Equity and Merit applications for Ethiopia open on 20 December and close on 31 January 2018. Visitthe dedicated web pagefor more information and to apply.
Ethio Telcom Becomes the Largest Mobile Operator in Africa
November 16, 2017 - According to IT Web, Ethiopia’s state owned telecommunications company, Ethio Telecom, is the largest mobile operator in Africa. With over 57 million mobile subscribers as of November 2017, Ethio Telecom surpassed MTN Nigeria to become Africa’s largest operator in terms of its mobile customer base.
“Ethio Telecom of Ethiopia is now the largest mobile operator in Africa in terms of subscriptions, with 57.34 million mobile subscriptions at end-2Q17.
“Ethiopia is also one of the very few African countries that has not liberalised its telecoms market and introduced competition, so Ethio Telecom has a monopoly,” a sector expert was quoted to have said.
The operator put its success down to an expansion drive that cost them over $1.6 billion in the last few years. The expansion they said contributed ‘an integral part in terms of customer base and infrastructure growth.’
“The expansion project has also significantly improved quality of services, with customers enjoying 3G wireless services by upgrading the 2G network across all regions covering all over the country; with also 4G LTE, super-fast services, launched in Addis Ababa.
“Over the past few years, ethio telecom has been transforming itself to meet its vision of becoming a world class operator and our journey so far shows we are on the right track,” a statement on its website read.
(EBC; November 15, 2017) - Ethiopian Airlines, the largest Aviation Group and SKYTRAX certified Four Star Global Airline, is pleased to announce that it has won Airline of the Year Award, for the sixth consecutive year in a row, by the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) during its 49th Annual General Assembly held on November 13, 2017, in Kigali.
The AFRAA annual awards recognize excellence in service delivery, innovation and competitiveness in airlines, individuals and service providers in the African aviation industry.
Ethiopian Airlines has been chosen for its remarkable performance revealed through its exceptional profitability for the financial year ended June 2016, exemplary cooperation with other African carriers, cargo development in the continent, and significant expansion of its route network helping to connect Africa together and with the rest of the world.
"As a truly indigenous and home-grown Pan-African airline owned, managed and operated by Africans, we are highly honored to receive this recognition by fellow sisterly airlines in the continent for the 6th consecutive year," said Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO Ethiopian Airlines.
"I would like to thank AFRAA and sisterly airlines in the continent for recognizing our efforts in nurturing cooperation with other sisterly African Airlines and in availing efficient passenger and cargo networks within, to and from the continent, while registering sound financial performance and record profit in 2016," Tewolde said.
He called on African governments to create more conducive environment for the airline industry in the continent so that African carriers are enabled to play their rightful role in ensuring the flow of investments, trade and tourism to the continent.
Accra, Oct. 3, GNA - Management of Ethiopian Airlines Group, the largest airline in Africa, has fully digitalized all its business processes like aircraft maintenance and flight operations, commercial operations and finance.
Others are human resource management, customer services, procurement and supply chain management, online learning, management approvals and authorizations.
A statement issued in Accra on Monday, signed by Mrs Hanna Atnafu, Manager Corporate Communications, Ethiopian Airlines, and copied to the Ghana News Agency said the initiative would remove paper from the entire system.
The statement quoted Mr Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO Ethiopian Airlines as saying: 'Although we started the digitization project in the last few years, today marks an important milestone in our history as we are removing paper from our entire business processes'.
According to the statement the airline is leading in the Digital Revolution and leveraging on the latest advancement in the Information and Communication Technology of the global airline industry, Ethiopian would scale up its operational excellence, customer intimacy and cost leadership strategies.
'Information Communication Technology will enable us to deliver customized global standard customer services as per the preferences of each and every customer,' the statement stated.
The statement said the world is living in the fourth industrial revolution which was fundamentally different from the previous industrial revolutions especially in the speed of change and disruptions.
According to the statement the continued success depended on the strategic response and the abilities to adapt to the velocity, breadth and depth and scale of the quantum changes coming the Ethiopian airline way.
'To this effect, we have embedded digitization in our organizational operating system with our valued customers in our mind,' the statement said.
According to the statement from the perspective of pursuing environmentally friendly operation, it was worth mentioning that Ethiopian operated the youngest, latest aviation technology and most environmental friendly fleets with less carbon emission to the environment. Read more here
Belgian model Marisa Papen describes herself as a "free-spirited and wild hearted expressionist"
The nude model who caused a worldwide stir after a secret photoshoot inside one of Egypt's most ancient temples landed her in jail has now appeared naked among one of Africa's painted tribes.
Marisa Papen was at the centre of a worldwide controversy after she wasimprisoned for posing nude in the vast temple complex of Karnak, near the city of Luxor earlier this month.
The Belgian model has now shared stunning pictures taken by Australian photographer Jesse Walker from their African trip that saw her walk naked among the members of an isolated Ethiopian tribe.
She also spoke out about the remarkable stories she heard during her time their and about how beauty and nudity is seen by tribe members.
The Belgian model travelled to Africa to walk naked among the members of an isolated Ethiopian tribe(Image: CEN/Jesse Walker-Marisa Papen)
(Image: CEN/Jesse Walker-Marisa Papen)
Papen, who describes herself as a "free-spirited and wild hearted expressionist", said: "They have their own customs and beliefs, their own beauty-standards, their own religion, living life in harmony with nature and the spirit world.
"You may say, they are totally different then we are. But to me they are, what we once were. In touch with nature, a part of nature, immensely grateful and respectful towards it."
Papen travelled with Walker to the isolated Omo Valley in south-western Ethiopia, where she lived for a week with the Surma tribe.
Papen travelled with Walker to the isolated Omo Valley in south-western Ethiopia(Image: CEN/Jesse Walker-Marisa Papen)
The model lived for a week with the isolated Surma tribe(Image: CEN/Jesse Walker-Marisa Papen) Read more here
The Ethiopian New Year comes up with various religious and cultural celebrations which are marked indoors among families and outdoors with the entire public. Meskel, the holiday celebrated in commemoration of the discovery of the True Cross happens to be one of those holidays marked at outdoor venues.
Meskel, meaning the Cross in Amharic is an annual religious Ethiopian holiday among Orthodox Christian believers and the first outdoor feast in the Church calendar. Meskel takes place on the 27th of September, or 28th during a leap year, Gregorian calendar.
In addition to its religious values, Meskel coincides with the end of the main rainy season (June to September) and the onset of Ethiopian spring in which fields and meadows in the country are carpeted with mesmerizing endemic daisies, locally known as adey abeba, with their captivating yellow colors which majestically envelop the Ethiopian fields. The daisies prevail for only two months and disappear over the next ten months to reappear at the same period the next year.
Meskel is also a time when many urbanites return home to villages. Neighborhoods and villages celebrate Demera in thousands of local celebrations.
The feast of Meskel started on the 26th of September with the celebration of the Demera, a ceremonial burning of a large bonfire. It is a special event that is conducted on the eve of Meskel to recall the smoke that supposedly led Empress Helena to the site of the True Cross.
The True Cross, Christ had crucified upon it, was thrown in a ditch or well, and then covered with stones and earth, until Empress Helena, mother of Constantine, the first Christian Emperor of Rome, discovered the place where three crosses that were believed to be used at the crucifixion of Jesus and of two thieves, executed with him were found.
Empress Helena had a revelation in a dream to make a bonfire and that the smoke would show her where the true cross was buried. So she ordered the people of Jerusalem to bring wood and make a huge pile. After adding frankincense to it the bonfire was lit and the smoke raised high up to the sky and returned to the ground, exactly to the spot where the True Cross had been buried.
The national feast of Demera is held at Meskel Square, a huge square in Addis Ababa, on September 26, the eve of Meskel, the official day of the Feast of the Finding of the True Cross.
That morning, the demera, a tall pyramid of branches, decorated with adey abeba, daisy-like flowers, prepare at the Meskel Square and in public squares or at intersections.
At the Meskel Square, in the afternoon, dozens of Sunday school students and members of the clergy move through the square singing spiritual songs that last for hours. As darkness begins to set in, the demera is set ablaze.
The following day, the official day of the feast of the finding of the True Cross, Ethiopians attend liturgy and a feast and celebrate with family and friends. Many use the ashes from the demera to mark their foreheads with a shape of a cross.
The Demera festival of the Meskel holiday, its celebration dates back to 1600 years, has been registered as world intangible heritage by UNESCO in December 2013, as the first intangible Ethiopian heritage.
During Meskel festival, a special species of birds known as ‘YeMeskel Wof -Meskel’s Bird’ also appears. Generally, the word 'YeMeskel Wof' is used to call the four bird species, namely the northern red bishops, indigo-birds, whydah and widow birds, and yet it has more than ten species under it. These birds are also enjoyed by bird watchers during Meskel.
These birds are endemic to Ethiopia, and do not migrate from one place to another as other birds do. As September, Ethiopia’s first month, is their reproduction season, the colors of their feathers gets changed in order to attract opposite sexes. Due to this change, it looks that they are new birds that appear only at this time of the year.
Meskel also marks a tourist season in Ethiopia. Thousands of tourists from many countries converge on Ethiopia to enjoy the ceremonies during the Meskel celebrations. They particularly enjoy celebrating Meskel in Addis Ababa at Meskel Square and in tourist attraction areas in the northern part of the country known as the historical route among tourists and travel agencies catering to tourism in the country.
Meskel is celebrated as a grand religious occasion among the Ethiopian Orthodox believers because it is believed that a part of the True Cross has been brought to Ethiopia. It is said to be kept at Amba Gishen, which itself has a shape a cross.
The cross has a special meaning for Ethiopian Orthodox Christians. Christians of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church dangle the symbol of the cross on their neck.
Priests carry various types of cross with their ceremonial staff in conducting mass and other forms of prayers including a ceremonial blessings and sanctification of holy waters meant for healing the sick and casting out evil spirits from persons suspected of being possessed by demons.
Mario De Salvo says that “There is no country in the world that matches Ethiopia in the number of forms and types of its crosses. Ever since Ethiopia's conversion to Christianity, the cross has appeared almost universally, not only as a liturgical instrument in churches and monasteries, but also in common devotion and in daily life.”
From the cross stamped on the Aksumite coins, depicted in architecture and illustrated in the ancient illuminated codices to the astylar, manual or pectoral crosses made and forged respectively for liturgical functions, the author notes that “there is no country in the world that matches Ethiopia in the number of forms and types of its crosses.” (Mario Da Silva, Crosses of Ethiopia, 2006)
Ethiopia boasts various types of crosses that are used on various religious and cultural occasions. The most popular ones are the crosses of Lalibela, Axum and Gondar. Tourists from various countries visiting Ethiopia make sure that they purchase various types of Ethiopian crosses that are made from silver and bronze, as well as carved from wood and marble. Read more here
ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian Ministry of Youth and Sport together with the Ethiopian Olympic Committee announced various sports events to mark the arrival of the Ethiopian New Year, which will start on September 11.
The event will bring together a number of renowned Ethiopian athletes in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa on Saturday, Restu Yirdaw, Ethiopian Minister of Youth and Sport announced on Friday.
Ethiopia has a unique calendar deriving from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church traditions whereby the country counts its annual year seven to eight years behind the internationally acclaimed Gregorian calendar. Accordingly, the Ethiopian New Year that falls on September 11, 2017 will be 2010.
One of the athletes expected to participate is Haile Gebrselassie, arguably the world's most successful distance runner of all time and currently President of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation. Olympic gold medalist Derartu Tulu will also participate in the 1,500m race on Saturday, it was noted.
Ethiopia's two dominant football clubs that are the Ethiopian Coffee and St. Jorge are also expected to face each other, which will be followed by various other sports events, including boxing and gymnastics, it was indicated.
The east African country has declared 10-day long nationwide celebrations, starting September 1, 2017, to usher in the upcoming Ethiopian New Year.
The 10-day long nationwide celebrations include Love Day, Mothers' and Children's Day, Elders' Day, Peace Day, Reading Day, Green Development Day, Respect Day, National Feelings Day, Unity Day and Ethiopia Day.
Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome, in his New Year message to the public, said the various events will be used to highlight the east African nation's significant gains in the socio-economic and political sectors over the past decade. Read more here
August 29, 2017 - An ethanol plant is to be built at Wonji Shoa sugar factory at a cost of 51 million US dollars, Fana broadcasting corporate reported. The construction of the first phase of the plant will be commenced in early upcoming Ethiopian New Year, which starts next month, and the second phase after next year.
Once completed, the new Ethiopia’s ethanol plant will produce 60,000 liters of ethanol per day using molasses, a by-product of sugar, from Wonji Shoa sugar factory, the report noted. Fincha and Metehara are the two sugar factories in Ethiopia that are currently producing ethanol from molasses.
The plant will be erected jointly with Germany’s Eugen Schmitt Company, according to Gashaw Aychiluhim, corporate communication executive office of the Ethiopian Sugar Corporation.
The German company will have 83 percent of the share, while the government of Ethiopia and three other shareholders will take the remaining 14 and 3 percent shares, respectively, he said. Read more here
Ethiopia’s Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Damene Darota, on Friday said the ministry planned to lift close to 7.9 million rural Ethiopians from “absolute’’ poverty.
The ministry, currently evaluating major activities implemented during the just-concluded 2016-2017 fiscal year, revealed the country’s plan to improve the economic conditions of the Ethiopians, mainly in the rural part of the country.
Ethiopia, as part of its agenda for 2025, aspires to become a middle-income country.
Darota said that the plan was part of the country’s second five-year Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II) effective from 2015 to 2020.
“Close to 6.6 million of them, who are able to engage in various economic activities, were provided opportunity to participate through climate conservation, irrigation development and other agricultural activities in the last six months.
“The remaining 1.3 million economically deprived citizens, who are either physically disabled or older people, are receiving support from the government,’’ Darota said. (Xinhua/NAN)
Ethiopia Today bringing you recent information about Ethiopia. It bring you, news, Amharic movies, Musics and many clips. subscribe and get many Videos on time
November 16, 2017 - According to IT Web, Ethiopia’s state owned telecommunications company, Ethio Telecom, is the largest mobile operator in Africa. With over 57 million mobile subscribers as of November 2017, Ethio Telecom surpassed MTN Nigeria to become Africa’s largest operator in terms of its mobile customer base.
