Ethiopia braces for its biggest athletics show
April 29th, 2008 | EthioPolitics.com |
ADDIS ABABA (AFP) - Ethiopia’s rich athletics tradition will be showcased at the 16th African track and field championships, the country’s biggest-ever sporting competition, which gets underway here on Wednesday.
With the Beijing Olympics looming competing nations are eager to test their talents against the rest of the continent before the Games in August.
With the Ethiopian Millenium celebrations still in full force, the hosts have shown that they are not only taking the Africa championships seriously by entering a star-studded squad but by the elaborate preparations to welcome more than 600 delegates from over 42 countries here for the event.
Arriving teams were met by a host of star runners including former World 10,000m champion Berhane Adere and the Sydney Olympic marathon champion Gezahegne Abera who led the visitors to the imposing Millenium Dome where a series of pop concerts that featured American queen Beyonce and Akon staged shows.
The Dome, put up by Ethiopian-born Saudi billionaire Sheikh Mohammed Al Amoudi, is one of the new buildings in the changing skyline to this ancient city as Ethiopia moves away from its Marxist past to embrace the new world order.
Down the road are three other new office blocks which have been constructed by Ethiopian distance athlete Haile Gebrselassie who is using his huge earnings to secure his future as an entrepreneurial businessman.
“Haile is doing a great job for us,” said Andrew, a taxi driver.
“Look at those buildings. He has helped change the landscape of our city.”
Gebrselassie will not be competing in the African championship but his absence will be less significant as the next generation of Ethiopian athletes take the field to displace their indepth home-grown talent.
Ethiopia, with the largest continent of 140 athletes is expected to dominate in the middle and long distance events with Nigeria and South Africa tipped to share the medals on offer in the sprints and field events.
Multiple world record holder Kenenisa Bekele turns up in form following his unprecedented sixth title triumph at the world cross country championship in Edinburgh in March.
Bekele, who is also the reigning Olympic 10,000m champion, will contest the race at home for the first time in four years alongside world junior champion Ibrahim Jeylan and the African champion Moses Kipsiro of Uganda.
Olympic 5,000m champion Meseret Defar is also favoured to dominate her event against fellow Ethiopian Meselech Melkamu, who won the 3,000 metres silver medal at the World indoor championship in Valencia in March.
Traditional rivals Kenya has sent a relatively young team after the established runners opted out of the African championships to prepare for the upcoming outdoor Grand Prix competition.
The Kenyan team will be spearheaded by the junior world 800 metre champion Daniel Rudisha and former world junior champion Asbel Kiprop who will run the 1,500m.
The men’s 800 metres is is set to be a hot contested affair between Rudisha and Sudan’s Abubaker Kaki Khamis who won the country’s first world senior gold medal at the indoor championships in Valencia.
14 Responses to “Ethiopia braces for its biggest athletics show”
By ObserVer on Apr 29, 2008 | Reply
For a change, and indeed It is refershing to see these beutiful Ethiopian womens lined up, than hearing the depressing tragic news about Teddy Afro`s drunk driving fatal case.
By Unity on Apr 30, 2008 | Reply
Mabye observer and Medeksaa are the same person.
The message is clear they dont like our unity and strength .It is clear they are paid or have benefit from the system.Did weyane wrote manye many articles to divide us by using differient tribes name? of course. oromia and other tribes they know what is going on .please dont waste your time.you are like a new born child it better to change your old tactic.
The majotity will win which is inevitable.
By Gambella on Apr 30, 2008 | Reply
Modaksa,
Becareful, “YOU ARE OPENING CAN OF WORM.”
Even though your demand democratically powerfully logical one, but your demand will make all lot of amara people unhappy uncomfortable and unsecure, since most Amaras consider themselves as the chosen Ethiopians. beside if amaras lose their langoge, and oromos win and ethiopias langoge become oromigna, amaras may loss their historical domination in ethiopias politics for once and forever. Therefor amaras will not surrender to oromos, they will fight the oromos to death to make sure oromos do not empower themselves in process. if oromos succeeded in official langoge conversion the next step for oromos will be to claim their stolen land from amaras, and that for sure bring civil war between oromos and amaras.
By Tasew Mulatu on Apr 30, 2008 | Reply
Unity,
You are fooling your self through self deceptive assumption,by assuming that oromos not smart and they would`t demand their language and culture be recognized.
What made you think oromos do not demand their majority right respected, What do you think of OLF fighting for ???????????
According to Mr.Unity, OLF does not exist.
HA!!HA!!!HA!!!!HA!!!!!HA!!!!!!!!!
Wake up! and smell the coffee.
By Dhugumaa on May 1, 2008 | Reply
Some of you try to down play Oromo’s quest for the right of self determination by substituting to the use of language. The fundamental question of the Oromo people is to choose their own fate. In other words, to from a soverign independent state of re-establish a form of governance with any negihboring society on the basis of mutual advantages and mutual respect for one another.
The Oromos never impose on other societies to use Afaan Oromo. If they do that. They are doing what they are opposing today. The Amhara’s should be free to use Afaan Amarraa. The Tigreans also should be free to use Afaan Tigree.
OLF and the Oromo people will never rest before the Oromo question is answered to the point it satisfies the Oromos. NOT in a manner it satisfies their opporessers.
Nagaati
By Gambella on May 2, 2008 | Reply
Dhugumaa,
Self determination ? “Self determination” is impractical and will not work for oromos, since there are oromos in every sector and regions of the country, included in wollo region,tigraye region,harrer region,gambella region and sidama region.
But since the oromos language spoken by more people than amharic, ethiopias official language could be changed from amharic(minority) to majority (afan oromigna). beside cancelling amharic and changing Ethiopias official language to oromoigna is democratic move since afan oromigna represent majority.
By Unity on May 2, 2008 | Reply
Muluken
Tasew Mulatu doesnt understand the basic problem of Ethiopia.Ethiopia ia one of the poorest country on the earth. our basic problem is we have no good leadersip .No democacy .the people need clean water,food ,medicine and jobb for the people.unemployment increase very highly .the goveriment dont care about this .the infliatino is very high in short. Ethiopia is minimum 100 years back the country which i liv now.Think you are talking about launge which is irrlevant to the fundmental proble of the people which is nonsense.you can speak afan oromo until you tired but the basic problem is not that.Amharic language is developed by tax payer people it is perfect.the basic problem of the society is the system.struggle to overthrew the existing system.your self determination doestnt work.no socialism,communism and narrow nationialist ideas it doesnt work for Ethiopia the only option for Ethiopia is Unity and to over through the system.
By Sidamo on May 3, 2008 | Reply
Historically speaking,Why are Amaras always anti-oromos ? ?
After all it is the Amara tribalist kings(King Menilik and King Haileselassie) who systematically degraded oromos to second class citizenary/Slavery. These were the same tribalist The Amaras kings who denied basic rights and rightsof education and educational opportunity to Oromos, in order to keep Oromos and other ‘Non Amharic speaking Ethiopians(Gambella,Sidama,Tigre,Gambella,wourage….)”. For the last centure education was given only to the amara kings tribe (Amaras) only, that is why today we are witnessing more and more professional amara Ethiopians than any other Ethiopians.
By Zodaic on May 3, 2008 | Reply
You non sense people, do not bring the precious oromo cause over the fucken your discussion. It worth more the say
By Mulu on May 3, 2008 | Reply
For 17 years, Addis Ababa resounded to African rhythms, Western pop, and European band music. Now that heady mix is coming to the UK. By Andy Morgan
Let’s compare two snapshots of recent Ethiopian history. The first is from 1968, when Emperor Haile Selassie I ruled over the proudest and most eccentric nation in Africa, with its Christian Coptic church (that was already well established when the British still worshipped pagan gods), its feudal menagerie of princes, barons and serfs, its vast and verdant central plateau, and its pulsating capital city Addis Ababa, which was then one of the pre-eminent cultural, social and diplomatic hot-spots of independent Africa.
At this time, down in the Wube Bereha, the red-light district of central Addis, royalty rubbed its haughty shoulders with generals and gigolos, bar-room philosophers and peace-corps workers, diplomats and prostitutes, in an intoxicatingly illicit celebration of youth and freedom. Plush hotels resounded to patent-leather-clad feet dancing to the sounds of resident “soul” combos like the Ras Band, All Star Band, Zula Band, Venus Band, Wabe Shebele Band, Roha Band and Dahlak Band. The old guard fumed against youthful decadence and the unwelcome “foreign” influences that seemed to be invading the nation’s cerebral cortex. The old order was dying, and those who could either afford or blag their way into the party were dancing like tomorrow would never come.
I like mohumed
By Meseret on May 3, 2008 | Reply
“Teddy Afro returns to prison in tears
Addis Fortune | April 29, 2008
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Teddy Afro
ADDIS ABABA - The Federal High Court on Tuesday denied bail for the release of Tewodros Kassahun (Teddy Afro). The 30-year-old sensational singer, who is accused of a hit and run homicide, will spend the duration of his trial in prison, according to Addis Fortune newspaper.
The court has ruled to hear four witnesses - all police constables - referred to by the prosecutor against the singer on May 21, 2008. This was despite his defense lawyer Million Assefa’s request that the witnesses should testify within a maximum of one week, if not today.
The prosecutor rather requested the bench to be given a reasonable time to summon all the witnesses, and was therefore given 22 days.
When the proceeding was adjourned, the popular singer Teddy burst into tears, sources told Fortune. He was not alone: a number of fans that gathered to follow his trial, amid the tight security, left the compound crying.
On November 3, 2006, investigators from the Addis Abeba Police Commission arrested Teddy, accusing him of killing 18-year-old Degu Yibelete, a street dweller who came from Gojjam. After he was put under custody for a day, Teddy was released on 50,000Br bail on November 4.
The popular singer was formally charged on April 16, 2008 on two counts, homicide (including driving without license) and fleeing the scene of a crime. Homicide would carry up to a 15-year prison sentence and hence make him eligible for bail. Nevertheless, prosecutors added another charge of failure to help a victim whom one has injured. This involves an additional penalty of one month to two years, thus he could face up to 17 years in prison if found guilty.
Although his defense lawyer had requested the merger of the two charges in the earlier hearing, it was not accepted.
Ethiopian law stipulates that defendants involved in crimes carrying sentences greater than 15 years shall not be permitted bail.
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Ethiomedia’s note - Courts in Ethiopia suffer from a lack of judicial independence, and are strictly used to quash dissent, or whip citizens into government line. But Teddy Afro’s songs promote strong messages of unity and love, concepts that are inimical to a regime that survives by promoting ethnic division and hate. As a result, many see Teddy’s arrest, and the continued denial of his right to bail, as a political vendetta (the regime is known for applying a slow-death treatment).
Judges who also decline to carry out government orders as “court verdicts” also pay the price. For instance, senior judges who upheld their conscience and profession have fled the country after facing death threats. Cases in point are judges who served on an Inquiry Commission that held the government responsible for the deaths of 193 civilians in the wake of the ill-fated 2005 elections, as a well as Judge Teshale Aberra, former president of the Oromia Region Supreme Court, who fled the country and saved his life, but left a brother behind, who was tortured severely he is now paralyzed and still in prison. ”
I like Teddy Afro .
By Mike on May 3, 2008 | Reply
Teddy Afro killed innocent boy while driving intoxicated. And to make it worse, Teddy Afro left bleeding poor helpless wounded boy on the street to bleed to death, instead of calling police or ambulance.
By Amanyehun R.Sisay on May 8, 2008 | Reply
Well, it is really shoking that Teddy is now in Jail. What makes everything surprising is the fact he is in jail for he is suspected of a hit and run homicide.
Given Teddy’s track record on humaniterian activities and decent Ethiopian personality, I really can’t understand how Teddy showed a cruel heart to the helpless Ethiopian boy.
Of course it is a shame to our Judicial system, if Teddy’s imprisonment stems from the government’s hatred to Teddy.
May God send all his mercy to him and heal his broken heart.
By Mama Ethiopia on May 9, 2008 | Reply
“Eastern Sudan farmers get back disputed lands from Ethiopia
Re-printed from Sudan Tribune | May 9, 2008
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Editor’s Note - The Ethiopian people are kept in the dark by the “government” in power about the areas ceded to Sudan. The crime is one of the latest in many mercenary dealings since 1991. For better understanding, Ethiomedia is re-publishing previous news items that confirm the secret handing over of Ethiopian territories to Sudan. (As a principle, Ethiomedia doesn’t recognize the “government” in power as a home-grown dictatorship. Nor Ethiomedia recognizes EPRDF or TPLF as self-runnning organizations. Both are ghost groups that don’t exist in reality. Then who runs Ethiopia? The country has been, and is, at the disposal of an Ethiopia-loathing mercenary group whose deceptive techniques are still beyond the grasp of even some of the most educated members of the opposition camp). News excerpts:
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KHARTOUM - A joint Sudanese-Ethiopian committee would start today to hand over agricultural lands to residents of more than 17 Sudanese villages located in eastern Atbara River along the Ethiopia-Sudan border.
The agricultural lands remained a source of dispute for more than 100 years.
Governor of Al-Gadarif State, in eastern Sudan, Abdelrahman al-Khidir told Akhir Lahzah that this step came as an implementation of 1971 agreement which stated re-demarcation of the border between the two countries.
He added that technical arrangements have been finished and a committee of seven experts from each side would give the Sudanese farmers their lands, pointing out that his government is ready to append these farmers with the current agricultural season.
He said that with the end of the committee’s work which might last for a week, the lands would be back to their owners.
He explained that they have formed 17 cooperative societies in addition to other previous societies in order to support the farmers within the framework of the agricultural campaign on one hand and to consolidate the Sudanese land on the other.
Furthermore the governor called for dealing with the border issue with a good spirit between the two countries, adding that people should look at the border issue as an area of integration not of conflicts.
He explained that the final operation of border re-demarcating which might conclude after the autumn season would put an end for all kinds of security breaches and instability situation in the area.
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Source: The Sudan Tribune: 4 July 2007.
Sudanese Army deployed to ensure border demarcation with Ethiopia
Jan 5, 2006 (AL-GADARIF, eastern Sudan) — The armed forces in Al-Gadarif State have taken up position in agricultural areas on the border strip east of Al-Atbarawi River in the areas south of Daglash Mountain and east of Sundus and Al-Allaw.
Governor of Al-Gadarif State Abdelrahman al-Khedir said the deployment of the armed forces was ensure stability on the border strip during the re-demarcation of the joint border between Sudan and Ethiopia.
Last week, a new Sudanese organization called The Fashaqah Lands Liberation Organization (FLO) has presented a statement to the head of the legislative council in Al-Qadarif State in which it criticized the Al-Fashaqah agricultural lands agreement signed between the Sudanese and Ethiopian governments.
FLO’s statement called on the state’s youth to come out and volunteer to liberate the occupied Fashaqah lands.
According to the Sudanese Al-Khartoum newspaper, The governor pointed out that the agreement reached in Gondor, Ethiopia, between the two sides with no intervention by any foreign sides, would lead to stability for both Sudanese and Ethiopian farmers equally.
Al-Khedir said the 10m dollars total cost of re-demarcation would be shared equally between the two sides. The process of demarcation is due to be completed within the year.
The governor further stressed that the government would not relinquish any inch of Sudanese agricultural land lying within its borders.
In indication to the Fashaqah agricultural lands which are the centre of a controversy between farmers in both countries, he said some Ethiopian farmers would be allowed to cultivate Sudanese lands as an investment, according to clear investment conditions.
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Source: Sudan Tribune