The yearly edition of the 10K Great Ethiopian Run around the streets of Addis Ababa, ably organised by Ethiopia’s living sports hero, two-time Olympic running champion and Berlin Marathon record holder, Ato Haile Gebresellasie, proved to be another feather on his cap, with 33,000 running enthusiasts taking part this year. Runners from around the world, including a huge group from Leipzig, Germany, flew in to join the fun, with UK’s pride, Paula Radcliffe, also gracing the occasion. Good thing Meskel Square is massive enough to accommodate tens of thousands, since the number of participants multiplies each year.
Ethiopia is a landlocked country situated in East Africa, with Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Djibouti and Eritrea for neighbours. Addis Ababa is its capital city.
The Great Ethiopian Run 2009 Rocks and Rolls to the Rhythms of Ishii Bacca Ciao
This year, the Bull, the famous city landmark symbol of Zemen Bank, was the surprise party stop. A classic rock band, called Ishii Bacca Ciao, with members coming from the expatriate community, dished out rocking rhythms from the Seventies. The multitude of green-clad runners, fired up by the band’s energetic numbers, started to boogie, sing and jump around the stage. The band also put up a water stand, where people could donate 5 Birr (+- USD 0.40), to support Our Father’s Kitchen, an NGO that operates a soup kitchen.
Ishii Bacca Ciao is composed of Johannes Schilling (vocals, guitar), Erwin Schulz (guitar), Jennifer Whelan (vocals), Clare Wood (vocals), Marc Zlot (drums) and Florian Hindelang (bass). Homenet, managed by Girum Bekele, provided the sturdy lorry, which served as the makeshift stage.
Annual Diplomatic Bazaar at the African Union Compound
The most-awaited annual Diplomatic Bazaar took place at the African Union compound. It lived up to its promise of being the biggest shopping destination this side of Africa. Embassies hustled and bustled for one of Addis Ababa’s most exciting happenings.
German Church Christmas Bazaar by the Jan Meda Sports Ground
To keep up with two Christmases in Ethiopia, stores are filling up their shelves with giftables. But if looking for some exceptional non-store bought Christmas presents, then one may just stumble upon that very elusive item at the German Church Christmas Bazaar, next to the Jan Meda Sports Ground.
NGOs and small business owners from around Ethiopia assembled at the church compound, with their attention-grabbing offerings, from vibrant children’s artworks, Christmas wreaths and cards, handmade bread baskets and ceramic jewellery, fresh mushrooms from local farms, dried Biltong beef bites, organic honey, homemade fruit syrups and jams, colourful cotton bed linens, and lots more.
Festive food and drinks were plentiful. The air smelled deliciously with grilled German bratwursts, steaks and roast suckling pig. The salad buffet featured a refreshing selection of greens and potato combinations. Boxes of marzipan-filled weinachstöllen sold briskly, but the cake buffet was obviously the main attraction, with tables laden with chocolate marble cakes, fruit tortes, cheesecakes, pies and other luscious goodies.
Proceeds went to various NGOs and to the blind/disadvantaged children under the umbrella of the German Church School.
French FilmFest and Art Bazaar at the Alliance Ethio-Française
The filmfest is an ongoing activity at the Alliance Ethio-Française, with daily screenings of French language movies. Children's films like 'L'Apprenti Pere Noel 1 et 2' are lined up for December. The Great Baz'Art Art Sale is set for the 13th, from 11h-18h, at the Alliance Outdoor.
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