Lucy, Axum, Fasil, Harrar & Lalibela
to erect in Bole

By Alemayehu Sefe Seassie

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - When the news hit the streets of Bole that there was going to be an erection of five major historical sights, anxiety was building and spectators were eager to see what was going to happen on the field in front of Bole. But right after the due date, it was announced that there were some change of plans as the plot of land that was going to entertain the longest shopping festival in Addis was already given to another entity.

The mastermind behind the six-month’s shopping and music festival, Mohammed Abdulkadir states that the organizers have lost some two hundred thousand birr [~22,000 USD: 1 USD = ~ 8.893 birr] over the relocation. Currently working with his other partners Tina Tadesse and Amanuel Kidane, however, he has managed to get back on his feet and go along the two million Birr [~220,000 USD] estimated project. “The show is pretty much the same, we are still organizing it in a 10,000 square meters plot of land and we are still going to award a Hyundai Atos automobile every month for our lucky visitors”, Mohamed said still enthusiastic about the new concept.

The allocated plot of land that is going to entertain this event is right across its formerly assigned spot right in front of Bole next to NOC fuel station.
The organizer calls the process, which led Mohamed to incur some financial loss was simply a mistake of forgetting to run some double-checks. “They told us that the land was already given to another investor and they said they made a mistake when they gave us the same plot of land.”

It was three months after Mohammed started the excavation and gravelling of the field that he heard of the news. “The lease and Millennium board have both approved our program without knowing that the plot belonged to Midroc”, Mohamed said. This organizer was shocked to find out that the land had belonged to Midroc for the past two years.
“When we asked the regional administrators, we were told that it was a mistake and we were told to take off any construction that we have put there. The damage was huge it was around 200,000 Birr.” Among the damages the organizers endured over the past wandering period. The rusting of the shop stalls has been a major one. But the three hundred displayers who have agreed to still show their products has been a blessing.

The damage is however not only on the side of the organizers. “We had set plans to run telethons for HIV/AIDS orphans, and street kids, heart patients, for elderly people and flood victims. But they were interrupted; we still have plans to organize the show in the same way”, Mohammed added.
The organizer states that as opposed to last time where they were meant to sign the deal and were delayed due to some officials’ busy schedule, this time they have signed a deal with the sub city. “The sub city is also organizing a similar program for three to seven days on a plot of land right next to ours. And the shows are going to complement each other.”

The plot of land that Mohammed and his partners are trying to have their event on belongs to the Ethiopian Airports Administration. And the organizers have received it through a special deal with the sub city. “The deal is pretty much the same it is that we would not construct anything permanent and we can only use it for six months period of time”, said Mohammed.
The event is going to start in twenty days from this Friday May 18th and currently the organizers are working on leveling the field and placing the statues and shops.
However, the show is going to have a tent worth 600,000-700,000 Birr set on top for some weather protection.

“This is a vip road and we have moved some 300 meters from the main road but it will still be visible from the main road”, Mohammed explained and according to him 52 flags are going to be located after the plot of land that is allocated for parking.
20 ex-special forces personnel with honorably discharges have been handpicked by the organizing committee to handle security for the occasion. And the organizer states that the main reason behind all that is to eliminate any safety questions. “We are going to make this event a secured one. The setting is a bit safer that the previous as this plot of land also have a fence, which can accommodate 2,000 cars. The night is going to have 70 high beam lights, which are going to be put professionally by electrical engineers. And the lights are going to stay lit all the way through the nights. There are also a thousand meters long illuminating lights to beautify the event”.

The construction of the statues is one of the things, which has been seen as the silver lining from the experience of finding a new location. The statues, which have originally set plans to have a lamination of plastic stickers, will have a rough surface molding. The steel made statues’ structure is going to have a mixture of alcohol, varnish, sand, paint and different chemicals. “These things are meant to last for 70 years. Four artists have taken part in the structuring”.
Artist Dagim Seyoum is going to lead the artists in making the structures appear as real as possible. Mohammed told SSI this week that the installation art of these statues is going to be placed by this week.

“Originally we have set plans to construct some more things such as the Al Nejashi Mosque and the Sof omar cave on the ground.” Mohammed recalls the original plans, “We only got this plot of land for a short period of time with no permanent constructions license and as a result even the Lalibela cross statue is going to be put on the surface of the floor not dug down four meters under”.

The organizers have also added some traditional nights, which takes place every two weeks and 43 gold plated trophies will be awarded for the best traditional performers.
The tents for the event are going to be placed in three weeks time where the show would kick off with a police orchestra march band and 52 ambassadors are going to be invited.
Taking the land this past week the organizers have started the cleaning of the field and surrounding.

“We have set plans to have an overnight party at the new year but we are also going to work harmoniously with the Midroc organized overnight party set for New Year.” The sound system for the event is going to concentrate on the field and the organizer states that this was part of the precaution he and his team have taken in making this even as peaceful as possible.
Among the good aims the show has one is to supply the Ethiopian flagged (green, yellow and red) painted shops to street children by the time the festival is over. The shops are currently designed and waiting installation by a German architectural designer.

May 18, 2007