A unique exhibition focussing on the Heritage of Ethiopia, has taken place in the Addis Ababa Museum compound. The Addis Ababa Culture, Art and Tourism Bureau celebrated its 4th annual heritage day by organizing this unique heritage exhibition.
National heritage can be found in eleven sub cities; art, religious, private and association museum exhibits were all represented and presented at the exhibition. Mr. Haftay G/Egzher, vice manager of the tourism sector of the bureau, visited private and government heritage institutions throughout the city. He commented on places and their heritage being demolished and therefore not passed on to the next generation. He called upon every citizen to take responsibility and make it possible for Ethiopians to pass heritage on to the next generation and to proudly display heritage artefacts to visitors who are keen to observe and learn about the heritage and history of Ethiopia; a vital aspect of tourism and regeneration of the local economy; heritage is not only a tourist attraction but also a pillar for the economy of the country. Heritage plays a historical role in education and informing the next generation. In the exhibition, it was suggested that heritage should be preserved in order to produce a generation that builds on its future and knows about its past.
Local ngo Heritage Watch also participated and celebrated International World Heritage Day, with four of their heritage school clubs! The Heritage Clubs in Schools became necessary because Ethiopian children of all school ages, have very little opportunity to learn about their heritage while at school. Heritage Watch Ethiopia Association (HWEA) aims to provide students this vital opportunity through creative, hands-on educational experience offered within heritage clubs. The four schools; Minilik high School, Kokebe Tseba high School, Medhanyalem high school and Agazian Middle School all put on amazing and informative exhibits about their historical schools!!
Established in 2018, Heritage Watch Ethiopia has been advocating for the restoration of urban heritage, such as residential and commercial buildings, historic neighborhoods, nature preserves and gardens in the capital city of Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa and Oromia Region. Heritage Watch Ethiopia was formed in response to a grave need we saw in our capital city, Addis Ababa. This city which is in the middle of a construction boom, continues to expand and along the way, many historical buildings are being demolished. Moreover, these buildings are in deplorable condition due to gross neglect. In this way, for the last 10 years, in the capital city of Addis Ababa, an estimated one third of all the listed historical buildings have been destroyed. This happens despite an official registry of historical buildings and protection protocols. No one seems to mind that we are destroying irreplaceable part of Ethiopia’s built heritage.
Sources; https://www.hwethiopia.org/