JTV

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA — The 44th president of the United States is Barack Obama – and he has a lot of promises to live up to. At least, that’s the take here in Addis. While Ethiopia’s neighbors to the south are justifiably celebrating, cajoling and basking in the sweet victory of an American president with a Kenyan father, the mood in Ethiopia is much more business like.

My circle of Ethiopian friends, who cannot be expected to accurately reflect the sentiment of an entire city, much less a country, certainly approve of America’s young leader, but also realize politics is as much talk as it is action. That’s not to say you don’t hear murmurs, excited undertones, on the mini-buses and in the streets of the news of America’s election of Obama for president – you do. Additionally, more Obama t-shirt clad fans can be seen throughout the city. The most enjoyable part, as an American abroad, is that random people shout ‘Obama!’ in your direction, while smiling and giving you what I call an Ethiopian salute – a raise of the eyebrows and simultaneous grin. Assuming, as they do, they know for whom I cast my vote.

For all of this excitement, there’s been nothing outstanding. People mention the election, but the conversation quickly moves to the next topic – how’s your day going? What’s up with this rain during the dry season? When pressed, folks I have talked with mention the fact that Obama has a lot of work ahead of him.

Concern number one, they say, is the bad economy. A bad economy in the developed world in-directly cuts funding for a lot of programs and investment in the developing world, sooner or later. A close second concern: the two wars the US now finds itself in. People here have seen what war does to a nation – both within and without. Prosperity without peace, Habtamu says, is hard to come by. But, he quickly adds, there’s no easy solution; a big test for Obama.

What has most impressed me is the calm, realistic demeanor by which Ethiopians accept the election. They hope the benefits will be many fold for the US, Ethiopia and the world, but simultaneously realize the enormous task that lies ahead of our 44th president. We all may do well to gain a bit of this realistic, but quietly optimistic perspective.

This has been a historic week for the United States of America. The American people, much to the joy of the broader world, have voted for a change of direction in Washington and in politics. Let us now work together – calmly, realistically but always optimistically – to help President Obama put a little of that talk into action.

Journalist Dereje Habtewold, who is currently in exile, recounts the terror that was unleashed in Addis Ababa and throughout Ethiopia by the Meles regime in November 2005.

Dereje remembers his interview with the newly elected mayor of Addis Ababa, Dr Berhanu Nega of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (Kinijit) just a few moments before he was arrested along with all the other top leaders of the party.

Shortly after Dr Berhanu’s arrest, Dereje and almost all editors and journalists in Addis Ababa that worked on independent newspapers were rounded up and thrown in jail. They were released two years later.

The article is a good reminder of the fascism that currently exists in Ethiopia under the U.S.-financed brutal dictatorship of the tribalist junta.

Ethiopians celebrate Obama’s election as President of the United States because it has real meaning. It is the hope of all Ethiopians that the new Obama Administration will stop financing the regime in Ethiopia that is accused by all credible international human rights organizations of stealing elections and committing crimes against humanity.

The articles is in Amharic (pdf). Click here to read.

Makeda®, The Queen of Sheba Doll with Doll Stand

EthiDolls, co-founded by two Ethiopian born women now living in the New York City area, tells the stories of African Women Leaders from history and designs the authentic dolls that represent them.

The storied dolls, books and audio books are fun and educational as well as a gateway to self-discovery, unique expression and self-esteem.

EthiDolls’ products embody the emotional components of tradition, cultural origins and heritage. Makeda,® The Queen of Sheba Doll (who represents the first woman ruler of Ethiopia) is the first offering in its African Heritage Signature Collection.

Queen Mother Yaa Asantewaa, a formidable woman of distinction and celebrated icon, is the second offering and comes from what is now modern day Ghana.

Salome Yilma is a co-founder of Ghenet Enterprises, Ltd. (EthiDolls®). She has assembled the management team and developed the business plan for EthiDolls, the premier offering in a line of products planned for Ghenet Enterprises, Ltd. Ms. Yilma is a seasoned executive with professional experience in the publishing industry. She has broad experience in developing successful business strategies, launching targeted businesses and leading high performance sales and marketing teams that consistently met or exceeded revenue expectations. Ms. Yilma has worked for major publishing companies such as Essence Magazine, The New York Times, CMP, Miller Freeman, and VNU.

Born in Ethiopia, she spent her early years in Washington, D.C. and New York, where her father served as Ethiopian Ambassador to the United States and also to the United Nations. She was educated in Addis Ababa in her early years, and in the U.S. where she earned a bachelor degree from Adelphi University. Her education and professional career in corporate America, combined with extensive travel for business and leisure, have given her a unique ability to bridge her rich heritage with the diverse cultural traditions of America.

Yeworkwoha Ephrem is Co-Founder/Executive Vice President of EthiDolls. She was also born in Ethiopia and for the past ten years has been the owner/operator of the highly successful Ethiopian restaurant, Ghenet, located in the SoHo neighborhood in New York City. Ms. Ephrem is a culinary pioneer and entrepreneur. Her first restaurant opened in 1979 in TriBeCa. Her background includes certification in macrobiotic cooking from the Kushi Institute in Massachusetts, conducting cooking classes at Macy’s, and has also participated in the James Beard Foundation as well as The Tasters’ Choice event at the Jacob Javits Center.

Ms. Ephrem has worked at Ethiopian Airlines in the Commercial Planning & Marketing Division, the United Nations Development Program in New York, and the United Nations Peace Keeping Missions in Israel and Lebanon. She has traveled extensively throughout Ethiopia, as well as the Middle East. Ms. Ephrem has been featured with famous chefs such as Martha Stewart and received enthusiastic praise for Ghenet Restaurant in numerous publications including The New York Times, Gourmet Magazine, Zagat Survey, and Time-Out New York.

ADDIS ABABA (AFP) — Eritrean President Isaias Afeworki on Thursday voiced hope that US president-elect Barack Obama will change his country’s policy in the Horn of Africa, a region blighted by conflicts.

“It is my utmost pleasure to convey to your excellency … my warmest congratulations … for your landslide victory and election as the 44th president of the United States,” Isaias said in a letter to Obama.

“Let me further avail of this historic occasion to express my ardent hope that US policy in our region will indeed change under your excellency’s presidency to pursue a constructive path to advance the causes of regional peace, justice and legality.”

Ties between the two nations have been frosty over the past few years, with Asmara accusing the US of backing arch-foe Ethiopia in its border dispute with Addis Ababa.

Washington claims the small African state has backed Islamist groups in Somalia, an allegation denied by Eritrea.

Asmara has called for the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops, who, under US-backing, are in Mogadishu to prop up an ineffective transitional government. Last year, the US State Department included Eritrea alongside Belarus, China, Cuba, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea and Zimbabwe on its list of “the world’s most systematic human rights violators.”

In addition, the US placed an arms ban on Asmara in October after allegations that it was supporting “terrorists” in Somalia, feared to be a future haven for extremist groups.

For its part, Eritrea banned the United States Agency for International Development from operating in the country in 2007 and also imposed curbs on US diplomats.

In response, Washington closed Eritrea’s consulate in Oakland, California.