Nov 30 Sunday -  officials and residents preparing for Dec. 8 Ethnic Diversity celebration in Asosa

There is much activity in the city of Asosa these days. On Monday, December 8, the celebration of the ethnic diversity of the country is slated to take place here. This annual event rotates between regional capitals, and it just so happens that this year’s celebration coincides in both time and place with my visit here. That means that there will be no word-collection activity that day, but it also means that there will be lots of other activities going on that we can participate in or spectate at.

In preparation for this special day, the whole city of Asosa is getting a facelift. Cement block walls are being painted; streets are getting tarred and cindered; previously unadorned streets are being painted with lines to divide lanes of traffic, and official crosswalks are being painted on the pavement. Property-owners with unattractive fences are being compelled to put up sheets of tin (so I’ve been told, anyway); business owners are refreshing the paint on their storefronts. I’m seeing this happening all over town. It must be a heyday for the hardware store owners who sell the paint and sheets of tin!

This evening, as we headed into town to try the pizza we had heard was available at a particular restaurant, I noticed that a vacant lot had just been scraped flat by a huge earthmoving machine; now it looks something like a parking lot with a few big trees in it.

Traffic police are stationed at many intersections, primarily observing the foot traffic and directing pedestrians to the crosswalks about 25 feet from the intersection, instead of allowing them to cross at the intersection itself as they’ve presumably been in the habit of doing for a long time. I’m interpreting this all as advance training, helping people to understand what will be expected of them on December 8. On December 9, things may very well revert to the way they were before all of these preparations began. (It will actually be interesting to see what happens in the days that follow the holiday!)

Many have questioned whether a large project, such as the construction of a large building, can be accomplished in a short period of time in a culture like those typically found in Africa, but I am seeing evidence that it is possible, given the necessary motivation and funds. Next door to the house where I am living, construction of a large guesthouse is nearing completion. From what I’ve heard, this guesthouse is intended for visiting dignitaries from other parts of Ethiopia. The order to build it was apparently given in September, and now a week before it is to be occupied by guests, it seems to be nearing completion.

Kevin Warfel