May 7, 2026
By Samuel Estefanous
Compliments to Emado Farda for a marvelous piece titled ‘Between the Chasm and the Chariot’ in response to the first segment of my article – at least in part. No mudslinging, little hyperbole, just exercising his natural God given inherent right and entitlement to a different opinion. Incidentally, I would like to note that this is just the second and last part of my article- as originally intended- and not an attempt to revalidate my arguments in light of Emado’s views.
1-Raging against the Dying of the Light?
In the event you didn’t know that is from Dylan Thomas’, Don’t go gentle into the good night or something like that.
The other week a colleague of mine gently placed a hospital invoice on my desk. He was billed more than 87,000.00 birr for a minor surgery. ‘I drove myself to the hospital, checked in, checked out and got drained of my savings just like that’. On my part I was like ‘Count your blessings, brother, and thank God you could afford it…millions prefer spiritual healing among others to avoid such costs’. We all know that the Faithful are flocking to the Holy places in droves seeking healing -both spiritual cum corpus- in record numbers.
It comes as no surprise. We actually need a collective Spiritual Healing. That is right. We are a Nation of the faithful and naturally we turn to the Holy Fathers, Imams and Pastors. Only to be licked by the merciless flames of raging wars of attrition consuming anything that moves in those ‘holy quarters’. I swear to God some actually need to post a sign that reads ‘Enter at your own risk…’ Creepy! Eyes red shot, lips trembling, foaming at the mouth the holy men and their social media lackeys are dispensing hatred-unprocessed.
Raging at whom? one’s own fellow countrymen? your own fellow Ethiopians? It looks like it but actually we are all collectively raging at the dying of the light that is Ethiopia. Trading blames aside, if there is any measure of clarity of thought-who dares make sense of what is going on in Tigray, Amhara and Oromia Regions without demonizing the respective designated ‘Eternal Enemy’? From whatever corner it ensues, a Nation that brews rage and hatred is going in reverse gear. In this context, who could positively refute Hobbes’ hypothesis that in his primitive natural essence man is selfish, wicked and vicious? In the event you didn’t think about it, we are ruining three thousand years of accumulated civilization in just one generation.
The Premier had a good sense of it when accidentally as it is he recently lamented that unlike the physical structural economic developments, guarding and advancing the essence of the Nation is quite elusive. Our forefathers rejected the former preferring the latter when they fought the Italians to the bitter end. We need the soul of the Nation nurtured and if the government is missed out on that and scores double digit economic growth it ends up being the ultimate loser…አለሙን ሁሉ ቢያተርፍ…
2 – Peripheral Addis tells a story
Nah, not a pleasant one! Whenever I think of Addis the one thing that comes to my mind is FMD’s characterization of St. Petersburg. He talks of his eternal city like it has got a unique soul of its own that reverberates across and through its canals and throughways. Addis has got that kind of vibe. It jealously guards its secrets and never divulges its beautiful soul to a chance traveler or a guest who tends to overstay his welcome.
Addis cares little if he owns stretches of high rises in prime locations. It just locks him out. Such a ‘cruel black hearted’ city! It prefers and is partial to its own les miserables than to the Nouveau Riche. That is why a reputed journalist by the name of S.Bayferis looked incredulous when he was told that there are Addis natives who are members of OLF. He wouldn’t be convinced. He kept quizzing his guest ‘are you sure about that? Are you sure about that? ያዲሳባ ልጅ ሆኖ???!!!….thank God, the guest was a good natured one and he hardly betrayed any bad feeling at the apparent ‘indecency’ of the question.
Rich or poor from the north or south, from central or east this class of “Addis Rejects” have established “colonies” of settlements in the peripheral Woredas of Addis-literally. They have formed exclusive communities and speak exclusively their native tongues. They show little tendency to step into the ‘melting pot’. If you happen to be a loner and frequent the locality, every ‘community’ eyes you suspiciously. They might even accuse you of being a government ‘mole’ planted amongst them. What amuses me most is they block sidewalks when they are walking around in groups. Fear, Suspicion and Hostility rein large with a few exceptions. Of course there are always exceptional folks who break barriers and shine bright. Maybe Addis is to blame to a certain extent. If a Ph.D. aspirant comparative sociologist were to undertake a study he/she could surely share more findings supported by empirical data.
God Bless.
The writer can be reached at : estefanoussamuel@yahoo.com
Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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