BY ALEM HAILU
A handsome senior citizen who sat beside me on the veranda of Tourist Hotel, found at Aratkilo, with a walking stick pointing to a passerby boy on the pedestrian walk said “I want to tell to that chap about something!”
“Do you know him?”
“No!”
“Is it important?”
“Yes his T-shirt bears the logo Boston. I wanted to ask him whether he knows about Boston or not?” Swinging his walking stick slightly he eyed me.
“Sir, it may be a fourth hand cloth he put on,” I put on a sarcastic face.
“Oh I see. It didn’t occur to me,” he chuckled.
“What is it that you wanted to tell him about Boston?”
“Bostonians once put their foot down saying ‘there is no taxation without representation.’ ”
“Is that a fight for freedom?”
“Yes they said ‘No!’ to impositions. American colonists, frustrated and angry at Britain for imposing taxation without representation, dumped over 340 chests of tea. That was one way American’s built their democracy.”
“I reckon America’s history is at your fingertips.”
“I learnt journalism in Minnesota.”
“I see!”
“Thomas Jefferson, an American statesman, said ‘It is better to have a newspaper without a government than a government without a newspaper’ to underline the significance of journalism. The saying rams home the power of journalism in shaping the mindset of people, mobilizing them swaying outlooks.”
“Yes the saying goes Journalism is the fourth State,” I nodded and added.
“Did you apply here the principles of journalism you acquired in America?”
“Yes. After I came back here I became editor-in-chief of one of the noted government newspapers of Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA). The YeEthiopia Dimete (Voice of Ethiopia),”he displayed pride exuding face.
“It was few friends and I who kick started modern journalism gradually taking tasks from self-taught journalists, writing articles in the traditional way. They were doing good things. But some were unaware they have to respect the rights of others too. Following complaints we arranged training on accountability and impartiality.”
“Complaint? ”
“Yes there was a column ‘I have a question?’ In one piece while a job applicant was going out expressing complaint he stumbled on the guard. ‘What happened?’ the guard asked. ‘Though I have a BA they say it is 300Birr we could pay you,’ the applicant expressed anger. ‘Take it is easy. It 170 Birr they pay me though I have M1’ the guard said pointing to his gun.’ ”
“So funny, ”I laughed.
“The socialist government took that as an affront to the dignity of the working class. The journalist got in trouble.”
“Was there censorship during your time?”
“During the Emperor Hailesslasi’s Regime unless a journalist negatively comments about the Emperor or the church he could slam or be critical about anyone or anything.”
“What about the Derg regime?”
“Nothing against the socialist ideals was acceptable. We suffered the iron grip of the dictator’s censorship.”
“Do you remember an instance?”
“I remember the slogan long live with president Mengistu’s committed leadership. Posting his pictures on the walls of every hotel and every office was a must!”
He took a long breath and added,
“Once during the Derg regime, while I was on sick leave giving the deputy-editor in chief a green light to take the lead an article by a contributor was published.”
“What was it about? Was it risky?”
“Very risky!”
“You see the article was narrating about the quarrel among the different organ parts of a man. Heart, lung, kidney and what have you? All claimed ‘I must be the leader.’ They started to vie to the same effect. Rectum too claimed ‘ it must be me who should lead.’ Hearing this claim the contestants split their sides laughing.
They mocked it ‘You are simply a conduit to remove human refuse’. With a grudge, this organ part stopped its service of removing human refuse. Under pressure, the remaining parts had no options than giving in. So ass hole this way became a leader,” he laughed tears trickling down his neatly shaved cheek. I too laughed long.
“So funny! Was it meant to lampoon the then top leader in power?”
“ Yes. When I returned back to work and read the article I become a bit shocked. I called the overburdened deputy –editor-in-chief and asked him. ‘What do you think is the covert message of the article?’ ”
He did not expect something subtle
“Does it have a problem?” he began shaking all over.
“It slams the leader in power!”
“‘But fortunately few could discern the meaning,’ I patted him on the back.”
“Did the censors fail to get the gist?” I showed eagerness to know the answer.
“How could birdbrained cadres of that time do that?” he once more laughed accompanied by me.
“Undemocratic governments accept nothing unflattering. When journalists try to apply journalistic principles of honesty to the truth and the audience they get themselves behind bars.”
“Once, while I was attending a reception by an embassy I met a minister of the Emperor’s regime. Recognizing me, when he asked about journalist in Ethiopia,” I told him
“Unfortunately we are subjects to a double edged knife. The government sues us for criticizing it, while the public accuses us of favoring the government. You see, sandwiched, we are in deep trouble.”
“Cheaters you are! You side embassies,” he directed his pointing finger towards me.
“What wrong did I do? Is it because I picked whisky glasses with ministers in the parties’ embassies at times organize. ”
“Maybe,” laughing he moved away.
“He failed to notice it is editor-in-Chiefs embassies respect more than officials. He never liked mixing with people out of his circle or his class but once he did come to my house. I became surprised as he used to shun many. He was Economics graduate from London School of Economics.”
“Of course, I took every care to distance myself from government officials.”
“I remember my boss who liked mixing with the royal family. ‘Please don’t rub shoulders with such dignitaries too much. As educated journalists we have to serve the country and citizens as per journalistic principle. We have to sensitize citizens about their rights and the government about its duties.
We have to set path for youngsters. Using the past as a background we have to analyze the present and hint about ways forward focusing on why and how.’ I often urged him. Unfortunately, he became subject to the wrath of the merciless Derg officials,”
“Did he receive capital punishment at the hands of ignoramus Derg officials?”
“Yes he was among the top elites of the country that were executed by the Derg officials. He was a graduate of Boston School of Journalism,” he showed dismay and added this boss of mine used to joke ‘Many get bankrupt when they marry but I profited from marriage. My filthy rich father- in- law gave me a Chevrolet as a marriage gift.’ ”
“There is an African saying ‘discussing with a senior citizen is tantamount to scouring a library for acquiring a thorough knowledge.’ I have a lot to learn from you. Do you often come here?” I saw him with reverence.
“Yes I’m a bit nostalgic about that building on the other side of the road.”
“The one where the Kenema Pharmacy is found?”
“Right you are! Our office was on Birhanena Selam building. But after our respective papers went to bed that is to print friends and I used to drop in at that pub by the current pharmacy. We used to call the pub second division. It is Beer I often prefer. But most of my friends frequented whisky and local gin. That is how gin killed most of them out. There were black Americans and Indians,” he ducked his head to express pity.
“Why do you think most journalists resort to the liquor bottle?”
“Obviously, it is for tension management. Journalism involves working under pressure and meeting deadlines. The task saps journalists’ physical energy, nonphysical zeal and brain.”
“Sure thing, ”I said.
“Is there a happiest moment in your career?”
“Yes when once the State Minister tried to introduce me to Emperor Hailesselasie. The emperor said ‘ Is it you that introduce Kebede to us. We know him already for his editorial, reportages and punctuality of his paper!’”
“Wow that is stunning. Did you interview him?”
“Yes.I interviewed Him and Ras Emeru too. The latter was a bit capricious. The Emperor got surprised how I managed to interview Ras Emeru. Also it was me who coined the term Ethiopia Tikdem (let Ethiopia surge ahead/or stand on its feet) The Emperor asked me ‘what do you mean by that?’ I told him ‘Every country has a catch phrase’ like ‘America First!’. The emperor expressed his appreciation”
“Do you come here? I never saw you before,” he eyed me.
“I came here for a cup of coffee to dispel a headache. I was doing a heavy editing? I will return back soon before my paper goes to bed!” I borrowed his expression to carry across my point.
“Are you a journalist too? What a coincidence,” he laughed and added “I failed to notice we were on the same wave length.”
“Yes I am deputy editor-in –chief of The Ethiopian Herald!”
He picked his hat from his hoary head.
“I go by Alex? What about you?” Getting on my feet I extended my hand.
“Kebede Anisa,”we shook hands.
“ Recently, I heard news on TV EPA has embarked on the path of change,” he once more eyed me with answer seeking face.
“New papers on local languages are being introduced and the former ones upgraded.”
“ I saw Wegahata. It is a good thing you are doing. As Addis is the seat of continental and international organizations, it will be plausible if you resume the publication of the French Newspaper Addis Soir!”
“Was there a French newspaper in EPA? I didn’t know,”I said.
“Yes go to the library and check things out including my Newspaper.”
“Sir it was starting from my early years I was frequenting EPA’s library. All the Newspapers are well -bound and well-arrayed. I did read most editorials specially that of The Ethiopian Herald. I was surprised to notice you and your colleagues were active in slamming Apartheid top on giving analysis on hot local issues. ”
“I see,” he became delighted.
“I will arrange things and invite you to EPA so that you could share your wonderful experiences worth taking lessons from.”
After we exchanged phone numbers I returned back to office warmly greeting him.
But of all his talks one thing still clicks in my mind whenever I write editorial.
“Once, while I was staring out of the window, a collegue saw me. ‘What are you staring at?’ he asked me. ‘I am asking Holy Trinity to tell me on what issue I must write editorial,’ he laughed.” “You see editorial is the salient part of a News paper.”
The Ethiopian Herald March 26/2021
