BY: KFLEEYESUS ABEBE
My hometown Gondar served as a capital of Ethiopia for about 300 years. The town upto this time preserved relics that prove one of Ethiopian civilization and its prominence back in time. If anyone happens to be or stop by in Gondar, he/she wouldn’t miss visiting Fasiledes Castle, Fasiledes Pool, and different ancient churches. If he has time he might go deep into the countryside and visit other historical artifacts and monuments.
The hospitality, tradition, slang of langauge, accent, the food and drink attracts local and international tourists. Ethiopian with interest of history and culture will undoubtly be fascinated by riches of Gondar. It is also a major stopover by tourists. A large number of tourists visit Gondar annually during epiphany time when there is large religous gathering and festivity. This time is a time tourist kill two birds with one stone: visiting Fasiledes Castle and participate in Grand Epiphany celebration.
Gondar isn’t about history. It has also breathtaking landscapes. In fact, it is a city surrounded by mountains. There is a panaormic view when you see Gondar from Goha mountain. This scenic view of the town coupled with its historical significance is these days attracting investors in hoteling industry. There are morethan 5 big resorts and others are being constructed. Many people say Gondar has a favorable weather condition not too cold or not to hot; warm. This might be one of the reasons visitors stay longer in Gondar.
For me Gondar isn’t a tourist destination. It is a hometown! A home, a sweet home that is filled with emotions, feelings and so many memories. It is a lense I see Ethiopia through. It is my genesis: my childhood, my adolescence and my youth. It is a family spirit, friendship and belongingness altogether. So, whenever I return to my town, I want to fill everything. To meet and talk to different people, to stroll in walkways I used to walk, to visit the schools I attended, to sit and drink tea in a teashop I used to frequent, to pray in a church that raised me and many more. I want to feel every bit of it.
I want to remember and cherish old good days, my friends and the Grand Gondar that is imprinted and fresh on my head. I usually comeback with very strong feelings. Because of Gondar, I found many of the musics I love has such nostalgic melodies and lyrics. One of the musics I love and expressed my feelings of Gondar is Adele’s “Hometown golry.” I loved it and there was occasions I tried to translate it into Amharic. Adele described her hometown as wonder of her world. Indeed, Gondar is a wonder to me.
I’ve been walking in the same way as I didMissing out the cracks in the pavementAnd turning my heel and strutting my feet“Is there anything I can do for you dear?Is there anyone I could call?”“No and thank you, please MadamI ain’t lost, just wandering”
‘Round my hometownMemories are fresh‘Round my hometown Ooh the people I’ve metAre the wonders of my worldAre the wonders of my worldAre the wonders of this worldAre the wonders of now I like it in the city when the air is so thick and opaqueI love to see everybody in short skirts, shorts and shadesI like it in the city when two worlds collideYou get the people and the governmentEverybody taking different sides Shows that we ain’t gonna stand shitShows that we are unitedShows that we ain’t gonna take itShows that we ain’t gonna stand shitShows that we are united ‘Round my hometownMemories are fresh‘Round my hometownOoh the people I’ve met yeah
Do-dily-di-da-da-da-da-day, yeahDo-dily-di-da-da-da-da-day, yeahDo-do-do-do-ohh-ohh, yeahYeah, yeah, hey, ay
Are the wonders of my worldAre the wonders of my worldAre the wonders of this worldAre the wonders of my world Of my world, yeahOf my worldOf my world, yeah
Unfortunately, this time I returned with feelings of sadness. I witnessed there is such a low feeling. There is an air of despondency with attitude of left aside, considered a periphery that has small significance to the central government. Gondar isn’t living up to its history and name. The jobs are few and left many of my friends, the youth dispersed. Infrastructures haven’t been changed much even the buildings of one of the schools I attended is cracking. The roads has been revamped long ago. Water shortage is recurrent problem.
Conversely, Addis Ababa, the city I am currently living, is of hundered years that mainly characterzed by modernity than being traditional or historical like Gondar. The city as is the current capital of Ethiopia contains many government buildings and it is where government leaders work. It is also a business, cultural, and population center. For this reason, it is already very large compared to Gondar or any other regional city. In the meantime Addis Ababa is growing fast with buildings and various infrastructures. State of the art library, musuem, recretional parks, shopping malls, parking lot, science and technology
buildings and other facilities have been constructed and are being constructed. The city’s municpality and the national palace is also refubrished. In addition to what it already has, the city is increasing its transportaion access by building standard roads.
Addis Ababa also alures citizens for its wide job access. Citizens from different corners of the country have continued to come looking for job opportunities that government instituions and business enterprises are providing. This has made the city center of knowledge, human power and capital as it is supposed to be.
Accordingly, there is vibrant atmosphere in Addis than any part of the country. On one side it is understandable the capital to enjoy wide investment and focus as it is the seat of government and the face of the nation. But it is also significant to balance nation’s investment to realize healthy environment and maintain natural growth of cities. Gondar is a case in point for the large gap between development in the region and the capital. If other cities enjoy reasonable investment, there would a chance to unleash country’s potential in various areas. A calculated investment also helps the capital city to cope up with exploding number of population it currently hosting.
The Ethiopian Herald June 29/2022
