One afternoon in the campus of the then known Addis Ababa University College (AAUC), the late Maitre Artist Afework Tekle was conducting a class in drawing for the benefit of a group of college students who had joined an art club to see if they had any talent in this field at all and to try their hands at drawing, aspiring to become artists. It is not known whether any one of them had succeeded in becoming one. The class, however, had a special fascination for the students.
The girl, who was acting as a model, was a second year student and had a special hair-do for the occasion. Impressed by her hair, more than anything else, one of the students drew its shape with a curve that did not exactly represent what he saw. Maître Artist Afework took the pencil from the student’s hand, modified the pencil drawing, and the girl’s hair-do seemed to come life-size on the drawing board.
The year was 1958 and it was a year when Africa Hall was under construction. The well-known Ethiopian artist was one of the three artists who were commissioned to undertake the art work of the continent’s symbolic and unique edifice. The outstanding result was the glass-stained wall that places the continent of Africa into an ever-lasting artistic museum summed up by the words: “Yesterday, Today and To-morrow” – the artist’s description of his work.
On April 29 of that year, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa was established after Africa Hall was inaugurated about a month or so earlier. The building was constructed under the close supervision of the Ministry of Works and communications. It was a symbolic and momentous event because at that time most African countries were under colonial rule, and it is surprising to note that in a matter of a decade or so, many of them become free and sent delegates to Addis Ababa – delegates who sat in the Hall as representatives of the newly independent states.
The ECA was one of the series of commissions established by the UN Generally Assembly. The Economic Commission for Europe and the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East were established in March 1947. In August of the same year, the third commission, the Economic Commission for Latin America, was set up by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. After a lapse of a decade during which the need for a similar organization for Africa was discussed at the UN Economic and Social Council at different intervals, the
Economic Commission for Africa was established on 29 April 1958. Addis Ababa was selected as its headquarters.
Africa Hall’s architect was Mr. Mezzedimi; the artists were Maitre Artist Afework Tekle, Signor Barakini and Signor Vitali; the contractor was Signor Luigi Varnero; and electrical installation was carried out by Signor Silvestri; while the lifts were installed by Vandler Co. But most of the technical activities were undertaken by the Ministry of Works. Unlike today, foreigners played a major role in the construction of high-rise buildings.
Historical records indicate also that eleven daily labourers had lost their lives. At the inaugural ceremony tribute was paid to them as having made the utmost sacrifice in the service of a noble cause.
In May 1963, the first African Head of State Conference was held at Africa Hall. A closed-circuit TV broadcast the deliberations that ended with the establishment of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). Since then, many international conferences were held at Africa Hall, because of the facilities it provided for such conferences, Addis Ababa, thus, became a venue for international conferences on equal level with Geneva, London and New York.
In the main assembly of Africa Hall, eight seats were designed for the chair, 86 for heads of delegations, 168 for delegation members, 58 for observers and other representatives, 16 for secretaries, 16 others for interpreters and operators, 16 for special guests, 37 for journalists and 106 for the public. Similar statistics may be available for the new conference centre adjacent to Africa Hall.
Initially, the Hall with its compound occupied an area of 26,000 sq. metres. Today, the extension has more than doubled the previous area. Most of the building structure contains office space for highly qualified international civil servants who undertake studies in specialized fields under UN auspices.
When Africa Hall was built, it faced the
National Palace, one of the most attractive places in the city. On special
occasions, in front of the big Hall, fountains are seem rising high and falling
down a slope of steps thereby offering a beautiful scenery that leaves a
lasting impression on visitors. The touristic interest of the building has been
increasing over the years.
The Ethiopian Herald July 14, 2019
BY BERHANU TIBEBU ZEWOLDE
