November 2020
ADDIS ABABA
21
"I didn’t learn to run from day one; I just crawled and worked my way up."
Addis Alemayehou Entrepreneur, Marketer and Ethiopian Media Pioneer
CatchUp
FollowUp
Bucket List
Día de los Muertos
Moving the Job Market ahead:
The Five Biggest Markets in Africa You should Have in Your Bucket List
The Day of the Dead
Dereja.com's First and Second Virtual Career Expo
04 Editor’s Letter
05
07
Linkup
Thumbsup
08
12
16
Virtual Career Expo
Día de los Muertos
An Hour In
Followup
Brief
Catchup
Cremino Cafe
with Dereja.com
20
Eatup
26 Whatsup
28 Reelup
Closeup Addis Alemayehou
The H Bistro: Be Yourself and Enjoy Great Service
Movie reviews
31
33
35
Linkup
Bucket List
Listenup
Linkup
City Guide
Yet another month ahead- a new opportunity to learn, to change, to be inspired, and to inspire. Welcome to the November 2020 edition of LinkUp Addis. As we start the new month, the entire LinkUp Addis team would like to challenge each of our esteemed readers to strive to be an inspiration to others and embody the change we all would like to see within our respective communities. In line with this challenge, this month's edition is all about inspirations. From our CloseUp Interview that featured Addis Alemayehou, one of the most impactful personalities in the Ethiopian media and marketing industry, to the feature Dereja.com's second virtual career expo, we hope this edition will be where your month of inspiration starts. Enjoy the read. Have a fantastic month ahead!
Eyob Workineh Editor-in-Chief
Editor in chief: Eyob Workineh eyob@linkupaddis.com Marketing Director: Mathias Aklilu mathias@linkupaddis.com Partnerships Director: Eyasu Abdella eyasu@linkupaddis.com Graphic Designer: Abenezer Samuel bensamuel189@gmail.com
Cover photo: Courtesy of 251 Communcations
LinkUp Brief November 2020
Feelings along the Sidewalk Launches at Italian Cultural Institute Feelings along the Sidewalk, a collaborative visual art showcase project by Italian Cultural Institute and Tibeb Be Adebabay was launched on 29 October 2020 at the Italian Cultural Institute. A move by the organizers to advance the use of digital platforms to promote culture and creativity, the event combine a physical exhibit at the Italian cultural institute with a parallel virtual showcase of the artworks on Tibeb Be Adebabay's official website www.tibebbeadebabay.org. The event presents a combination of different cultures, arts and styles featuring Livia Fania, an architect, illustrator, and visual practitioner passionate about traveling and language along with over half a dozen local visual artists. Visitors can attend the event at www.tibebbeadebabay.org.
Alliance is Back One of the most influential institutions in Addis's cultural and creative scenes, Alliance Ethio-francaise is back after over four months of closure due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Below are the events you might expect ahead at Alliance
Event Date
06 November 2020
13 November 2020
Time
6:00pm
6:30pm
Event Title
Description
#HERstories
An evening of poetry and prose
Nege Piassa
Opening of a Photo Exhibition (Closes on 07 December)
20 November 2020
8:00pm
Concert
Ethio-psychedelic concert by Theo Ceccaldi (Fr.), Hewan G/Wold and Haleluya T/Tsadik
26 November 2020
8:00pm
Reggae Concert
Reggae Concert by Ras Kawintseb
Thumbsup Eyasu A. Ashenafi
Shopping Name: 1All
Entertainment and Healthy lifestyle Name: ADDisFUN
1All is a one-stop-shop that provides everything you need for a gathering and much more. They provide soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, food products, and a whole lot more at incredible prices. Call them or visit their website to know more about their offers.
ADDisFun is one day yoga or Ethiopian dance retreat in Debre-Libanos and Fedika hosted every weekend with Heran Tadesse, a yoga expert, every Saturday or Sunday! The package includes a yoga class, light trek in nature, healthy vegan/vegetarian food, meditation, fresh air, and is a great opportunity to make new friends. The session is organized In collaboration with Noble Cup, Memories Tour, Shifta Restaurant, and Fendika Traditional Dance Club.
Website: www.electroliquor.com Facebook: 1all Location: Near African Union Telephone: +251 (0)11 550 4416 On Google maps? Yes Restaurant / Gallery Name: KONARK Indian Sweets and Restaurant Looking for something different? KONARK has a range of Indian sweets and savory snacks. They make pakora (chickpea & onion fried) and deep-fried spicy jalapeños to order from their outdoor food stand. Sweets range from carrot- to milk-based desserts. They also have an art gallery within the compound. Facebook: Konark- -Sweet-MixturesAddis-Ababa Location: Near Skylight Hotel Phone: +251 (0)96 633 3929 on Google Maps? Yes
Facebook: ADDisFUN Phone: +251 (0)98 930 5454
FollowUp
Virtual Career Expo with Dereja.com
Amanu Terriessa
T
Photo from: Dereja.com
hese days, in an unfortunate but very much anticipated turn of events, the word ‘fresh-graduate’ has almost become synonymous with ‘unemployed’. And in countries like Ethiopia, where the curriculum of higher education is completely disconnected from the reality of the market, the problem of unemployment is more serious than ever. Not only are most students forced to graduate in fields that are inundated with candidates for employers, but they are also leaving the universities without the extracurricular employability skills that are required to get jobs. Dereja.com, a business unit of Info Mind Solutions Plc. (Ethiojobs.net), is a company that has made its goal to fix this issue. In recent years, Dereja.com has undertaken numerous projects to narrow the gap between employers and recent graduates. 8 I Linkup Addis Ababa
Dereja Academy Accelerator Program, a three-month intensive training program, is one of these projects. Focusing on fresh graduates that have passed through a month-long rigorous selection process, with the support of Mastercard Foundation, it provides a myriad of training ranging from how to build a CV to how to approach employers and succeed at interviews. Another project to increase the reach of their company was done through the creation of career centers, numbering seventeen, in multiple universities both in Addis Ababa and across many regions in the country. Lastly – a project that has been in action for the past three years – they host job fairs to provide platforms for employers to get direct contact with fresh graduates. Before Covid forced a switch from in-person gatherings to virtual assemblies, these job fairs used to take place in Millennium
Hall. Taking the pandemic which kept millions locked at home into consideration, In partnership with Jobs Creation Commission and with the support of Mastercard Foundation Dereja. com hosted the country’s first virtual career expo on 27 August 2020. The virtual event helped over 1500 job seekers to have an opportunity to meet over a hundred employing companies. The participants of the event had Hawassa University: 08 December 2020 Mekelle University: 11 December 2020 Jimma University: 15 December 2020 Addis Ababa University: 18 December 2020 St. Mary University: 18 December 2020 Unity University: 18 December 2020 Bahir Dar University: 22 December 2020
9 I Linkup Addis Ababa
Photo from: Dereja.com
"Dereja.com will hold its second virtual career expo on 01 December 2020, and they have high plans for this one, including almost tripling the number of expected participants."
Photo from: Courtesy of Dereja
access to six webinars that they could attend as a little break from the expo. Led by representatives from Mastercard Foundation, Ethiojobs, LinkedIn, and many more, these sessions dealt with the benefits and methods of shifting to virtual ways of recruiting employees were also provided for the employers as part of the online expo. As expected, the biggest challenge faced when holding expos online is the very real problem of internet reach. "During the in-person job fairs, over twenty thousand people used to show up at Millennium Hall," explains Mahlet Felasfaw, communications officer at Dereja.com, "While we expected to hit the same number this year, after Covid-19 hit and made it a necessity to go virtual, we had to reduce our expected turnouts. Fortunately, the number of participants in the first virtual event was encouraging." The other challenge was that due to the time constraints, the employers did not have enough time to conduct comfortable interviews, and the students were not able to fully go through all the employers. Metasebia Tabor- Employer Relations Manager, explains, the feedback Dereja.com got from the employers was generally positive; they appreciated how it was easier and safer to do as they were conducting interviews from the comfort of their houses. Of all the employers that registered for the expo, about 40% followed through. This, according to Metasebia,
10 I Linkup Addis Ababa
was enough evidence to show that not all who registered understood the system, but those who participated for the whole event, took full advantage of the platform. Dereja.com will hold its second virtual career expo starting from 08 December 2020 until the 22nd of December in both the Addis Ababa and regional universities, and they have high plans for this one, including almost tripling the number of expected participants. In partnership with eight private and public universities, they plan to extend the duration of the event by dedicating specific event days for specific cities at once, as opposed to trying to fit the whole expo into one day. This time, the employers, after having their IT teams trained by Dereja.com, will also be handed more responsibilities and opportunities on the platform. The only prerequisite to participate in the upcoming expo is for the students to be in the graduating class of one of the eight universities working with the event. Registation for the Virtual Career
Expo closes on November 13th, if you’re interested be sure to check out the webpage: careerexpo. dereja.com The support from Jobs Creation Commission and Mastercard Foundation- Young Africa Works program has made a impact on the Dereja.com services provided to students. Mastercard Foundation is dedicated to making the expo sessions as accessible as possible, by going as far as providing internet packages for all the participants. All of Dereja.com interventions were funded by MasterCard Foundation and Jobs Creation Commission. “They’ve been a great support,” says Mahlet, “They’re really about improving the livelihood of young people in the nation. They’re very dedicated and focused on the unemployment issue here and they’ve shown us through all their support.”
"Mastercard Foundation is dedicated to making the expo sessions as accessible as possible by going as far as providing internet packages to all participants."
A company that aims on revolutionizing the audio visual production indusry in Ethiopia! Agelgil TV
agelgil_studios
agelgilstudios@gmail.com
CatchUp
Día de los Muertos Nathan Seyoum
B
efore Mexico was a tributary of the Spanish Conquistadors in the 14th and 15th centuries with their Reducionnes, Pitas, and Encomiendas, they had a vibrant and rich culture assumed by the Aztecs, Mayans, and other medieval civilizations. The Mesoamericans enjoyed an array of traditions set by their ancestors before them, and they celebrated freely in tribute to their religions and respect for their loved ones. One such tradition still lives in Post-Colonial Mexico. It is perhaps one of the most vibrant festivities in the world. It is imbued with color and contrast. This is the Day of the Dead.
Photo from: afar-production.imgix.net
Death is mourned almost everywhere else. But here, it is celebrated. One of the preColombian codices clearly
12 I Linkup Addis Ababa
states that the Dia de Los Muertos was a celebration rather than a mourning of those who have died. The Mesoamericans believed that it was disrespectful to the dead to be melancholic about their death. Therefore, they made it a celebration instead where they welcome their deceased relatives back to their midst. Today the Day of the Dead is one of the biggest festivals in the world. As the hazer creates a rainbow of colored smog in the air, the parade slowly starts to commence. The entire country is enmeshed in colorful clothes, makeup, and accessories. Most importantly, Mexico City and Lago de Pátzcuaro are the key places to be to see the full scale of the festivities. People take to the streets to witness traditional music, food offerings, and parties all around.
"This is the Day of the Dead. ...Death is mourned almost everywhere else. But here, it is celebrated."
13 I Linkup Addis Ababa
Photo from: static.standard.co.uk
"The Day of the Dead is a rich, historic, and traditional celebration of the deceased in the heart of Mexico. It is a bonanza of colors, food, music, and dance from start to finish."
In the middle of the parades, one sees a peculiar figure standing out. It is a large skeletal structure ushered in on wheels made from wood and other decorations. This is a Calavera. It is meant to represent death, but it also traces its origins to the country’s recent history where the term is an undercurrent to the meaning of a literary piece or poem. Hence, a Calavera is a skull figure and serves as a connotation for poems that are usually recited at various stages of the celebration. Some people dress up and make skull structures for the parade. Others wear skull-like features on their make-ups.
Photo from: tripsavvy.com
Another symbol that grabs the eye is the altar. Altars in Dia de Los Muertos are key because they are pit stops for all the food and drink servings that are offered to the dead. Even though they may look like religious icons by the way they are decorated, they are merely places where offerings
14 I Linkup Addis Ababa
are made and the Alumbrada (light festivity) commences. Decorations of these altars, also known as Ofrendas, may include orange marigold flower garlands, sugar skulls, Mexican Serape Table Runners, figurines, and others. Most people associate this festival with the Mexican version of Halloween. The two holidays may have the same traditional source. However, the Dia de Los Muertos is a completely different celebration than Halloween. Where Halloween mainly traces its origins to a Celtic pagan tradition which was later infused by Christian ones, this has somewhat maintained its old medieval sources. Besides, where Halloween primarily aims to ward off ghosts the Dia de Los Muertos wants to embrace them. The Day of the Dead is now breaking into Western cultures as well where it is fused with Halloween especially after
gaining popularity from the film Coco released by Disney’s Pixar Animation Studios. The Day of the Dead is a rich, historic, and traditional celebration of the deceased in the heart of Mexico. It is a bonanza of colors, food, music, and dance from start to finish. The following day, 01 November, is the Day of the little Angels. However, on 31 October, the day of the dead has never looked so good.
15 I Linkup Addis Ababa
EatUp
Cremino Cafe An Hour In
Ephratha Kibru
A
month ago, a darling little café/restaurant opened its doors. Located at the heart of Bole road, right next to Ramada Hotel, this quaint spot went by no name. Yet customers flocked to this polished corner of our city in droves, bringing friends and friends of friends to a joint they simply referred to as “That place” Over the past five weeks, “That Place” earned themselves a lot of loyal regulars. Having finally decided to name their establishment Cremino Café, the owners invited the LinkUp Addis team to check them out.
Photo by: Eyasu A.Ashenafi
Before even stepping in, Cremino draws you. Its great big windows offer a look inside: chattering customers lounging on attractive furniture. But one can only appreciate the real beauty of the place from inside. The clean, minimalistic look was aesthetically pleasing, and
16 I Linkup Addis Ababa
the silky jazz music playing in the background amply set the mood. We took a seat and had a look at the menu. Cremino offers a diverse menu. From breakfast food to pizza to an assortment of smoothies, they had a little bit of everything. And so that is what we had- a little bit of everything. A steak and cheese sandwich, a special pizza, and a pesto pasta were ordered, and we resolved to have a taste from their extensive smoothie list while we waited for our meals. The first of said smoothies was the one going by the name “Jump Start” Made primarily from strawberries, yogurt, and oats, this was a nice and heavy drink, lightened only by the fresh mint. The honeysweetened the smoothie without giving a saccharine taste. It was all in all, a great drink. The other smoothie I tried was called Fresh & Green. This drink was in turn simultaneously light and heavy. The avocado was responsible for the bulk while the cucumber
Location: Africa Avenue, Ground floor at Tropicall Mall Opening Hours: 7 am to 9pm Phone: +251 (0)94 406 3338/39 On Deliver Addis: No
"Before even stepping in, Cremino draws you. Its great big windows offer a look inside: chattering customers lounging on attractive furniture."
Meanwhile, I had a conversation with Yehenew Getachew, the co-owner of Cremino, and one of its chefs. “Cooking was just a hobby. A hobby I am passionate about, a hobby I love doing, but I didn’t expect myself to open a restaurant,” he tells me. “I’m a trained mechanical engineer. I graduated with honors,” he continues while laughing, “I even spent a few years working on the GERD!” Our lunch then arrives, and Yehenew tells us a little bit about the menu. “I simply wanted to serve what I eat, that is why the menu is so diverse.” At the same time, he explains his ‘less is more’ belief when considering dining. “Now, personally speaking, I don’t like what we here call a ‘special pizza’,” he points to my meal, “You
17 I Linkup Addis Ababa
The Steak and Cheese Sandwich came last. It was another simple creation. I have had one too many such sandwiches where my first few bites were just mouthfuls of bread, but I’m happy to report that is not the case here at Cremino. Both the steak and the cheese were abundant. These sandwiches also featured some wonderfully crisp, grilled onions. I appreciated the crunch they gave my bites. The sandwich came with a side of thick
"Yes, it was a bit of an overkill, yes it was not that innovative, yes one of the ingredients was boiled egg (a big pizza no for me), and yet, all of its components were of obviously good quality...It was an okay dish, just not the pinnacle of dining."
Photo by: Eyasu A.Ashenafi
attempted to balance it out. The lemon added a wonderful tang to this refreshing drink, all finally tied together by honey.
have all these ingredients, and it feels removed from the whole classic pizza-eating experience. For me, a classic Margherita pizza with a thin tomato sauce layer, good cheese, and maybe a pinch or two of basil is what I would consider perfection. But” he stresses, “there is a demand. If your customers want a special pizza, then as a service provider, you must provide it.” To the credit of this poor bullied Special Pizza, it was not a bad dish. Yes, it was a bit of an overkill, yes it was not that innovative, yes one of the ingredients was boiled egg (a big pizza no for me), and yet, all of its components were of obviously good quality. The chicken was soft and tasty, the cheese was wonderfully stringy, and the olives worked notably well with the mortadella. It was an okay dish, just not the pinnacle of dining. The Pesto Pasta, on the other hand, was exactly the type of dish Yehenew was appreciating- a textbook example of simplistic perfection. The pesto was fresh from the basil, nice and salty from the parmesan and spices, garlicky from, well, the garlic. And lest we forget what tied the sauce all together- fantastic virgin olive oil. The spaghetti carried the sauce notable well too. It was all in all, a worthwhile meal.
Photo:by: Abenezer Geleta Photo Eyasu A.Ashenafi
"I have had one too many such sandwiches where my first few bites were just mouthfuls of bread, but I’m happy to report that is not the case here at Cremino."
18 I Linkup Addis Ababa
After lunch, Merete, the coowner of Cremino offered us some dessert. Now, Cremino had several baked and frozen goodies, so we opted to have a little bit of both. An éclair and a classic fruit tart made their way to our table. The éclair, an essentially cylindrical version of cream puffs (boksegna, for most of us), was the dessert I took my first bite from. The filling was just the right amount of sweet, and the choux pastry was characteristically light. Add this with the classic glazing coated over it, and we had a definite win. I then took a bite of the fruit tart. The cold cream of the pastry was very similar to that of the éclair’s, and I
19 I Linkup Addis Ababa
enjoyed it a second time as well. The tart was nice and solid, but not so tough that it was difficult to cut into. The strawberries lining it was fresh and delicious. We then had a taste of the ice cream Merete offered us. A total of 18 flavors, all made right at Cremino. From the creamy Biscotto to the fasting Strawberry option, they were all, for lack of a better word, bomb. I settled for tiramisu and nursed my treat until it was time to leave. With its accessible location, charming design, as well as sociable and hands-on owners, Cremino is bound for city-wide popularity. Go and pay a visit right now instead of waiting until a friend inevitably drags you there a few months later. Take my word for it.
" Go and pay a visit right now instead of waiting until a friend inevitably drags you there a few months later. Take my word for it."
Photo by: Eyasu A.Ashenafi
French fries dressed in some delicious rosemary, which gave it a fresh twist.
CloseUp
The Relentless
Addis Alemayehou Tettemqe Endalamaw
A
successful entrepreneur on multiple fronts, Addis Alemayehou's journey of life is an impressive and inspiring one. Having left Ethiopia with his family at an early age, Addis finally came back to Ethiopia to become the leading name in media, marketing, and investment. From launching Afro FM to starting his successful marketing firm 251 Communications and Co-founding Kana TV Addis's story is a journey to celebrate. Enjoy the read.
Photo by: courtesy of 251 Communcations
We are here at 251 Communications’ head office where things look to be lively in these early hours. What is your regular morning routine? My father used to take me to Not every morning is the same for me. Usually, my day does not start until I have my morning coffee. I used to go to the gym for an hour on most mornings, but that is not a possibility in COVID times, so I just take a 15-minute walk. I live In Ayat where there are good walking trails. I always sit
20 I Linkup Addis Ababa
down for breakfast with my kids; I would not see them for the rest of the day, so that time I have with them is valuable for me. Morning car rides are where I do most of my thinking. I plan my day; make some calls and I listen to podcasts. Podcasts about the stories of African entrepreneurs. The opportunities and challenges you see in the stories of African entrepreneurs are much more useful to you than what you would find in Steve Job’s stories. Besides general knowledge, these stories of American entrepreneurs do not give me business strategies; their world is completely different from ours. About two or three times a week I come in very early before anybody. We usually have a briefing with the management team. If I must sit down with one of my team leads, I usually do that in the morning. In 1980, your family relocated to Nairobi, fleeing the socialist regime in Ethiopia at the time. How did that move affect you as a child?
As a child, you do not have a choice. There is this notion that most diasporas run away when time are hard and come back here when they see opportunities. For those of us that left young though, we never had a choice. The experience, for me, was not that tough. Besides the anxiety of things like language barriers and meeting new friends, I adapted quickly. Kids are resilient. My father had banned us from speaking Amharic when we first arrived in Kenya so that we could learn English. As an 8-year-old, I caught up with the language fast and in six months, my father was contemplating banning English in the household. It is a shame I never got to learn Swahili.
"The opportunities and challenges you see in the stories of African entrepreneurs is much more useful to you than what you would find in Steve Jobs' stories."
My very first job was at a French hotel. I did whatever I was asked. I was a hard worker, stayed extra hours and the GM liked me. I remember him telling me, “one day you’ll have your hotel back home in your country, and you’ll get to be the CEO.” He told me his own story of how he started as a busboy at a hotel in Paris and worked his way up. That job taught me a lot about consistency and the value of professionalism.
finish. But I think I realized early on that school was not for me. I was very curious. Even sitting in the classroom, I was not excited about what I was learning in the classroom, I was more stressed about what I was missing outside. I started hustling at a very young age. I started buying and selling real estate in Canada when I was 18. By the time I was 21, I had three properties that I was managing. You know, sometimes I regret the whole college situation. But whatever experience does not kill you, teaches you something.
You dropped out of college after studying for a year at The University of Toronto. How difficult was it to make that decision?
Are there traits you had as a child that, looking back, foreshadow your journey into serial entrepreneurship?
I did not tell my parents for another year. The hardest part was telling my mom. She was very heartbroken. I remember telling my mom to focus on my sister for educational milestones and that I would figure stuff out on my own. And the promise was that I would go back one day and
The one thing in my childhood that shaped me into who I am today is the very nature of my grandmother. I grew up with her and she was an entrepreneur. I have not met a single man or woman in business that has done as much with no education whatsoever. She used to always
21 I Linkup Addis Ababa
say “if you can count to a thousand, that’s all the education you need.” During Derg times, everyone needed to go to school and learn to read and write, regardless of your age. And I remember she used to pay the maid to go on her behalf. This is a woman that started selling onions in Shola Gebeya and saved up enough money to buy properties in Bole, Wello, and all over Lamberet where she owned over 40,000 square meters of land. She
"My involvement with Kana now is isolated to boardlevel engagements, I am never involved with the day to day... That is the same with every other company that I am involved in, bar 251 Communications. "
Photo by: courtesy of 251 Communcations
Tell me about your first job.
also owned motels, a restaurant, and a Tej Bet, and she would work from 6 AM to whatever time the Tej Bet closed. Here is a story about her that still impresses me to this day. Three years before the emperor stepped down, she gave my dad some money to put in a bank in the UK. She said she was not sure if this government would survive and that she would need something to back her up in case her fears were realized. My father worked for Ethiopian Airlines, so she gave him about 2,000 Pounds and he did as she said. And, sure enough, Derg came and nationalized everything; they took all her lands and properties, they left her with nothing but her Tej Bet and the house she lived in. Four years into the Derg regime, when things settled down a bit, she had my dad bring the money back, and she restarted everything. To have everything you worked for taken away from you with a stroke of a pen and still have the strength to go at it again… I cannot think of anyone with that kind of mentality. She is a pioneer! Your first business venture was real estate. An 18-year-old college dropout buying and leasing properties in Toronto. Overall, how was your experience in the real estate business? How long did that venture last?
Photo by: courtesy of 251 Communcations
There was an immigration crisis at the time and a lot of Somalis were coming into Canada. The
"you’re there to sell a product or an idea. It is not about how creative the ad is, how good the lighting is or how gorgeous the girl is. " 22 I Linkup Addis Ababa
great thing about countries like Canada is that your age does not matter if you have what it takes to backup your ambitions. I started buying properties and leasing them out. I was in the real estate business for quite a while, maybe up to the point where I turned my attention to moving back home. That was in my late twenties. I noticed there was an enormous problem with telecom in Ethiopia and started assembling a team to do something about it. I ended up sending a proposal to Vodacom, a telecom giant. To my surprise, they were willing to listen to what my team had to offer; and we
Failing to bring Vodacom to Ethiopia, after coming so close, must have been devastating. How does one recover from such a failure? I did not learn to run from day one, I just crawled and worked my way up. The businessmen and women who make it to the top are those that take risks, have patience, and are willing to fail. Because without failure, there is no success. I saw a huge opportunity in the Ethiopian telecom business, and I went for it.
23 I Linkup Addis Ababa
When I came to Ethiopia, you had to take your property blueprint and wait in long queues to get a SIM card. Whenever I wanted to check email, I had to wait for a time window from 6 to 6:30 PM because dialup was incredibly slow. The whole thing with Vodacom taught me a lot of invaluable lessons. Whether it is corporate etiquette, how to talk to people, or just realizing that somethings are out of your control, I learned a lot from that experience. I was young and arrogant, I thought I knew it all. And for me to get that deal done was a huge ego boost. When the deal fell through, it was an opportunity for me to learn new things as I planned my next business venture.
I was lucky to get a job at USAID in Addis, where I worked for five years. That job showed me that in our continent, the network of the people that you know is what opens the doors to all the possibilities. Having not grown up here, I do not have what they call “a batch”. People that grow up in the city have different people they can tap into whether it is for access to information, logistics, or whatever it may be; I did not have that. And unless you have a ton of money, it is hard to make it in this city without a network of people in different positions. So, for me, the five years at USAID was an eyeopener to how this country operates, both in the private and
Photo by: courtesy of 251 Communcations
ended up striking a deal with them. However, nothing materialized as we had all failed to factor in the government issue that prohibits foreign private telecom agencies from setting up shop in Ethiopia.
government sectors. Without that experience in USAID, you would not be here talking to me. That is where the name Addis Alemayehu started coming up. And without the Vodacom ordeal, I would not have gotten into USAID. That is what I mean by “there’s no success without failure.” Without that job, I would not have started Afro FM. USAID paid my bills as I got back into the entrepreneurial world. You launched 251 Communications in 2011. As the stories in all your prior companies indicate, you start businesses with a small but rich target market in mind. What group were you targeting with this venture? The breweries! It was when Heineken was coming into the market. It was the start of the brewery war. If you remember, five or six years ago, all these new beer brands were coming in and spending resources to put their brand out there. For me, this was a perfect time to start. And in my time with Afro, I had noticed there was a big gap in the marketing world. That was reason enough for me to give it a go.
Photo by: courtesy of 251 Communcations
Why did you start 251 Communications with a tiny office and some used laptops? Surely you were making enough money from Afro FM to afford new computers. First, I had a one-year-old child and another one on the way. When you have a young family, the last thing you want to do is invest a lot in something that may or may not work. There was no guarantee when we started ten years ago that we would
24 I Linkup Addis Ababa
be a success. Yet ten years later, here we are, one of the major players in the Ethiopian marketing world and expanding outside the country as well. But everything could have easily failed. For me, the most important thing back then was the service we provided, not the desks and the chairs. The client is not going to give you work based on how your office looks; they will only hire you for your ideas and personality. The first pitch that we did was at a friend’s office. I remember the client was downstairs asking us what floor we were on, and my partner was screwing in the 251 Communications sign on the door. The client did not care, I am sure he went to offices that looked much better, but he liked our whole idea of marketing and hired us. Interestingly, that client was a Heineken representative. I was honest with him, I told him he is our first client and that we would bend over backward to try and serve him right. I even told him that we are willing to work for them for free because all we wanted was to have Heineken on our list of clients.
What is a mainstream marketing trend that you are tired of? Marketing these days often misses the key point, the point of sale. At the end of the day, you are there to sell a product or an idea. It is not about how creative the ad is, how good the lighting is, or how gorgeous the girl is. Does it carry over, does it carry your client’s product to people’s houses? I see that core concepts being ignored often. The other thing, we need to realize that the audience has changed. In this country, about 75% of the population is under the age of 30. If you watch the advertisement content on TV though, the Amharic is like Shakespeare. I want to see ads that are more aware of who they are addressing. That is part of the reason why we are very slow in adapting to digital marketing trends. How many times do you look at your phone per day? You probably spend more time on your phone than you do with any other thing in the world. So, if I am not on your phone, I’m not present in your life. Your portfolio of clients boasts big names like Coca-Cola and Huawei. As your company operates on multiple streams of communications, what exactly do you do for these industry giants? We do everything from creative work to execution. For instance, if Coke is trying to announce a major initiative like Coke Studio, we amplify that in the media. We make sure that the story is carried and that the media properly understands what the initiative
"The client is not going to give you work based on how your office looks, they will only hire you for your ideas and personality."
It is in 2015, you partnered with Moby Group to launch Kana TV. Tell me how that came to be. I have always been interested in TV, especially since Afro FM. Right after we launched Afro FM, I went to Dubai and met with the satellite guys and got some costs. I approached my partners at Afro, but the board turned me down because they believed people would not spend dollars on advertisement. But then, EBS
25 I Linkup Addis Ababa
launched about a year later. It was an ‘I told you so’ moment for me. And then, after we launched 251 Communications, we did a lot of media buying. We go to different media houses and buy advertisement spaces for our clients. We were doing a huge campaign with Nokia at the time; every time we suggested TV ads, we only had EBS and EBC to choose from. Their marketing head asked if we could find more TV slots for the campaign. That got me thinking about TV again, and originally, I wanted to do MTV Ethiopia. The fact that a music channel would come with minimal production costs attracted me. So, I went to South Africa and met with the head of MTV for Africa. I did my research and pitched it to him well. He acknowledged that I had a big opportunity here, but that MTV should not be what I go with. He told me the cost of having an MTV channel would far outweigh any advertising revenue that I could generate. He asked why I could not go and start my brand. Soon as I came back home, I started working on just that. I told my partner about the idea and we ended up hiring a researcher to do intensive 3-month research. I was against the idea of research because the market gap was as clear as could be. We only had two TV stations, what do you need research for? Sure enough,
the researcher came back three months later and broke down for us what a great idea this was. We then got introduced to Moby Group, we invited them to Ethiopia. They came, we pitched, we went around and visited the city, they talked to some people here about our idea, then Kana happened. Right now, my involvement with Kana is very minimal. For me, my M.O. is putting the right team together. You only have limited time and resources; you cannot try and do everything. But, by putting together a team of people you trust, you can get a lot done. My involvement with Kana now is isolated to boardlevel engagements, I am never involved with the day today. I am a realist about my abilities, there are much better people to run the day to day of a TV company. That is the same with every other company that I am involved in, bar 251 Communications.
Photo by: courtesy of 251 Communcations
is. We also do creative work for them in terms of localizing their promotions. For Huawei, we helped them in sales. Our sales team joined theirs, and the results were great. For Nokia, The Gates Foundation, and most of these giants, we do a lot of intensive public relations. Everything that comes out from these companies to Ethiopia goes through us. We have a huge set of skills here because 251 Communications is uniquely positioned in the sense that we have everything under one roof. We have our creative team in the house; we have the PR team; we have our consumer research team. But then we also have full capabilities of production and filming with Kana. So, we do all our products with the high-end services that Kana has to offer. It is very rare for a client to come to an agency and find all of this in one place.
What'sUp
The H-Bistro Be Yourself and Enjoy Great Service Surafel Solomon
P
Photo by: Kidus Tamiru
unched into the row of eclectic establishments along the road leading to MOENCO, The H Bistro is one of the few service providers to open after the state of emergency ceased. While it is a hopeful sign that more and more establishments are opening and functioning safely, the sector has yet to recover from the full impact of the pandemic.
The first thing you see when you enter the front area is painted walls and string lights that canopy that area in a beautiful warm hue. Deeper in, there are pallet sofas near the entrance to the main building that serves as the outdoor section of the bistro. As you walk inside, what catches your eye is the bar at the end of the room. To the left, a few tables are facing the TV on
26 I Linkup Addis Ababa
the right wall. What I noticed is that there could have been more seats in the place, but the arrangement was intentional. Right of the bat, it was obvious that the place was more focused on accommodating a few customers well, rather than cramming as many people as possible in the space they had. A fault I find in a lot of such businesses. Ushered to our seats, we were greeted warmly by Michael, a sharp-dressed, humble, and smart server, who is also great with recommendations on what to have. A genuine throwback to the classic waiter, the humble and knowledgeable host. He walked us through the menu and explained everything. We ordered and were served with our drinks until our food came.
We started with a Guacamole that was flavorful and spicy, but not overpowering. You can tell the freshness of everything in the dish. This is a perfect dish to have with a beer after a long, hot day.
"The H Bistro is not called a bistro by mistake or because it sounds good, it is a real bistro."
our round of drinks. The Long story, with red grape, was a mellow and sweet drink that can be used as an aperitif or a digestive. Appropriately named because it would take you a while to get buzzed. There is also a tangy and bitter version for the ones who do not want something fruity but still a bit light.
personal and warmer rather than industrial and cold. And this point adds to the already impeccable quality of service. The feeling of being in a place where you can be yourself and enjoy great service, have great food and drinks, and have a great time is priceless. You will easily find the place but leaving will not be easy.
The Blue magic is a bit sweet and mildly strong; this drink is sure to get you sharing woes about foes. Knocks the blue out of your Mondays. And finally, was the Godfather. For someone that is very skeptical about whiskey cocktails, this is one of the few tolerable whiskey cocktails next to my oldfashioned, whiskey sour staples.
We were fully stuffed and decided to pay a visit to the cocktail menu. Michael promptly went through the menu with us, and we ordered
The H Bistro is not called a bistro by mistake or because it sounds cool, it is a real bistro. The food, service, and atmosphere all feel a lot more
"The feeling of being in a place where you can be yourself and enjoy great service, have great food and drinks, and have a great time is priceless."
27 I Linkup Addis Ababa
Photo by: Kidus Tamiru
The next dish was the Jolof with chicken curry sauce. The rice cooked to perfection was the vessel to carry the flavor-packed chicken curry sauce to our pallets. As this also came with a potato salad, the combination of the three elements was heaven in our mouths. After quickly finishing that, we had another variation with fried chicken which I honestly believe the best fried chicken I had had in my life. The final meal was the pasta with chicken cream sauce. This was a dish to rival any restaurant famous for serving pasta, with its rich cream and bits of chicken and mushrooms covering the pasta but not drenching it.
Reel Up
Kidus Tamiru
Veep follows fictional vice president Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and her team as they deal with the exaggeratedly ridiculous day to day struggles of the vice presidency. Veep, which is short for VP (which is short for vice president), is a hilarious (and generally better) version of House of Cards. It deals with the incompetency, the dishonesty and the insatiable power hunger of politicians, specifically U.S politics in this case, all the while being incredibly funny. It’s even more entertaining when
28 I Linkup Addis Ababa
watching it now because what seemed like exaggerated farce when it was written may not be far off from the actual situation with the current president. And the fantastic writing and cast are what hold this thing together so well, especially Julia LouisDreyfus. Anyways, this flew under the radar for most people; and I highly recommend you check it out if you’re into politics or satire.
9.0/10 Genre: Comedy, Satire Created By: Armando Iannucci Starring: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tony Hale, Anna Chlumsky
Kidus Tamiru
Barry is a dark comedy about a hit man (Hader) who decides to be an actor after ending up in acting school for a job. As you can guess from the synopsis, this show seems incredibly boring at first glance. At least to me it seemed so and I had no interest in watching it. Come on, it’s about a hit man, the cliché-est of all movie characters, and acting school. But somehow with fantastic acting and hilarious writing, this show ended up being one of my favorite comedies of recent memory.
29 I Linkup Addis Ababa
It’s one of a few shows that expertly balances between the drama and comedy parts perfectly. It has depth and sincerity when it’s serious and it’s truly hilarious when it’s wants to be. I normally specify what you’d have to be into to appreciate what I’m recommending but this I would recommend to everybody. It’s a unique show that I pretty much guarantee you’ll love or at least enjoy from start to finish. 9.5/10 Genre: Dark Comedy, Action Created By: Bill Hader, Alec Berg Starring: Bill Hader, Stephen Root, Sarah Goldberg
Kidus Tamiru
Happy is about a disgraced, alcoholic, exdetective that tries to find his kidnapped daughter with the help of her imaginary friend, a blue flying unicorn. Based on a comic book I’m sure none of us heard of, Happy! Is one trippy, twisted, gruesome show. Combining equal parts irreverent, almost childlike humor with vicious, over the top violence and a cynical view of the world, it’s quite a memorable show. I personally enjoyed it very much but I can see how most people might not really appreciate its charm.
30 I Linkup Addis Ababa
One stand out element to me is the incredible acting from both Meloni and Oswalt. I loved the contrasting dynamic of the two extreme characters, the violent, suicidal ex-cop and the innocent, jovial unicorn that we’re not sure is not in his head. If you enjoy quirky, raunchy, dark and somehow yet happy stories, I recommend you check this. But don’t get too attached because unfortunately, even though this show did have a somewhat dedicated following, it has been cancelled after season 2. But it’s still worth the watch just for the first season.
8.5/10 Genre: Action Comedy Created By: Grant Morrison, Darick Robertson Starring: Christopher Meloni, Patton Oswalt, Richie Coster
LinkUp Bucket List
The Five Biggest Markets in Africa You should Have in Your Bucket List Alula Abadi
One can make the argument that trade is one of the most important things for the advancement of human civilization, and they would not be wrong. It is through trade that the world got silk and gun powder; it is through trade that multi-lingual people emerged, and let’s not forget the Babylonians(Iraq) who were excellent astrologists and made the seven days of the week that we live by today. But the door-to-door deliveries and online shopping are rapidly snuffing out what remains of this cultural light, and although that may be true, there is some good news. The slow globalization of some nations like Africa has allowed the preservation of these markets in its little bubble in the flow of time. And so, here they are, the top five markets of Africa.
Makola Market, Ghana The Makola Market in Accra, Ghana, is one of the biggest and busiest markets in Africa. It is located at the very center of the city, and while it is mainly a place for fabrics and car parts, it also has a variety of street food and unique African signature products like Black soap (an anti-bacterial soap said to be good for wrinkles and inflammation). It is a mustvisit in Ghana.
Kejetia, Ghana Located in the city of Kumansi, Ashanti, the Kejetia can be described as a typical open-air market. You can find all things related to daily life and more. This level of variety is possible owing to the 45000 stores that are open there. And even though that can be overwhelming, it is important to remember that it is a trading area, and one must never go there without a list. A little organization can help you navigate this maze and purchase the items you desire.
31 31 II Linkup LinkupAddis AddisAbaba Ababa
Merkato, Ethiopia Sticking with the theme of open-air markets, in Addis Ketema, Addis Ababa there is the market known as Merkato and with more than 7000 businesses employing thousands of people over an area of several hundred square miles, it is the single largest open-air market in the whole of Africa. The fact that no one attempted to measure the accurate square miles should let you know how big and a constantly growing place it is. A trading place mainly consisting of agricultural products and coffee, Merkato stands on its own not only as a marketplace but also as an important piece of Ethiopian history. The Italian occupation of the 1930s applied many segregationist policies and is the reason this market is in Addis Ketema and also where it got the name Merkato (Italian for market “MERCATO”).
Khan El Khalili, Egypt Egypt is perhaps the most famous country when it comes to antiques and souvenirs. Every traveler gets a tiny wooden sphinx or a pyramid key chain, and chances are they got it from Khan el Khalili, Cairo. It is a market full of souvenirs, antiques, spices, and jewelry. But the one thing worth remembering is that this is a market that has been operating since the 10th century. There are no fixed prices; there are no rules, and basically, every shop sells the same thing, so keep alert, and be ready to yell and argue over price. It is important to haggle and even more important to learn to walk away with a firm NO!
Jemaa El-Fnaa, Morocco You will find this market square in the vibrant and colorful center of the city of Marrakech. It is above all else a very lively place to witness. It is almost like a scene being described in an Arabian Nights story. Jemma El-Fnaa is not only a place of trade where one can purchase things like unique spices and fabric, but it is also an entertainment hub with a variety of street shows like snake charmers and Henna artists(a form of temporary tattoo originated approximately 3000BC and applied by using henna, a paste extracted from the mignonette tree). Add to that the street food, freshly squeezed juices, and other local delicacies, and you have got a magical place.
32 I I Linkup LinkupAddis AddisAbaba Ababa 32
ListenUp
Top 5
Ethiopian Songs for the month of October Tettemqe Endalamaw
1. Beka Artist: Dagi D Release Date: September 4, 2020 Views Since Release: 3.6 Million Released last month, Dagi D’s latest release has been a huge hit through the month of October. Close to three quarters of the four million YouTube plays came this month. The song owes a lot its success to the reopening of nightclubs around Addis, where it has been a party anthem.
2. Geday
3. Fiker Bamaregna
Artist: Wendi Mak Release Date: October 15, 2020 Views Since Release: 1 Million
Artist: Samri Release Date: October 28, 2020 Views Since Release: 21.4k
4. Yakob Artist: Hohe (Big E, Kirrra, Burrra) Release Date: October 28, 2020 Views Since Release: 3.1k
Note that these are picks by the contributing writer and are not necessarily ranked in their view counts.
3333 I Linkup Addis Ababa I Linkup Addis Ababa
5. Bichegna Negn Artist: Nahom Mengistu Release Date: September 20 2020 Views Since Release: 84k
Top 10
African songs for the month of October Tettemqe Endalamaw
1. Ginger (featuring Burna Boy) Artist: WizKid Release Date: 30 October 2020 Hits Since Release: 793k WizKid tops the ListenUp charts for the second month running. This one is an explosive collaboration by two of the hottest artists in Africa right now.
2. Real Life (featuring Stormzy)
3. Lonely Artist: Joeboy Release Date: 09 October 2020 Hits Since Release: 678k
Artist: Burna Boy Release Date: 02 October 2020 Hits Since Release: 678k
4.French Kiss (featuring Mr Eazi)
5. DKT
Artist: Tega Starr Release Date: 09 October 2020 Hits Since Release: 71k
Artist: Oxlade Release Date: 30 September 2020 Hits Since Release: 32K
8. Again (Remix) Artist: Wande Coal and Wale Release Date: 30 September 2020 Hits Since Release: 137k
34 I Linkup Addis Ababa 34 I Linkup Addis Ababa
6. Xola Moya Wam' (featuring Master KG)
7. Show Body (featuring Falz)
Artist: Nomcebo Zikode Release Date: 21 October 2020 Hits Since Release: 390k
Artist: Kumami Eugene Release Date: 09 October 2020 Hits Since Release: 780k
9. Free Your Mind
10. Look Like Me
Artist: Made Kuti Release Date: 15 October 2020 Hits Since Release: 34k
Artist: Niniola Release Date: 02 October 2020 Hits Since Release: 1.1 Million
City Guide
Hotels in Addis Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa Location: Meskel Square Contact No: +251 11 517 1234 Website: www.hyatt.com Star:
Sheraton Addis: Luxury Collection Location: Taytu Street Contact No: +251 11 517 1717 Website: https://www. marriott.com/hotels/travel/ addlc-sheraton-addis-aluxury-collection-hotel-addisababa/ Star:
Hilton Hotel: Addis Ababa
Best Western Hotel
Location: Minilik II Street Contact No: +251 11 517 0000 Website: addisababa.hilton.com Star:
Location: Namibia Street (Next to Edna Mall) Contact No: +251 11 667 1414 Website: www. bwplusaddisababa.com Star:
Intercontinental Hotel Location: Kazanchis Contact No: +251 11 518 0444 Website: http://intercontinentaladdis. com/
Location: Africa Street Contact No: +251 11 639 3131 Website: https://www. ramadaaddis.com/
Star:
Star:
Golden Tulip
Capital Hotel and Spa
Location: Bole Road Contact No: +251 116 18 33 33 Website: https://addisababa.goldentulip.com/ Star:
Location: Haile G/silassie Avenue Contact No: +251 116 19 2000 Website: https://capitalhotelandspa. com/ Star:
Azzeman Hotel
Sapphire Addis
Location: Namibia Street Contact No: +251 11 639 31 31 Website: https://azzemanhotel.com/ Star:
35 I Linkup Addis Ababa
Ramada Hotel
Location: Namibia Street Contact No: +251 639 3907 Website: https://www. sapphireaddishotel.com/ Star:
Cafe & Pastries Tomocca
Casscara Coffee & Cocktails
Location: Namibia Street (Next to Bole Medhanialem), Piassa Across Eliana Hotel
Location: Meskel Square (Inside Hyatt Regency)
Contact No: +251 93 007 8086
Contact No: +251 11 517 1234
Closes at: 8:00PM
Closes at: 12:00AM
Customer Rating: 4.8/5
Customer Rating: 5.0/5
Garden of Coffee
Bilos Cafe & Pastry
Location: Namibia Street
Location: Next to Millennium Hall
Contact No: +251 93 036 2308
Contact No: +251 93 003 3177
Closes at: 9:00PM
Closes at: 8:30PM
Customer Rating: 4.6/5
Customer Rating: 4.4/5
Chaka Coffee
Bake and Brew
Location: Africa Avenue
Location: Sarbet
Contact No: +251 91 120 2888
Contact No: +251 91 306 0147
Closes at: 9:00PM
Closes at: 8:00PM
Customer Rating: 4.4/5
Customer Rating: 4.3/5
Tryst Addis
YA Coffee Roasters
Location: Olympia (on the way from Dembel City Center to Bambis)
Location: CMC Road, Next to Gesund Cardiac Hospital
Contact No: +251 94 406 1818
Contact No: +251 92 795 7171
Closes at: 7:00PM
Closes at: -
Customer Rating: 4.4/5
Customer Rating: 4.9/5
Dumerso Coffee
Feresula Coffee
Location: South Africa Street (Bisrate Gabriel)
Location: Africa Street
Contact No: +251 320 3973
Contact No: +251 96 641 1151 Closes at: 6:00pm
Closes at: 8:30PM
Customer Rating: 5.0/5
Customer Rating: 4.8/5
36 I Linkup Addis Ababa
Your choices for the best Ethiopian Coffee Experience
Coworking Spaces
Affordable spaces for startups looking for spaces to work and for business people in Addis for a short or long-term stay
iceaddis
Blue Space
Location: Bole, Near Hayat Hospital, Zewdu Bldg. 5th floor
Location: Namibia Street, Grace Plaza 4th Floor, near Atlas Hotel
Contact: www.iceaddis.com contact@iceaddis.com +251 11 667 4804
Contact: www.bluespace.work info@bluspace.work
Services: High speed wifi, standing desks, been bags, printer, scanner, projector, microphone, kitchen, free parking
Services: High speed wifi, working desks, printer, scanner, projector, relax zone, kitchen Starting Rates : 350ETB/day
Starting Rates : 380ETB/day
Abro Coworking Space
Xhub Addis Location: Cameroon Street, Morning Star Mall 5th Floor Contact: http://xhubaddis.com/ working/ info@xhubaddis.com +251 91 170 1361
Location: Namibia Street
Services: Wifi, free photocopy/ print (30 pages)
Services: Wifi, photocopy/print, desk, chair
Contact: https://abro-co-workingspace.business.site/ +251 911 11 0742
Starting Rates : 250ETB/day
Restaurants
Starting Rates : 250ETB/day
If you are thinking to explore international and cultural cuisine Addis has to offer, here are a few you may consider.
Italian restaurants
Agnese Restaurant
Mama Mia Italian Restaurant
Location: Old Airport Contact: +251 98 048 3824
Castelli Italian Restaurant
Location: Piassa, Mahatama-Gandhi Street, in front of Mohamud Music Shop Contact: +251 11 557 1757
Location: Next to Mele Zenawi Foundation, DAR Sahara Street Contact: +251 92 900 2218
37 I Linkup Addis Ababa
Bella Pizza & Pasta
Location: Bole Medhanialem, Near Abyssinia Mall Contact: +251 94 141 5422
Gusto Restaurant
Location: Churchill Road, Tracon Tower 3rd Floor Contact: +251 934 49 7861
Ethiopian Cultural restaurants
Yod Abyssinia Cultural Restaurant
Desalech Kitfo
Location: Carl Square, Sar Bet Contact: +2516612985 Known for: Ethiopian food, cultural performances
Location: Africa Avenue, behind Skylight Hotel Contact: +251 91 123 1859 Known for: Ethiopian traditional kitfo (minced meat)
Dashen Traditional Restaurant
Totot
Location: DAR Sahara Street, Near Swedish Community School Contact: +251 91 120 1723 Known for: Cozy atmosphere, cultural performances
Fendika Cultural Center
Location: Kazanchis Contact: +251 91 154 7577 Known for: Exceptional jazz and Ethiopian Azmaris
Oriental
Location: Meskel Square, Inside Hyatt Regency Contact: +251 11 517 1234 Known for: Mediterranean Cuisine
Location: Africa Avenue Contact: +251 646 0718 Known for: Ring Road, on the way to Gerji, in front of Anbessa Garage
Middle Eastern & Mediterranean restaurants
Fusion Bistro
Aladdin Restaurant
Location: Cameroon Street, Across Monarch Hotel Contact: +251 91 000 5151 Known for: Arabian cuisine
Location: Off Bole Road, near Japanese Embassy Residence Contact: +251 11 6614109 Known for: Arabian Cuisine
38 I Linkup Addis Ababa
Bait Al Mandi
Istanbul Restaurant
Location: Mickey Leland/ EU Street Contact: +251 91 151 8903 Known for: Middle Eastern Mediterranean Cuisine
Location: Cameroon Street, across Ukranian Embassy Contact: +251 910 17 4728 Known for: Turkish cuisine
Marketing Companies in Addis Proofit Marketing Solutions Location: Cameroon Street, Gulf Aziz Building, 2nd Floor Contact No: +251 953 42 77 97 info@proofit.com
251 Communications Location: Gabon Street, Aster Plaza, 3rd Floor Contact No: +251 116 63 0182 info@251communications.com https://251communications.com
Zeleman Communications Location: Africa Avenue, Snap Plaza, Snap Plaza, 10th floor Contact No: +251 116 63 2800 info@zeleman.com htttps://zeleman.com
Berry Advertising Location: Cameroon Street, Gulf Aziz Building, 3rd Floor Contact No: +251 930 07 8086 www.berryethiopia.com
39 I Linkup Addis Ababa
Ttree Advertising Location: Cape Verde Street, KT Building, 3rd Floor Contact No: +251 118 21 2112 info@ttreeadvertising.com ttreeadvertising.com
Spotlight Ethiopia Location: Africa Avenue, DH Geda Tower, 7th Floor Contact No: +251 913 98 6445 https://spotlightplc.com
Cactus Communications Location: Africa Avenue, Bedesta Building, 4th floor Contact No: +251 115 54 4901 info@cactusethiopia.com http:// cactusethiopia.com/
Eternal Media & Communication Location: Gabon Street, Aster Plaza Contact No: +251 114 70 3039 info@eternalmedia.com https://eternal-media.com
Parks & Museums in Addis Zoma Museum Location: Mekanisa, Near Abo Church Contact No: https://www. zomamuseum.org/ Feature: Landscaping, gardens, antique shop
Addis Ababa Museum Location: Meskel Square Contact No: http://www. addisababa.gov.et/de/web/guest/ museums#3 Feature: Museum, Restaurant, Panoramic View of Meskel Square
Unity Park
African Unbound
Location: Inside Ethiopian National Palace
Location: Off Churchill Road (On the way to National Palace)
Contact No: Unitypark.et
Contact No: https:// africaunboundmuseum.com/
Feature: Historical palaces, Zoo, cultural museum, restaurants
Feature: African Arts
Entoto Park Location: Entoto Hills Contact No: Feature: Bicycle and track, reading benches, camping site, restaurants, panoramic view of Addis Ababa
Leather shops in Addis Kuncho Design Website: https://www. kunchodesign.com/ Contact: kunchodesign@gmail.com +251 96 799 5384
40 I Linkup Addis Ababa
The leather industry in Addis is thriving with countless local and international leather lines. Here are a few.
Undkǝn- Made in Ethiopia Website: http://www.undken.com/ Contact: +251 912 75 2524
Meron Addis Ababa
Zaaf Collection
Website: https://www. meronaddisababa.com/
Website: https://www. zaafcollection.com/
Contact: info@meronaddisababa.com +251 911 12 2108
Contact: +251 910 14 9965