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| Addis Ababa returns to the Dark Ages. The city goes a 4th day without power and 3rd day without running water |
Addis Ababa: A city stuck in the Dark Ages
It seems many tourists and journalists are complaining Addis Ababa is becoming unbearable to visit. And it's not only the regime's draconian repression or its misguided policies to blame, either. It appears the city residents have adopted a culture of prejudice and rude behavior towards visitors, too.
Recently, Nick Ashdown, a journalist and photographer working in Addis Ababa, tweeted a number of complaints about Addis. Among them that bothered him the most was the electricity and water — two basic components needed to govern a city — have been out for three and two days, respectively.
No power for 3rd day, no water for 2nd day. Colleagues incommunicado. #Addis Ababa #Ethiopia#Absurd
— Nick Ashdown (@Nick_Ashdown) August 24, 2013
Since Nick lives and works in Addis, it is understandable this "Ferengi" (white visitor) would seek a companion. However, his descriptions of walking around with an Ethiopian ("Habesha") woman in the city is eerily similar to how black men dating white women were treated in 1920s United States. Among other names, Addis residents called his girlfriend a "slut" and a "traitor".
@NatnaSocial@Hewete Try living as a #Fereng in #Addis. Even better: A Fereng with a habasha girlfriend. "Slut!""Traitor!" etc. #Ethiopia
— Nick Ashdown (@Nick_Ashdown) August 24, 2013
Due to the failed economic policies of the opressive regime, one out of twelve women in Addis (150,000) have turned to prostitution; a staggering figure that has dubbed Addis the "Bangkok of Africa". Yet, according to Nick, even these ladies of the night are treated better than an Ethiopian woman seen with a white man.
@Hewete@NatnaSocial And even REAL prostitutes don't get treated as badly as (non-prostitute) Habasha girls with Fereng men. #Ethiopia
— Nick Ashdown (@Nick_Ashdown) August 24, 2013
Nick, who formerly lived in Russia for two years, concludes his complaints on Twitter by comparing Addis' citizens' rudeness to Moscow's residents, which according to him, is "the meanest city on Earth."
@feey244@NatnaSocial@Hewete I lived in Moscow for 2 years. Possibly the meanest city on Earth. Addis reminds me of there.
— Nick Ashdown (@Nick_Ashdown) August 24, 2013