By: Sintayhu Tamerat
Media practitioners from several African countries say they are excited to see the fast track development in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa.
Addis Ababa, the third diplomatic seat next to New York and Geneva, is currently undergoing corridor development projects aimed at transforming the city to a cleaner, more attractive and convenient to live.
Journalists, most from the east African countries, explored several parts of Addis during their stay and shared their impressions to EBC.
Edmund Kagire, a journalist from Rwanda, and who has been in Addis for several times now says the city is on the move. "It's been a pleasure to come to Addis. If you see the progress this city has made, you can see that the buildings are popping up. You are constructing many big roads the cleanliness is coming up. Sidewalks have been built. If you are to judge Addis from where it is today, you cannot find a very good picture because most of it are construction sites; big projects are being built. For me, Addis is one of the well planned and cleanest cities in the continent."
Visiting Addis has left a feeling of surprise and interest as Lilian Ruguga, a journalist from Tanzania says. "This is my first visit to Addis. I was very interested. You know the first impression in Addis is like ' Is it really natural?' To me I was very surprised and shocked. I was like these people are one step ahead from us (Tanzanians). I can call you Ethiopians "role models". I think we have something to learn from you"
Overwhelmed by what he witnessed in Addis, Tchadrou Ntanga, a photo journalist, from Bujumbura, Burundi, says "this is the Africa we want to be portrayed in the media outlets, especially in the global ones." Nitabga believes that Addis is can fit the lead in the "top 5 African cities".
As he gets back home to Bujumbura as well as he travels to other cities in Africa, he will share with people all the positive he witnessed during his stay in Addis. “People should come and visit Addis."
Apart from the development of the city, some journalists say they are overwhelmed by the hospitality they received and the culture in the city. "It has always been a pleasure to be in Addis. It's a city of rich culture. I love the people, the food, the traditional attires, the coffee ceremony and the traditional events in the city. I really loved the way people preserve their culture. I think we miss this a lot in Africa. We are all trying to be someone else. We often forget our tradition." states Isra Dawud from Sudan.
"Since I came here, I've felt very safe. The security and people are very nice. I've been overwhelmed. I also loved the way people wear clothes, the cleanliness. I love how he people are proud if their culture, their language and their food," says Nitanga.
For Lilian, experiencing a different hospitality what added to her amazement about her stay in Addis. "I found a kind of natural hospitality accompanied by love and peace. The people are like they don't even know who you are and where you are from, but they are friendly. I'm interested in it."
Much as there has been quite encouraging transformation in Addis, it should be to the benefit if the people, Edmund suggests. "Still some work has to be done. Certain part of the city has not been equally developed like others. Its great roads have been built. But the government must make sure that transport fare is fair to the people."