Introduction.
Ethiopia is vast and diverse. It has all the three essential resources, nature, culture and history, which are so attractive for tourists. But these resources have not yet been promoted effectively. Basic knowledge has not been sufficiently documented about these resources, let alone disseminated to attract local as well as international visitors. The country has a lot to do in documenting and marketing its natural and man-made beauty.
This is the dream of this project. Life has important chains of coincidence. One such incident in this chain of reacting incidents
and its result has been realised in this project. Peter & Cathy Kiddie were visiting the museum of the Institute of Ethiopian
Studies one fine morning. They met the curator, Ahmed Zekaria, and started a discussion about the culture of Ethiopia.
From this lively exchange of experiences came the idea of producing a book for students, tourists and the general public.
As VSO volunteers serving in Ethiopia, it would be an extra contribution for both of them.
Fortunately, Addis Ababa University Department of History, unit of Archaeology, had just opened up a graduate programme in Archaeology. The unit, headed by Dr. Kassaye Begeshaw, willingly agreed to the idea of a book production. The students were having hands on experience in documentation, exhibition preparation and site management. The idea of producing a book was discussed with them. Then it was decided to take sites already in the World Heritage list of UNESCO, and make a clear appreciation of these sites. After several brainstorming sessions, the Simien Mountains, Axum, Harar, Gondar, the monasteries of Lake Tana, (it is considered as an extension of Gonder) Tiya and Lalibela were selected. Middle Awash and Omo Palaeontological sites are not included. In fact, the only one of the places which is not yet in the Heritage List is Harar, although it has been proposed that it should be included. It was selected to help with the final process of submitting essential documentation for its inclusion in the list.
While we were busy discussing the production of the documentation, we were dreaming of integrating it with film production. We approached some documentary film producers, but the production costs were not easy to find. Luckily. a computer expert, Lin Mellor, partially helped us to solve this problem and to have an audio-visual perspective to the project. This has taken the shape of a website, which Lin, after her stay as a VSO in Addis Ababa, has realised with her students in Derby University on her return there. We are grateful to all of them for their help. The website - 'Ethiopian Heritage' - has been extended and modified in Addis Ababa by 'Guich' Rouchyand Hiruy Daniel, who we would also like to thank. We would like to thank the British Embassy in Addis Ababa and the African Parks Foundation for their generous support which made the first edition of this book possible.Visit our website and send us your constructive criticism. Our plan is to expand our knowlege of the country and share it with you: Enjoy your reading.
Ahmed Zekaria: Addis Ababa, 2004 |
