World Questions: Addis Ababa (BBC World Service); Ethiopia; Jonathan Dimbleby

On Saturday, 11 May, 2019, at 1906; also Sunday 12 May at 1206:

Addis Ababa

"World Questions comes to Ethiopia at a crucial time in the country’s history. Ethiopia’s prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, has initiated a series of unprecedented reforms in his first year in office. He's made peace with Eritrea, freed 60,000 political prisoners, unbanned opposition groups and appointed women to half his cabinet. He's pledged free elections in 2020 and now faces one of his biggest challenges - moving the economy from state-led to market-based growth while overseeing far-reaching political reforms. If he succeeds, Ethiopia could cement its position as one of Africa’s biggest players. The BBC’s Jonathan Dimbleby is joined by a panel of leading Ethiopian politicians in a debate led by questions from the audience".

The panel:

Mustafa Omer: President of the Somali region
Merera Gudina: Leader of the Oromo People's Congress
Tsedale Lemma: Editor of The Addis Standard
Eskinder Nega: journalist, campaigner and former political prisoner

Producer: Helen Towner

Related:

Feeding on Ethiopia's famine, Jonathan Dimbleby, Independent, December 1998

"Twenty five years ago, in 1973, I was responsible for an ITV film called The Unknown Famine which exposed Ethiopia as a crumbling empire stricken by mass starvation. Within Ethiopia the film aroused shame and anger. As a direct result, The Unknown Famine became the catalyst for the overthrow of a feudal emperor in favour of that gruesome dictatorship which soon became synonymous with the name of Mengistu" - Jonathan Dimbleby.

The Unknown Famine was first broadcast in the UK on 18 October 1973. In Ethiopia it was later televised, for propaganda purposes, with the scenes of starvation inter-cut with sequences of the Emperor's lavish official State banquets.


Also, on BBC Sounds, The Arts Hour, On Tour in Addis Ababa (from February 2018)

"The Arts Hour on Tour comes from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where Nikki Bedi is joined on stage by star guests and the best performers in the city. Nikki's guests are the award-winning film director Abraham Gezehagne, internationally renowned photographic artist Aida Muluneh and prime time TV, theatre and radio writer/director Meaza Worku. The programme also has live music, with Ethio Jazz from Kayn Lab, featuring bass guitarist and co-founder of JazzAmba music school, Henock Temesgen, singer/songwriter and best actress of 2017, Zeritu Kebede and Ethiopian Armenian singer Vahe Tilbian. And there is live performance poetry from Yordanos Wolde".