Ethiopians Gripe About Millennium Party
The Associated Press - September 7, 2007
As Ethiopia prepares to celebrate the third millennium, the most popular joke in the capital goes like this: How do you say "millennium" in Amharic?
The pun of an answer — "menem yellum," which means "there is nothing" — sums up how many people here feel about the festivities to mark the third millennium, which begins after midnight Tuesday according to Ethiopia's Coptic calendar.
With the schedule of events changing and security concerns in the capital, many Ethiopians say the celebrations — which include a concert with tickets that cost what an average Ethiopian earns in two months at nearly $170 — are beyond their reach.
The Black Eyed Peas, an American hip-hop act, will perform Tuesday night at a new, $20 million temporary exhibition hall built by Ethiopia's richest man, and the Hilton hotel will host a $100-and-up gala.
"The millennium, it's nothing for me," said Mulugeta Demssie, 23, a taxi driver, who said he thought the concert should be free, or at least cheaper.
"Because I don't have money, I can't enjoy it" ...