Business

Africa’s Biggest Dam (GERD) Set to Open for Tourists

ADDIS ABABA / GUBA, BENISHANGUL-GUMUZ — Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has said the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) will be opened for public visits “in the coming weeks,” signaling a new phase for Africa’s largest hydropower project: from nation-building icon to national attraction. The announcement comes as Ethiopia prepares formal inauguration events for September, after

September 1, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Culture

“Salam Leki Gondar”: When Art Meets Faith in Ethiopia’s Cultural Debate

Introduction Ethiopian singer Fikir Addis Neqatibeb recently found herself at the center of a social media storm after releasing her new single “Salam Leki Gondar.” The controversy arose from her use of the phrase “Salam Leki”—a Ge’ez expression most commonly recognized as the opening line of a prayer to the Virgin Mary (“Salam Leki O

September 1, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Purpose Black Loses: Homebuyers Win Refunds and Damages

ADDIS ABABA — In a decisive ruling that could reshape Ethiopia’s real estate landscape, the Yeldeta High Court has sided with homebuyers in their dispute against Purpose Black Trading S.C., ordering the termination of contracts and mandating full refunds with interest. The ruling also grants apartment buyers the right to pursue additional costs and damages.

September 1, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Culture

Who Told America That Ethiopia’s Sambusa Is an Appetizer?

The Question on the Menu At nearly every Ethiopian restaurant in the United States, the sambusa appears under “Appetizers.” This triangular pastry, filled with spiced lentils or minced meat, has become the near-universal first impression of Ethiopian cuisine in America. But why would a food often eaten casually with tea in Ethiopia take on such

September 1, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

CBE Launches ETB 50 Billion Loan Scheme for Diasporas

ADDIS ABABA / DUBAI – Sept. 1, 2025 – The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) has rolled out a new ETB 50 billion loan package designed specifically for the Ethiopian diaspora, aiming to strengthen ties with citizens abroad while boosting investment flows into the country. The program, unveiled in Dubai during a gathering with community

September 1, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Why Ethiopia’s 1964 Four-Dam Plan Failed — and Led to GERD

From Cascade to Colossus: The Strategic Evolution of Hydropower on Ethiopia’s Blue Nile From Cascade to Colossus: The Strategic Evolution of Hydropower on Ethiopia’s Blue Nile A data-led explainer on how Ethiopia shifted from a four-dam cascade (1964 USBR) to one mega-dam (GERD)—and what that means for power, politics, and the next wave of projects.

August 31, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

The Enduring Legacy of 1.5 Billion Birr: Al-Amoudi and Ethiopia’s GERD Dream

ADDIS ABABA — The Abay River glitters in the fading light, its waters swelling against the immense wall of concrete that now defines it. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a project that began as a dream, now stands ready for its most important moment. On September 9, 2025, Ethiopia will officially inaugurate the largest

August 31, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Diaspora

The Weeknd’s $1 Billion Music Catalog Is Worth 7% of Ethiopia’s Entire National Budget

Yes, you read that right. One pop star’s streaming empire now rivals the fiscal firepower of a nation of 126 million. A Billion-Dollar Playlist The Weeknd—born Abel Tesfaye—has spent the past decade rewriting the rules of modern pop. His catalog boasts the most-streamed song in Spotify history (Blinding Lights, nearly 5 billion plays), 27 other

August 31, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Can Addis Ababa’s Hotels Handle 25,000 Climate Conference Guests?

Addis Ababa Hotel Market Faces 25,000-Delegate Climate Conference Test Addis Ababa’s Hotel Crunch: Can the City Host 25,000 Climate Delegates? Market Analysis • Addis Insight A data-led assessment of hotel inventory, ADR pressure, and the playbook to make Climate Week work—complete with charts and tables. Addis Ababa has long punched above its weight in diplomacy.

August 30, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Addis Ababa Opens Landmark Goro–Bole Airport VIP Corridor

“Our dreams will come true through our relentless work every day, every hour, every minute,” declared Mayor Adanech Abebe today as Addis Ababa unveiled one of its most ambitious urban infrastructure projects yet—the Addis International Convention–Goro–Bole Airport VIP Terminal Corridor. A Major Step in Addis Ababa’s Urban Renewal The newly opened corridor is part of

August 30, 2025 • By Addis Insight