Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/140546
•pg_23-32__BMT_pg3-58 6/21/13 9:35 PM Page 26 BY EDITH BILLUPS you have yet to visit Africa and are looking for an experience not distorted by Western media, then check out intriguing Ethiopia, as a start. Ethiopia is one of the oldest countries in the world, and many scientists believe it to be where humans first appeared on Earth. For history buffs, the country is a must see, boasting nine UNESCO world heritage sites. I recently packed my bags for a nine day visit, concentrating mainly on Addis, the nation's bustling capital, and Axum, center of one of the world's most powerful kingdoms from the 1st to 7th centuries, and, today, considered the holiest Orthodox city in Ethiopia. Along the way, I was pleasantly surprised by the mix of ancient and modern history that I found, but also surprised to learn that Ethiopia is so much more than the image of "the starving child with the distended belly, which is the image that most people have," said Sisay Getachew, an advisor to the minister of culture and tourism. Getachew noted that there are recurring droughts, "But there are no large amounts of people starving. We are doing better." The government official explained that 90% of the people in Ethiopia are farmers, and new policies being implemented have resulted in irriga- If 26 tion methods that produce a higher yield of products. Better machinery also is making a difference, said Getachew. On my journey, I experienced the warm hospitality of the Ethiopian people and discovered undeniable truths about Ethiopia's contributions to the world. These include high rise buildings; terrace agriculture, phonetic alphabets; currency; and rock-hewn buildings. Saint Yared, one of Ethiopia's nine saints and the country's greatest musician and poet, also is credited with inventing the first musical notes and the first to use musical instruments to accompany his hymns. I started my journey on February 4th, flying on Ethiopian Airlines from Washington Dulles on a nonstop fly to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's largest city. Ethiopian Airlines flies from Dulles daily and is one of the fastest growing carriers in the industry, having received the 2012 International Diamond Prize for Excellence in Quality. Ethiopian Airlines serves 44 destinations in Africa and, on March 13th, began serving Ndola in Zambia and Blantyre, Malawi. On June 13th, the airline will begin serving Sao Paulo, Brazil and Seoul, Korea. Flights to Manila, Philippines will begin July 13th. On Feb. 5th, I landed in Addis, the eco- B M & T ••• May/June 2013 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com nomic and social nerve center of Ethiopia, with a population of more than 3.5 million. Addis was founded by Emperor Menelik II in 1887, who claimed uninterrupted direct male descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. I checked into the Sheraton Hotel in Addis, a five star property that sits on a hilltop overlooking the city. The Sheraton is the first African hotel to join The Luxury Collection and, since opening in 1998, has hosted several high profile events, including the Pan-African and African Union summits. The Sheraton features 293 rooms and suites along with secluded three-floor villas with personal outdoor pools. Its nine meeting spaces can host up to 1,300 guests, and the hotel's green technologies was recognized by The Green Organization, an independent environmental group. If visiting, be sure to check out the hotel's inviting spa and stop by one of its six gourmet restaurants. I dined at Shaheen, which offers delicious Indian cuisine, and treated myself to the breakfast buffet which featured delicious and healthy fresh squeezed juices ranging from kiwi-apple to carrot. I planned my Addis itinerary with the help of L.A. native Yaw Frederick Davis, a former