The Awakening City

Addis Ababa a ‘Sleeping Beauty’ for decades, in the words of Haile Selassie, is now living the American dream. Photographer Anna Positano recounts its awakening.

According to the United Nations’ predictions, the population of Addis Ababa will increase from approximately 4 million to 8 million by 2025. Hence the Ethiopian government has already taken action with urban redevelopment occurring across the capital.

A ‘Sleeping Beauty’ for decades, in the words of Haile Selassie, Ethiopian society is now living the American dream. The new middle class can afford a car and a house in the peripheral areas, shopping at the malls, and dining out in restaurants. Western imagery fosters the renovation of the city, although the American dream is carried out by the Chinese, the most influential among the international investors.

Anna Positano, Addis Ababa, 2013. Top: A survivor Italian house in the historical neighbourhood of Piazza, near Churchill Avenue. The slums were torn down in order to make space for new modern buildings. Above: La Gare, railway station. Originally called “Compagnie du Chemin de Fer Franco-Ethiopien”, the Ethio-Djibouti Railway that used to link the port of Djibouti to Addis Ababa has not been working since 2006

Despite the importance of urban development, there are still unsolved contradictions within society and questions rise about the sustainability of modernization. In Addis Ababa too many citizens do not have access to drinkable water, health cover and education. A large part of the population live in slums, which cover 80% of the overall built surface. New infrastructures are planned without any regard to natural or urban surroundings. Water and air pollution is an issue, and yet there are no strong environmental policies.

This series of photographs aspires to be a look at the process of modernization of Addis Ababa, along with its traditional features. Most of the images are intentionally from a distance, in order to widen the proportion of urban interventions and provoke a sense of loss. At the same time the presence of people provides a more human proportion. The depiction of the most vernacular of places is more intimate and intends to be juxtaposed with the modern city.

Anna Positano, Addis Ababa, 2013. The largest construction site of the Light Railway, at Menelik II square

Anna Positano, Addis Ababa, 2013. River and slum at Piazza

Anna Positano, Addis Ababa, 2013. Panorama over the Hilton Hotel and Bole. The green and yellow fences delimit a huge construction site, after an informal settlement was demolished

Anna Positano, Addis Ababa, 2013. Boys playing soccer at Meskel square. In the early morning there are runners undertaking their training on the tracks. During the Derg regime this square held parades and other political gathers

Anna Positano, Addis Ababa, 2013. Bethel, young woman staring at her new house

Anna Positano, Addis Ababa, 2013. Bethel, communal garden

Anna Positano, Addis Ababa, 2013. Bethel, new house

Anna Positano, Addis Ababa, 2013. Road works near Merkato

Anna Positano, Addis Ababa, 2013. The recordings of Ethiopia’s Got Talent at Desalegn Hotel

Anna Positano, Addis Ababa, 2013. Construction sites on the way to La Gare

Anna Positano, Addis Ababa, 2013. Bar at Piazza

Anna Positano, Addis Ababa, 2013. Bathroom entrance in the room of the Empress Menen Asfaw, Haile Selassie’s wife

Anna Positano, Addis Ababa, 2013. Traditional tej bar at Old Airport, where Selassie’s military élite used to hang out. Tej is a homemade honey wine, sweet and with a high alcohol content

Anna Positano, Addis Ababa, 2013. Juventus Club near Meskel square. It is an Italian sport club established in the Fifties

Anna Positano, Addis Ababa, 2013. The redevelopment of Merkato - the largest open market in Africa. According to the plans the shacks will give way to the multi-storey shopping malls

Anna Positano, Addis Ababa, 2013. The redevelopment of Merkato - the largest open market in Africa. According to the plans the shacks will give way to the multi-storey shopping malls

Anna Positano, Addis Ababa, 2013. School at Merkato

Anna Positano, Addis Ababa, 2013. Council houses in Lideta

Anna Positano, Addis Ababa, 2013. Works in Bole road

Anna Positano, Addis Ababa, 2013. Young woman bringing traditional coffee to a construction site near the government headquarter

Anna Positano is a photographer, architect and artist that lives and works in Genoa, Italy. In 2009 she accomplished her MA Photography at the London College of Communication and in 2008 graduated in Architecture at the University of Genoa. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. In 2012 she was enrolled as Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Engineering in Genoa for the AY 2012-2013.

The Awakening City

Addis Ababa a ‘Sleeping Beauty’ for decades, in the words of Haile Selassie, is now living the American dream. Photographer Anna Positano recounts its awakening.

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