Introduction
The Ethiopian Millennium Festival will showcase the most spectacular cluster of events and raft of participatory projects the nation has ever witnessed in living memory. It will run from September 2007 to September 2008 and is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians from the diaspora, foreigners of Ethiopian descent as well as visitors from all over the world.
The overall theme of the Festival, embracing the optimism of Ethiopians as we enter the new millennium, is: "On the move to a prosperous Ethiopia by establishing a politically strong and economically dynamic society".
The Ethiopian Millennium Festival National Council (EMFNC) - along with its Executive Council and Secretariat - is responsible for delivering Ethiopia's national focus to mark and celebrate the arrival of the third millennium. It has, consequently, adapted a two-pronged approach to ensure that the nation makes best use of the millennial opportunity.
The National Programme will give everyone in Ethiopia the opportunity to participate in projects that will make a lasting difference to our society. Projects are wide ranging, encourage creativity, innovation and participation, and renew our sense of community. The social legacy of the National Programme in education, the environment, the arts, sport and heritage will be felt for years to come - a reminder to future generations that the millennium was a time when Ethiopians committed themselves to make a difference in all walks of life.
The Festival, on the other hand, will add sparkle and give backing for local millennium celebrations the length and breadth of Ethiopia.
Blurb of the Festival
Festival events scheduled to take place during 2007/2008 include:
'Our Millennium' - musical extravaganza
A spectacular opening ceremony from the heart of Addis Ababa on 11th September 2007 - the sheer splendor of which will also be held simultaneously in Ethiopia's regional capitals - will herald the start of year-long festivities by highlighting on the strength and beauty we have derived from the patchwork nature of the union of free and equal Ethiopians.
Scheduled for: 11th September 2007
Estimated cost: Birr 14.000.000
'Africa Week'
As the Ethiopian Millennium has been declared "an African occasion" by the 8th Regular Summit of the African Union, Ethiopia will launch week-long celebrations by focusing on her commendable record in the continent's history of decolonization and in her continued pride and pleasure of continuing to host the head-quarters of the African Union. Cultural troupes, artists, writers and film makers from various African countries are expected to add color to the festivities.
Scheduled for: May 25th 2008
Estimated cost: 1 million Birr.
'Buy Ethiopian'
Designed to give a boost to local products as well as enhance quality, 'Buy Ethiopian' encourages us to wear national attire during the millennial event.
Scheduled for: the entire year.
Estimated cost: 100.000 Birr
'Wubnesh Ethiopia' - Beautiful Ethiopia
A musical drama to be produced and staged by the best and brightest in Ethiopia's growing theatre industry, traces our chequered past and attempts to equip, especially the youth, with vision and determination to move on to the next millennium.
Scheduled for: 1st week September 2007.
Estimated cost: 1.5 million Birr.
Three Exhibitions on Ethiopia's Heritage
Designed to show-case some of Ethiopia's awe-inspiring artefacts for a period of four months at a time, these exhibitions are expected to attract a stream of visitors who had come to visit the many archeological wonders of 'The Cradle of Mankind.
Scheduled for: Mid-September 2007 and would last for four months.
Total estimated cost: 100.000 Birr
Four multi-faceted symposiums on Ethiopia
Participants would be able to broaden their horizons as an attempt is being made to remember our past, experience our present and prepare us well for the challenges ahead.
Scheduled for: September 2007 and would each last three months.
Estimated cost: 140.000 Birr.
Blurb of the National Programme
National Programme projects include:
Millennium Parks
The construction of multi-purpose parks in the metropolis and Regional capitals. Adorned with indigenous trees, mini-museums, children's playgrounds and refreshment outlets, these parks would serve as focal points for those residents who wish to relax in the splendor and tranquility of a modern park, as well as being a living symbol of this generation's gift to future generations.
2 Trees for 2000.
By offering a chance to every Ethiopian to plant 2 trees at the close of the second millennium, '2trees for 2000' is meant to be a symbolic gesture of this generation's firm determination to address Ethiopia's growing environmental hazard caused by deforestation.
Scheduled for: 8th June 2007
Estimated cost: 72 million Birr.
Catalogue of Ethiopian Heritage sites
An unprecedented attempt is made to equip visitors with a bird's eye-view of existing and new-found sites.
Scheduled for:
Estimated cost:
Keep Addis Clean Campaign
Addis Ababans would be encouraged to participate in a spring-clean campaign of the metropolis by hitting the road with their brooms and leaving Addis spick and span for our visitors.
Scheduled for: 6th - 10th September 2007.
Estimated cost: 3 million Birr
Coffee Museum
This generation will reward Ethiopia's gift to the world by establishing state of the art coffee museum in the origin of coffee in Bonga, in south-western Ethiopia. Visitors will be able to learn the fascinating story of the wild bean while indulging in the taste of a variety of Ethiopian coffee.
Scheduled for: August 6th 2008.
Estimated cost: Birr 5.000.000
The Millennium Festival and National Programme's Budget
While the Government, in accordance with Council of Ministers Regulation No. 117/2005 provides recurrent budget for the Secretariat of the Ethiopian Millennium Festival National Council, no money from tax revenues will be used for funding any part of either the Festival or the National Programme.
The budget is being met through a combination of
• Sponsorship;
• Income that the Millennium Festival Secretariat will generate itself from ticket sales, licensed merchandise, media rights, on site catering, retailing and other commercial activities;
• Grant from different organizations, i.e. National Lottery, Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporations and the Ethiopian Postal Authority.
