Inter-disciplinary Public Lecture Series

What is “Zemenawinet”? Perspectives on Ethiopian Modernity

 by Addis Ababa University in cooperation with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and the Goethe-Institut Addis Abeba 

AAU, FES and the Goethe-Institut Addis Ababa have successfully cooperated in organizing a lecture series on the theme ‘Democracy and the Social Question’ from 2005-2008. The book to the lecture series was launched on 3 February 2010 with an official ceremony in Ras Mekonnen Halll, Addis Ababa University.As an initiative of Prof. Andreas Eshete, President of the AAU, a new lecture series on the theme “What is “Zemenawinet”? Perspectives on Ethiopian Modernity” will be launched in February 2010. The series will critically explore this theme as it manifests itself in different spheres of Ethiopian reality. The common underlying questions are as follows:

• How is modernization seen/processed/lived in different spheres of life in Ethiopia? How do Ethiopians deal with different ‘epochs’ existing simultaneously side-by-side?
• In what ways can modernization be implemented without being perceived as artificial, alien or imposed, either from the ‘top’ or from ‘the outside’?
• Which traits of ‘tradition’, culture/society should be retained, and how can they be merged with modern developments?
•  How is history dealt with, i.e., does history and historiography help us to learn from the past? Is it used to glorify the past, or rather to condemn past phases, is it used to construct something completely new?
• How could a genuinely Ethiopian modernity be imagined? 

Confirmed Topics and Dates

Wed, 24 February 2010, 6pm
Ras Mekonnen Hall, AAU
Prof. Andreas Eshete, President of Addis Ababa University
Launch of the Lectures Series – “What is Unique About Modernity?”

Wed, 31 March 2010, 6pm
Ras Mekonnen Hall, AAU
Dr. Eloi Ficquet, Director of the French Institute for Ethiopian Studies
“Jazz, Modernity and Africa: Mirrored Reflections”

 Subsequent lectures will be announced.