Status of Meskel Square

Meskel Square is a public square in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and serving religious and secular ceremonies and holidays. The square is noted for celebration of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church festivals like Meskel and Timkat (Ethiopian Epiphany) and Demera. Approximate stadium-sized area, the square also hosted various secular venues such as concerts and athletics trainings. Proprietorship of the square has been a special controversy among religious denominations. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church claimed a historic ownership and this has been contested by secondary denominations in the country, the Protestant church and Islam.

Meskel Square at night

Description

Meskel Square occupies a size of stadium and intersected by seven roads, nine lane traffic and 16-lane junction.[1][2] The important roads run south from Ras Mekonnen Avenue; the first immediately lies to the west of square guides to rural areas of south-west direction. The name of road, as denoted by map, as Ras Baru Avenue, commonly referred to as Debre Zeit Road, a former name of the town Bishoftu. Its immediate eastside road known as Africa Avenue in map and Bole Road in common name that terminates to Bole International Airport.[3] The square previously renamed "Abiyot Square" during the Derg military regime and served government platform and parades.[4]

Proprietorship

Meskel Square has been subjected to heated dispute between the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Addis Ababa City government.

On 9 May 2021, the Grand Ethiopian Iftar was schedule organized by Halal Production Company. However, it was shortly cancelled due to violent skirmish between the security force and Muslim attendence. Police dispersed tear gas to disperse the protester, who attempting to access the square. The Addis Ababa City government explained through official press release that the organized cancelled the event .Later, they announced the event postponement on 11 May and would be held from Mexico Square to Bambis Supermarket. A false allegation that the deputy mayor Adanech Abebe announced to change its name to Eid Square resurged through social media. PesaCheck has proved it to be false.[5]

For the first time in January 2022, Protestant followers conducted a fundraising program in the square that led serious confrontation with Orthodox population, who oppose any religious activity and claimed ownership to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Mayor of Addis Ababa Adanech Abebe delivered reiterating speech stating Meskel Square ownership belongs to taxpayers of resident of Addis Ababa.[6] Church elders insisted an ownership to Orthodox church and condemned the government response and the Protestant congregants. Addis Ababa City government called on the elders to discuss in the issue in Sheraton Addis, but the elders overwhelmingly opposed and declined he government meeting.[7]

Purpose

Religious festivals

The square is known of spectacular Ethiopian Orthodox festival, most prominently Meskel ("a festival of the true cross") celebrated every September and Timkat (Ethiopian Epiphany). Before celebration, 17 Arks (known as Tabot) must be arrived to the square. Rituals includes an opening ceremony, then prayer followed by Sunday School students singing and dancing. The Meskel ceremony took only two hours 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm of evening, and Timkat begins around 7:00 am.[8]

Concert

On 6 February 2005, a large concert was held in Meskel Square with considerable attendance followed. Bob Marley's "Africa Unite" was played at his sixtieth birthday, and many musicians performed including Marley's family and other Jamaican star I Threes, Senegalese musician Youssou N'Dour, Beninese Angélique Kidjo, and American R&B singer Lauren Hill. Few Ethiopian artists debut their performance at the square such as Teddy Afro.[1]

Athletics

Athletics training, especially running in the morning and football are frequent activities in Meskel. In addition, the square is fitted with public screen to view football tournaments either within nation or international. Most often, English Premier League is popular and people may view at evenings.[1]

References
  1. MacLeod, Erin C. (2014). Visions of Zion: Ethiopians and Rastafari in the Search for the Promised Land. NYU Press. ISBN 978-1-4798-9099-6.
  2. Museyon (2009-11-01). Music + Travel Worldwide: Touring the Globe Through Sights and Sounds. Museyon. p. 116. ISBN 978-1-938450-38-9.
  3. Briggs, Philip; Blatt, Brian (2009). Ethiopia. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 978-1-84162-284-2.
  4. Drummond, Lisa B. W.; Young, Douglas (2020). Socialist and Post-Socialist Urbanisms: Critical Reflections from a Global Perspective. University of Toronto Press. p. 153. ISBN 978-1-4426-3253-0.
  5. PesaCheck (2021-05-17). "FALSE: Addis Ababa's deputy mayor did not change the name of Meskel Square to Eid Square". Medium. Retrieved 2022-04-30.
  6. "A Protestant Pastor remarks on Meskel Square controversy". Borkena Ethiopian News. 2022-01-12. Retrieved 2022-04-30.
  7. Nadeem, Sajid (2022-02-02). "Dispute over Meskel Square between Ethiopian Orthodox Church & Addis Ababa govt continues". My Views on News. Retrieved 2022-04-30.
  8. Firew, Gedef Abawa; Kaliff, Anders (2014-09-26). The Source of the Blue Nile: Water Rituals and Traditions in the Lake Tana Region. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4438-6791-7.
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