Traditional crafts bazaar wraps in Addis Ababa

By Nebiyu Yonas

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia- A textile handloom and other crafts exhibition and bazaar took place in the Guellele sub-city of Addis Ababa which lasted for five days, from August 25- 29, 2007.
“Fifty seven different Vocational Associations participated in this occasion”, said Mr. Asegedew Mulugeta one of the organizers of the bazaar.
According to Mr. Asegedew, there over 5,500 members who belong to different vocational associations had participated in five day bazaar and exhibition bonanza.

“We prepared this exhibition and bazaar to give us an opportunity to show the public our products and helps buyers to know what vocational products are available in the sub-city. I think this will create a good marketing system and contributes a lot towards minimizing poverty as people intend to buy our products”, said Asegedew.
It was reported that these associations produce and export different items such as bed-sheets, curtains, tablecloths, sofa clothes and others all made of cotton.

“We don’t have a permanent marketing center. We cannot compete freely either in the free market competition as we face financial constraints. As a result, we fail to produce quality products”, said Asegedew. He went on to say that the weavers and craftsmen sell their products in the open market in seven different small places at Addissu Gebeya and at Shiromeda, where exists in nine different small places for marketing in the open .

Currently 34 buildings are being constructed in different places of the sub city aiming at collecting the scattered associations and helping them to work under a unified center. Almost 80% of the task has been completed and it was fully funded by the city government. Members of the association also participated in the manual labor. The Gullele sub city also contributed a lot by helping the organizing vocational association committee in providing a venue and logistical support which according to organizers ‘made the said exhibition and bazaar complete success’.

Markets at Addissu Gebeya usually take place every Wednesday and Saturday mornings.
It is to be recalled that similar exhibition and bazaar was conducted in 2004 from March 26-April 02. Back then 67 vocational associations from all over Addis Ababa had participated. It was Mr. Arkebe Equbai, the then mayor of Addis Ababa, who played a crucial role in encouraging and funding the association.

Asked what these vocational associations would do in the future, Asegedew said that all the various associations have plans to form a union and create their own website and improve their marketing system to compete with other associations and businesses.
Mr. Yohannes Mulugeta, a weaver and salesman, who works for one of the weaving and tailoring associations, appreciated the bazaar and said, “This exhibition and bazaar will definitely give a good opportunity to promote our products.”

He said that his association produces items such as bed-sheets, pillow cases and other related weaving materials. He concluded that, “if we the Association come up with quality products, we can sell them easily”. He mentioned that his living standard has been improved and he is capable of helping his family financially at the moment.

The United Nations Industrial Developmental Organization (UNIDO) was the first to sponsor their Association followed by KK and TIES Company which allowed the Association to produce raw materials like woolen cloths and Saba threads respectively for the different vocational associations’ center. •