Preface

Cities carry memories just as people do. Streets change, buildings rise and disappear, and generations come and go, yet the places where we once lived remain deeply rooted in our hearts.

The pages that follow are not meant to be a formal history of Addis Ababa, but rather a personal journey through the streets and neighborhoods that shaped my youth. I grew up when the city was smaller and quieter, filled with the familiar faces of many communities who shared life together, Ethiopians, Armenians, Greeks, Italians, and others who each left their mark on the character of the capital.

Many of the places described here no longer exist as they once did. Shops have disappeared, houses have been replaced by modern buildings, and entire neighborhoods have been transformed. Yet the memories of the people who lived and worked there remain vivid.

In recent years Addis Ababa has undergone remarkable change. Roads have widened, parks have appeared, and new buildings stand where older structures once stood. Seeing these transformations brings both nostalgia and hope.

This book is therefore both remembrance and reflection, a tribute to the Addis Ababa of my youth and to the people who filled its streets with life.

Varoujean Tilbian