History of Ethiopian Magazines
Dawit Alemu
Introduction
Ethiopian
magazines had a short age history, because of not established printing
enterprise like Birhanena Selam huge
printing press and also lately introduce other publishing technology.
Under
this title we are trying to over view the recent three regimes, which is the
Imperial, The Derg and the EPRDF regimes respectively. From 1901- 1974, imperial regime include the
Pre, During and Post occupation period, it is the founder of magazines history
in our country. Their main goals were to serves as the monarchial system. The
Revolutionary regime between 1974-1991 were the second period it shows some
progress in print media and mainly focused on socialist ideology. The third and
the most recent period from 1991 till
now, which is the EPDRF regime , it shows somehow niche market to compare and
contrast with the past two period and facing many challenges in terms of economically
and political problems.
For
the fulfillment of this literature review, a book it’s title “ The Quest for
Press Freedom; one hundred year of history of the media in Ethiopia school of Journalism
We
would like to Thanks also The Ethiopian broadcast Authority. It gives us the
current magazines circulation and register to publish under the Authority, starting
from February 2001 to 2009 E.C, which mention on the last pages.
Pre Occupation 1901-41
During
1916-18, Belatengeta Heruye Wolde Silassie
published a literary journal by the title “Goha
Tsebah”. …a monthly magazine, titled Kesate Birhan (the illuminator), was
launched in Tahisas 1927 E.C, … its
full titel Kesate Birhan lelibbe Tebiban
(the illuminator for the wise in heart) it was published by the Bete Saida
publication
press, .…Its annual subscription rate
was 3.25 birr per copy. …Ato Wolde
Giogris Wolde Yehanis, the staff member of Birhanena Selam printing press also use to write articles in the
magazine. Despite its popularity, Kesete
Birhan magazine was irregular and sometimes issued once in three months.
Discontinued upon Italy
occupied the National City Addis in 1936, May. (page 40)
The Greek community also starts to publish a weekly
magazine called “Aithiopikos kosmos” (Ethiopian
world). P.k vrennias from 1927 to 1931.
(page 42)
In 1936, two types of np & magazine published (private &
government) published. … none of these newspapers and magazines were intended
to serve “the forth state” role of the press, (43)
During occupation(1936-41)
A
monthly magazine called “YeRoma Birhan”
(light of Rome )
appeared in the market in 1939. It was assumed
to win the loyalty of Ethiopian people to the Italian colonial administration which
make them out of backwardness and lead them in to “light” of modernization and
civilization with a high circulation.(60 & 61)
It masthead carried Mussolini’s saying, “Salvation is Rome ’s
impartial judgment and therefore one can find it in Rome .”
Actually, the editor’s referred to this publication as a
newspaper and not a magazine, … although it was published once a month and was
between 80-100 pages long. (61)
It also carried articles and poem on various topics,
these include inauguration of newly built churches and school expansion of
public service such as, the postal service, marriage ceremonies of high
officials.(65)
The Post occupation period (1941-74)
…may
5, 1956 …Ethiopian observer had a magazine format although, it was registered
by General Post Office as a newspaper. It was edited in Ethiopia and Britain
but its editorial headquarter was in Addis
Ababa . It was a 32 pages monthly magazine that deals
with economics, history and the art concerning mainly Ethiopia . The emperor’s daily
activity was highly covered in this magazine. (page 102)
…
the death of Sylvia in 1960, the editorship was taken by her son, Dr. Richard
Pankhrust .
In
1969, an English weekly magazine, “Addis reporter” was launched under the
editorship of the renowned journalist and novelist, Bealu Girma. …Like Addis Sior
and Ethiopian observer, Addis reporter couldn’t survive in market.
In
1955 a monthly magazine called “Menen”,
with similar status separate in both Amharic and English editions. None of
these magazines including “Menene”
were courageous enough to criticize the government.
One
distinct feature was, they focused on social affairs and criticized different
traditional practices related to funerals, work ethics treatment of women, etc.
Menene was able to continue its
publications for a few more years under the private company called Alem public relations agency.
This went on
until it was closed down by military regime. The distribution process takes
street venders and bicycle and motor cycle.
The Era of Revolution (1974-91)
Derg did a
great job in this aspect, so much so that the literate of the population was
raised significantly; UNESCO recognized this success by awarding the national literacy
campaign a gold medal in the early 1980’s.
As Derg consolidated its Marxist base, several publication of the old
order that had not been under the direct control of the government was closed
down. Among these, Menene magazine
were mentioned…. (186)
There were also 4 weeklies and 3 magazines. Two of these magazines were monthly while the
third one was quarterly. (188)
Also, three ideological magazines- Yekatit
(february) Marxist Reiyot (Marxist ideology), and through lees frequently, Meskerem (September) began to published
in the second half of 1970’s and early 1980’s.
Yekatit :
named after the popular uprising of 1974 which eventually led to over throw of
the monarch, focused on national issue and historical events, drawing on depth
interview, it had both Amharic and English edition. They were published in
different intervals.
Marxist Rey’ot: quarterly that promoted
the socialist ideology. Most of its publication was translated from different
ideological booklets, it was founded by a Prague
(Czech Republic
The Ethnic Federalism (1991 up to now)
To this day the print media in Ethiopia reaches a much smaller
public than the broadcast media. …circulation of news paper and magazines among
the remaining 83 % living in rural areas is severely affected by low rate of
literacy. (238)
…the Amharic weekly, Yezareytu
Ityopya, folded in February 1996 together with a monthly magazine called Sendeq (“Flag”), the reason being rising
cost of printing. (239)
By 1991 the ruling party published 5 newspaper. Four of these were issued
by EPRDF’s coalition parties. Among these were Weyin by TPLF and Mahitot
by ANDM. (245)
In 2007 EPRDF came up with a bi-monthly magazine called Addis Ra’iy (“New Vision”). The paper
outlines the vision of ruling party in its growth & Transformation plan. Addis Ra’iy replaced by Abiyotawi Demokrasi as the organ of
ruling party. Abiyotawi Demokrasi ,
downgraded to a bi-weekly, is now circulated only in Amhara and Southern
states. (246)
Publication year language frequency
Berhanena selam 1942 amh monthly
Metsihete ityopya 1946 Amharic EOTC Teklehaymanot
Eastern media 1952 Italy & French monthly
Ethiopian magazine 1952 English
Zena betekiritian 1954 Amharic/ Ge’ez EOTC
Menen 1955 Amharic monthly
Kesate Birhan 1963 Amharic monthly
Dimtse Tewahido 1963 Amharic EOTC
Tinsa’Ae 1966 Amharic EOTC
Addis Reporter 1969 English Weekly
Ethiopian Mirror 1969 English Weekly
Tsedey 1972 Amharic monthly
Fikare Selam 1974 Amharic EOTC
Yemisrach -- Amharic monthly ((Mekan eyessu
Lutheran church)
List of magazine published during the military regime.
- Abyotawit Ityopya 1976
weekly Amharic Addis Ababa
- Yekatit 1976 monthly Amharic Addis
Ababa
- Yekatit
1979 quarterly English
Addis Ababa
- Meskerem
1980 quarterly Amharic Addis Ababa
- Meskerem 1980 quarterly English Addis Ababa
- Meskerem 1981 quarterly Amharic Addis Ababa
Conclusion
The
semi-autonomous organizational structure of the press agency is certainly a
step in the right direction in making government news paper and magazines
self-supporting. However, there still leaves much to be desired in terms of
financial autonomy, journalistic quality of the paper as well as the
circulation size, distribution, and the use of advertising as a means of
generating revenue.
With
the exception of the sport reporter, most journalists are still general
assignment workers. Beat reporting is still limited. The newspapers and
magazines like broadcast media and news agencies disseminate government
propaganda rather than report objectively. That has created a major credibility
gap between them and their readers.
One
major difference b/n the past two regime is that government newspaper and
magazines have been facing competition from private press, particularly until
the 2005 election. Therefore, they need to come up with a strategy whereby they
can improve their quality of reporting at least maintain their readership. Team
reporting, less convoluted (complicated) writing style and higher standard of
editing could help in this respect.
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