Goethe-Institut marks 50 years of service in Ethiopia

The Addis Ababa Goethe-Institut was one of the first German organizations to operate in Africa. The drive to bring Goethe to Addis Ababa came from Ethiopians who studied in Germany.

In June 1962 Ethiopian Emperor Haileselassie I officially inaugurated the ‘German Cultural Institut’ as it was called at the time, across the Arat Kilo monument after requests from students, was accepted by both the Ethiopian and the German governments. The book the Emperor signed on that occasion remains in the institute’s library collection to this day. Capital learnt that the library has now 4,000 books, videos, CD-ROMs and DVDs and provides Internet access for visitors.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries has a long standing history that began with the signing of a treaty of amity and commerce as early as 1905. Goethe-Institute was founded on the initiative of private individuals who wanted to promote the image of a new, democratic post-war Germany. In the eyes of the Germans, the Goethe-Institut is seen as Germany’s cultural ambassador to 93 countries around the world.

The institute has been a venue for the exchange of cultures and opinions for five decades. “What is the German culture, asked the ambassador? Some accounts would ground German culture in its history on federalism, Prussian discipline and sausage – but what about modern art, electronic music and environmental concerns?”

The ambassador continued in his remark saying that the same applies to Ethiopia: “Given the huge diversity of this country, can we really talk about one Ethiopian culture? Where to start and where to end? With the Orthodox Church and Yared’s sacred music? With the culture of the Konso, Mursi, and Hamar? The role of Muslim culture? Furthermore where do the Rastafarians, Ethiopians from the Diaspora and Afar Sultanates fit in?

In his conclusive remarks he said that exchange about the interrelation of culture and development, the tension between modernity and tradition, will remain a key ingredient in maintaining the vibrant Ethiopian cultures in their various dimensions and regional aspects.

The institution has contributed to a deeper understanding between the peoples of both countries. It has launched and directed many projects concerning the German and Ethiopian history, sociology, culture and language.