The Water Tower of Africa

Children 1: Albeit comprehensible, it is sad that when coming into contact with the faranji the children in Ethiopia turn into annoying beggars. So I transformed the chance of a break for fruit purchases into a game of “push the wheel,” seeing that they were engaged in this game before they targeted the faranji. Whoever showed particular skill would be awarded a prize of 10 birr . Strange! All six participants showed particular skillfulness. *Dawit tells me that his parents assign a name to their child only after the age of six. Before that he is simply called child. Lunch break at the Latish Maaqah Qari Restaurant on the road to Ahmedile, Afar. Right away, as soon as I get out of the Toyota the children come.” Faranjo! faranjo! ” They have surrounded me, asking for pen, birbir, bonbon . I answer: “ aidalam faranjo; idali! ” One of them, more alert, tries again, holding out his hand: “ camrella! camrella! ” I don’t have any candies but I take my notebook out from my backpack. I make him understand with gestures that he has to pose for a portrait. A sitting begins, continuously interrupted by his peering over to see what it looks like. The Œinished portrait bears a good resemblance: I detach the page and hand it to him. Children* 1 Children 2