Addis Ababa, a must visit in 2014, Ethiopia

The capital city of Ethiopia was listed among 52 places to be visited in 2014. This is according to the New York Times. The travel section of one of the biggest daily newspapers in the US labeled Addis Ababa as an ambitious art scene that is heading toward the international stage.

Building on a strong historical legacy (Addis boasts one of East Africa’s oldest art schools) are a host of events scheduled for 2014: a photography festival, two film festivals, and a jazz and world music festival. Thanks to the city’s diverse art institutions and galleries, including the artist-in-residence village Zoma Contemporary Art Center and the Asni Gallery (really more an art collective than a gallery), there is an art opening at least once a week. Even the local Sheraton puts on “Art of Ethiopia,” an annual show of new talent. But it’s the National Museum that, in May and June, will host this year’s blockbuster exhibit, “Ras Tafari: The Majesty and the Movement,” devoted to Emperor Haile-Selassie I and Rastafarianism,” The New York Times stated.

Apart from Addis, other African countries and specific cities and locations like Cape Town, South Africa, Laikipia Plateau, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania are also picked by the newspaper. It is also important to note that, Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo should not also be left out as they host one of the world’s tourist attractions known as mountain gorillas. Gorilla tracking takes place in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga national park (Uganda), Volcanoes National park (Rwanda), Virunga National park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.