Historic Africa Hall in Addis Ababa to Be Inaugurated, Reflecting on Africa’s Past and Present
ADDIS ABABA: After years of intensive renovations, Africa Hall, the iconic birthplace of the Organization of African Unity, is set to be inaugurated on Monday. The inauguration will focus on reflecting Africa’s past and present, with an emphasis on a sustainable future, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the hall was commissioned by Ethiopia’s Emperor Haile Selassie I and designed by Arturo Mezzèdimi in 1961 as a modernist masterpiece. It served as a venue for Africans to deliberate on critical issues such as independence, freedom, and development. As the headquarters of ECA, Africa Hall has hosted numerous conferences, including the 1963 signing of the Charter for the Organization of African Unity (OAU), a significant milestone in Africa’s post-colonial history.
Renovation efforts for Africa Hall began in earnest after the 50th anniversary of the ECA, with the initiative launched in collaboration with UNESCO, the African Union Commissio
n, and the Government of Ethiopia. ECA completed a feasibility study and concept design in 2014, and the UN General Assembly approved the renovation project, entrusting ECA with its implementation.
The renovation project aimed to transform Africa Hall into a modern facility while preserving its architectural and artistic legacy. Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the project progressed, resulting in a state-of-the-art conferencing venue featuring a new visitors center and a permanent exhibition. Voluntary contributions from member states, including Mali and Portugal, supported the renovation efforts. Portugal’s contribution was directed toward restoring the Ethiopian Maitre, Afework Tekle’s Triptych, a stained-glass masterpiece symbolizing Africa’s liberation.
Africa Hall Project Manager, Antonio Baio, stated that the renovation aimed to transform the facility to comply with the highest international standards for conference facilities. The stained-glass mural, commissioned by Haile Selassie
I, encapsulates Africa’s challenges, aspirations, and future and is hailed as an extraordinary study on the continent’s soul.