Coptic millennium celebrations fall flat for some Ethiopians, (iht)

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia: As Ethiopia approaches its third millennium, the most popular joke in the capital city goes like this: How do you say "millennium" in Amharic?

The pun of an answer — "menem yellum," which means "there is nothing" — sums up how many in Ethiopia's largest city feel about the festivities for Ethiopia's third millennium, which begins after midnight Tuesday on Ethiopia's Coptic calendar.

With the calendar of events changing and security concerns in the capital reaching fever pitch, many ordinary Ethiopians feel the remaining celebrations — which include a concert with tickets that cost an average Ethiopian nearly two months' salary at 1,500 birr (nearly US$170) — are beyond their reach.

The Black Eyed Peas, a hip-hop act from Los Angeles, will perform Tuesday night at a brand new, US$20 million temporary exhibition hall built by Ethiopia's richest man, and the Hilton hotel will host a US$100-and-up gala.

"The millennium, it's nothing for me," said Mulugeta Demssie, 23, a taxi driver, who said he thought the concert should be free, or at least cheaper.

"Because I don't have money, I can't enjoy it."...more