Priest
“The government wanted to give the Moslems a piece of land. It wasn’t only the priests that were angry, it was the entire population here. We sent the Moslems running. We are for friendly relations with Islam, but not if they want to build a mosque here.”
1.30
Harar is the counterpoint to Lalibela. It’s the Mecca for Moslems in Ethiopia. 99 mosques stamp their character on the city – from the smallest to the largest building.
1:50
But even here there’s religious conflict. Two years ago, during a procession, Christians forced their way into a mosque and started fighting with the Moslems. The police tried to get the mob under control but failed. Suddenly, the army was called in. In the shooting that followed, five people were killed. The Christians blame the Moslems because the mosque has been built, according to them, exactly on an Orthodox processional route.
2:30
Sheik Zekeria Abubeker is president of a committee set up to mediate the conflict between the two religious groups. Generally in Harar, believers of both faiths live peacefully together. After the incident, the Sheik proposed the highest representatives of both religions should get together.
2:59
O-sound
Zekeria Abubeker
Committee president
“We want to live together peacefully with all religious groups - with the Orthodox and also the Catholics. For this reason we founded the committee. We have solved the problem of 2001.”
3:12
Anisa’s father was the first Moslem to build his home outside the ancient city walls of Harar, where before only Christians were allowed to build a house.
3:20
O-sound
Anisa Ali Yusuf
Food engineer
(in German)
“This is my small sister and myself. I was about seven years old. At this time we were at the Moslem school. Then, after the fourth class we went to the Catholic school. My father, who was a very liberal man, would naturally be questioned by the people back in Harar about why we were going to a Christian school. He said things were going well because there was a better education there.”
3:54
For the elite in Harar the religious conflict has had few consequences. But others see things differently. The Moslems have the say in the city and that creates difficulties for those of a different faith.
4:15
O-sound
Misikir Gatachew Fesfay
Worker
(in English)
“I am a Christian and also Arab. It’s very hard to get any job.”
4:34
The Orthodox are facing various problems. In the last few years they’ve lost their religious supremacy. Islam is on the increase with the help of money from Saudi Arabia. Currently both religious groups are similarly powerful – and that in a country where Orthodoxy was once the state religion. But today, it’s mainly other Christian sects that are attracting and converting Orthodox believers.
5.10
O-sound
Abba Yekele Haimanot
Orthodox Monk
“Some of our believers try out other religions, but most of them come back to us again. We teach from the bible much more than earlier – also in Amaric - so the faithful can understand the scriptures.
5:28
The Orthodox Church is trying with all its power to hang on to its believers. It is even modernising its form of worship. A professional pop singer entertains the congregation.
5:46
Gabriel Hoehl works in the Ethiopian parliament as an expert on conflict prevention.
5:53
O-sound
Gabriel Hoehl
Conflict expert
(in German)
“In the meanwhile the Orthodox Church has been severely criticised because many of the people look backwards and don’t have a vision towards the future, rather into the past which they’re very proud of. They do very little for the people and don’t have social programmes like most churches around the world do.”
6:21
During Emperor Haile Selassie’s reign the power of the Orthodox Church was unchallenged. The Church amassed huge land holdings. But after the revolution in 1974, they lost their wealth – even the simplest believer noticed that. For Hana Telahone and her neighbours their faith is everything, despite the high demands the church makes on its faithful. Church services often begin in the middle of the night and last for hours. Also, the numerous church holidays, are onerous if one is trying to pursue a productive life. Some of the faithful are searching for a reason for their misery.
7:10
O-sound
Tefera Bahru
Unemployed
“For me the Moslems are all to blame. They don’t like us so they fight against us.”
7:24
O-sound
Hana Telahone
Housewife
“Other churches entice their believers with money. That’s also attracted some of our people.”
7:37
O-sound
Abebech Adafris
Housewife
“I don’t like the new churches. I hate them because they are taking our believers away.”
7:50
It’s been nearly a century since missionaries of the new churches like the Swedish Mekane Yesus Evangelika Community came to Ethiopia. Other free church groups – mainly from America – are also finding faithful here because they build schools and open hospitals.
8:14
in off
8:22 in On
O-sound
Yoseph Negasa
Pastor – Mekane Yesus Kirche
“When we go outside, to open outreach places, we combine medical work, development work, education work – we teach literacy, we teach women family planning, we teach farmers short scale agricultural work and we open literacy schools and through that many come to Jesus Christ.”
8:48
The competition, particularly from the new churches, has forced the Orthodox Church to modernise. But, only the coming years will show if they have been successful. The outlook is not particularly rosy. The free churches are well financed from abroad and they are pursuing their mission with zeal.
ends
“The government wanted to give the Moslems a piece of land. It wasn’t only the priests that were angry, it was the entire population here. We sent the Moslems running. We are for friendly relations with Islam, but not if they want to build a mosque here.”
1.30
Harar is the counterpoint to Lalibela. It’s the Mecca for Moslems in Ethiopia. 99 mosques stamp their character on the city – from the smallest to the largest building.
1:50
But even here there’s religious conflict. Two years ago, during a procession, Christians forced their way into a mosque and started fighting with the Moslems. The police tried to get the mob under control but failed. Suddenly, the army was called in. In the shooting that followed, five people were killed. The Christians blame the Moslems because the mosque has been built, according to them, exactly on an Orthodox processional route.
2:30
Sheik Zekeria Abubeker is president of a committee set up to mediate the conflict between the two religious groups. Generally in Harar, believers of both faiths live peacefully together. After the incident, the Sheik proposed the highest representatives of both religions should get together.
2:59
O-sound
Zekeria Abubeker
Committee president
“We want to live together peacefully with all religious groups - with the Orthodox and also the Catholics. For this reason we founded the committee. We have solved the problem of 2001.”
3:12
Anisa’s father was the first Moslem to build his home outside the ancient city walls of Harar, where before only Christians were allowed to build a house.
3:20
O-sound
Anisa Ali Yusuf
Food engineer
(in German)
“This is my small sister and myself. I was about seven years old. At this time we were at the Moslem school. Then, after the fourth class we went to the Catholic school. My father, who was a very liberal man, would naturally be questioned by the people back in Harar about why we were going to a Christian school. He said things were going well because there was a better education there.”
3:54
For the elite in Harar the religious conflict has had few consequences. But others see things differently. The Moslems have the say in the city and that creates difficulties for those of a different faith.
4:15
O-sound
Misikir Gatachew Fesfay
Worker
(in English)
“I am a Christian and also Arab. It’s very hard to get any job.”
4:34
The Orthodox are facing various problems. In the last few years they’ve lost their religious supremacy. Islam is on the increase with the help of money from Saudi Arabia. Currently both religious groups are similarly powerful – and that in a country where Orthodoxy was once the state religion. But today, it’s mainly other Christian sects that are attracting and converting Orthodox believers.
5.10
O-sound
Abba Yekele Haimanot
Orthodox Monk
“Some of our believers try out other religions, but most of them come back to us again. We teach from the bible much more than earlier – also in Amaric - so the faithful can understand the scriptures.
5:28
The Orthodox Church is trying with all its power to hang on to its believers. It is even modernising its form of worship. A professional pop singer entertains the congregation.
5:46
Gabriel Hoehl works in the Ethiopian parliament as an expert on conflict prevention.
5:53
O-sound
Gabriel Hoehl
Conflict expert
(in German)
“In the meanwhile the Orthodox Church has been severely criticised because many of the people look backwards and don’t have a vision towards the future, rather into the past which they’re very proud of. They do very little for the people and don’t have social programmes like most churches around the world do.”
6:21
During Emperor Haile Selassie’s reign the power of the Orthodox Church was unchallenged. The Church amassed huge land holdings. But after the revolution in 1974, they lost their wealth – even the simplest believer noticed that. For Hana Telahone and her neighbours their faith is everything, despite the high demands the church makes on its faithful. Church services often begin in the middle of the night and last for hours. Also, the numerous church holidays, are onerous if one is trying to pursue a productive life. Some of the faithful are searching for a reason for their misery.
7:10
O-sound
Tefera Bahru
Unemployed
“For me the Moslems are all to blame. They don’t like us so they fight against us.”
7:24
O-sound
Hana Telahone
Housewife
“Other churches entice their believers with money. That’s also attracted some of our people.”
7:37
O-sound
Abebech Adafris
Housewife
“I don’t like the new churches. I hate them because they are taking our believers away.”
7:50
It’s been nearly a century since missionaries of the new churches like the Swedish Mekane Yesus Evangelika Community came to Ethiopia. Other free church groups – mainly from America – are also finding faithful here because they build schools and open hospitals.
8:14
in off
8:22 in On
O-sound
Yoseph Negasa
Pastor – Mekane Yesus Kirche
“When we go outside, to open outreach places, we combine medical work, development work, education work – we teach literacy, we teach women family planning, we teach farmers short scale agricultural work and we open literacy schools and through that many come to Jesus Christ.”
8:48
The competition, particularly from the new churches, has forced the Orthodox Church to modernise. But, only the coming years will show if they have been successful. The outlook is not particularly rosy. The free churches are well financed from abroad and they are pursuing their mission with zeal.
ends