The Sidama Nation Officially Launches Its First National Independent Media in Its Capital, Hawassa
January 20, 2019
A founding Conference of the Sidama Media Network (SMN) has been conducted in the Sidama capital, Hawassa on January 19, 2019. The indicated an historic conference has also attracted the Sidama’s high, middle and low level politicians, Sidama intellectuals, Sidama business community, Sidama human rights defenders, community and religious leaders and the community at large to make the inauguration a tremendous success.
The participants unanimously decided that the Sidama nation urgently needs its own Media to have a balanced voice in Ethiopi’s all aspect of life. Historically, the cause of the Sidama nation has been misinterpreted and used against its national interests. About 30 years ago, the Habesha (ruling elites) used to claim that the Sidama and Oromo languages break Radio or TV if they were allowed to use it in Ethiopia’s national Medias; in their blatant attempt to keep their subjects enslaved, blinded of the reality and denigrated whilst they were prepared for all-round exploitation.
The Sidama had no voice since Ethiopia has been created in today’s form by Shoa Abyssinian King Menelik II in 1890s, during the exact period of time when the European were scrambling for Africa. To date, the Sidama has no Media apart from Facebook programs recently started after the establishment of SMN in Diaspora. Simply because the absence of Media for the Sidama and the other subjugated nations of the south of Ethiopia, their issue were relegated, often misinterpreted and at worst sexed up to confuse the subjects and wider audiences of the country.
To demystify these mysteries by rectifying the indicated an historic injustices, it is the sons and daughters of the Sidama nation and their supporters who can change such unpalatable histories by creating its own Media that become voices for the Sidama nation and for those who have no opportunity to have their own.
The conference has been led by the Sidama’s high level politician where 9 members of board of management were cordially elected among from the distinguished Sidama personalities whose contribution for the Sidama national cause has been publicly attested and have no rubbish baggies behind.
Accordingly, the following high level professionals are given the responsibility of shaping the future of the SMN. These noble Sidama personalities include:-
1. Kalaa Girma Culuqe, Chair
2. Kalaa Akililu F. Kawiso (PhD Candidate), Vice Chair
3. Kalaa Filata Gigiso
4. Kalaa Elias Kayessa
5. Babaa Birinesh Abriham.
6. Kalaa Belay Balguda
7. Kalaa Mato Maru
8. Babaa Zinash Tsegaye and
9. Kalaa Habitamu Sila.
Additionally, there are also numerous technical members in addition to the indicated executive positions.
We believe that these Sidama elites are of high level professional and business expertise that has been further enriched with tremendous integrities. Therefore, they can bring the Sidama society together thereby navigate its first independent Media on a right direction free from any personal interests. We all are delighted and overjoyed to see these highly regarded Sidama personalities in its first Media management board; and send them our biggest ever congratulations; and wish them excellent success in their position as the leaders of the SMN.
Finally, we further advise them that the responsibility they are shouldering is a national one; hence it deserves to be handled professionally, sensitively, transparently, wisely and more importantly with utmost diligence.
