Awra Amba RJ 300612 EN - Contacter un comité local d'Attac

Awra Amba, a current experiment of utopian socialism
the jealousy of its neighbours as evidenced by several interviews of neighbours reported by Yi07/66-
70. The neighbours trust nevertheless the inhabitants of Awra Amba, given the absolute ban of
stealing and lie in their community (At05/66).
Hostility is surely the greatest against Zumra, who is not free to move outside the Awra Amba site, to
discuss with students of a nearby primary school for instance, because it would create troubles.
Zumra thinks they still have no peace with those people who initiated the conflict between Awra
Amba and other communities (Yi07/64). Therefore, he still needs round-the-clock protection by an
armed guard when he moves in the village (Me09/80) (see Picture 1 page 19).
Faced with the ostracism and the hostility they are subjected from the conservative surrounding
society, Muslim or Orthodox, the members of the Awra Amba community remained themselves far
from others. For instance, when they go to the Maksegn market, they don't drink tea at the tearooms
like others (At05/66); the students from Awra Amba do not play with others and never went to the
Maksegn café like others to drink tea or tela – the local beer (Yi07/77 & 83); they did not invite their
neighbours, do not try to convince them and do not visit them (Yi07/71-72); in case of death, they do
not participate in the mourning ceremonies (see section 4.6); finally, they are few open to marriages
with non-members of the village because they require the respect of their rules (Yi07/50-51).
They strengthened their internal solidarity and the respect of their rules (Ya08/138). It is conceivable
that the cohesion and the coherence of the community members allowed them to counter the hostility
of their neighbours. The awareness to build a new life, a paradise on Earth, leads them to believe
they are different and better than others, probably with some pride as Yi07/72 thinks.
The Awra Amba community wishes to address disputes through rational discussions, without
conflict, through a non-violent and pacifist attitude. They consider those who do not respect them
and want to fight with them as ignorant people, they have to convince that the differences are the
essence of humanity (Ya08/117). In 2012, Awra Amba considers that its relations with the
neighbours are now entirely satisfactory and that gossip practically disappeared; for that matter,
children of Awra Amba and children of neighbours play football together in the evening (Crespo,
2012).
6.2. Relations with authorities and Ethiopians
The Awra Amba community first came to the nation’s awareness when Zumra Nuru gave an
interview on national television around 2006. Since then, numerous camera crews have visited the
village. They are not alone. Government officials, members of parliament, sheikhs and priests from
the whole Amhara region and from elsewhere, and local and foreign non-governmental organization
workers have made the trip using the road (not tarred till 2009) to see the success of the community
for themselves (Halpern, 2007). Many school buses arrive every month (Picture 18). In 2009 (or until
2009: see above) the village received six thousand Ethiopian visitors and also a handful of
Westerners. The village has constructed a hostel for visitors, who must first of all describe the
purpose of their visit (Mamo, 2006). Although many visits are quite short (around two hours),
welcome takes a lot of time (two full time persons in 2012) according to Crespo (2012).
The community of Awra Amba planned in January 2011 to equip an existing room for a computer
and Internet access, and to buy a minibus for transporting villagers and visitors from and to Woreta,
which should make the recognition of the community even easier. These projects are not completed
in 2012 (Crespo, 2011; 2012).
Its founder is also invited to share his experience in different universities throughout the country.
Thus he was invited six times in 2009: twice to Addis Ababa and Bahar Dar, once to Awasa and
Mekele. He was also invited to neighbouring Kenya, but was not able to attend through lack of
finance (moreover, speaking only Amharic, he would have had to be accompanied) (Jo10b/10).
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