Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) underscored the critical need for a common national narrative to foster unity among Ethiopians and advance the country's national interests. He explained that the construction of communal spaces like stadiums and parks is aimed at preserving the declining culture of people gathering and interacting as friends. These efforts are crucial, he said, to create an environment where people, regardless of their language, faith, gender, or birthplace, can come together under the umbrella of being an Ethiopian, share joy, and gain positive knowledge.
The Prime Minister spoke extensively on the immense power of narrative, warning against the dangers of a misled or wrong narrative that can confuse individuals and sow doubt.
The Power of Narrative in Daily Life
Prime Minister Abiy elaborated on why focusing on narrative building is crucial, explaining that people recognize it as a problem not just due to ethnic or religious disputes, but because narrative is what we tell ourselves and our children every day. He noted that common daily narratives like "you can't do it in school," "you don't know anything," "you won't succeed," "you're lazy," or "you're inferior to so-and-so" are prevalent. He stressed that our daily lives, often filled with a winner-loser mentality, are a direct result of these narratives.
He emphasized that negative expressions from teachers and friends can erode a person's inner psyche, ultimately making it difficult to think with a sense of completeness. Such demoralizing and existence-threatening words, when interwoven, become dangerous, and when institutionalized or backed by organized power, they crush one's inner spirit. He remarked that seemingly harmless language, like "his ethnicity is worthless" or "your religion is like this," subtly but relentlessly crushes our inner selves, creating individuals who lack self-confidence and a sense of wholeness.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that societal cracks are deep, stating that the education system, media, and religious institutions must examine their messages to ensure they empower rather than put down. He also highlighted that family discussions and friends' actions collectively shape our country's overall narrative. Narrative, he stressed, is the fundamental building block for individuals and society, illustrating how statements like "you are poor," "you are developed," "you are rich," and "peace versus conflict" are all powerful narratives.
As an example, he pointed out that lenders refuse to lend money to Ethiopia by saying, "you have conflict; you are poor; you won't repay," even though Ethiopia's debt is not comparable to many other African nations. He stressed that their debt is often many times higher than Ethiopia's.
He further explained that narrative plays an irreplaceable role in fostering a generation that strives for a common goal, affecting all segments of society. He urged that our films, music, and many other aspects need to be scrutinized. The Prime Minister stated that when repetitive falsehoods are created that diminish our truth, what we possess, our stance, position, and situation, they alter us. He stressed that narrative is a dangerous element that can harm individuals and society, and therefore, caution is necessary. Especially in a country where ethnicity and religion are frequently discussed, such divisive issues lead to destruction and must be tamed and corrected.
He noted that in the current Ethiopian context, some dislodged elites are spreading divisive narratives, creating a situation where generations clash, people turn against each other, and citizens distrust and destroy one another, hindering collective development and prosperity. He warned that when these elites play their zero-sum game on the public, and an increasing number of people subscribe to it, it can lead to mutual destruction. Therefore, he emphasized the need to start working with our children from a young age.
He stated that our media, dramas, and films should project messages of togetherness, unity, and coexistence.
Assertive Diplomacy and National Interest
Shifting focus to international relations, Prime Minister Abiy asserted that Ethiopia's diplomacy must be bold and assertive. He attributed the nation's success in cultivating "all-weather partners" to this proactive approach. He proudly noted Ethiopia's respected status on the global stage, including its recent membership in BRICS. Ethiopia, he stressed, has consistently presented a strong stance and assertively communicated its agenda, a strategy that has garnered the support of close allies and friends around the world.
Prime Minister Abiy explained that if our media are tamed, if our people become aware, and if the narrative is cultivated, it is possible to create a cohesive society, as seen in many countries. He highlighted that many nations, despite political, ethnic, linguistic, and religious differences, do not waver on matters of national interest. However, he emphasized that for Ethiopia, as a pressing issue and the origin and destination of all focus, a narrative that unites, reconciles, brings people closer, lifts them out of poverty and begging, enables institution building, and fosters communal living is essential.
He explained that the idea behind focusing on narrative is to sow good things and create a good generation, rather than letting narrative be a source of misinformation and division. He stressed that without building a strong narrative, it's impossible to create a sovereign and prosperous Ethiopia.
He elaborated that to ensure Ethiopia becomes strong and stable and to pass it on to future generations, it's necessary to follow a positive narrative system that is based on national interest, considers shared coexistence, and doesn't suppress our differences. "It is with this understanding that we are diligently working on narrative, believing that through it, we can achieve comprehensive prosperity," he concluded.