Arada (district of Addis Ababa)

Arada አራዳ ክፍለ ከተማ
Sub-city
Arada skyline
Flag
Nickname:  City of Humans
Arada (red) within Addis Ababa
Country	Ethiopia
City	Addis Ababa
Government
• Mayor	Adanech Abebe
Area
• Total	9.91 km2 (3.83 sq mi)
• Land	3.826 km2 (1.477 sq mi)
	[1]
Population  (2011)
• Total	225,999[1]
Time zone	UTC+3 (East Africa Time)
Area code	(+251) 11

Arada (Amharic: አራዳ ክፍለ ከተማ) is a district (sub-city) of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Arada got its name from the Oromo "Ardaa Gabaa," meaning "Market Venue." "Ardaa" is a term the Oromo commonly use for places where folks from different directions gather. Initially, they also called it "Birbirsa Gooroo" (now known as Arada Giorgis). Over time, the name evolved to signify an urban and modern life style. As of 2011 Arada's population was of 226,000.^[1] Arada is one of 10 districts of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Arada is a center of culture and education, with a great number of schools, cultural establishments and annual cultural events. Arada is one of the oldest parts of Addis Ababa and early history is most apparent. Its narrow, sloping streets are dotted with beautiful old one- and two-storey buildings variously adorned with verandas, pillars, bay windows and other decorations in accordance with Indian, Middle-Eastern and European styles. Despite that, there are newer areas. The district's heart is Piazza (pronounced Piassa), a bustling commercial area centered on De Gaulle Square; the imposing city hall, the seat of the city government, built in 1965, and the octagonal neoclassical St Georges Cathedral (Ethiopian Orthodox), built to commemorate Emperor Menelik's defeat of the Italians in the battle of Adwa in 1896 and named after Ethiopia's patron saint Its bustling streets are dotted with stores and boutiques offering European clothing, jewelry, and a variety of other things at relatively greater rates than in other sections of the city.^[2]