Determination and persistence are what got Captain Fekade Mamo ticking even during hard times. When he was a child his dream was to make it in the Air Force, which he did using the chances he got. During his Air Force stint one of the things he learned was being loyal and disciplined.
While he was in the Air Force he got into Haile-Selassie I University’s College of Business Administration (CBA) and graduated by majoring in Business Administration.
To date he treasures the stay in the university, apart, that is, from the education he got. After so many decades the memories are still vivid and fresh in his mind: the food, the big debates and the after school parties.
After finishing university he got back to the Air Force and worked there for seven years. After working at the National Bank of Ethiopia he moved to Coffee Market Corporation as president for 13 years. After the EPRDF took power he worked at Ethiopian Amalgamated Limited for close to five years. Later he was imprisoned land was released after four years.
After he got out of jail he was hired by a certain individual as Export Manager. Leaving that company he established an organization called Challenge Coffee with two individuals. After the organization split he founded Mochaland Import and Export Plc two years ago
Serving his country in different fields, he is now in a position with many engagements apart from the coffee export. He is at a stage where he questions what his contribution is for the society. On weekdays he is tied up with his coffee export and with being board member of Ethiopia Commodity Exchange (ECX), president of the Ethiopian Coffee sports club and president of Ethiopian Coffee Exporters Association.
Recently he and other former pilots are engaged in establishing an Air Force Pilots Association in which they harbour a big dream to exhibit historical air force planes to give a glimpse of what history is all about.
Morning:
In any day of the week I get up between 5 and 6 am. Now I have stopped it temporarily but I used to go to the gym where I work out for hours. I used to do any kind of sport. You know I am a soldier. I come back to my house and eat breakfast. When it comes to food I do not have a particular preference but I usually eat bread with eggs and have tea. Even if I say I do not have a preference I hate injera firfir and porridge.
After that, around 8 am I drive out from my house, via Wollo Sefer, to La Parisienne Café located around Olympia. Old friends gather around sipping coffee, joking on personal matters. We actually pick on each other. Around 10 am I say goodbye to my friends and head to my office. Until lunchtime, I surf the web and respond to some e-mails and do some work.
Afternoon and Evening:
I always eat lunch at home. I love injera with different sauces like kei wot. Back in olden days we used to eat kurt (raw meat) but not anymore because of health. We usually have families over for lunch and it will end up being an extended lunch. The afternoons are dedicated to football matches, in which I watch the local tournaments. Back in olden days I used to watch whatever matches there were at the stadium but now it is only the Buna’s matches that I follow. If there are no games in Addis Ababa I just gaze at my television watching DSTV. I am into action films, especially western movies. My wife loves comedy and drama; she usually wins and we watch her selection, or I go back to my reading. At night I watch the English Premier League. I am a fan of Manchester United. In the middle of the game I might have a quick dinner. After that I just get back to watching different matches until midnight and fall asleep while watching the games. But I will be ready for church services the next morning.
