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Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia is the country’s biggest city, with 527 km² in land area and more than three million inhabitants. Addis Ababa is located in the foothills of the Entoto Mountains, in the geographic centre of Ethiopia.
While the city is not the main choice of travel destination for many tourists, it offers plenty of stunning attractions. It also has a serious coffee culture and boasts plenty of excellent shops and markets. Famous attractions include Holy Trinity Cathedral, National Museum of Ethiopia, and Yekatit 12 Square.
There may not be a specific red light district in Addis Ababa, but there are sex trade centres in the capital. These places have high concentrations of red-light houses, where prostitutes offer sex services inside the rooms. Here are the city’s major sex centres:
Some areas in the city have more red-light houses than residential properties. Reports suggest that these have high population densities, with small and informal business activities. These areas include Sebagtena, Gojjam Berenda, China Sefer, and American Gibi. The central market in the city, however, has the largest collection of red-light houses in Africa.
History of the RLD
Kazanchis, which is located in the centre of Addis Ababa in Kirkos District, was a popular venue for commercial sex in the city. Prostitution continued to thrive in the area for a couple of years until the authorities decided to build and pursue real estate developments. Before the projects started, Kazanchis was considered the main location to avail sex services in different forms. The area still has ongoing constructions, offering more and new options for housing and accommodation. This doesn’t mean that availing sex services is not possible in Kazanchis. There are a couple of places like small local bars where people hang out to find escorts.
Prostitution is almost available on every street corner, especially at night. Reports suggest that many bars around Addis Ababa have women open for business. Locals and tourists, however, go to famous hotspots like Piazza and Sefer to satisfy their sexual needs.
How to find the RLD
Merkato is the closest thing to a red light district and tourists can get to the area by tram. It is the large open-air marketplace in the district of Addis Keterna.
Stay safe in the RLD
Tourists are always advised to take safety precautions when visiting red-light houses and dealing with sex workers. Red-light houses also have second-rate and unhygienic rooms, so potential clients need to have realistic expectations.
Pickpocketing also exists in many areas, and most thieves operate both day and night. This is why tourists are advised to avoid carrying valuables and bringing only what they need. It is also important to note that many adult venues in Addis Ababa will try to scam tourist. One known way is taking a potential client to see the show or girls, but will then be asked to pay a high price after the showing. Things can get violent if a client refuses to pay.
Prostitution in the country is legal, so one can expect to see plenty of places with adult entertainment finds. In its capital city, there are thousands of women working and offering services in the streets. Prostitutes in the city and the country offer cheap services, for as low as $1. Sex tourism has flourished in Addis Ababa with major sex trade venues sprouting in the corners of the city. There are a few strip clubs in the city, as well as several massage parlours. Red-light houses (substandard rooms with low-income prostitutes) are also common in the city. In fact, Addis Ababa has been referred to as the Thailand or Bangkok of Africa.
Street Prostitution
It is easy to find prostitutes in Addis Ababa, as there are about 150,000 girls offering services in the streets. Sex is accessible at a cheap price of $1 to $2. Most work in main prostitution areas in the city including
Prostitution in the country is legal, but procuring and benefiting from sex work is not. The same is also true for soliciting and underage prostitution. The Ethiopian government punishes offenders with fine and simple imprisonment. The Penal Code of the country also criminalises sex or any other acts (considered offensive to morals or decency) carried out in public.
The age of consent in Ethiopia is 18, but laws are rarely enforced. Many girls marry at a younger age or engage in prostitution due to poverty and few employment opportunities. Underage prostitution is illegal, but many authorities often turn a blind eye, which is why young girls continue to work.
The government, however, criminalises sex trafficking, with a punishment of jail time not exceeding five years. For sufficiently stringent penalties, the punishment can be from five to 20 years of incarceration. It is also illegal to take advantage of a woman’s mental distress or dependence, applying to sex work.
When it comes to LGBT rights, note that Ethiopia is a conservative country. Members of the LGBT community often face legal challenges that are not experienced by non-LGBT people. Same-sex sexual activity is also prohibited, with most Ethiopians believing that homosexuality is immoral and should not be accepted.
Offenders or those who engage in same-sex sexual acts can face penalties from 10 days to three years. The government may also impose a maximum jail time of 10 years if there is violence, coercion, or intimidation involved in the case. This also means that same-sex marriage and adoption are not legal. Furthermore, there are is protection from employment discrimination.
Addis Ababa offers several nightlife venues where locals and tourists party, drink and spend the night. Here are some of the notable venues in the city:
Ethiopia, including its capital city, has a traditional view on homosexuality. A previous research suggested that more than 90% of Ethiopians thought that homosexuality is unacceptable in the society. This is why the capital has no openly gay venues or establishments of the same kind.
There may be an LGBT social scene in Addis Ababa, but events are usually held in private bars and homes. LGBT members and other guests are invited through text messages and word of mouth. Some establishments have also received real and perceived threats, forcing the events to relocate. Fortunately, there were no reported harassments and arrests associated with such gatherings.
It is said that Piazza, one of Addis Ababa’s oldest sections, provide a safe meeting spot for homosexuals during the daytime. This is common in narrow alleyways with cafes and shops. Some Western-style bars may have gays, but note that they are always discreet. Tourists are advised to make some friends first, before being invited to parties and events.
General Attitude Towards Gays
Gays and lesbians in Addis Ababa remain secretive because of the negative views on homosexuality. It is said that gays usually receive invitation secretly through text or word of mouth whenever there is an event or party.
There were efforts to give LGBT members fair rights, but the government stopped the legislation, with some people holding anti-LGBT protests. This is why gays remain modest and meet behind closed doors.
Gay and Transsexual Prostitution in Addis Ababa
With strict views on homosexuality, it is almost impossible to find gay and transsexual prostitutes in the city. There are no advertisements online, so clients looking for this type of service can ask other gays for further information.
6.478 Escorts