Captain Mohammed Ahmed, a trailblazer in African aviation, led Ethiopian Airlines through transformative times, cementing its place as a leading carrier while safeguarding its independence and innovation. (Photo: Wikimedia/Ethiopian Airlines - Original publication: Ethiopia 1980s, immediate source Addis Insight)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: November 28th, 2024
Captain Mohammed Ahmed: A Visionary Who Soared Beyond Boundaries
New York (TADIAS) — As Ethiopia and the global aviation community bid farewell to Captain Mohammed Ahmed (1932–2024), his remarkable legacy reminds us of the heights a visionary leader can achieve, even in the face of formidable challenges.
Born in Harar and educated in aeronautical engineering at Saint Louis University, Captain Mohammed dedicated his life to the skies. Starting his career as Ethiopian Airlines’ chief aeronautical engineer in the 1960s, he rose to the position of CEO in 1980, during a turbulent era marked by political and economic instability. Under his leadership, Ethiopian Airlines not only survived but thrived, becoming a symbol of resilience and excellence.
Captain Mohammed skillfully navigated Cold War pressures, preserving the airline’s independence while securing its global competitiveness. His courageous decision to resist the adoption of Soviet aircraft ensured that Ethiopian Airlines remained a key player on the international stage. By the late 1980s, the airline had entered a period of prosperity, a testament to his transformative leadership.
Beyond Ethiopian Airlines, Captain Mohammed’s contributions extended to the broader African aviation sector. As Secretary General of the African Airlines Association, he championed collaboration and innovation across the continent. His efforts earned him accolades, including the African Aviation Award in 1999.
Captain Mohammed’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and dedication. He will be remembered not only for steering Ethiopian Airlines through some of its most challenging times but also for inspiring a generation of African aviation professionals.
As we celebrate his life and mourn his passing, we are reminded of his enduring impact on Ethiopian and African aviation. Captain Mohammed Ahmed’s legacy soars high, embodying the spirit of perseverance and excellence that continues to inspire.
Press conference at the Tulip Inn Hotel in Addis Ababa on November 26th, 2024, where key stakeholders gathered to announce the 7th Annual Real Estate and Home Expo and discuss Ethiopia's evolving real estate landscape. (Courtesy photo)
Tadias Magazine
By Liben Eabisa
Updated: November 26th, 2024
New York (TADIAS) — The 7th Annual Real Estate and Home Expo is set to take place from December 27 to 29, 2024, at the Sheraton Addis Hotel, bringing together key players in Ethiopia’s real estate sector. Organized by 251 Communications and Marketing, this highly anticipated event serves as a premier platform for showcasing innovation, sustainable development, and investment opportunities in the Ethiopian housing market.
During a press conference held at the Tulip Inn Hotel, event organizers outlined the Expo’s key objectives, emphasizing the significance of public-private partnerships in driving Ethiopia’s housing and urban development forward.
Addis Alemayehou, founder of 251 Communications, highlighted the Expo’s pivotal role:”This year’s Expo will be a milestone for Ethiopia’s real estate sector. By gathering the industry’s most influential stakeholders, we aim to foster innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth.”
As Ethiopia gears up for this milestone event, it coincides with a pivotal moment for the nation’s real estate market. The sector is undergoing significant transformation, highlighted by the recent introduction of mandatory licensing for property valuers under the new Real Estate Development and Immovable Property Transaction and Valuation Bill. This bold legislative reform aims to establish a more professional and transparent valuation process, enhancing trust and attracting investment to the rapidly growing market. The policy aligns with the Expo’s mission of fostering collaboration between public and private sectors to advance housing and urban development.
Event Highlights Include:
Exhibitions by top developers and construction firms, showcasing residential and commercial projects.
Panel Discussions on sustainability and urban planning, led by industry experts.
Networking Opportunities connecting government representatives, investors, and key stakeholders.
A focus on affordable housing solutions, sustainable building practices, and financing options to address Ethiopia’s growing housing demand.
For diaspora investors, the Expo offers a unique gateway to engage with Ethiopia’s dynamic real estate market. Last year’s event attracted over 2,000 participants, showcasing everything from innovative residential developments to large-scale commercial ventures.
“The Expo not only celebrates innovation but also aligns with critical reforms that strengthen our market’s foundations and prepare it for future growth,” Alemayehou added.
The Expo’s continued success reflects the resilience and growth potential of Ethiopia’s real estate sector, which has seen robust demand amid rapid urbanization. For those considering investments, this year’s Expo underscores the transformative opportunities within the market, bridging connections between developers, homeowners, and the diaspora.
—— About the Author Liben Eabisa is the Co-Founder and Publisher of Tadias Magazine and a licensed realtor based in New York City, passionate about connecting stories, communities, and opportunities.
Mahmoud Ahmed takes a final bow, closing a six-decade journey that carried the soul of Ethiopian music from Mercato to Carnegie Hall and beyond, inspiring generations across the globe. (Getty Images)
Tadias Magazine
November 25th, 2024
New York (TADIAS) — As Mahmoud Ahmed prepares to grace the stage one final time in Addis Ababa this January, the world is reminded of a career that has not only defined an era but also transcended borders to carry the soul of Ethiopia to a global audience. His retirement marks the close of a six-decade journey that began in the vibrant streets of Mercato and rose to the heights of cultural and musical greatness.
A Golden Era Legacy
Mahmoud Ahmed’s ascent coincided with the “Golden Era” of Ethiopian music—a time when the country witnessed an unprecedented blend of traditional melodies and contemporary sounds. This era birthed the iconic Ethio-jazz movement, spearheaded by legends such as Mulatu Astatke, Tilahun Gessesse, Alemayehu Eshete and, of course, Mahmoud Ahmed. His collaborations with bands like the Imperial Body Guard Band and Dahlak Band produced timeless hits that encapsulated the essence of Ethiopia’s rich musical heritage.
Known for his emotive renditions of Tizita—often called Ethiopia’s blues—Mahmoud gave voice to a generation, fusing the past with the hope of the future. Tracks like Ere Mela Mela became global anthems, earning him recognition as an ambassador of Ethiopian culture.
A Global Icon
The release of the Éthiopiques series in the late 1990s introduced Mahmoud’s genius to new audiences worldwide, culminating in accolades like the BBC World Music Award in 2007. His groundbreaking 2016 solo performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City solidified his position as one of Ethiopia’s greatest cultural exports, making him the first Ethiopian artist to headline the prestigious venue.
Honoring a Legend
Mahmoud’s farewell concert at Millennium Hall in Addis Ababa promises to be a historic celebration, featuring both veteran and contemporary Ethiopian musicians. Beyond the stage, efforts are underway to document his contributions through a biography, commemorative album, and proposals to name a public space and erect a statue in his honor. These initiatives are not merely tributes but affirmations of the enduring impact Mahmoud has had on Ethiopian music and identity.
A Lasting Legacy
As we reflect on Mahmoud Ahmed’s incredible journey, we are reminded of the power of art to bridge cultures and generations. His music, rooted in the soul of Ethiopia, has found resonance across continents, leaving an indelible mark on the global stage.
Mahmoud’s final bow will not be the end of his influence. It is a crescendo in a symphony that will continue to inspire and connect us all. Thank you, Mahmoud Ahmed, for your unparalleled contributions to the world.
—
Related:
Ethiopian Jazz w/ The Grey Area [Through The Years]
Sweet Surprises in Ethiopia’s Highlands: The Rare Ethiopian Wolf Pollinates in Style – Discover the Magic of Bale Mountains. (Photo: The Ethiopian wolf conservation program)
Tadias Magazine
November 24th, 2024
TADIAS (New York) – Ethiopia, often referred to as the Roof of Africa, is home to a stunning array of wildlife and breathtaking landscapes found nowhere else on Earth. From the ancient remains of Lucy, our earliest human ancestor, to the peaks of the Simien and Bale Mountains, the country’s natural wonders continue to captivate scientists, adventurers, and nature enthusiasts alike.
Among its unique inhabitants, the Ethiopian wolf, or Simien fox, stands out as a true symbol of the country’s rich biodiversity. The rarest canid in the world and Africa’s most endangered carnivore, the Ethiopian wolf is found only in the high-altitude grasslands of Ethiopia. With fewer than 500 individuals remaining, this elusive predator has adapted to life in the Afroalpine habitat, hunting rodents and navigating some of the harshest terrains.
Yet, this week, the Ethiopian wolf made headlines not for its hunting prowess but for an unexpectedly sweet discovery: it has been spotted licking nectar from Ethiopian red hot poker flowers. This behavior, documented by researchers from the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Program and the University of Oxford, marks the first recorded instance of a large carnivore feeding on nectar.
Sweet as Honey
(Photo: The Ethiopian wolf conservation program)
Imagine this elegant predator delicately sipping nectar from the fiery blooms of the red hot poker flower. While locals have long known about the flower’s sugary nectar—shepherd children in the Bale Mountains often enjoy it as a natural treat—scientists were thrilled to find wolves indulging in the same delicacy. Not only does this behavior showcase the wolf’s adaptability, but it also hints at a fascinating ecological role: pollination.
With their muzzles coated in pollen, these wolves may be helping the flowers reproduce, bridging the gap between predator and pollinator in a way never observed before. As Dr. Sandra Lai, a senior scientist at the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme, aptly put it, this discovery highlights how much we still have to learn about these remarkable animals and their interactions with the ecosystem.
Why It Matters
Ethiopia is home to an extraordinary array of endemic animals, including the Gelada baboon, Walia ibex, Black lion, and the Mountain nyala. Each species is a testament to the unique evolutionary story of the Ethiopian Highlands. However, many of these creatures, like the Ethiopian wolf, face threats from habitat loss, disease, and human encroachment.
The wolf’s newfound “sweet tooth” not only adds a delightful twist to its story but also underscores the importance of preserving Ethiopia’s Afroalpine habitats. These high-altitude landscapes are teeming with life, offering travelers an unparalleled glimpse into the beauty and diversity of Ethiopia’s natural world.
Visit the Roof of Africa
For those looking for an adventure, a trip to the Bale Mountains is a chance to witness these incredible animals in their natural habitat. Whether you’re trekking through the stunning alpine meadows or spotting rare wildlife like the Ethiopian wolf, it’s an experience that connects you to the heart of Ethiopia’s unique ecosystem.
So, the next time you see a red hot poker flower, remember: even the fiercest predators can have a soft spot for something sweet. Who knows? Perhaps this discovery will inspire more travelers to visit Ethiopia and contribute to the conservation of its rare and wonderful creatures.
Dr. Yohannes Haile-Selassie, one of Ethiopia’s leading paleoanthropologists and the director of the Institute of Human Origins at Arizona State University (ASU) in the US, reflects on Lucy’s legacy at 50 and advocates for decolonizing the narrative of human origins. (Photo: Alamy)
Tadias Magazine
November 22nd, 2024
TADIAS (New York) – As we approach the 50th anniversary of Lucy’s discovery—a pivotal moment in our understanding of human origins—the conversation shifts to the often-overlooked contributions of African scientists. Ethiopian paleoanthropologist Dr. Yohannes Haile-Selassie, director of the Institute of Human Origins at Arizona State University, has been at the forefront of reshaping this narrative.
Dr. Haile-Selassie, whose groundbreaking fossil discoveries include Ardipithecus kadabba and Ardi, emphasizes the need to “decolonize paleoanthropology.” He advocates for more African-led research and infrastructure to give local scholars and institutions an equitable role in telling humanity’s story.
“Western scientists can’t continue this ‘helicoptering in and out’ approach to fossil discovery,” he warns, urging collaboration and sustainable practices to empower African institutions and researchers.
Schoo children inspect the fossilized bones of Lucy, on display at the National Museum of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. (Xinhua/Alamy Stock Photo)
‘Deep inside, something told me I had found the earliest human ancestor; I went numb’ – Yohannes Haile-Selassie on his lifetime quest to discover ancient humanity
Yohannes, you were a 14-year-old schoolboy in Ethiopia when Lucy was discovered. What are your memories of this landmark moment in your country’s history?
In fact, on the day Lucy was found – Sunday, November 24 1974 – Ethiopians woke up to some other devastating news. The previous night, Ethiopia’s military regime had executed more than 60 ministers and generals of Emperor Haile-Selassie’s regime. The announcement of Lucy’s discovery probably came up later that week, but I doubt many people paid attention to it amid all the turmoil, with the military regime taking control of Ethiopia.
Personally, I have no recollection of the announcement of Lucy’s discovery. I grew up in a Christian family, so as far as I knew at that time, it was God who created humans and I wouldn’t have understood the significance of Lucy.
Of course, over time, her discovery brought the idea of Ethiopia as a “cradle of mankind” to the forefront of public consciousness around the world. With that came national pride – today, Ethiopia brands itself the “land of origins”. Lucy played a big part in that.
Yet even now, the narrative of ancient human discovery appears to omit many of the African researchers and institutions that played key roles in this story?
Many of the fossils that made western scientists famous were actually found by local Africans, who were only acknowledged at the end of a scientific publication. For a long time, African scholars were never part of telling the human story; nor could they actively participate in the analysis of the fossils they found. Up to the 1990s, long after Lucy was found, we were only present in the form of labourers and fossil hunters.
So, when we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lucy, we shouldn’t forget that a reappraisal of the role of African scientists in our understanding of ancient humans is long overdue. Specifically, we need to decolonise paleoanthropology.
Meet Tezeta "Tez" Roro: A New Jersey-based realtor, community leader, and changemaker committed to fostering connections and making homeownership accessible to all. (Courtesy photo)
Tadias Magazine
By Liben Eabisa
November 20th, 2024
TADIAS (New York) – When I think about individuals in our community who embody the spirit of service, resilience, and inspiration, Tezeta “Tez” Roro immediately comes to mind. Over the years, my work with Tadias Magazine has brought me into contact with countless change-makers in the Ethiopian diaspora. But few have left as lasting an impression as Tez.
I first met her years ago at a cultural event in New York, where she was actively supporting the Ethiopian Community Mutual Assistance Association (ECMAA). Her warmth and sincerity immediately stood out, but what struck me even more was her unique ability to seamlessly bridge her professional pursuits with her commitment to uplifting others. Tez isn’t just a real estate broker—she’s a community builder, a role model, and an advocate for empowerment
Rooted in Values, Driven by Purpose
Tezeta “Tez” Roro leads a real estate workshop in Addis Ababa, sharing insights with architects, developers, and industry professionals in collaboration with Urban Center. (Courtesy photo)
Tez’s journey is one of grit and gratitude. Growing up in Addis Ababa, she was shaped by a culture that prioritizes family, community, and connection. These values stayed with her when she immigrated to the U.S. as a teenager, where she quickly took on the dual roles of student and family supporter.
Her early challenges—working multiple jobs while attending Montclair State University—taught her the value of perseverance and adaptability. It’s no surprise that when she pivoted to real estate, she brought these qualities with her. Motivated by her own experience as a first-time homebuyer, Tez was determined to make the process less intimidating for others. Her mission became clear: to empower individuals to achieve their homeownership dreams with empathy and understanding.
A Champion for Community Progress
Tezeta presenting to PTA leaders in New Jersey, highlighting how her campaign successfully brought free pre-K to her West Orange community at a state PTA convention. (Courtesy photo)
Advocacy award for the Pre-K work. (Courtesy photo)
What makes Tez’s work in real estate truly special is her holistic approach. She doesn’t see her role as limited to buying and selling homes; she views it as a way to create opportunities and expand access. For instance, her work advocating for FHA certification in her local community opened doors for many first-time buyers, often overlooked due to biases in the housing market.
Tez’s leadership extends beyond her profession. As President of the West Orange Chamber of Commerce and Council of PTAs, a board member of the YMCA, and a dedicated volunteer with ECMAA, she has a hand in countless community-building efforts. One of her most inspiring accomplishments is her grassroots campaign to bring free, full-day pre-kindergarten to West Orange. Seeing this initiative benefit nearly 500 families is a testament to her belief in collective action and problem-solving.
Tezeta addressing the audience as President of the West Orange Chamber of Commerce. (Courtesy photo)
A Personal Reflection on Tez
Whenever I meet with Tez, I’m reminded of the quiet strength it takes to lead by example. She’s someone who doesn’t just talk about values like family and community—she lives them. Whether mentoring young professionals, advocating for housing equity, or organizing cultural events, Tez carries her Ethiopian heritage with pride and channels it into everything she does.
Her favorite phrase, borrowed from John Lewis, about making “good trouble” resonates deeply. Tez isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo, whether that’s corporate culture, real estate practices, or local governance. She inspires those around her to rethink what’s possible and to act with courage.
Tezeta At ECMAA (Ethiopian Community Mutual Assistance Association) picnic. (Courtesy photo)
For me, Tez represents the best of what the Ethiopian diaspora has to offer: a blend of resilience, ambition, and a deeply ingrained sense of responsibility to uplift others. Her story is a reminder that success isn’t just about personal milestones but about how much we give back along the way.
Tezeta “Tez” Roro isn’t just shaping the real estate market; she’s shaping the future of our communities, one good deed—and one home—at a time.
—- Explore More To learn more about Tezeta “Tez” Roro’s inspiring journey and explore her real estate listings, visit her website at TezRoro.com. Whether you’re buying, selling, or simply seeking advice, Tez’s expertise and passion for building community are just a click away!
About the Author Liben Eabisa is the Co-Founder and Publisher of Tadias Magazine and a licensed realtor based in New York City, passionate about connecting stories, communities, and opportunities.
Wegene’s 24th Anniversary Gala, held on October 19, 2024, in Springfield, VA, was an unforgettable evening, with proceeds dedicated to expanding the foundation’s impactful programs. (Courtesy photo)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: November 14, 2024
New York (TADIAS) – As the holiday season approaches, we turn the spotlight on the Wegene Ethiopian Foundation (WEF), a dedicated nonprofit founded in 2000 by Ethiopian Americans in the Washington, D.C. area. Led by social entrepreneur Nini Legesse, WEF has made remarkable strides in improving lives across Ethiopia through education and community support. Now celebrating its 24th anniversary, Wegene is not only committed to its transformative work in Ethiopia but has also fostered a dynamic youth engagement program here in the U.S., encouraging the next generation to stay connected to their roots.
WEF’s impact in Ethiopia is multifaceted, with the organization providing academic scholarships, small business grants, and essential support to vulnerable families. By focusing on sustainable, community-based solutions, Wegene addresses the root causes of poverty and fosters lasting change. Wegene’s work empowers young people with educational opportunities, giving them a foundation to build brighter futures and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
In the U.S., the Wegene Youth Club brings together second-generation Ethiopian Americans to raise funds, spread awareness, and volunteer in local community service projects. This group is passionate about supporting Wegene’s mission, and through activities like D.C. homeless shelter feedings, gardening projects, and annual Veteran’s Day card-making events, the Youth Club instills a spirit of giving and community engagement in the next generation. These young volunteers also play an instrumental role in WEF’s annual fundraising events, such as the Annual Fundraising Gala, Brunch with Santa, and Oldies Night, all of which support vital programs in Ethiopia.
The Wegene Youth Club unites second-generation Ethiopian Americans to actively engage in local community service projects. (Courtesy photo/Wegene Foundation’s Facebook)
Each year, WEF hosts a series of engaging and meaningful events, bringing the Ethiopian American diaspora together in a powerful show of unity and support. This October’s fundraising gala, held in Springfield, VA, was a night to remember, with proceeds dedicated to expanding Wegene’s programs. Attendees enjoyed cultural performances, auctions, and craft displays that celebrated Ethiopian heritage, while legendary Ethiopian guitarist Selam Seyoum Woldemariam provided memorable entertainment.
For those looking to contribute, WEF offers multiple ways to get involved, from memberships and monthly donations to participation in annual drives and federal employee giving campaigns. Notably, WEF encourages its members and community to share their talents, skills, and resources, helping to propel Ethiopia forward and bring positive change to the lives of countless families.
As WEF looks toward the future, they are committed to expanding their reach, both in Ethiopia and among the Ethiopian American community in the U.S. With the Youth Club’s enthusiasm and the broader community’s dedication, Wegene continues to build a legacy of empowerment and opportunity, one family at a time.
— To learn more about WEF’s impactful work, upcoming events, or how to contribute, visit www.wegene.org. This holiday season, consider supporting Wegene Ethiopian Foundation’s mission and being part of a meaningful journey of transformation and community upliftment.
Chester Higgins, Jr. stands by his work featured in the Toward Joy: New Frameworks for American Art exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum. Also known for his evocative images of Ethiopia’s landscapes and cultural icons, Higgins’ photography in this exhibition showcases his expansive artistic vision, highlighting his versatility and long-standing connection to Ethiopia’s beauty and spirit. (Courtesy photo)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: November 11, 2024
New York (TADIAS) – Chester Higgins, Jr., an American photographer whose timeless images of Ethiopia have deeply resonated with the Ethiopian community, is currently featured in a landmark exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum. Known for his evocative portrayals of Ethiopian landscapes and people—from the ancient churches of Lalibela to the caves of Sof Omar, and from historical figures like Emperor Haile Selassie to cultural icons such as Poet Laureate Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin—Higgins has, for decades, captured the beauty, depth, and spirit of Ethiopia and its people.
Higgins is featured in the exhibition Toward Joy: New Frameworks for American Art, an installation marking the Brooklyn Museum’s 200th anniversary, designed to broaden perspectives on American art and introduce new voices. The exhibition, which runs through January 26, 2025, reimagines American art through a fresh lens, spotlighting historically underrepresented cultural creators and exploring diverse cultural roots, connections, and expressions.
The Brooklyn Museum’s 200th anniversary lineup is expansive, with installations that invite audiences to experience art in novel ways. In the press release, the Museum shares, “How might American art be experienced at this moment? A transformative reinstallation of the American Art galleries reorients the ways that the Brooklyn Museum exhibits—and audiences rediscover—this acclaimed collection. A kaleidoscopic display offers paradigm-shifting interactions with millennia of art.”
For the Ethiopian American community and all art lovers, this exhibit is an invitation to revisit Higgins’ profound contributions, especially in the company of artists whose voices echo the themes of resilience, joy, and re-imagination that he has long explored. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience Higgins’ compelling work alongside the Brooklyn Museum’s visionary milestone exhibition.”
— If You Go:
The exhibition is on view until January 26, 2025, at the Brooklyn Museum in New York.
Post-election, America’s leadership baton will soon pass from one septuagenarian man to another. As 'Sleepy Joe' gets ready to retire, we brace for his sleepless successor. (Getty Images)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: November 10th, 2024
New York (TADIAS) – As America settles into yet another era led by older men, we missed the chance to steer a new course. In a few months, the Oval Office will replace one aging president with another, trading drowsy for driven—but still sticking to the same familiar playlist.
Meanwhile, beyond the ballot, disturbing incidents have cast a shadow over this election season. Just one day after results were announced, Black Americans in multiple states, from Maryland to Nevada, began receiving racist text messages filled with vile language reminiscent of America’s darkest chapters. Essence magazine reports that recipients, including children and college students, were targeted with messages like, ‘You’ve been selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation.’ The texts left recipients shocked and unsettled, highlighting the persistent undercurrent of racial animus that reminds us there’s still much work to do in bridging divides.
Talaya Jones from Piscataway, New Jersey, shared her disbelief with CNN, recalling how she initially thought the message was a cruel joke. ‘It really just shows that we didn’t come as far as everybody thought we did as a nation,’ Jones reflected, her experience underscoring the urgent need for reflection as we look to the future.”
FBI probing bigoted text messages that spread alarm across US
Getty images
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Federal and state authorities are investigating a wave of bigoted text messages sent anonymously that have spread alarm among Black Americans across the country this week, officials and recipients told Reuters.
The messages urged recipients in multiple states, including Alabama, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia, to report to a plantation to pick cotton, an offensive reference to past enslavement of Black people in the United States.
It is unclear who is behind the reported texts, how many people had received them, or how the recipients were targeted.
The Federal Communications Commission said on Friday its enforcement bureau was among those probing the incidents.
Lousiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, a Republican, told Reuters on Friday that her office is among those investigating the text messages, adding that some targets – herself included – also received emails.
Murrill, who is white, said one of the messages hit her personal email box at 8:17 a.m. Friday, according to a screenshot of the message she shared with Reuters.
The message greeted her with an ethnic slur and said “Now that trump is president, you have been selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation” and that “Our guys will come get you in a van.”
She said the FBI was also looking into the messages.
The FBI on Thursday said in a statement it was “aware of the offensive and racist text messages sent to individuals around the country,” and that it was in contact with the Justice Department and other federal authorities on the matter.
“It could be coming from a basement in Baton Rouge, or it could be a basement in Bangladesh,” said Murrill. “It’s obviously intended to play on people’s emotion in the wake of the election. I’m urging people to rise above it, don’t give these malcontents the benefit of capturing any of emotional bandwidth.”
Monèt Miller, an Atlanta-based publicist, said that when she shared on social media that she had received a text message telling her to report to her “nearest plantation,” she was shocked at how many other Black Americans chimed in to say they had gotten similar messages.
“To find out that all these African American people are getting it, that was the scariest part about it,” she said. “Who is doing that?”
People in at least 21 states received the texts, including high school and college students, CNN and the Associated Press reported.
“These actions are not normal. And we refuse to let them be normalized,” NAACP President Derrick Johnson said in a statement from the civil rights organization, which advocates for racial justice and rights for Black Americans.
“These messages represent an alarming increase in vile and abhorrent rhetoric from racist groups across the country.”
Some Black Americans have said they fear a rollback of civil rights after Republican Donald Trump, who won Tuesday’s presidential election over Democrat Kamala Harris, takes office on Jan. 20. Trump, who made racist and sexist attacks against his Black opponent, has pledged to end federal diversity and inclusion programs.
“President Trump’s campaign has absolutely nothing to do with these text messages,” his spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement on Friday.
At least some of the messages were distributed via the TextNow messaging service, which enables people to send texts via app, TextNow said. It said once they were made aware of the situation the account or accounts responsible were shut down within an hour, adding that the texts were sent across multiple carriers nationwide in what it called “an attack.”
Some school districts issued warnings and urged students and parents to report any such texts to school staff or local authorities.
The run-up to Tuesday’s election included the biggest rise in U.S. political violence since the 1970s, including some racist attacks on Harris supporters, according to cases identified by Reuters.
Former President Donald Trump; Vice President Kamala Harris. (Getty Imgaes)
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Several federal and state agencies are investigating how racist mass texts were sent to Black people across the country in the wake of the presidential election this week.
The text messages were sent to Black men, women and children, prompting inquiries by the FBI and other law enforcement departments.
The anonymously sent messages were reported in several states, including New York, Alabama, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Tennessee. The FBI said it has communicated with the Justice Department about the messages, and the Federal Communications Commission said it is investigating alongside federal and state law enforcement.
“These messages are unacceptable,” said a statement from FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel. She said the agency takes “this type of targeting very seriously.”
While the texts varied somewhat, they all instructed recipients to “board a bus” that would transport them to a “plantation” to work as slaves, officials said. They said the messages were sent to school-aged children and college students, causing significant distress.
Whoever sent the messages used a VPN to obscure their origin, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said Thursday morning.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said his office is fielding multiple reports of racist text messages being sent to Black residents, including children. Officials said the messages appear to be part of a nationwide campaign targeting Black people in the wake of the election.
“These messages are horrific, unacceptable, and will not be tolerated,” Brown said in a statement.
Brown said in an interview that it’s disturbing that children were targeted, sometimes by name, in mass texts that typically rely on datasets collected on adults, such as campaign donors or magazine subscribers.
“This is an intimidating, threatening use of technology” that likely violated multiple laws, Brown said. He said investigators will use “all the tools and resources available to us to hold accountable whoever is behind these text messages.”
Phone service provider TextNow said that “one or more of our accounts” were used to send the racist text messages and that it quickly disabled those accounts for violating its terms of service.
“As part of our investigation into these messages, we learned they have been sent through multiple carriers across the US and we are working with partners and law enforcement cooperatively to investigate this attack,” the Canada-based company said in a statement Friday.
Major providers AT&T and Verizon both said it was an industry-wide problem and referred comment Friday to the CTIA, a wireless communications trade group.
The U.S. wireless industry has been working in recent days to block thousands of the texts and the numbers sending them, said CTIA spokesperson Nick Ludlum. An industry group initiative is working with law enforcement and has “identified platforms bad actors used to send these messages,” he said.
These racist text messages span the entire country, predominately targeting Black Americans, and more specifically Black children as young as middle schoolers.
Nicole, a mother in North Carolina who asked not to use her last name because of her profession, said she was disturbed and concerned by the messages her high school daughter showed her Thursday night. The texts instructed her to get ready to go back to the plantation. This was her daughter’s first real experience with this type of racism, Nicole said, and as a parent she didn’t want to have to have these conversations with her kids.
“It’s like a slap in the face and it shows me that it is still an issue that has not changed at all,” she said.
Nicole said her daughter didn’t really say much after the text, deleted the message, and went to bed. As for Nicole, she said she had to sit and process her feelings. She said the situation was so shocking that it didn’t feel real, and she felt sad for her daughter.
“She has a lot of friends of different races. She’s the one that doesn’t see color and she doesn’t see a difference. So, I feel like for her, it really showed her that everyone isn’t like her,” Nicole said. “Racism is still a very prominent thing in our country right now.”
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Nicole said that parents have to be vigilant, especially with older children, and have the tough conversations, even if you don’t want to or feel like you have to.
“Whatever way it makes your child feel, approach it with open arms and be very receptive to it and just take it day by day.”
Several historically Black college students received a message with a similar tone but varied wording. Dr. Robert Greene II, an assistant professor of history at Claflin University, said he heard stories from his students about it, as well as from campus officials. Greene said he thinks the timing of this mass messaging is not only intentional, but the focus on young Black students is as well.
“It’s a way to say to, especially Black college students, that this is the world they are now living in, that this kind of outright racist intimidation is coming back to the norm in American society and American politics,” Greene said. “No doubt about it, fear and intimidation are the heart of what’s going on with these text messages.”
This type of browbeating toward the Black community isn’t a new phenomenon. Physical violence was how intimidation was done in the early 1900s and around the time of World War II, it was done through suppressive methods like poll taxes, Greene said.
But what makes this time different is the form of communication and the introduction of technology makes this a more sinister tactic, he added.
“The technology that we take for granted, that brings us all together via the Internet, via social media, via cell phones, is now being used to also intimidate folks,” Greene said. “It does add to the atmosphere of fear and paranoia. Certainly, there’s that sense of, well, if they can text message me, how else can they get in touch with me? What else do they know about me personally?”
Those responsible for sending the messages took advantage of a bulk-messaging industry designed to help legitimate marketers reach people on their phones.
“This is the primary way now that most Americans will communicate,” said Cori Faklaris, an assistant professor of software and information services at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. “So people who need to advertise or market services, they go where the people are. Unfortunately, the scammers and the haters also follow suit.”
Faklaris said they also likely made use of collections of personal data that can be bought relatively cheaply on some corners of the internet. When combined with other data, such as places of residence or past purchases, Faklaris said it can be easy to use machine-learning algorithms to infer demographic information.
“All of this means it might be easier than most people realize to make a really good guess about the race or ethnicity of the person attached to that phone number,” she said.
Unlike email or social media, the U.S. regulates text messages like a utility and tries to remain neutral about content shared via text. As a result, there’s little filtering that could have blocked this week’s spree of racist messages, Faklaris said. There’s no universal system in the U.S. to flag texts as suspicious or unwanted before they are viewed, she said.
But after an explosion of texting scams that accelerated during the pandemic, Faklaris said law enforcement agencies have developed better investigative tools and it should be “relatively easy for the authorities to trace this particular attack.”
Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands reacts after crossing the finish line to win the Professional Men’s Open Division during the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon on Nov. 3, 2024, in New York City. (Getty Images)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Updated: November 4th, 2024
New York (TADIAS) — The New York City Marathon once again transformed the city into a vibrant festival of resilience and camaraderie this weekend. Over a million spectators lined the streets of all five boroughs, cheering on more than 50,000 runners in the iconic race, now in its 54th year.
This year’s winners, Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands and Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya, achieved remarkable finishes with late surges of speed, yet the presence of Ethiopian runners remained a focal point for the community. Although they didn’t claim victory this time, their participation continued to inspire and underscored Ethiopia’s renowned legacy in distance running.
Among the notable participants was Tamirat Tola, the men’s defending champion and Paris Olympic gold medalist, who delivered an impressive performance despite finishing just shy of the podium in fourth place. Tamirat, who set the course record in last year’s marathon, was vying to become the first back-to-back men’s champion since Kenya’s Geoffrey Mutai in 2011 and 2013—a record pursuit interrupted in 2012 due to bad weather.
Reflecting on his race, Tamirat told an AP reporter, “I had a good year. I won the Olympics and then to come back to New York after that, you know it’s a tough course. I know that I expended a lot of energy. Around the 33-kilometer mark I felt my muscle tighten, and my muscles just couldn’t handle it.”
Beyond the competition, many runners took part to honor loved ones, raise funds, or simply challenge themselves. From humorous signs poking fun at city institutions to families flying in from across the globe, the NYC Marathon proves each year that it’s more than a race; it’s a celebration of human spirit and collective support.
Abdi Nageeye, Sheila Chepkirui earn first NYC Marathon wins (AP)
Associated Press
NEW YORK — Abdi Nageeye and Sheila Chepkirui used strong kicks in the final mile to pull away from their nearest competitors and both win the New York City Marathon for the first time Sunday.
Nageeye, who became the first runner from the Netherlands to win the men’s race, was step-for-step with 2022 champion Evans Chebet before using a burst of speed heading into Central Park for the final time to come away with the win in 2 hours, 7 minutes, 39 seconds. Chebet finished 6 seconds behind.
“When I was finishing, the emotions weren’t there in the moment, but I just couldn’t believe that I was going to win it,” Nageeye said. “I felt like I was dreaming. Most people didn’t even expect me to be in the top five, but I know what I am capable of. This was my race today.”
He had run the New York race three times before with his best finish coming in 2022, when he was third.
“I know the course,” said Nageeye, who won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. “Today was two things: survive that race and my race is after 36 (kilometers; 22 miles). I was thinking like a cyclist, survive 36K and you’re going to win.”
Nageeye ran in the Paris Olympic marathon, but dropped out about 10 miles in after a hard collision with Kenyan Alexander Mutiso before the halfway point.
Chepkirui was running New York for the first time and pulled away from defending champion Hellen Obiri in the women’s race in the last stretch.
“Let me push the last mile, let me give it my best,” the Kenyan said. “When we were around 600 meters to go, I said to myself I have to push harder. When I saw Hellen wasn’t coming, I knew I was going to win and was so happy.”
Chepkirui, who started to run marathons in 2022, won in 2:24.35. Obiri finished nearly 15 seconds behind.
Obiri was looking to be the first consecutive champion since Mary Keitany of Kenya won three in a row from 2014-16. Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya finished third, giving the African nation the top three spots. It was the first time ever that Kenyans had swept the women’s medal positions.
Tamirat Tola, the men’s defending champion and Paris Olympic gold medalist, finished fourth, right behind Albert Korir.
“I had a good year,” Tola told The Associated Press through a translator. “I won the Olympics and then to come back to New York after that, you know it’s a tough course. I know that I expended a lot of energy. Around the 33-kilometer mark I felt my muscle tighten and my muscles just couldn’t handle it.”
Tola, who set the course record last year, was looking to be the first back-to-back men’s champion since Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya won in 2011 and 2013. The 2012 race was canceled because of Superstorm Sandy.
The top Americans finished sixth in both races. Conner Mantz led the men and Sara Vaughn the women. Vaughn was in the lead group heading into Mile 20 when they entered the Bronx before she dropped off the lead pack.
Vaughn was geared up to run Chicago before COVID-19 kept her from competing in that race. She was a late addition to this marathon.
The day got started with an upset in the men’s wheelchair race as three-time defending champion Marcel Hug was beaten by Daniel Romanchuk, who also won in 2018 and 2019. Susannah Scaroni won the women’s wheelchair race. It was her second victory in New York, also taking the 2022 race and giving Americans winners in both events — the first time that has happened.
The 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometer) course took runners through all five boroughs of New York, starting in Staten Island and ending in Central Park. This is the 48th year the race has been in all five boroughs. Before that, the route was completely in Central Park when it began in 1970. The first race had only 55 finishers while more than 50,000 competed this year.
A few hours after the top runners finished, it was announced that the Sydney Marathon would become the seventh world major marathon, joining Berlin, Chicago, Boston, Tokyo, London and New York.
The weather was perfect to run in with temperatures in the lower 40s when the race started. Last year, it was 61 degrees when the race started.
1-54 London | Talk: "The Development of the Regional Art Ecosystem in the Horn of Africa and Market Challenges for Niche Galleries on the Continent," featuring the founders of Addis Fine Art. (Courtesy photo)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Updated: October 4th, 2024
New York (TADIAS) — This October, the founders of Addis Fine Art, Rakeb Sile and Mesai Haileleul, will take the stage at 1-54 London, the leading international art fair dedicated to contemporary African art. In their panel discussion, titled The Development of the Regional Art Ecosystem Around the Horn of Africa and Recent Market Challenges for Niche Galleries from the Continent, the two visionaries from Ethiopia will explore the challenges and opportunities they’ve faced since establishing their gallery eight years ago.
Addis Fine Art has played a pivotal role in highlighting the talents of artists from the Horn of Africa and its diaspora, while also helping to foster a vibrant local art ecosystem. At this talk, Sile and Mesai will discuss the growth of the gallery, the current challenges for small to mid-sized galleries from Africa, and how collaboration will be key to the survival of niche galleries in an increasingly competitive global market. Moderated by art consultant Carrie Scott, this discussion, scheduled for Sunday, October 13th promises to provide valuable insights for both art enthusiasts and industry professionals.
A Showcase of Ethiopian Talent
1-54 London | Booth E5: Addis Gezehagn, Engdaye Lemma, and Nahom Teklehaimanot. (Courtesy photo)
Alongside the panel discussion, Addis Fine Art will present a group exhibition featuring three Ethiopian artists—Addis Gezehagn, Engdaye Lemma, and Nahom Teklehaimanot—at 1-54 London. These artists, each at different stages of their careers, use collage as a medium to explore the complex realities of contemporary life in Ethiopia.
Addis Gezehagn’s large-scale collages depict dreamlike cityscapes of Addis Ababa, offering new perspectives on the city’s unrestrained urban growth. His layered compositions reflect the organic development of the Ethiopian capital, capturing its chaotic yet dynamic architecture.
Engdaye Lemma, through his experimental print-making, combines screen-printing, painting, and collage to explore how public and private spaces blend in Addis Ababa. His work is a visual representation of the city’s constant movement and transformation, mirroring the everyday chaos of urban life.
Nahom Teklehaimanot’s airbrushed compositions reflect the themes of displacement and migration. By creating a fragmented, dreamlike world of memories and longing, his work highlights both the pain of dislocation and the resilience needed to adapt to new environments.
Dr. Menna Demessie, Senior Vice President and Executive Director of Universal Music Group’s global Task Force for Meaningful Change, will lead a pivotal discussion at the 53rd Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) on September 13, 2024, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in D.C. (Courtesy photos)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Updated: September 12th, 2024
New York (TADIAS) — The 53rd Annual Legislative Conference (ALC), a premier public policy event focused on issues affecting African Americans and the global Black community, will feature a notable discussion presented by Universal Music Group’s Task Force for Meaningful Change. Scheduled for Friday, September 13, at 3:00 PM ET, this engaging panel will spotlight the transformative power of Hip Hop as an agent of social change.
Dr. Menna Demessie, Senior Vice President and Executive Director of Universal Music Group’s global Task Force for Meaningful Change, will lead the discussion. Joining her will be Hip Hop legend Chuck D and UMG Africa artist Rophnan. Together, they will explore the genre’s profound impact on culture both in the United States and globally.
The ALC serves as a unique platform where thought leaders, legislators, influencers, and concerned citizens converge to address critical issues and promote the advancement of Black communities. This year’s discussion will highlight how Hip Hop, now over 50 years old, continues to drive social change and foster cultural understanding.
Join this pivotal discussion at the ALC and be part of the conversation about the enduring impact of Hip Hop in effecting meaningful change.
If You Go:
For those in Washington, DC, interested in attending, general admission is available for free. Visit the registration booth on-site to obtain an open access badge. For those interested in attending other ticketed events, tickets are available for purchase at www.cbcfinc.org for $300.
In honor of this special day, we share this beautiful piece from Teen Vogue titled "On Ethiopian New Year, 'Meskel Flower' Is a Love Letter to Our Culture." (Photo via een Vogue)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Updated: September 11th, 2024
New York (TADIAS) — As we welcome the Ethiopian New Year with hope and joy, we also celebrate the rich culture and heritage that binds us together. In honor of this special day, we’re excited to share a beautiful piece from Teen Vogue titled “On Ethiopian New Year, ‘Meskel Flower’ Is a Love Letter to Our Culture.” This article captures the essence of our traditions, the vibrant spirit of our community, and the love for our homeland. We hope it inspires you as much as it has inspired us. Wishing you all a healthy, peaceful, and prosperous New Year!
On Ethiopian New Year, “Meskel Flower” Is a Love Letter to Our Culture
Teen Vogue
By Ruhama Wolle
September 11, 2024
Every September 11—as the rains retreat and the earth drinks its final drops—the golden petals of the Meskel flower are blooming across Ethiopia. They blanket the highlands in yellow brilliance, a living tapestry that signals the dawn of a new year: Enkutatash, the Ethiopian New Year. While the world waits for the cold grip of winter to mark the start of its calendar, Ethiopia steps into 2017, holding onto a unique timeline rooted in its own heritage. In a world hurtling toward 2025, Ethiopia stands anchored in its own rhythm, a subtle reminder that time moves differently here, steeped in the kind of history and culture that refuses to be rushed.
This isn’t just another New Year. It’s a reclamation. A renaissance. As Ghana’s ‘Year of Return’ turned the eyes of the African diaspora back to the continent, Ethiopia has quietly been sparking its own cultural revival, one that transcends tourism. It is a deep reconnection with roots, an affirmation that despite conflict and struggle, this ancient land is not only surviving—it is thriving.
Ethiopia has always set the stage for global influence—starting with Lucy, the oldest human ancestor, who marked the very beginning of humanity. One of the only African nations that was never colonized, as Ethiopia remained unbroken, the world took notice. The red, yellow, and green of its flag didn’t just represent a nation; they became the symbol for independence movements across the globe.
Julie Mehretu’s latest commission, an 83-foot glass window at the Obama Presidential Center, follows her acclaimed design of the BMW 20th Art Car, showcasing her unique talent for blending art with social dialogue across diverse platforms, from race tracks to public institutions. (Photo: Courtesy of The Obama Foundation)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Updated: September 10th, 2024
New York (TADIAS) — Building on her recent triumph with the BMW Art Car, Julie Mehretu, the Ethiopian-American artist and activist, has made another monumental mark—this time at the Obama Presidential Center Museum in Chicago. The museum, which aims to inspire visitors and the local South Side community, now features Mehretu’s striking new work: an 83-foot-tall painted glass window titled “Uprising of the Sun.”
Commissioned by the Obama Foundation, Mehretu’s piece comprises 35 abstract glass panels that vividly reflect on President Obama’s legacy, drawing inspiration from his remarks at the 50th anniversary of the Selma-to-Montgomery marches. “Uprising of the Sun” is designed to provoke thought and reflection, using a mix of hand-painting, airbrushing, and glass techniques in collaboration with Franz Mayer Studio.
President Obama praised Mehretu’s contribution, emphasizing the significance of her work in creating a transformative public space that invites diverse voices and fosters community engagement. Mehretu, whose career has been marked by socially conscious themes and dynamic visual narratives, views this installation as a story of change, welcoming people from all backgrounds to connect with the mission of the Obama Presidential Center.
“Uprising of the Sun” is Julie Mehretu’s first work in glass. (Photo: Courtesy of The Obama Foundation)
Photo of the Obama Foundation Museum Building’s 83-Foot Tall Painted Glass Window by Artist Julie Mehretu. (Courtesy of The Obama Foundation)
Julie Mehretu’s vision, a striking addition to the Obama Presidential Center, aims to inspire both visitors and the South Side community with its powerful public art display. (Courtesy of The Obama Foundation)
This new commission comes on the heels of Mehretu’s celebrated design of the BMW 20th Art Car, a collaboration that underscored her unique ability to bridge art with social dialogue, from race tracks to public institutions. Now, with “Uprising of the Sun,” Julie Mehretu continues to expand her artistic reach, connecting communities from Chicago to Addis Ababa and inspiring a global audience.
Uprising of the Sun: Julie Mehretu’s 83-Foot Glass Window Captured in Photos
Uprising of the Sun by Julie Mehretu – Escalator View. (Photo: Courtesy of The Obama Foundation)
Julie Mehretu, daughter of an American mother and an Ethiopian father, views art as a catalyst for thought and reflection on contemporary society. The Obama Presidential Center, opening in Spring 2026, will feature over 20 original artworks across its 19.3-acre campus, with much of it accessible to the public at no charge. (Photo: Courtesy of The Obama Foundation)
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump face off in their first presidential debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia today. (Photos via X: @KamalaHarris and @realDonaldTrump)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: September 10th, 2024
New York (TADIAS) – As the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches, both major party candidates are set to debate in Philadelphia tonight. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will face off for the first time since Harris became the Democratic nominee. The debate is expected to focus on key issues such as the economy, immigration, foreign policy, and other domestic matters, providing a critical opportunity for each candidate to appeal to voters and clarify their positions.
This debate comes at a pivotal moment in the campaign season. Vice President Harris, who accepted the Democratic nomination last month after President Biden dropped out, is looking to build on recent gains in swing state polls. Former President Trump, who secured the GOP nomination despite an assassination attempt earlier this year, will seek to solidify his base while reaching out to undecided voters. Both candidates are expected to make their case to the American people at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
Key Developments Leading Up to the Debate:
Harris Transition Team Takes Shape: The Harris campaign has appointed Yohannes Abraham, the U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN, to lead the presidential transition team should Harris win the election. Abraham, a seasoned political strategist who previously led the Biden transition in 2020, will be stepping down from his current post in Jakarta to take on this critical role.
Trump Campaign Prepares for Transition: In a similar move, the Trump campaign has also announced its transition team, headed by Linda McMahon, former head of the Small Business Administration, and Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald. The team aims to distance itself from more controversial elements associated with Project 2025, a policy initiative by conservative groups. Additionally, former President Donald Trump has added his onetime campaign rival Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to the transition team.
Former VP Dick Cheney’s Defection: In a surprising turn of events, former Vice President Dick Cheney, a prominent Republican figure, announced he would not support the Republican ticket in the 2024 election. This marks the most high-profile defection of a Republican to Harris’s side, highlighting growing divisions within the GOP establishment. Cheney’s endorsement follows his daughter, Liz Cheney, who also publicly confirmed her father’s decision not to support Trump, further raising questions about how other Republicans will position themselves in this election cycle.
Multicultural Voter Shifts: Recent data shows shifting dynamics among multicultural voters heading into the 2024 election. According to a new report by My Code™, there has been an increase in support for Vice President Harris among multicultural men, highlighting a trend that could impact the election outcome. The report emphasizes the need for candidates to connect with diverse communities through targeted messaging and concrete policy actions.
Habeshas for Harris Campaign Gains Momentum: The “Habeshas for Harris” coalition, representing Ethiopian and Eritrean Americans, is mobilizing support for Vice President Harris, emphasizing the importance of political representation and advocating for community concerns at both the national and local levels.
As the election draws nearer, these developments reflect the broader strategies of both campaigns to engage key voter groups and address pressing national issues. With the debate stage set in Philadelphia, the focus will now turn to how effectively each candidate can communicate their vision for the country’s future.
Wondwossen Dikran, the newly appointed Senior Vice President of Hallmark Studios. The former NBCUniversal/DreamWorks TV head of production will oversee the newly created division. (Photo: Hallmark)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Updated: August 22nd, 2024
New York (TADIAS) – Wondwossen “Wondu” Dikran, a name familiar to Tadias readers as the creative force behind the acclaimed Ethiopian film “Journey to Lasta,” has taken on a significant new role in the entertainment industry. Hallmark Media recently announced Wondu’s appointment as the Senior Vice President of Hallmark Studios, a newly established production division aimed at enhancing innovation and efficiency in content creation.
In his new position, Wondu will be responsible for managing relationships with creative and business partners, both domestically and internationally. His extensive background in directing, producing, and writing—highlighted by his work on Journey to Lasta—makes him a fitting choice for this role. His career has been marked by leadership positions at major studios, including NBCUniversal/DreamWorks TV, where he served as Head of Production, and more recently, Falkon Entertainment, where he was Head of Development and Production.
Wondu will report to Lisa Hamilton Daly, EVP of Programming at Hallmark. Daly expressed her enthusiasm for Wondu’s appointment, emphasizing his strategic vision and collaborative approach. She believes these qualities will be instrumental in shaping the future of production for Hallmark’s diverse platforms.
With this new chapter at Hallmark Studios, Wondwossen Dikran is set to bring his wealth of experience and unique perspective to a broader audience, further solidifying his impact on the film and television industry.
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Heaven Awot (right) pictured with her mother, Abekyelesh Adeba, before the tragic incident that sparked national and international outcry. (Courtesy photo)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Updated: August 21st, 2024
New York (TADIAS) – The tragic case of seven-year-old Heaven Awot, who was brutally raped and murdered in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, has sparked national outrage. The man convicted of this heinous crime, Getnet Baye, was sentenced to 25 years in prison—a sentence many, including Heaven’s family, consider far too lenient.
In response, a Change.org petition, started by the Ethiopian feminist organization Article 35, has gathered over 244,000 signatures, demanding that Getnet’s sentence be revisited to reflect the gravity of his crimes. The petition calls for the maximum possible penalty under Ethiopian law and highlights the urgent need for “robust legal protection” for Heaven’s grieving mother, Abekyelesh Adeba, who has faced threats for seeking justice for her daughter.
The case has drawn attention not only to the shortcomings in Ethiopia’s legal system but also to the broader issue of violence against women and children in the country. Senior government officials, including Ethiopia’s Minister for Women and Social Affairs, Ergogie Tesfaye, have condemned the crime as “inhumane” and vowed to pursue justice.
For Heaven’s mother, the fight for justice is deeply personal. “I have lost my Heaven… I am lifeless,” she said in an interview with the BBC, expressing her fear that Getnet might win his appeal and be released early. Her story has resonated with thousands who are now rallying behind the call for justice.
The petition remains active on Change.org, where supporters are urged to continue sharing and signing to ensure that Heaven’s death is not in vain and that her family receives the justice they deserve.
Ethiopian-American innovator Heman Bekele, TIME’s 2024 Kid of the Year, captured in the lab at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland, where his groundbreaking research on a skin cancer-fighting soap is taking shape. (Photograph by Dina Litovsky for TIME)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Updated: August 19th, 2024
Ethiopian-American Heman Bekele: TIME’s 2024 Kid of the Year and Innovator Against Skin Cancer
New York (TADIAS) – At just 15 years old, Heman Bekele has achieved what many can only dream of. Named TIME’s 2024 Kid of the Year, Heman’s journey from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to becoming a young scientist recognized on a global stage is nothing short of remarkable.
Born in Addis Ababa and moving to the United States with his family at the age of four, Heman’s early curiosity for science was sparked by childhood experiments that, according to TIME, involved “mixing up whatever he could get his hands on at home” and waiting to see the results. By the time he was seven, his experiments became more focused after receiving a chemistry set for Christmas, leading him to dream of using science to make a difference in the world.
That dream began to take shape when Heman, a rising 10th-grader at Woodson High School in Fairfax County, Virginia, entered the 3M Young Scientist Challenge. His entry? A revolutionary bar of soap designed to treat and potentially prevent multiple forms of skin cancer. According to TIME, this innovative idea was inspired by his early memories of laborers in Ethiopia working under the intense sun without protection and his realization, after moving to the U.S., of the dangers posed by prolonged sun exposure.
Heman’s soap is not just a simple cleansing bar; it’s a scientific breakthrough. As TIME reported, he combined the soap with a lipid-based nanoparticle that would allow the active ingredient, imiquimod—a drug approved for treating certain skin cancers—to remain on the skin even after washing. This inventive approach could make a significant impact by offering a more accessible and affordable option for skin cancer treatment.
Heman’s journey has not been one of solo effort. TIME highlights how he’s been supported by his family, mentors, and scientists like Vito Rebecca, a molecular biologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who invited Heman to work in his lab. It’s here that Heman is further developing his soap, working tirelessly to bring his idea closer to reality.
Despite the attention and accolades, Heman remains grounded. In an interview with TIME, he expressed humility about his achievements, stating, “Anybody could do what I did. I just came up with an idea. I worked towards that idea, and I was able to bring it to life.” His story is a powerful reminder that innovation and determination, coupled with support and guidance, can lead to extraordinary outcomes.
As Heman continues his research and balances his academic life with other interests such as music and sports, his future in science looks promising. His work not only shines a spotlight on his potential but also serves as an inspiration to young people everywhere, especially within the Ethiopian-American community. Heman’s success is a testament to the possibilities that arise when curiosity meets opportunity, and his contributions to science are just beginning.
For now, Heman’s focus remains on his mission to make skin cancer treatment more accessible and affordable. As he told TIME, “We’ll never run out of ideas in this world. Just keep inventing. Keep thinking of new ways to improve our world and keep making it a better place.”
Exhibited in Addis Ababa and London, Tadesse Mesfin’s latest series captures the dignity of Ethiopia’s women market vendors. The dual solo show runs from September to November, spotlighting Mesfin's work from the past four years. (Image: Tadesse Mesfin, Pillars of Life, 2021, Oil on canvas/courtesy of AFA)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Updated: August 15th, 2024
New York (TADIAS) – Tadesse Mesfin, a celebrated Ethiopian artist, is the focus of a dual solo exhibition presented by Addis Fine Art and Vigo Gallery, showcasing his latest works from the past four years. The exhibition, which runs from September 9 to November 30 in Addis Ababa and from September 20 to October 4 in London, highlights Mesfin’s dedication to portraying the often-overlooked women vendors in Ethiopia’s bustling markets.
In this new series, Mesfin captures these women in moments of serene contemplation, elevating their presence to symbolize their crucial roles in daily life. By integrating elements of Ethiopian Modernist tradition, particularly the Amharic script, Mesfin interprets human figures as dynamic forms, echoing the loops and angles of the script. This approach transforms his subjects from mere figures into active creators of meaning within their environments. As Mesfin himself notes, “through repetition they have become my symbols, my language.”
Tadesse Mesfin, Column of Rhythm, 2022, Oil on Canvas. (Photo: Courtesy of AFA)
Born in 1953, Mesfin’s passion for art blossomed during his childhood in Addis Ababa, leading him to study at the Addis Ababa University Alle School of Fine Arts and Design, and later at the Leningrad Academy of Painting, Architecture, and Sculpture in Russia. His work reflects a blend of Soviet social realism and Ethiopian influences, particularly Coptic iconography and historical themes. A former professor at the Alle School of Fine Arts and Design, Mesfin has mentored many of Ethiopia’s contemporary artists and has exhibited his work internationally in cities such as London, New York, and Johannesburg.
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If You Go:
Addis Ababa
9 September – 30 November
NOAH Centrum Building, Bole Atlas, Addis Ababa
Monday – Saturday, 10am – 1pm & 2 – 6pm
London
20 September – 4 October
Vigo Gallery, 7 – 8 Mason’s Yard, London, SW1Y 6BU
Monday – Friday, 10am – 6pm
Dinaw Mengestu, in his new novel 'Someone Like Us,' offers a deep exploration of immigrant life in America through the eyes of Mamush, an Ethiopian American journalist. (Photo: Anne-Emmanuelle Robicquet/KNOPF)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Updated: August 14th, 2024
New York (TADIAS) – In his latest novel, Someone Like Us, acclaimed Ethiopian American novelist Dinaw Mengestu delves into the intricate lives of immigrants in America through the eyes of Mamush, an Ethiopian American journalist. As Mamush returns to the U.S. from Paris, where he worked as an international reporter, he is faced with the sudden death of his mother’s closest friend, Samuel, a father figure and enigmatic member of the local Ethiopian community. Set just before the onset of the pandemic in late 2019, the novel is a haunting exploration of memory and the immigrant experience..
From the outset, Dinaw Mengestu’s latest book draws readers into Mamush’s introspective world. As The Washington Post notes, “For much of the story, Mamush is alone, though memories of Samuel hover over him with such intimate presence that it’s hard to remember he’s not actually there — which, of course, is what Mamush is struggling to realize, too.”
The novel’s structure, moving between past and present, mirrors Mamush’s attempt to piece together Samuel’s life. Through these memories, Dinaw reveals Samuel’s unfulfilled business plan to create a nationwide network of taxis to serve those “in the wrong place and needed to be somewhere else but didn’t know how to get there.”
In an interview with The New York Times, Dinaw Mengestu reflects on the challenges of telling immigrant stories, acknowledging the “limitation to how fully we can truly understand [the characters’] experiences.” This resonates deeply with Mamush’s journey, as he uncovers the layers of Samuel’s life, from his struggles as a taxi driver in Washington, D.C., to his complex relationship with Mamush’s mother. “If looked at closely,” Mamush muses, Samuel’s records “say something about a larger story still being written about America and why people came to it and what they found when they did.”
Dinaw’s novel is as much about Mamush’s internal conflict as it is about his quest for answers. His estrangement from his wife and their ailing son in Paris echoes Samuel’s own feelings of alienation. NPR’s Fresh Air review captures this dynamic, stating that Someone Like Us “keeps reminding readers of the near-impossibility of breaking out of the same old mold when it comes to telling immigrant stories. Ironically, Mengestu’s own ingenuity and eloquence as a writer show at least one way to do so.”
Dinaw Mengestu is the author of three previous novels, all of which were named New York Times Notable Books: All Our Names, How to Read the Air, and The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears. A native of Ethiopia who came with his family to the United States at the age of two, Mengestu is also a freelance journalist who has reported on life in Darfur, northern Uganda, and eastern Congo. His articles and fiction have appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Harper’s, Granta, Jane, and Rolling Stone. Mengestu is a 2012 MacArthur Fellow and recipient of a Lannan Literary Fellowship for Fiction, a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 Prize, the Guardian First Book Award, and the Los Angeles Times Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction, among other honors. He was also included in The New Yorker’s 20 under 40 list in 2010.
Ultimately, Someone Like Us is more than just a novel about immigration; it is a meditation on the human condition and the universal desire to connect with our origins. Dinaw’s narrative mastery not only enriches the genre but also calls into question the very frameworks through which our stories are often viewed and understood. By playing with narrative form and incorporating elements of autofiction—evident in the photographs from his own life — Dinaw Mengestu offers a fresh perspective on the ways in which we craft and consume stories of immigrants.
Tamirat Tola’s win not only secured Ethiopia’s first gold medal at the Paris Games but also ended a 24-year wait for a men's marathon gold since Gezahegne Abera's triumph at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. (Tamirat Tola, Paris, August 10, 2024, Reuters)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Published: August 10th, 2024
New York (TADIAS) – In a stunning turn of events at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola secured a historic victory in the men’s marathon, setting a new Olympic record with a time of 2:06:26. Tola’s triumph provided a much-needed boost for Ethiopia, which had faced several disappointments earlier in the Games, including the injury of Lamecha Girma during the steeplechase final.
Just two weeks ago, Tola was not even slated to compete. He was called up as a replacement after his teammate Sisay Lemma withdrew due to a hamstring injury. Despite the last-minute change, Tola delivered a performance that will be remembered for years to come. His victory not only marked Ethiopia’s first gold medal at the Paris Games but also ended a 24-year wait for a men’s marathon gold since Gezahegne Abera’s win at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
The marathon course in Paris, renowned for its toughness, was a challenge for all competitors, with steep ascents and the rising heat adding to the difficulty. However, Tola’s determination was unmatched. As he started from the Hotel de Ville, the weight of his nation’s expectations was palpable. “The mood in the Ethiopian camp has not been good,” Tola admitted. “Today is the tenth day since the athletics started, and I was really hoping to change that by winning.
And change it he did. As the race progressed, Tola steadily built a lead, pulling away from the pack after navigating the treacherous hills. His relentless pace and strategic approach left his competitors struggling to keep up. Even as he approached the final stages, Tola was cautious, frequently glancing back to ensure his lead was secure. “I didn’t put into my mind up to the last kilometre, because this is athletics, [I felt] somebody will [catch-up] and pass me. When I arrived at the 41km, I knew I have this, I am going to win. I was happy. I am so happy, I achieved my dream.”
Tamirat Tola celebrates his historic victory in the men’s marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics in Paris, France on Saturday, August 10th, 2024. Picture by dpa (www.dpa.de). Alle Rechte vorbehalten
Tamirat Tola’s victory is even more remarkable considering the circumstances leading up to his participation. As a reserve, he stepped in when his close friend and training partner, Sisay Lemma, had to withdraw. “This victory also belongs to him, he gave me the opportunity. I would like to thank him,” Tola said.
The significance of this win extends beyond the individual achievement. Ethiopia, known for its long-distance running prowess, had been searching for a gold medal at these Games, making Tola’s victory a moment of national pride and celebration. Kenenisa Bekele, a legendary Ethiopian runner who made a comeback at these Olympics, praised Tola’s performance: “He got a chance to participate quite late and still won the medal, that’s really special. Special for Ethiopia and more so for him. I am really happy for him.”
Earlier in the week, Ethiopia had faced disappointment when Lamecha Girma, a favorite in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, was stretchered off the track after a fall during the final. Girma, who had been the silver medalist in Tokyo 2021, was unable to finish the race, leaving the Ethiopian camp in a somber mood.
Tola’s victory in the marathon has lifted the spirits of Ethiopians, providing a much-needed moment of joy and pride. His story is one of resilience, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of excellence—an inspiration for many and a testament to the enduring strength of Ethiopian athletics.
As the Paris Olympics draw to a close, Tamirat Tola’s name will be etched in history, not just for his remarkable victory but for the hope and pride he brought to his nation in a time of need.
Top left: Lisa Simpson becomes the first female U.S. president in a 2000 episode. Right: The Simpsons discover delicious food in Little Ethiopia after their car breaks down. (Photo: The Simpsons™)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Published: Tuesday July 24, 2024
New York (TADIAS) – The last time we featured The Simpsons in Tadias Magazine was in 2011 when they were enjoying gursha at an Ethiopian restaurant, possibly in Los Angeles or the DC area, after serendipitously discovering Little Ethiopia in Springfield (the show’s quintessential everytown setting). Their taste buds were doing eskista by the end of the episode, proving that Ethiopian cuisine had gone mainstream in America. It was a heartwarming and humorous nod to Ethiopian culture that delighted many fans.
This week, The Simpsons are back in the spotlight, getting credit for predicting the current U.S. election. In the episode titled “Bart to the Future,” which aired in 2000, Lisa Simpson is shown growing up to become the first female president of the United States. Her attire closely mirrors the outfit worn by Kamala Harris, the first female Vice President of the United States, during her 2021 inauguration, complete with matching accessories.
Screenwriter and producer Al Jean, part of the show’s original writing team, took to social media to acknowledge the striking similarity. “Proud to be a part of @TheSimpsons ‘prediction’,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The Simpsons, the longest running animated sitcom television series, seemingly predicted Vice President Kamala Harris’s rise in a 2000 episode. In “Bart to the Future,” Lisa Simpson becomes the first female president of the U.S., wearing a purple outfit remarkably similar to what Harris wore at Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration, complete with a pearl necklace and earrings. (Photo: Reuters/The Simpsons™)
This isn’t the first time “The Simpsons” has eerily predicted future events. Here are a few other instances where the show seemed to have a crystal ball:
President Trump
In that episode, Lisa Simpson becomes president after a “President Trump,” 16 years before Trump was actually elected. However, claims that the series predicted Trump’s escalator ride and the electoral map of his win have been debunked.
Smartwatches
Long before Apple introduced its smartwatch, a 1995 episode of “The Simpsons” featured a device quite similar to the modern smartwatch.
Haile-Manas Academy is a premier private college preparatory boarding school located in Debre Birhan, Ethiopia. The school’s success story is a shining example of how Ethiopians abroad are contributing to the development of their ancestral homeland. (Courtesy photo)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Updated: July 24th, 2024
New York (TADIAS) – In late May, Haile-Manas Academy (HMA) in Ethiopia celebrated two significant milestones: the graduation of its pioneering first class of seniors and the official opening of the school.
Haile-Manas Academy, a premier private college preparatory boarding school located in Debre Birhan, provides high-achieving and goal-oriented Ethiopian students with a world-class education. The academy is dedicated to nurturing critical thinkers, enterprising problem-solvers, and community-minded individuals.
HMA’s journey has been closely followed by Tadias Magazine since its inception. We previously featured the
academy before its doors opened and have documented its growth. The graduation of the Class of 2024 is not only a testament to the academy’s success but also reflects the incredible potential of its students.
The event celebrated the vision of co-founder Rebecca Haile and her team, who have worked tirelessly to establish HMA as one of the top high schools in Ethiopia, offering an international-standard curriculum on a state-of-the-art campus. Rebecca, a lawyer, mother, author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, together with her co-founder and husband Jean Manas, has been a prominent figure in this initiative, emphasizing the importance of investing in Ethiopia’s future.
Asked to comment on the celebration, Rebecca said,
It was a fantastic day start to finish! After five years of hard work, during a period that encompassed the pandemic and the war in the north, it was just exhilarating to celebrate our first graduation and “official” opening, together with friends and family who contributed to the school’s first years in so many critical ways. I’m very excited to see what is next for our seniors, who will soon be studying in great colleges and universities in Ethiopia and abroad, and for the coming years on campus as we take the school to even higher heights.”
Haile-Manas Academy’s success story is a shining example of how Ethiopian Americans are contributing to the development of their ancestral homeland. As we honor the achievements of HMA’s first graduating class, we also celebrate the academy’s commitment to providing a transformative education that empowers Ethiopia’s future leaders.
— The school is in midst of finalizing admissions for September 2024; interested families can still apply via the school website here.
You can learn more about The Haile-Manas Academy and support the Ethiopia Education Initiatives at ethiopiaeducationinitiatives.org
The annual Empower the Community Weekend hosted by Helen Mesfin of the Helen Show on EBS TV takes place July 27th, 2024 at the Washington Convention Center. (Courtesy photo)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Updated: July 21st, 2024
New York (TADIAS) — The Helen Show on EBS TV is set to host its 8th annual Empower the Community Weekend on Saturday, July 27th, 2024, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
This highly anticipated annual event offers a wide range of activities including panel discussions, entertainment, educational resources, career advice, arts, finance, health and wellness tips, giveaways, cultural activities, and vendors and exhibitors showcasing their products and services.
The event is designed to be family-centered, ensuring that attendees of all ages can participate in activities that promote growth and well-being. According to the press release, “the event focuses on providing resources and information to attendees, enabling them to lead productive lives and thrive.”
Launched in 2017 by the producers of The Helen Show on EBS TV, Empower the Community Weekend (ECW) has become a cornerstone event for the community in the Washington, DC metro area.
The 2024 event will feature sessions on a variety of topics, including Business & Leadership, The Future of Tech, Real Estate Investment in the US and Ethiopia, and Navigating the Job Market in the Current Climate. Notable speakers include:
Business & Leadership:
Menassie Taddese, MBA, Global Biopharma Expert, Corporate Board Director
Menelik Solomon, President, GE Honda Aero Engines, LLC
Anna Getaneh, Founder & Creative Director, African Mosaique
Abiy Yeshitla, Board Member, Digital Transformation, Business Expansion, New Market Entry
The Future of Tech:
Hilina Kebede, Vice President, Technology Strategy at Edelman
Esete Seyoum, Regional Director SLG, Cloud Security, Microsoft
Selemon Getachew, Senior Vice President, Market Risk Management, PNC
Neby Ejigu, Senior Partner at FINN Partners
Self-Care: Prioritize Your Well-Being – Mind, Body & Spirit:
Dr. Tison Berhane, Double-Board Certified General Surgery and Surgical Care, Cosmetic Surgeon
Haben Girmay, Founder, Shikorinha by Habi, Holistic Skincare and Wellness Brand
Wintana Kiros, RDN, LDN, Founder, Reset Lifestyle
Tiemert Letike, Certified Life Coach, Unchaining Me, Moderator
Power Panel Session: Breaking Barriers – Insights from Young Trailblazers:
Bemnet Debelo, Vice President of Sales Engineering at Incapsulate
Tati Amare, Emmy Nominated Producer, TV Host, Live in the D, WDIV-Local 4
Makda Mehari, M.A., Executive Director, Civil Courage Prize
Hamara Abate, North America Product Strategy & Operations, Visa
Breakout Sessions:
Invest in Your Future: Owning Home in US & Ethiopia:
Bruk Alemayehu, Director of Sales & Marketing, OVID Real Estate
Merron Treadwell, Branch Manager, NMLS ID#1468532, Bay Equity LLC
Nya Alemayhu, Global Real Estate Advisor at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty & Head of US Operations, ROCKSTONE Real Estate
Navigating the Job Market in the Current Climate:
Edna Makonnen, Director for Human Capital & Strategic Initiatives, National Security Council
Brooke Asegu, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Global Human Resources Director
Haben Mebrahtu, SHRM-CP, Sr. HR Business Partner at RSI
Aster Gubay, Sr. Consultant at Deloitte Consulting, LLP, & Deputy Executive Director, YEP
Future-Ready Careers: Unleashing Potential in Tech Jobs:
Yebio Mesfin, Senior Technical Manager (Lead Solution Architect)
Zerubabel Kassa, MBA, PMP, Co-Founder and CEO, CDI Inc
Yared Gudeta, Senior Solutions Architect at Databricks
Adiam Miller, Systems Engineer, MITRE
Alem Abreha, Lead Systems Engineer, SalesForce
Unlock Opportunities: Small Business Resources & Support:
Esayas B. Gebrehiwot, Managing Director of ECDC Enterprise Development Group
Abera Bezuneh, Fairfax Insurance & Financial Services
Elias Woldu, Chairman of the Board, Ethio-American Chamber of Commerce
Selam Habte, Economic Developer with an Equity Focus
Alem Beshire, Founder, Yogaso Marketing, Moderator
Breakout Session: Minding YOUR Mind – Mental Illness & Mental Wellness:
Dr. Medhin GebreAmlak, DNP/PMHNP/FNP/MSN, Addis Health Services
Kedest Gebreselassie, RN, FNP-BC, PMHNP, Bright Behavior Health LLC
Dr. Eden Taye, DNP, MSN.Ed, MIS, BCN, PMHNP-BC, Dr. Eden Healthcare Services LLC
Meron Kassa, RN, BSN, ENANA’s Public Relations Officer, Moderator
Parents’ Journey: Raising Children with Special Needs:
Azeb Ataro Adere: Respected Leader and Advocate for Autism Support
Meron Worku, Licensed Master Social Worker
Samuel Tsadiq, Father, Special Needs Advocate
Haimanot Gulilat, RN, Special Needs Advocate, Board Member, EESNC
Empower Z: Amplifying Gen Z Perspectives:
Essey Workie, Managing Principal, Executive Coach, Senior Consultant at Multicultural Coaching
Liya Hizkias, Digital Storyteller
Isabel Bekele, Commerce Writer at InStyle Magazine
Meron Henok, Strategic Communications and PR Associate at Google
Emmanuel Ermias, Co-Founder of The Dome Podcast
High School to College Admission: Essential Tips and Resources:
Chernet Weldeab, Ph.D., Education Specialist, Montgomery College, Educational Opportunity Center
Melkam Lengereh, Ph.D., DCPS Early-Stage Program
Additional Activities:
Health & Fitness Pavilion:
Health & wellness games, activities, and giveaways provided by Kaiser Permanente
Free health screenings, CPR training, and Narcan training provided by MedStar Health and Ethiopian Nurses Association
Personal trainers & fitness consultants, martial arts demonstrations
Eskesta Workout with Fantish & Fikre
Healthy cooking demo by Chef Beth
Kids’ Corner:
Storytime and performances by Mama Kebe, Open Heart Big Dreams, Etan Comics, and Mad Science: Things That Go Boom, sponsored by The Goddard School of Bowie
Habesha Kids Club with various games and activities
HIS Academy providing arts & crafts and various summer camp style activities
— If You Attend:
Empower the Community Weekend 2024
July 27th
Walter E Washington Convention Center
VIRTUAL REGISTRATION & LIMITED IN-PERSON SEATING Registration Here
More info at: www.empowercw.com
Daniel Abebe joins Columbia Law School from the University of Chicago, where he currently serves as Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Governance. (Courtesy photo)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: June 19, 2024
New York (TADIAS) — Columbia University announced this week that Daniel Abebe will assume the role of Dean of the Law School and Lucy G. Moses Professor of Law starting August 1st. Abebe’s appointment marks a historic moment as he becomes the first Black dean to serve in this prestigious position, succeeding Dean Gillian Lester.
Abebe joins Columbia Law School from the University of Chicago, where he currently serves as Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Governance and holds the Harold J. and Marion F. Green Professorship of Law. At Chicago, he has made significant contributions to the academic community through his research and leadership roles. His scholarship focuses on the intersection of U.S. constitutional law regarding foreign affairs and public international law, with notable publications in the University of Chicago Law Review, Supreme Court Review, and the Virginia Journal of International Law.
In addition to his academic achievements, Abebe brings extensive experience in institutional governance and disciplinary matters. He previously served as Deputy Dean at the University of Chicago Law School, where he played a pivotal role in shaping policies related to disruptive conduct and institutional discipline.
Columbia University President Minouche Shafik expressed confidence in Abebe’s ability to lead Columbia Law School, highlighting his diplomatic and inclusive leadership style. She remarked, “I am confident that Professor Abebe will be an exceptional Dean for Columbia Law, one of the most highly regarded law schools in the world. His commitment to academic excellence and his strategic vision will foster an environment where faculty, students, and staff can innovate, succeed, and flourish.”
Abebe holds a BA from Maryville University of St. Louis, a PhD in political science from the University of Chicago, and a JD from Harvard Law School. He clerked for Judge Damon J. Keith of the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and practiced at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP before embarking on his academic career. He is a member of the American Law Institute and a faculty affiliate of the Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture at the University of Chicago.
As Columbia prepares for Abebe’s leadership, outgoing Dean Gillian Lester will transition back to full-time teaching at the Law School this fall. President Shafik acknowledged Lester’s decade-long tenure with gratitude, noting her significant contributions to the institution.
Abebe’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Columbia Law School as it navigates disciplinary actions and campus activism. His background in constitutional law and international relations is expected to provide valuable insights and leadership during these critical times.
Wrapping up its 9th Annual Women in Theatre Festival this weekend at Theatre 154 in NYC, Project Y Theatre Company highlights the remarkable talents of Banna Desta and Antu Yacob. (Courtesy photos)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: June 19th, 2024
New York (TADIAS) — As the Project Y Theatre Company concludes its 9th Annual Women in Theatre Festival this weekend at Theatre 154 in New York City, it is a perfect time to highlight two remarkable talents featured in this year’s event: Banna Desta and Antu Yacob.
The play, titled “Bygone Fruit,” centers on Blake and Selam, a seemingly perfect couple whose harmony is tested as they prepare for their families to meet for the first time. During a tense cook-off, subtle and startling revelations about their respective heritages and views on the diaspora emerge, creating a divide that might be too great to overcome.
Banna Desta is an Eritrean and Ethiopian-American writer known for her compelling work for the stage and screen, crafting stories about and for the African diaspora. Desta’s stage work has been supported and developed by esteemed institutions such as SPACE on Ryder Farm, Audible Theater, Rattlestick Theater, Project Y Theater, Atlantic Theater Company, National Black Theater, and the Dramatists Guild Foundation. She holds an MFA in Dramatic Writing from NYU, where she currently teaches undergraduate students. Her latest work, premiering at the Women in Theatre Festival, exemplifies her commitment to telling authentic and impactful stories.
Antu Yacob, an Ethiopian-American artist raised in the U.S., has an impressive list of onscreen credits, including roles in “Rob Peace” (written and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor), “Inventing Anna,” “The Other Two,” “Night Comes On,” “Daredevil,” “Gypsy,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Adieu Lacan,” and “Signs of Aging.” Her theater credits are equally distinguished, with performances in The Fire This Time Festival, American Slavery Project, Primary Stages, Sheen Center, Goodman Theatre, Luna Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Mixed Blood Theatre, and Pangea World Theatre. As an Associate Producer at Project Y Theatre, Yacob curates the All Hands on Deck series and is slated for a world premiere under The Philly Cycle play commission in 2025. She holds an MFA from MGSA/Rutgers University.
Landon G. Woodson and Antu Yacob. (Photo courtesy of Anthony Artis)
“Bygone Fruit” also features Landon G. Woodson, a native of Passaic, New Jersey, and an MFA graduate from Rutgers University, alongside Celestine Rae, a director, actress, dancer, and educator. Rae’s artistic journey began as a modern dancer in her hometown of Philadelphia, where she studied at Philadanco!, Koresh, and Soliloquy in Motion Dance Studios. Her multi-faceted background brings a unique depth to her performances and direction.
Project Y Theatre’s Women in Theatre Festival, running from June 6-23, is dedicated to presenting works by and about women. This year’s festival features two World Premiere productions, including one by Banna Desta, alongside an evening of one-act plays adapted from a work by the first woman playwright.
Don’t miss the chance to witness the extraordinary talents of Banna Desta, Antu Yacob, Landon G. Woodson, and Celestine Rae, and celebrate the culmination of the Women in Theatre Festival this weekend.
Tonight, Ethiopian pianist and composer, Girma Yifrashewa, will make his debut at Carnegie Hall in New York City. At Zankel Hall, he will present "Peace unto Ethiopia: An Anthology of Original Works and Tributes." (Photo by Josh Sisk)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: June 17, 2024
New York (TADIAS) — Today, Carnegie Hall will witness a historic moment as Girma Yifrashewa, the first African classical pianist, takes center stage. His groundbreaking performance marks a significant milestone for the world of classical music, heralding a new era of recognition for African musicians in the classical genre.
The concert, titled “Peace Unto Ethiopia: An Anthology of Original Works and Tributes,” is a poignant and timely composition by the esteemed Ethiopian ethnomusicologist Dr. Ashenafi Kebede.
Girma Yifrashewa, a celebrated Ethiopian pianist, is known for seamlessly blending Western art music with Ethiopian folk melodies, showcasing his artistry and commitment to sharing Ethiopia’s rich cultural heritage.
The Message
The concert serves as a powerful, non-political reminder of the universality of peace, extending to individuals, nations, continents, and the entire world. It also highlights the all-encompassing nature of peace, extending even to wildlife.
Background
Ethiopia has a rich history in the arts, contributing notable figures like Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou, a legendary composer and pianist who left an indelible mark on the world of music.
This concert is not just a performance; it’s a call to unity, inviting a diverse audience to celebrate the power of music to bridge divides and promote peace.
Video: Watch Girma Yifrashewa Live in Ethiopia January 30, 2020
—-
If You Go:
The organizer, African Symposium, is dedicated to producing socially responsible events in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
For tickets and more information, please visit Carnegie Hall.
Julie Mehretu and her BMW Art Car #20 at the world premiere at the Centre Pompidou, Paris, May 21, 2024. (Photo: Courtesy of BMW)
Tadias Magazine
By Selam Amare
Updated: June 19th, 2024
Paris (TADIAS/Habeshaview) — The unveiling of the 20th BMW Art Car in Paris last week was a significant event, with representatives from Tadias magazine and Habeshaview in attendance. This collaboration between BMW and world-renowned New York-based, Ethiopia-born artist Julie Mehretu represented a major milestone in the Art Cars series and a broader cultural initiative designed to foster creativity across Africa.
Julie Mehretu, one of the most influential artists of our time, has made an indelible mark on the global art scene. “Julie Mehretu’s vision for a racing car is an extraordinarily strong contribution to our BMW Art Cars series,” stated Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. “Julie Mehretu has created more than an amazing Art Car. Her ideas provided the impetus for us to expand the cultural commitment of our Art Cars to promote the creativity of young artists in Africa.”
Unveiling of the BMW Art Car #20 designed by Julie Mehretu at the world premiere at the Centre Pompidou, Paris, 21 May 2024. (Photo: Courtesy of BMW)
Julie Mehretu and Hervé Poulain (initiator of the BMW Art Car Collection and former French motorsports racing driver) Photo: Courtesy of BMW
World premiere of the BMW Art Car #20 by Julie Mehretu, Centre Pompidou, Paris, May 21, 2024. F.l.t.r.: Oliver Zipse (Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG), Mehret Mandefro (producer, writer and co-founder of the Realness Institute), Julie Mehretu, Koyo Kouoh (Member of the BMW Art Car Jury and Executive Director and Chief Curator, Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town) and Laurent Le Bon (President of the Centre Pompidou).
Fostering Creative Collaboration in Africa
The project aspires to create a collaborative space for artists and filmmakers across the continent, facilitating exchanges of ideas and fostering the development of new pathways toward a just civic future. This initiative includes a series of PanAfrican Translocal Media Workshops, organized by Emmy-nominated producer, writer, and co-founder of the Realness Institute, Mehret Mandefro. These workshops will tour various African cities throughout 2025 and 2026, strengthening the media ecosystem in Africa and culminating in a major exhibition at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town. The PanAfrican Translocal Workshop series will visit Dakar (Senegal), Marrakech (Morocco), Kigali (Rwanda), Lagos (Nigeria), and Cape Town (South Africa). The outcomes of these workshops will be showcased alongside the 20th BMW Art Car at the Zeitz Museum in the first half of 2026.
Ethiopia still on the list
Given Julie Mehretu and Mehret Mandefro’s Ethiopian heritage, the question arose about the Art Car’s absence from Ethiopia. “That was the intention, it was always going to be Addis Ababa,” Mehretu explained. “Then things got complicated. Ethiopia is still on the list if we can make it happen. We would love to do something in Addis; it’s just so complicated at the moment, and that is sad for us Ethiopians.”
Julie’s “performative painting” for the Art Car manifests kinetically, transitioning from canvas to the race car. The artwork evolves with the car, only reaching completion at the finish line. This unique challenge required a balance between artistic vision and technical regulations, as traditional painting or airbrushing could affect the car’s aerodynamics. “We had 3D renderings, digital models, and a one-fifth scale maquette in the studio,” Julie explained. “We printed onto foils, applied them to the maquette, and made numerous adjustments. This digital process allowed the car to ‘inhale’ the painting and travel through it.”
Julie Mehretu’s work often addresses socially conscious themes, including social justice and activism. Reflecting on the current state of the world, she expressed, “We keep repeating patterns of conflict and inequality. It’s ludicrous that in the 21st century, we still face starvation and war. We all strive for liberation, but peace (ሰላም) is essential for any progress.”
By innovatively reinventing the wheel, Julie highlights the vital role of artists in society. They contribute to the overall health, development, and well-being of our communities, providing joy, interaction, and inspiration, while also critiquing political, economic, and social systems to drive social progress.
Reflecting on her creative process with the Art Car, Julie shared, “This experience outside of painting allowed my imagination to explore new possibilities. The idea of a vehicle moving through a painting and transforming it was profound. It taught me to complicate my paintings further and significantly impacted my work.”
Her advice to future generations of artists is clear: “Focus on your work, and it will take care of you. There is no formula for success. Read everything, pay attention to the world beyond algorithms, and be committed to evolving your craft.”
Julie Mehretu is a source of immense pride for Ethiopia, an asset to the continent, and an inspiration for young artists in the Ethiopian diaspora for generations to come.
In the following article, Dr. Nemo Semret, co-founder of QRB Labs, the pioneering company that introduced Bitcoin mining to Ethiopia, shares insights on the benefits and drawbacks of the Bitcoin potential in the country, alongside the recent global media attention on this subject. (Photo: The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam serves as an abundant power source for Bitcoin miners/Getty Images)
In the last few months, media have been buzzing about Bitcoin mining in Ethiopia. For Bitcoiners, it is part of the story of Africa as the new frontier in the much desired geographic diversification of Bitcoin mining – a perspective I agree with. In mainstream Western media, it’s sometimes framed as yet another example of China in Africa. That framing, while not inaccurate, I think casts a geopolitical shadow that obscures the national perspective. Others portray it as a desperate attempt by Africans for a “quick fix” to foreign currency shortages — not false but a bit condescending and missing the bigger picture. So, let’s shine a bit more light on it from the Ethiopian point of view (Shadow, light… sorry I couldn’t muster some “dark clouds” to complete the trifecta of clichés!)
Full disclosure: I’m a co-founder of QRB Labs, the first company to introduce Bitcoin mining to the country. We’ve been quietly working since 2021 to do this the “right way” against tremendous odds. But this post is not our company’s story. It’s a skin-in-the-game opinion about how this industry should evolve for the benefit of the country. To highlight the good it can do. But also the risk of bad, and ugly.
The Good
First let’s talk about the positive. Energy in Ethiopia and Bitcoin mining are a match made in heaven.
In Ethiopia, electricity generation capacity is growing very rapidly. From 2GW in 2020 to over 10GW in the next couple of years. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (which I’ve written about before) is the biggest and most famous step in that growth, but there are many projects contributing to it. All of course phenomenally good. Indeed, practically nothing is better for economic growth and broadly improving lives than electrification. For comparison, the average Ethiopian has 1/50th the electricity of an American. So, until we get to 100GW at least, another 1000% growth, increasing generation is unquestionably necessary.
But there’s a catch. It is extremely difficult and expensive to deliver that energy to users. In the case of Ethiopia, some estimate that $10B of investment and years of hard work are needed for transmission and distribution to catch up to generation. In the meantime, up to half of the generated energy remains unused. Which means the investment in generation takes longer to pay for itself. Meanwhile how do you finance the transmission and distribution? It’s a huge chicken and egg problem, and it’s unavoidable when there is rapid growth.
In more developed countries, capacity may not be doubling or quadrupling but a similar problem exists with solar and wind power. Huge investments in supply are needed, but the demand may not match up with the supply, since consumption peaks don’t line up perfectly with the times when the sun shines or the wind blows. Whether caused by the difference between the time of generation and consumption, or by the distance, this is the problem of “stranded energy”.
Now what if there was a way to make money from stranded energy? In Ethiopia, this revenue could help accelerate electrification! That’s where Bitcoin comes in:
Tadesse Mesfin, Column of Rhythm I, 2022. (Courtesy of Addis Fine Art)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: May 7th, 2024
New York (TADIAS) — This week a captivating group exhibition featuring paintings, textiles, and mixed-media works by artists from Ethiopia and its diasporas will take place at the NADA Exhibition Space in New York City. The exhibition’s private view kicks off on May 8th from 6 to 9 pm.
Hosted by the New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) at their gallery in the Lower East Side, this showcase brings together a diverse array of artists at various stages of their careers. Among the talents featured are Dawit Adnew, Adiskidan Ambaye, Tesfaye Bekele, Merikokeb Berhanu, Tizta Berhanu, Noah Beyene, Henok Getachew, Engdaye Lemma, Tadesse Mesfin, Helina Metaferia, Selome Muleta, Nirit Takele, and Tesfaye Urgessa.
This exhibition serves as a poignant tribute to the enduring contributions of artists from the Horn of Africa, both within the region and across the globe. At a time when Ethiopia’s rich artistic heritage is gaining widespread recognition, this showcase provides a platform for dialogue and celebration. It is an exciting opportunity to showcase the diverse talent and cultural wealth emanating from the region, characterized by its transnational and cross-generational connections.
Don’t miss the chance to immerse yourself in this vibrant exhibition, which promises to be a testament to the richness and dynamism of contemporary Ethiopian art.
Julie Mehretu, the World renown Ethiopia-born artist, is the creator of the 20th BMW Art Car, which is set to make its official world premiere in Paris on May 21, 2024. (Photo: courtesy BMW Group)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: April 27th, 2024
New York (TADIAS) — Artist Julie Mehretu and producer Mehret Mandefro are slated to hold an engaging conversation facilitated by the Realness Institute, in Cannes, France next month.
Julie is the creative force behind the 20th BMW Art Car, set to make its official world premiere at the Centre Pompidou in Paris on May 21, 2024.
The discussion, as announced, will center on “building artist-led collectives that prioritize fellowship and knowledge sharing as avenues to empowerment,” showcasing initiatives such as the Pan African Translocal Media Workshop, a collaborative effort involving Realness, the artist-founded residency Denniston Hill, and BMW. Moderated by Dr. Thomas Girst, Head of Cultural Engagement at BMW Group, this conversation promises to delve into the intersection of art, community, and social change.
Following its unveiling, the 20th BMW Art Car will embark on a global tour, captivating audiences in museums and art platforms across the world. As emphasized by the BMW Group’s Cultural Engagement office in its press release, Julie Mehretu’s artistic vision transcends the confines of the vehicle itself.
A pivotal aspect of the project is the PanAfricanTranslocal Media Workshop Series, slated to continue the collaboration between Julie Mehretu and BMW in 2025. Teaming up with Mehret Mandefro, an Emmy-nominated producer and co-founder of the Realness Institute, Mehretu will lead workshops in eight African cities over nine months, providing a platform for artists to connect, exchange ideas, and collaborate. The culmination of these workshops will be showcased alongside the 20th BMW Art Car at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town.
An essential partner in realizing this ambitious program is the artist residency Denniston Hill in Upstate New York, founded in 2004 by Julie Mehretu, Lawrence Chua, and Paul Pfeiffer.
Julie Mehretu’s selection to design the 20th BMW Art Car in 2018, endorsed by a jury of esteemed representatives from the international art world, underscores her exceptional talent and creative vision.
New York (TADIAS) — Renowned Ethiopian-born artist Julie Mehretu is set to make history as the creator of the 20th BMW Art Car, marking a thrilling fusion of art, automotive design, and speed. The culmination of Julie’s creative vision will be unveiled at the Centre Pompidou in Paris on May 21, 2024, before making its racing debut at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. This groundbreaking collaboration promises to redefine the intersection of art and motorsport, as artist translates her monumental motifs onto the dynamic canvas of the BMW M Hybrid V8 racing car prototype.
Julie’s approach to the BMW Art Car project exemplifies her unparalleled ability to capture dynamism and translate it into form. Drawing inspiration from her extensive body of work, she employs a diverse palette of colors and forms, including obscured photographs, dotted grids, and neon-colored spray paint. The result is an abstract visual narrative that seamlessly integrates with the contours of the vehicle, creating a stunning work of art on wheels.
Central to Julie Mehretu’s creative process is the collaboration with the German Race Spirit team, led by Manuel Eberl and Gertraud Brenninger, who are responsible for realizing the intricate design on the BMW M Hybrid V8. Through a meticulous process of 3D mapping and high-resolution imaging, Julie’s artwork is transformed into a dynamic foil wrap that adorns the racing car, ensuring both aesthetic excellence and compliance with FIA regulations.
The unveiling of the BMW Art Car at the Centre Pompidou marks a momentous occasion in the history of the BMW Art Car Collection. Following in the footsteps of iconic artists such as Alexander Calder and Jeff Koons, Mehretu’s creation will be showcased alongside masterpieces of contemporary art, reinforcing the close connection between art and motorsport.
Beyond its racing debut at Le Mans, Julie’s BMW Art Car will embark on a global journey, becoming an exhibit in museums and art platforms worldwide. However, Julie’s's vision extends far beyond the confines of the racing track, as she seeks to inspire a new generation of artists through the PanAfricanTranslocal Media Workshop Series. In collaboration with Emmy-nominated producer Mehret Mandefro, Julie will host workshops in eight African cities, providing young creatives with a platform for collaboration and exchange.
Julie Mehretu’s selection as the designer of the 20th BMW Art Car reflects the BMW Group’s commitment to fostering creativity and innovation. With unrestricted creative freedom, Julie has reimagined the BMW Art Car as a symbol of artistic expression and technological innovation, setting a new standard for the intersection of art and automotive design.
As the world eagerly awaits the unveiling of Julie Mehretu’s BMW Art Car, the BMW Group invites enthusiasts to follow its cultural engagement initiatives on Instagram at @BMWGroupCulture, offering exclusive updates and deeper insights into its global initiatives.
The musical ensemble includes Bubu Teklemariam (krar), Endris Hassen (masinko), Selamnesh Zemene (vocalist), Misale Legesse (kebero) and Kaethe Hostetter (violin). Courtesy photo.
Tadias Magazine
Updated: April 23rd, 2024
New York (TADIAS) — This month, QWANQWA, the traditional musical ensemble from Ethiopia, launched their highly anticipated 2024 Spring Tour across North America. With an extensive lineup of 39 concerts spanning numerous states from New York to California, this tour promises to be a vibrant celebration of cultural diversity, musical prowess, and the unifying power of music.
The ensemble includes Endris Hassen (masinko), Kaethe Hostetter (violin), Bubu Teklemariam (bass krar), Selamnesh Zemene (vocalist), and Misale Legesse (kebero).
Founded by California native Kaethe Hostetter, QWANQWA, originating from the vibrant nightlife scene of Addis Ababa, represents a fusion of diverse musical influences and talents. The essence of QWANQWA lies in its diverse ensemble, featuring traditional Ethiopian instruments such as the masinko and krar, alongside sounds of violin and electronic beats.
Hostetter, who lived in Ethiopia for more than a decade, says each member brings their unique background and expertise, enriching the ensemble’s sound and creating a dynamic musical experience.
“My journey with Ethiopian music began in the early 2000s, around 2002, when I met Danny Mekonnen [Ethiopian-American saxophonist and leader of Debo band],” Hostetter recalled in an interview with Tadias Magazine. “We shared a similar musical taste and had friends in common. My exploration of Ethiopian music with him evolved from an interest into a practice group, then a performing group, which led to a band invitation to Ethiopia, where I discovered traditional instruments. This journey ultimately led to the formation of QWANQWA. I was so captivated by everything in Ethiopia that I found myself there for 11 years.”
Selamnesh Zemene and Kaethe Hostetter. (Courtesy photo)
Reflecting on the significance of this tour, Hostetter emphasizes the universal language of music in fostering connections across cultures. “We want this to be a place where differences are set aside, and we come together in the name of music as a universal language,” she said. “That’s why we chose the name QWANQWA, symbolizing unity and peace.”
New Album
In addition to their live performances, QWANQWA is releasing a new live album during the tour, capturing the energy and spirit of their electrifying concerts. This vinyl release offers fans a chance to experience the magic of QWANQWA’s music in the comfort of their homes, further extending the reach of their message of unity and harmony.
Courtesy photo
QWANQWA invites music lovers everywhere to follow them on social media for behind-the-scenes glimpses and updates on their journey. Through Instagram and Facebook, fans can join in the excitement and be part of this extraordinary musical experience.
Tickets will be released on Carnegie's website starting Monday, April 22nd, 2024. (Courtesy photo)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: April 18th, 2024
New York (TADIAS) — Secure your seats for Girma Yifrashewa’s eagerly awaited performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City this summer. Tickets will be released for purchase on Carnegie’s website starting Monday, April 22nd. The concert, entitled “Peace unto Ethiopia: An Anthology of Original Works and Tributes,” marks Girma’s inaugural appearance at this prestigious venue and is slated for June 17th at Zankel Hall.
Organizers have disclosed that Girma will present a repertoire of original compositions and pay homage to Ethiopian composers Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou and Dr. Ashenafi Kebede. Renowned for his seamless fusion of Ethiopian and African folk melodies with Western classical music, Girma will also feature works by Louis Moreau Gottschalk alongside his latest compositions.
About Girma Yifrashewa
As detailed on his website, Girma Yifrashewa, hailing from Addis Ababa, discovered his passion for music in his formative years, mastering the Kirar before transitioning to the piano at the age of 16. His musical journey led him to the Yared School of Music in Addis Ababa and later to the Sofia State Conservatory of Music in Bulgaria, where he pursued a Masters in Piano under the tutelage of Professor Atanas Kurtev. Despite facing numerous challenges, Girma’s determination brought him back to Bulgaria, where he distinguished himself as a solo pianist, interpreting renowned classical works. Returning to Ethiopia in 1995, Girma shared his expertise by teaching at the Yared School of Music while continuing to showcase Ethiopian and classical music on the global stage. His international tours and collaborative ventures have graced prestigious venues worldwide, garnering acclaim from The New York Times and invitations to esteemed festivals and symposiums.
This year, Girma will make his debut at Carnegie Hall, a testament to his international recognition and artistic brilliance. Additionally, as a faculty member at Addis Ababa University and the director of the Ashenafi Kebede Performing Arts Center, he spearheads a new wave of music, solidifying his position as a distinguished pianist and ambassador of Ethiopian music and heritage.
Video: Watch Girma Yifrashewa Live in Ethiopia January 30, 2020
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If You Go:
Reserve your seat at carnegiehall.org when tickets become available on April 22, 2024.
This summer, Ethiopian pianist and composer, Girma Yifrashewa, will make his debut at Carnegie Hall in New York City. On June 17th, 2024 at Zankel Hall, he will present "Peace unto Ethiopia: An Anthology of Original Works and Tributes." (Photo by Josh Sisk)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: March 29th, 2024
New York (TADIAS) — The acclaimed Ethiopian pianist and composer, Girma Yifrashewa, is set to grace the stage of Carnegie Hall in New York City this summer. Scheduled for June 17th at Zankel Hall, the concert, titled “Peace unto Ethiopia: An Anthology of Original Works and Tributes,” marks Girma’s debut performance at the prestigious venue.
Born in Addis Ababa in 1967, Girma’s musical journey began at a young age with the Kirar. His passion for music led him to the Yared School of Music in Addis Ababa, where he was introduced to the piano at the age of 16. Despite facing challenges, including the loss of his scholarship due to political turmoil, Girma’s determination led him to continue his studies at the Sofia State Conservatory of Music in Bulgaria, where he graduated with a Masters in Piano.
Girma’s time in Bulgaria shaped his career as a solo pianist, where he showcased his talent through performances of classical works by renowned composers such as Schumann, Schubert, Chopin, and Debussy. His preference for the music of Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven reflects his well-determined approach to classical music.
Returning to Ethiopia in 1995, Girma taught piano at the Yared School of Music and furthered his studies through scholarships in London and Leipzig. Today, he works tirelessly to promote Ethiopian and classical music across the globe.
As Girma Yifrashewa prepares to captivate audiences at Carnegie Hall, his performance promises to be a celebration of Ethiopian music and a testament to his remarkable journey as a pianist and composer. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.
Video: Watch Girma Yifrashewa Live in Ethiopia January 30, 2020
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If You Go:
Find out more at carnegiehall.org when tickets become available.
Dr. Lia Tadesse Gebremedhin. (Photo: Kent Dayton/Harvard)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: March 12, 2024
New York (TADIAS) – Dr. Lia Tadesse emerged as a pivotal leader in Ethiopia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, assuming her role on March 12, 2020, the day after the virus was classified as a global health emergency. In the face of adversity, she swiftly moved to announce the country’s first confirmed case of coronavirus and outlined the various measures her office was implementing to mitigate the emerging crisis, showcasing her adept leadership. Dr. Lia is credited for approaching the pandemic not only as a challenge but also as a chance to improve the nation’s healthcare infrastructure. “We aimed to respond not just in the short-term, but also for the long-term,” she explained. “It was an opportunity to bolster the entire health system.”
Ethiopia’s proactive measures, including the expansion of the public health workforce and enhanced access to critical care, proved instrumental in mitigating the virus’s impact.
This month, Harvard University announced that Dr. Lia would lead its Ministerial Program, a collaborative initiative involving the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard Kennedy School, and Harvard Graduate School of Education. Dr. Lia, an OB/GYN by training, brings a wealth of experience to her new role, having previously served as Ethiopia’s Deputy Minister of Health, a provost at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College in Addis Ababa, and a program director for various international maternal and child health projects. Before assuming her role at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Lia Tadesse held the position of Program Director at the University of Michigan’s Center for International Reproductive Health Training (CIRHT) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. During her tenure, she effectively collaborated with various institutions in Ethiopia and Rwanda to enhance the quality of reproductive health services and training.
Reflecting on her extensive leadership experience, Dr. Lia emphasized the importance of visionary leadership in bringing about meaningful transformation. I” know that the ability to make positive change is related to how strong a leader is,” she said. “Anything I can contribute to improving leadership around the world truly excites me.”
The Ethiopian Community Mutual Assistance Association (ECMAA) and the Ethio-Eritrean Student Association at Columbia University co-hosted an event commemorating Adwa and Yekatit 12 on Saturday, February 24th, 2024. (Photo courtesy of ECMAA)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: February 27th, 2024
New York (TADIAS) – This past weekend in New York, the Ethiopian Community Mutual Assistance Association (ECMAA) collaborated with students at Columbia University to celebrate Adwa and commemorate Yekatit 12.
The event, held at Learner Hall on the Columbia campus, drew a full house and featured filmmakers, scholars, community leaders, and various award presentations. Notable guest speakers included Dr. Aklilu Habte, historian David B. Spielman, and NYC professor and filmmaker Yemane Demissie.
The program was both entertaining and educational, featuring engaging trivia competitions about Adwa and Yekatit 12 organized by the Ethiopian and Eritrean students association at Columbia University. Below are photos from the event, courtesy of ECMAA.
(Photo courtesy of ECMAA)
(Photo courtesy of ECMAA)
Dr. Aklilu Habte and professor and filmmaker Yemane Demissie. (Photo courtesy of ECMAA)
Liben Eabisa, Co-founder & Publisher of Tadias Magazine was honored at the event held on Saturday, February 24th, 2024, at Columbia University, New York. (Photo courtesy of ECMAA)
(Photo courtesy of ECMAA)
ECMAA honored the late Mr. Tesfaye Asfaw posthumously for his tireless advocacy for Ethiopian immigrants in the New York tri-state area. Mrs. Asfaw graciously accepted the award on behalf of her late husband during the event held on Saturday, February 24th, 2024, at Columbia University, New York. (Photo courtesy of ECMAA)
Berhane Tadese, Advisory Board Member of ECMAA, addressing attendees during the event held on Saturday, February 24th, 2024, at Columbia University, New York. (Photo courtesy of ECMAA)
The event also honored distinguished individuals: Dr. Zergabachew Asfaw, a founding member of the Hakim Workineh and Malaku Beyan Society of Physicians in North America; Mr. Nicola A. DeMarco, JD, for his dedicated commitment to advancing the goals of the Global Alliance for Justice and the Ethiopia Cause (CAJEC) and contributing to the Yekatit 12 annual program; Dr. Wolde G. Mariam, a founding member of ECMAA; and Professor Ayele Bekerie, in recognition of his outstanding research and writing on the historical significance of Adwa.
New York (TADIAS) – In the following article, Professor Ayele Bekerie, Coordinator of the PhD Program in Heritage Studies at the Institute of Paleo-Environment and Heritage Conservation at Mekelle University in Ethiopia, reflects on the international significance of Ethiopia’s 128th anniversary of the victory at Adwa this coming week. In his piece, Professor Ayele – who is the author of “One House: The Battle of Adwa 1896 -100 Years” – compares, Ethiopia’s success at Adwa with Haiti’s triumph over Napoleon’s French army much earlier in the Western Hemisphere, which, like Adwa, also inspired global Pan-African movements. However, as Professor Ayele points out, despite their well-deserved and proud history, both countries have yet to achieve the peace, stability, and long-term economic prosperity that follow for this and future generations.
Special thanks to Professor Ayele Bekerie for his years of research and dedication to educating all of us about the importance of preserving Ethiopia’s Adwa legacy, including through his annual articles in Tadias Magazine for the past 20 years, and his call for Ethiopia’s victory at Adwa to be included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This weekend at Columbia University here in New York, Professor Ayele, who used to live in New York and taught at Cornell University before returning to Ethiopia, was honored with a Certificate of Recognition by The Ethiopian Community Mutual Assistance Association (ECMAA) for his commitment to the topic. We congratulate Professor Ayele on a well-deserved recognition. Below is his latest article
Haiti and Ethiopia: Triumphs Against Colonialism, Inspirations of Pan-Africanism”
By Ayele Bekerie, PhD
February 25, 2024
Ethiopia — The Haitian Revolution, a revolution that started as insurrections, resulted in the abolition of enslavement and the establishment of an independent Black state in the then Santo Domingo and now Haiti. The revolt that included “coalition of Africans, Mulattoes, Maroons, Commanders, House Slaves, Field Slaves and Free Blacks” began in 1791 and culminated in 1804 with perhaps the first successful abolition of slavery in the Americas and the Caribbean.
The Battle of Adwa, on the other hand, dealt a deadly first blow against expansive settler or non-settler colonialism in Africa and elsewhere. The victory at Adwa scrambled the agreements made among Europeans on “smoking table” at Berlin in 1884/85. It was twelve years later, in 1896, an Ethiopian army decisively defeated the Italian army, thereby inscribing the beginning of the end of colonialism in Africa and elsewhere. The Battle took place at a time when the colonial era was well advanced throughout the African continent. The Haitian Revolution and the Battle of Adwa represent epic struggles and successful resistance against a global system of oppression, otherwise called European colonialism.
According. To Ngugi Wa Thiango, under the Slave Trade, the African body is commodified, under the Slave Plantation System, Africa supplies unpaid labor that works the sugar and cotton fields, under colonialism, Africa supplies raw materials, such as gold, diamonds, copper, uranium, coffee, cocoa – without having control over the prices. He further explained that, at present, the neocolonial system set to prevent complete decolonization and agency through the entanglement of debts, debt servicing, and conditionalities that turn Arica into a net exporter of the very capital it most needs.
In Haiti, the enslaver and the enslaved are outsiders. The island originally belonged to Arawak Indians, who were almost wiped out by the new colonizers: the Spaniard and the French. After they decimated the Indians, the French, the British, the Dutch, the Portuguese and the Spaniards were engaged in trade in enslavement. Millions were captured and loaded on ships for horrendous journeys to the Americas and the Caribbean to work in various plantations under brutal conditions. “Of all the major Caribbean islands, Haiti was the most brutal towards the enslaved Africans with 10% of the population dying every year under French colonial rule” .The passage over the Atlantic was called the Middle Passage in which large numbers of captured Africans lost their lives before they even reached their final destinations.
Haitians were originally from West Africa and Central Africa, spanning from Senegal to the Congo. Most Haitians practice both Vodoun and Roman Catholicism, in syncretic form. Secret societies were formed to fight against enslavement under the cover of traditional religious practices. Secret gatherings gave the enslaved moments of seeing each other as fellow human beings. Even for few hours, those moments enable the enslaved to plan and act on living free. The enslaved successfully conducted a revolt that resulted in the formation of a Black Republic in the Western Hemisphere.
The successful revolt in Haiti just like the successful and irreversible victory at the Battle of Adwa, became a source of inspiration for all enslaved Africans and colonized people in the Caribbean, the Americas as well as Africa. Resistance against the systems has increased after the Haitian Revolution and victory at Adwa. For instance, the Louisiana territories carried out armed resistance against the French system of enslavement. Napoleon, as a result, was forced to sell the territories to the United States.
Early in the 19 th century, Haiti helped Brazil, Guyana, Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Peru, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Bolivia to obtain their independence. Various modes of resistance proliferated right after the successful revolt in Haiti. Some managed to self-liberate themselves, others mutinied by burning the sugar cane or cotton plantations. In Haiti, the uprisings against enslavement was led by leaders such as Toussaint Louverture (1743-1803), Henri Christophe (1767-1820) and Jean Jacques Dessalines (1758-1806).
Santo Domingo was regarded by far the most profitable colonial estate to France. France prospered from exploited labor. Enslaved Africans worked hard and died young and penniless. As property of the system, they were denied basic rights. They were condemned to forced and harsh labor for life. Any attempt to veer off from the orders and the master meant harsh deadly punishment. They were treated inhumanely and = subjected to daily humiliations.
France managed to accumulate enough wealth to become a global power of the era. A system that relied on brute force is, however, bound to face resistance. Human beings are created to live free and, therefore, Haitians conducted a series of insurrections until they were able to dismantle slavery and form their own independent state. Traditions that were brought from Africa formed the basis of their resistance. Enslaved Africans and their supporters would hold a series of secret meetings to organize and act against the system of slavery.
Among the main causes of the Haitian Revolution was the French Revolution. The revolt for equality, dignity and brotherhood of the French people was taken to heart by the enslaved in Haiti. The French Revolution of 1789 “touched off uprisings among enslaved Africans in the Caribbean.”
Haiti and Ethiopia, who were regarded as unresolved problems of European colonization, have been suffering “considerable political and economic repercussions ever since.” The majority of the people in both countries have been leading precarious lives. Stability and peace are remote and internecine conflicts continue to undermine the quest for leading the lives the people want.
Dr. Benito Sylvain of Haiti had the opportunity to establish contact with Ethiopia when he travelled to Addis Ababa from Paris immediately after Adwa victory in 1896 and he met with Emperor Menelik II. Sylvain sought leading roles for Ethiopia and Haiti in Pan-African movements. He also represented the two countries at the first Pan-African Conference in London in 1900.
The symbolic and historic significance of Haiti and Ethiopia to the protracted struggle against colonialism cannot be ignored nor underestimated. The people of Haiti and Ethiopia have changed the course of global history. Pan-African Movements were immensely inspired by Haitians’ victory over Napoleon’s army and Ethiopians’ decisive defeat of the would-be Italian colonizers.
The historic accomplishments of Ethiopians and Haitians did not get as much coverage and recognition. It is time that a new Pan-African movement draw a workable plan of cooperation so that the people of Haiti and Ethiopia lead meaningful lives.
Theo Eshetu, The Return of the Axum Obelisk, 2009, Video, Collection of the artist, courtesy of The Met
Tadias Magazine
Updated: February 23rd, 2024
New York (TADIAS) – The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) in New York is currently hosting its inaugural exhibition exploring the intersections between African and Byzantine art, with a significant focus on Ethiopia. In our ongoing interview series, we delve deeper into this topic with Dr. Andrea Achi, Curator of this groundbreaking exhibition at the MET.
TADIAS: What significance does Ethiopia hold within the context of this exhibition?
Dr. Andrea Achi: Ethiopia was closely connected to the Romans and Byzantines religiously, politically, and through shared artistic traditions. The Axum Empire became a Christian nation even before the Roman Empire. The Axumites were close political allies to the Byzantines, participating in proxy wars to help secure the Byzantine borders and remained close partners with the Byzantines for centuries.
Installation view of Africa & Byzantium at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo by Anna Marie Kellen, courtesy of The Met
Photo by Anna Marie Kellen, courtesy of The Met
Photo by Anna Marie Kellen, courtesy of The Met
TADIAS: Could you elaborate on Ethiopia’s rich artistic and cultural heritage and how the exhibition redefines conventional perceptions of Byzantium and Africa, particularly in its portrayal of Ethiopian art and culture?
Dr. Achi: Africa & Byzantium showcases Ethiopia’s rich artistic and cultural legacy extending over nearly two millennia. The Aksumite city of Adulis connected the Mediterranean trade with the Red Sea and the Indian ocean, facilitating transregional exchange. From there, the Axumites exported locally made objects such as worked glass, ivory, and metal, which circulated throughout the Mediterranean basin.
By beginning with Roman North Africa and ending with Ethiopia, Africa & Byzantium situates Ethiopian art and culture directly within the context of Byzantine artistic legacies. Previous exhibitions of Ethiopian art, particularly in the United States, have rightly focused on tracing the history of Ethiopian visual and material culture across the centuries. Africa & Byzantium places Ethiopian art in conversation with the artistic traditions of neighboring regions in East Africa, including Nubia and Egypt, demonstrating not only the liturgical concordances between these area through their shared Orthodox faith, while also encouraging the visitor to draw visual parallels between these artistic traditions. Although Ethiopia was never formally part of the Byzantine Empire, this context is important to further understand Ethiopia’s global connections with the regions that were within the domain of Byzantium, such as Egypt. It also complicates our understandings of the art of Byzantine Egypt and North Africa – rather than seeing the artistic tradition of these regions as a monolith, seeing these various regional artistic legacies in the same space encourages our audience to highlight the differences as well as the similarities between these distinct, yet related, visual expressions.
Photo by Anna Marie Kellen, courtesy of The Met
TADIAS: The discussion among the featured contemporary artists, including Tsedaye Makonnen and Theo Eshetu, reflecting on the exhibition was truly captivating. Given the exhibition’s exploration of the lasting impact stemming from interactions between North Africa, Egypt, Nubia, Ethiopia, and Byzantium, could you provide further insights into how these artistic exchanges have shaped contemporary artistic practices?
Dr. Andrea AchI: Many of the Christian communities of North Africa, Egypt, Nubia, Ethiopia, and Byzantium are linked through their shared Orthodox faith, which shaped these region’s artistic traditions. In Africa & Byzantium, we see artists responding to this legacy, such as with Tsedaye Makonnen’s light sculptures, which feature incised forms of Ethiopian crosses on their modular structures. Other artists, such as Azza El Siddique, who is Sudanese-American, are thinking about how these cross-regional connections are shaped through shared ritual practices, such as through her work on Nubian and Egyptian perfume and scent. As a result of their shared geography, many of these regions also experienced colonial occupation, which profoundly affected how medieval art and heritage from the region is viewed and understood. In his work in the exhibition, The Return of the Axum Obelisk, and others, Theo Eshetu is reflective of this legacy: his work directly considers issues of provenance, repatriation, and cultural heritage, which are front of mind for many of the nation states that are in the regions of North Africa, Egypt, Nubia, and Ethiopia. These regional colonial histories have also in part resulted in the migration of these communities to North America and Europe – many of these artists hold dual nationalities. Tsedaye and the Ethiopian-American artist Tariku Shiferaw are also thinking about this history of immigration, and Shiferaw’s work deals with what it means to exist as an immigrant in the West, and how to fit this explicitly transnational practice within the canon of Western art history.
Installation view of Africa & Byzantium at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo by Anna Marie Kellen, courtesy of The Met
TADIAS: Lastly, for those unable to attend the exhibition in person, are there alternative avenues for accessing its content?
Dr. Andrea AchI: The exhibition is accompanied by a richly illustrated catalogue available for purchase, featuring the research of over forty contributors spanning from the subfields of medieval art history, history, archaeology, and literary criticism. Photographs of the exhibition’s objects are included in the catalogue, accompanied by scholarly texts. A virtual tour of the exhibition, led by the show’s curator, is also available online. Other digital offerings on the museum’s website include the exhibition’s full audio guide, as well as photography of the exhibition objects with accompanying explanatory text. These are arranged in order of their display in the galleries to best simulate the in-person visitor’s experience.
Special thanks to Michelle Al-Ferzly at the MET for her assistance with the Q&A.
Video: Exhibition Tour—Africa & Byzantium | Met Exhibitions
If You Go:
Next week, the MET will present Tsedaye Makonnen for a “site-specific performance that journeys through the history of the Byzantine Era’s African diaspora.” This show coincides with the display of her Astral Sea textiles as part of The Met’s Africa & Byzantium exhibition.
At the MET in New York, Ethiopia's artistic legacy takes center stage in the pivotal exhibition titled "Africa & Byzantium," showcasing its profound influence, extending even to contemporary art. (Photo: TADIAS)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: February 22nd, 2024
New York (TADIAS) – Ethiopia’s rich history is finally receiving the recognition it deserves in major U.S. art institutions, ranging from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) in New York to the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, the Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio, and the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. At the MET in New York, Ethiopia’s artistic heritage assumes a central role in the seminal exhibition dubbed “Africa & Byzantium,” spotlighting its profound influence, extending even to contemporary artists. Ethiopia stands as a significant contributor alongside other influential ancient African kingdoms, whose interactions with Byzantium have left an indelible mark on the Mediterranean world.
“This is Ethiopia’s moment,” declares Tsedaye Makonnen, a multidisciplinary Ethiopian American artist who serves as the guest curator of contemporary art for the Walters exhibition. Her captivating artwork features prominently in installations at both museums. At the MET, Makonnen’s pieces are showcased alongside Theo Eshetu’s compelling video montage, which commemorates the return of the Aksum Obelisk to Ethiopia from Rome in 2005, rich with symbols and iconic imagery.
Next week, the MET will host Tsedaye Makonnen for a “site-specific performance that journeys through the history of the Byzantine Era’s African diaspora.” This show coincides with the display of her Astral Sea textiles as part of The Met’s Africa & Byzantium exhibition.
Hailing from the vibrant Ethiopian community in the Washington, DC metropolitan area — home to the largest Ethiopian population in the United States and outside of Ethiopia — she brings a unique perspective to the exhibition’s narrative. In a recent conversation with Tadias Magazine, she described the DC region as a place where Ethiopian culture thrives alongside robust ties to Black American culture. Embracing this dual identity, Tsedaye emphasized how it shapes her approach to art making as well as curating.
Tsedaye Makonnen’s installations at the MET in New York. (Photo: TADIAS)
(Photo: TADIAS)
At the MET, Theo Eshetu’s video, showcased alongside Tsedaye Makonnen’s installations, juxtaposes footage of the 2005 return of the Aksum Obelisk to Ethiopia from Rome with images of Ethiopian painting. The multi-channel presentation unveils the intricate nuances of restitution, a topic currently dominating conversations among museum experts and art historians, under the theme “Legacies & Reflections.” (Photo: TADIAS)
Watch: Artists on Artworks—Africa & Byzantium
In this video, moderated by Hannah Giorgis, a staff writer for The Atlantic, Tsedaye Makonnen and Theo Eshetu are joined by fellow artist Azza El Siddique to discuss the exhibition “Africa & Byzantium” and explore its significance in relation to their own artistic pursuits.
“Ethiopia at Crossroads” at Walters Art Museum
In Baltimore, the traveling exhibition titled “Ethiopia at Crossroads,” currently on view at the Walters Art Museum, is the first major art exhibition in America to explore Ethiopian cultural and artistic traditions comprehensively, from their origins to the present day. It charts the ways in which engaging with surrounding cultures manifested in Ethiopian artistic practices.
Photo: The Walters Art Museum
Photo: The Walters Art Museum
The exhibition, which is set to travel to Ohio and Massachusetts this Spring and summer, also showcases artworks by contemporary Ethiopian painters and photographers from the diaspora, as well as those from Ethiopia, curated by Tsedaye Makonnen.
TADIAS: You’re an Ethiopian American multidisciplinary artist yourself, and how did your own experiences and perspectives influence your curation process?
Tsedaye Makonnen: That’s a great question. I think, well, having parents who migrated here in the ’70s, being born in DC.. at Howard, but then growing up in Silver Spring, definitely shaped how I moved through the world, because I really do feel like I grew up in a little Ethiopia in Silver Spring. But then also having really strong roots and being influenced and raised by Black American culture from being in the D.C. area. And even how much of that my parents and their crew of a lot of the Ethiopians who came here around the same time where they expressed, ‘We landed here and felt comfortable here because this is a very Black city, and we were welcomed. So it felt like a second home.’ And I carry that. So I’m very much aware of my Ethiopianness and my Blackness, and I’m very proud of both of those things. And I mean, to me, they’re the same thing.
But having those roots are, I realize when I leave and go elsewhere, how I’m so grounded, and I’m grateful for that grounding. Because my mom will always says, ‘You have to know who you are,’ and I’m like, ‘Oh, I know who I am.’ So I think all of that, I brought that to this creation with the Walters, and just seeing that in all of the artists that are a part of the show, that it’s not only that they’re making these very contemporary works that are reflecting the times, but they’re also sharing all of the different identities that exist within themselves. Right? So someone like Theo Eshetu, not only do I just visually love his work, it’s so stunning. And I’ve never seen a video artist make work in that way. So he’s clearly making a new visual language that hasn’t existed in video art.
But also, his background, his history to me is so fascinating. Someone who was born in the UK but of Ethiopian parents also has roots in Italy and has lived in Berlin. He’s a man of the world. But even with that, he’s Ethiopian, he carries that with him. And I think all of these artists who are in this show, as global as they are, that it’s really fascinating and telling how the presence of being Ethiopian or Ethiopia is so important to them. Because, Faith Ringgold isn’t Ethiopian, but as a Black American, the history of Ethiopia means so much to her, so yeah.
Tsedaye Makonnen, Walters Museum, Senait and Nahom installation, Smithsonian loan. (Walters Art Museum)
TADIAS: So how do you see contemporary art contributing to the broader narrative of Ethiopian culture, artistic tradition?
Tsedaye: Well, I think contemporary art, usually if it’s done well, it’s pulling from the present, but then also the past, and kind of bringing the two together. And it has the ability to see the future. So I think that a lot of these contemporary Ethiopian artists that are working now are doing that really well, as you can see in the Walters Show. And part of what this show is talking about is this literal crossroads, which also implicates migration.
So I think what’s so cool and important about the show is it really is highlighting not just Ethiopia, for Ethiopians on the continent, but for the diaspora as well. And as you know, you live here in the US, you have a child here. I keep thinking about the generations that are continuing to be born here and in other parts of the world outside of Ethiopia that really do, I think it’s so important for them to see themselves in these spaces outside of Ethiopia as well, because that’s their identity, and it reflects their existence.
And also, I think what’s so important about Ethiopian contemporary art is the fact that there’s generations, currently and in the past, that have been influenced by the art school in Addis, but then who’ve come from there and then come here, and have taught a whole new generation of artists. Somebody like Skunder Boghossian, for example. And it’s just this gift that keeps on giving. And that trajectory is so important to follow and to document because it’s now influencing outside of itself. Ethiopia has always been so influential towards the world, and I think there’s a contemporary version of that that’s happening actively now and has been happening since the ’60s and ’70s, that it’s just important to really document that for future generations. And then it’s important for obviously why something like Tadias Magazine exists. So we have to do that for ourselves, and force the narrative to shift as well, to acknowledge us.
If You Go:
The event at the Walters Art Museum culminates with a festive program during the Adwa celebration in the first week of March, featuring an evening of art-making, music, performances by Ras Band, a special appearance by Dereje Bekele, delectable treats from local Ethiopian vendors, and a fashion show organized by the Walters’ College Student Advisory Group. Visitors can savor the last weekend of the exhibition with special late-night hours.
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Related:
Video: Artist Talk, Tsedaye Makonnen | The Walters Art Museum
Podcast: Ethiopia at the Crossroads featuring curator Christine Sciacca | The Walters Art Museum
The ET Real Estate and Home Expo, an annual event bringing together top local and international home developers held its 6th edition at the Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, January 01, 2024, (Courtesy photo)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: February 7th, 2024
New York (TADIAS) – In Ethiopia, the demand for housing continues to surge, offering significant investment prospects for the private sector, including the Diaspora. This was evident at the recent 6th Annual Real Estate and Home Expo in Addis Ababa. The event attracted over 2000 participants, comprising developers, homeowners, buyers, sellers, and various stakeholders from diverse sectors.
Tadias Magazine reached out to learn more and explore the opportunities and growth potential showcased at the ET Real Estate and Home Expo.
Nigist Berta serves as the PR Manager at 251 Communications, an Addis Ababa-based Public Relations firm responsible for organizing the annual real estate expo:
TADIAS: For diaspora investors in the U.S. considering the Ethiopian real estate market, how would you describe the unique opportunities and potential for growth showcased at the ET Real Estate and Home Expo?
Nigist Berta: The ET Real Estate and Home Expo served as an exclusive platform, providing diaspora investors with a captivating insight into the burgeoning opportunities within Ethiopia’s dynamic real estate market. The event meticulously curated a diverse array of projects, encompassing everything from innovative residential developments to promising commercial ventures. This carefully curated showcase was instrumental in bringing to the forefront the robust growth potential inherent in Ethiopia’s real estate sector.
The Expo distinguished itself by placing a spotlight on key elements essential for future-forward investments. It emphasized a commitment to modern infrastructure, showcasing projects that incorporated cutting-edge architectural designs and sustainable practices. This thematic focus not only aligned with global standards but also underscored the Ethiopian real estate market’s evolution towards sustainability and innovation.
In essence, the ET Real Estate and Home Expo went beyond being a mere exhibition; it emerged as a catalyst for diaspora investors, offering them a distinctive chance to actively participate in and contribute to Ethiopia’s ever-expanding real estate narrative. This immersive experience not only showcased the present vibrancy of the sector but also hinted at its future potential, positioning Ethiopia as an attractive destination for diaspora investments in the realm of real estate.
Image courtesy of 251 Communications
TADIAS: What message would you like to convey to potential investors and stakeholders interested in participating or exploring opportunities within Ethiopia’s dynamic real estate sector?
Nigist: To potential investors and stakeholders keen on exploring Ethiopia’s dynamic real estate sector, we would emphasize the resilience and innovation witnessed at the ET Real Estate and Home Expo. The sector not only promises solid returns but also serves as a catalyst for economic development. Investing in Ethiopian real estate presents an opportunity to be part of a transformative journey, contributing to the country’s growth story while benefiting from a burgeoning market.
The 6th edition of the annual real estate and home expo showcased a wide range of real estate properties, services, developers, and financial institutions to potential home seekers.(Photo courtesy of 251 Communications)
TADIAS: The ET Real Estate and Home Expo, organized by 251 Communications, has once again achieved success. Congratulations on this accomplishment. Please tell us more about how this annual event contributes to bridging the gap between developers, homeowners, buyers, sellers, and the broader business community, including the Diaspora?
Nigist: The success of the ET Real Estate and Home Expo is indeed a testament to 251 Communications and Marketing. This annual event serves as a pivotal platform, facilitating meaningful connections and collaborations within the real estate ecosystem. By bringing together developers, homeowners, buyers, sellers, and the broader business community, including the Diaspora, the Expo fosters an environment conducive to networking and knowledge exchange. It plays a crucial role in bridging gaps, creating synergy, and enhancing the overall growth of Ethiopia’s real estate sector. For the Diaspora, it provides a direct avenue to engage with key stakeholders, fostering a sense of community and collaboration.
Thank you once again for your interest, and I look forward to any further collaboration.
TADIAS: Thank you, Nigist. We appreciate the insights into the sector’s growth potential and the abundant opportunities available in Ethiopia’s real estate market for U.S. Diaspora investors. We look forward to the next Expo.
Over the years, Addis Fine Art has played a pivotal role in championing African artists on the global stage, emerging as a significant influencer in the contemporary African art market. (Photo: AFA)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: February 2nd, 2024
New York (TADIAS) – This year commemorates the 8th anniversary of Addis Fine Arts, an enduring commitment to showcasing and garnering global recognition for artists from Ethiopia and its diasporas, with a specific focus on “shedding light on the region’s rich artistic history.”
As stated on its website, Addis Fine Art stands as a prominent African contemporary art gallery, featuring locations in both Addis Ababa and London. Founded in 2016 by Rakeb Sile and Mesai Haileleul, the gallery has centered its focus on artists hailing from Ethiopia, the Horn of Africa, and its diasporas. Over the years, Addis Fine Art has played a pivotal role in championing African artists on the global stage, emerging as a significant influencer in the contemporary African art market.
Distinguished by its international program, the gallery showcases mid-career artists through its London gallery space, making it one of the few Black and African-owned art galleries in the city. Simultaneously, the Addis Ababa location has transformed into a regional incubator for undiscovered talent, serving as a platform for exhibiting and nurturing the careers of emerging artists
In this video, founders Rakeb Sile and Mesai Haileleul take a retrospective look at the gallery’s remarkable journey.
The 2024 Hub of Africa Fashion Week (HAFW) was held in Addis Ababa from January 9 to 14, 2024. (Photos: Mekbib Tadesse via Vogue)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: February 2nd, 2024
New York (TADIAS) – Last month, the 14th edition of the Hub of Africa Fashion Week (HAFW) took place in Addis Ababa, capturing attention as a significant milestone. Vogue, in its coverage, highlighted the annual showcase of African and Diaspora designers in Ethiopia’s capital as surpassing the traditional boundaries of a fashion runway. Instead, it transformed into a “cultural crossroads” and a dynamic catalyst, fostering fresh connections and opportunities within the global fashion landscape.
Founded by siblings Mahlet Teklemariam and Natanem Teklemariam, HAFW has grown to become an artistic nexus for the continent, going beyond its original aim of featuring up-and-coming talent. Vogue’s coverage underscored the event as a platform for positive change, serving as a channel to build new connections and opportunities globally, seamlessly blending tradition with modernity and fashion with culture.
Natan Couture, Tibebu Collection and Samra Leather: by Mekbib Tadesse via Vogue.
At this year’s event, ten designers, including the Tibebu Collection, were prominently featured, earning recognition from Vogue. Tibebu, meaning wisdom in Amharic, encapsulates the essence of the brand. Bezawit Tibebu, harboring dreams of becoming a designer from a young age, directs her brand toward the modernization of traditional Ethiopian textiles with a couture and contemporary twist. The utilization of a pastel color palette, complemented by traditional hand-woven fabrics, imparts a distinctive and refined touch to Tibebu’s creations.
Among the other showcased designers were Mastewal Alemu, Natanem Couture, Afthoro, Afropian, Zemenay, Metii Upcycled Collection, Dann, Samra Leather, and Alexander Akande. Each designer brought their unique perspective to the runway, contributing to the diverse and innovative showcase celebrated by both the event and Vogue.
Photo: Courtesy of Hub of Africa Fashion Week (HAFW)
As HAFW continues to grow and evolve, it stands as a testament to the vibrancy of the African fashion scene, showcasing not only the region’s rich creativity but also its potential to influence and connect with the global fashion community.
With roots nurtured by a diverse array of Ethiopian traditions and enriched by their own lived experiences, Ethiocolor's ecstatic performances have the remarkable ability to unite audiences in a profound way that transcends cultural boundaries. (Courtesy photo)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: September 29th, 2023
New York (TADIAS) – Prepare to be transported to the heart of Ethiopia’s rich cultural heritage as UCLA proudly presents Ethiocolor, a captivating 9-member ensemble led by the charismatic Melaku Belay.
Ethiocolor’s performance, which is set to take place this evening in Los Angeles at the UCLA Nimoy Theater in Westwood, is a deep dive into Ethiopia’s 2000-year-old Azmari culture, a treasure trove of artistry that has captivated hearts for centuries. Their practice is an awe-inspiring fusion of dance and music, effortlessly bridging the gap between ancient traditions and contemporary innovation.
With roots nurtured by a diverse array of Ethiopian traditions and enriched by their own lived experiences, Ethiocolor’s ecstatic performances have the remarkable ability to unite audiences in a profound way that transcends cultural boundaries.
Melaku Belay, a talent described by The New York Times as a “walking earthquake,” stands as Ethiopia’s foremost contemporary interpreter of eskista, a rhythmic and shoulder-shimmying dance that embodies the nation’s spirit. His star shines brightly both within his home country and as a global cultural force.
Belay’s Fendika Cultural Center in Addis Ababa has become a vibrant hub where artists, musicians, and enthusiasts from around the world gather to celebrate Ethiopia’s rich artistic heritage. It’s a testament to his unwavering dedication to preserving and sharing the essence of Azmari culture.
Presented as part of Center Stage, a public diplomacy initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Ethiocolor’s performance receives funding from the U.S. Government and is administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts in cooperation with the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations. General management is provided by Lisa Booth Management, Inc.
New York (TADIAS) – This fall, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. will host an extraordinary musical tribute in commemoration of the 100th birthday of the late Ethiopian pianist and composer, Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru. Emahoy, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 99, left an indelible mark on the world of classical music.
This historic event, scheduled for Tuesday, November 7th in the illustrious Terrace Theater, promises to be an unforgettable evening of classical music celebrating the legacy of a remarkable artist. The highlight is the debut of never-before-performed compositions by the late pianist and composer Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru. Audiences will also be treated to the premiere of a previously unreleased recording featuring selections performed by the virtuoso herself.
At the heart of this celebration is Thomas Feng, a renowned classical pianist and composer. Mr. Feng has dedicated himself to the preservation of Emahoy’s extensive archive of written and recorded music. During the event, he will provide insights into the technological marvels employed to safeguard and showcase this musical treasure trove.
The stage will be graced by exceptional performers, each with their own connection to Ethiopia and classical music:
John Paul McGee, a Jazz Pianist of remarkable talent.
Meklit Hadero, a Jazz/Blues Vocalist whose voice captivates hearts.
Thomas Feng, the Classical Pianist devoted to honoring Emahoy’s legacy.
New York (TADIAS) — Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru, the renowned Ethiopian nun Pianist & Composer, has passed away at the age of 99 in Jerusalem, where she had been living at the Ethiopian Monastery for almost 40 years. According to Fana Broadcasting, she died on March 23rd.
Emahoy Tsege Mariam was born as Yewubdar Gebru in Addis Abeba on December 12, 1923. She was sent to Switzerland at a young age, where she studied the violin and then the piano at a girls’ boarding school. After returning to Ethiopia, she was taken prisoner of war with her family during the Italian occupation and deported to the island of Asinara, north of Sardinia, and later to Mercogliano near Naples.
After the war, Yewubdar resumed her musical studies in Cairo and returned to Ethiopia accompanied by her teacher, the Polish violinist Alexander Kontorowicz. She then became a nun and took the title Emahoy and her name was changed to Tsege Mariam.
Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru. (Photo: Emahoy music foundation)
Left: Yewubdar Gebru, 1940s. (Photo: Emahoy music foundation)
Yewubdar Gebru as prisoner of War on the Italian Island of Azinara. (Photo: Emahoy music foundation)
Although she was raised in privilege with her father, Kantiba Gebru Desta, a former mayor of Gonder and Addis Abeba, Emahoy’s life was marked by struggles beyond her musical pursuits. She was taken as a prisoner of war by the Italian forces, and after their defeat, she faced obstacle from Ethiopian officials, who blocked her from obtaining a scholarship to study music in London.
Despite these challenges, she maintained a resilient attitude and famously remarked:
“We can’t always choose what life brings. But we can choose how to respond.”
(Photo: Emahoy music foundation)
After releasing her debut album in 1967, Emahoy Tsege Mariam dedicated the proceeds to charitable causes benefiting children. With the assistance of her family members residing in the United States, she eventually established the Emahoy Tsege Mariam Music Foundation, which aimed to provide children with opportunities to study music.
Emahoy gained international recognition through her solo compositions, which were published in the “Ethiopiques 21″ CD series by the French label Buda Musique in 2006. She is known for her classical and jazz music compositions, which are reflective and pensive, with ‘Homeless Wanderer’ being one of her most notable works.
Emahoy Tsege Mariam’s life has been one of resilience and commitment to her art. When she was denied the chance to study music in London, she entered the Guishen Mariam monastery in the Wello region at the age of 19. Within two years, she was ordained as a nun. During the 1960s, she studied the music of Saint Yared in Gonder, and in 1967, her first album was released in Germany.
Later Emahoy survived Ethiopia’s Marxist revolution in the 1970s and continued to create music, with her piano compositions being released in 1973 to raise funds for orphanages.
Her niece Hanna M. Kebbede emphasizes the teaching moments that can be drawn from Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru’s life, stating that “It is a uniquely Ethiopian story, but at the same time the lessons are universal.”
Emahoy’s music has been featured in several films, including the Oscar-nominated documentary Time and Rebecca Hall’s Netflix drama Passing. Journalist and author Kate Molleson made a documentary about Emahoy Tsege Mariam for BBC Radio Four called ‘The Honky Tonk Nun.’
In her interview with Alula Kebede on his Amharic radio program on the Voice of America, Emahoy said, “Although I did not have money to give them, I was determined to use my music to help these and other young people to get an education.”
The music and life of Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru continue to inspire young people, artists, and students around the world. Her unwavering commitment to using her talents for the betterment of others is a legacy that will endure.
The annual Empower the Community Weekend hosted by Helen Mesfin of the Helen Show on EBS TV takes place this weekend at the Washington Convention Center. (Courtesy photo)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Updated: June 28th, 2023
New York (TADIAS) — The Helen Show on EBS TV is set to host its 7th annual Empower the Community Weekend in Washington DC on Saturday.
This highly anticipated event brings together the largest East African community in the Washington DC metro area, providing a platform for networking, panel discussions, entertainment, and invaluable information on education, career development, finance, health, wellness, giveaways, and much more. The event aims to equip individuals and families with the resources they need to lead productive lives and thrive.
The event is designed to be family-centered, ensuring that attendees of all ages can participate in activities that promote growth and well-being.
This annual gathering also serves as a catalyst for personal and community growth, providing a platform for individuals and families to come together, network, and gain knowledge that will positively impact their lives.
The Empower the Community Weekend will take place on Saturday, July 1st, from 11 am to 7 pm at the Washington Convention Center.
The producers of the Helen Show on EBS TV launched the inaugural Empower the Community Weekend in 2017. As a highly acclaimed program with 24 successful seasons, the Helen Show has established itself as a trusted source of information, empowerment, and community engagement within the Ethiopian community. Covering diverse topics ranging from business and health to family and self-help issues, the show has garnered a loyal following.
The Empower the Community Weekend serves as an extension of the Helen Show’s commitment to empowering individuals and fostering community growth. Through this groundbreaking event, the producers aim to provide a platform for the Ethiopian and larger East African community in the Washington DC metro area to come together, network, and gain valuable knowledge and resources.
Since its inception, the Empower the Community Weekend has evolved into a highly anticipated annual gathering embraced by the community. Attendees can look forward to a diverse array of activities and invaluable opportunities for personal and professional growth, while also having the chance to connect with individuals who share similar aspirations. The event places a strong emphasis on fostering collaboration and aims to empower individuals, while simultaneously nurturing the bonds within the East African community.
As the Helen Show continues to make a significant impact on EBS TV, attracting over 30 million viewers weekly in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and the Ethiopian and Eritrean diaspora worldwide, the Empower the Community Weekend further solidifies its dedication to serving as a reliable and influential voice. The event serves as a testament to the show’s commitment to informing, empowering, and engaging the Ethiopian community, both at home and abroad.
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If You Attend:
Empower the Community Weekend 2023
July 1st
Walter E Washington Convention Center
VIRTUAL REGISTRATION & LIMITED IN-PERSON SEATING Registration Here
More info at: www.empowercw.com
Ethiopia has granted a license to Safaricom, a telecommunications company based in Kenya, to launch its mobile money service M-Pesa in the country. Ethiopia is considered to be a highly promising market for mobile banking services, making this license approval a major development. (Photo: Twitter)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Updated: May 12th, 2023
New York (TADIAS) — In a significant development, Ethiopia has granted a mobile money license to Safaricom’s M-Pesa, making it the first foreign player to gain entry into the country’s digital finance market.
The license approval is expected to provide millions of unbanked Ethiopians with access to various mobile banking services such as mobile wallet, internal banking, and card banking.
The move is seen as a significant boost for both the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), which issued the license, and M-Pesa, which gets immediate access to one of the largest untapped telecom markets in Africa.
According to NBE, this decision aligns with its goal of “fostering financial innovation and inclusion in the Ethiopian market.”
Despite Safaricom’s M-Pesa reporting a net loss of Sh21.7 billion, the company anticipates breaking even in its fourth year of operation in Ethiopia.
The service is expected to roll out before the end of the year, signaling the start of a new era for digital finance in Ethiopia.
Habeshaview CEO Tigist Kebede (right), stated that the partnership would offer a user-friendly and cost-effective option for accessing live news and entertainment channels. (courtesy photo)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Updated: May 4th, 2023
New York (TADIAS) — Habeshaview Technology and Multimedia, a leading media, entertainment, and advanced technology company, has signed a partnership agreement with Ethio Telecom to provide IPTV (Internet Protocol television) services to Ethio Telecom’s mobile and data customers as a value-added service.
The agreement was signed on Thursday in Addis Ababa and the service is set to launch immediately.
According to the CEO of Habeshaview, Tigist Kebede, the partnership will provide an easily accessible alternative way of watching live news and entertainment channels at an affordable price. Tigist also added that the partnership will provide a home for many talented Ethiopian filmmakers and support them to showcase their work and earn revenue in the process.
At the Habeshaview and Ethio Telecom IPTV launch event in Addis Ababa on Thursday, May 4th, 2023. (Courtesy photo)
Habeshaview is a versatile media, entertainment, and technology company with its main office located in Virginia and additional branches in London and Addis Ababa.
Habeshaview and Ethiotelecom signed the agreement in Ethiopia on Thursday, May 4th, 2023. The announcement highlights that the collaboration also gives audiences access to exclusive Ethiopian films straight after their cinema release on any internet connected devices. (Photo: Courtesy of Habeshaview)
The press release noted that the service will offer a wide variety of national and international content, including video on demand, games, audio channels, and a catch-up service of original content sourced from a wide variety of studios worldwide with multiple language options at affordable prices.
Habeshaview is a multi-faceted media, entertainment, and advanced technology company that provides a user-friendly OTT platform and apps to provide a premium viewing experience. Established in 2015, Habeshaview is headquartered in Virginia, United States of America, with offices in London, United Kingdom, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It has a data center and technology development office in The Netherlands.
This month Atlanta will become Ethiopian Airlines' latest passenger destination in the United States, joining the ranks of Chicago, Newark, New York, and Washington. (Photo: @flyethiopian)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: May 2nd, 2023
New York (TADIAS) — Ethiopian Airlines is all set to commence its new service connecting Atlanta with Addis Ababa this month.
The airline, which is the biggest in Africa and already operates over 130 international passenger and cargo destinations, has announced that it will provide four flights per week on the new U.S. route starting May 16th.
According to Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew, the new service will boost tourism, investment, and socio-economic ties between the two regions. Atlanta will become the airline’s latest passenger destination in the United States, joining the ranks of Chicago, Newark, New York, and Washington.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens welcomed the move, calling the new connection a “win for our City” and expressing optimism about a successful partnership with Ethiopian Airlines.
The General Manager of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Balram “B” Bheodari added: “We are thrilled to welcome Ethiopian Airlines to ATL.” (Photo: @flyethiopian)
Ethiopian Airlines is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. (Photo: @flyethiopian)
“We are truly delighted to open our sixth gateway in North America with the new flight to Atlanta,” said Ethiopian CEO Mesfin Tasew, “We have been connecting the U.S. and Africa for 25 years now, and the new service will help boost investment, tourism, diplomatic, and socioeconomic bonds between the two regions. As a pan-African carrier, we are committed to further expanding our global network and connecting Africa with the rest of the world. We are also keen to better serve the U.S. by increasing our destinations and flight frequencies.”
This Weekend in DC Georgetown University's Nile House is hosting a book launch by Dereje Tessema and panel discussion on April 29th entitled "How this Happened: Demystifying the Nile - History and Events Leading to the Realization of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam." (Photo: (PILPG)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: April 28th, 2023
New York (TADIAS) — Last month, Ethiopia announced that it had made significant progress in constructing the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile River, with 90% of the project completed. In a new book entitled “How this Happened: Demystifying the Nile,” Dereje Tessema, an adjunct faculty member at Georgetown University, documents the complex history of this milestone achievement.
This weekend, Dereje will launch the book and lead a panel discussion on Saturday April 29th at Georgetown University’s Nile House, where he serves as a research fellow. The event is titled “How this Happened: Demystifying the Nile – History and Events Leading to the Realization of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.”
Dereje’s book is presented in six parts, providing readers with an overview of the science of the Nile River, the relationship of riparian countries to the river, the project management aspect of the dam, and his experiences on the Nile River. The panel discussion will bring together experts, policymakers, and scholars to delve into these domains. The event will take place in person at Georgetown University’s Intercultural Center (ICC) from 2:00 to 5:00 PM EST. Public parking will be available at the Southwest Garage. For those who cannot attend in person, the event will be accessible virtually through Zoom, and registration is required to participate.
With 11 riparian states sharing the Nile River and a total population of over 530 million, the Nile River is the second riskiest basin for hydro-political issues, according to a 2018 European Joint Research Center report. The completion of the GERD has been a subject of controversy, with concerns raised by downstream countries, such as Egypt and Sudan, over the dam’s impact on water resources and downstream water availability. This book launch and panel discussion offer an opportunity to learn more about the history and politics surrounding the Nile River and the construction of the GERD.
— If You Go:
Topic: Book Launch and Panel Discussion – ‘How this Happened: Demystifying the Nile
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 2:00 – 5:00 PM EST
Venue: In person – Georgetown University, Intercultural Center (ICC)
Parking: Public parking is available at the Southwest Garage. Use 3611 Canal Road as the address for GPS direction to the parking garage. Sign posts will be available to direct guests to the Center.
Virtual – Zoom Link (Registration Required)
Tizta Berhanu is known for her powerful figurative paintings that explore the full range of human emotions. Her first European solo show opens at AFA London on Thursday, April 27th. (Photo: Courtesy Addis Fine Art)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: April 13th, 2023
New York (TADIAS) — Today Addis Fine Art announced the opening of Tizta Berhanu’s first European solo show, Synthesis of Souls. The exhibition will be held at their London space, with the opening on Thursday, April 27, and will run until Saturday, May 27.
Tizta Berhanu, an Ethiopian artist born in Addis Ababa in 1991, is known for her powerful figurative paintings that explore the full range of human emotions. Her work depicts narratives of love, intimacy, kinship, and motherhood, all flowing across gestural compositions. Tizta’s figures, bathed in swathes of jewel-like primary colors, are painted with expressive brushstrokes, often interlaced in each other’s embrace. Her work showcases the beauty of human touch and connection.
(Photos: Addis Fine Art)
According to the press release the exhibition, curated by Claudia Cheng, an independent art advisor and curator based in London and Hong Kong, is a recent collection of Tizta’s figurative paintings. The artworks are infused with lucid colors, and their heavy, undefined brushstrokes add to the dreamlike atmosphere. The paintings’ subjects express a range of emotions, some comforting and embracing one another, while others are found isolated and searching in the backdrop of the enigmatic canvases. Tizta’s compositions allude to the importance of community in providing support for one another, an essential trait in Ethiopian culture.
Tizta Berhanu’s work possesses its own distinctive emotional tone, with each painting infused with bold, vibrant colors. The lustrous red paintings conjure images of love and passion, while the oceanic blue works wash the viewer in a wave of despondency.
The exhibition marks an important moment for Tizta, as it is her first solo show in Europe. Her artistic talent and unique perspective on humanity’s emotions make her one of the most exciting artists to watch in the contemporary art scene. Synthesis of Souls is a must-see exhibition for art lovers and collectors looking to discover exceptional new talent.
DA Mekonnen's new album features "Unicode 1200" and is set to release this month on FPE Records. The project's name 'dragonchild' is inspired by the 2008 film "Teza" by Haile Gerima. Mekonnen will premiere his new project at the National Sawdust in Brooklyn on April 15th. (Photo: by Drum Fernandez)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: April 11th, 2023
New York (TADIAS) — Danny (DA) Mekonnen’s new single, “Unicode 1200,” pays homage to the first letter of the Ethiopic script, which is assigned the unique number U+1200 as part of the international encoding standard. This standard ensures that the language is accessible across all computer platforms, programs, and devices.
As Mekonnen explained to Tadias Magazine: “The title is a nod to communication in the information age and the universal system for encoding and text, which was developed in part by Ethiopian-American Engineer Fesseha Atlaw. “U+1200″ is the first character, “Ha,” of the Ethiopic alphabet.”
As a first-generation Ethiopian-American, DA Mekonnen spent his formative years in Texas before studying music at Harvard University. He gained recognition as the founding member and leader of Debo band, whose innovative approach to Ethiopian music has earned them invitations to perform at prestigious venues and events worldwide. Some of these include the Montreal Jazz Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, South by Southwest, Sauti za Busara in Zanzibar, and the Ethiopian Music(s) Festival in Addis Ababa.
Mekonnen’s new album, “dragonchild,” features “Unicode 1200″ and is set to release this month on FPE Records. The project’s name is inspired by the 2008 film “Teza” by Haile Gerima. Mekonnen will premiere his new project at the National Sawdust in Brooklyn on April 15th.
“I will present a 75-minute concert of new music and video,” Mekonnen told Tadias. “The video includes original artwork by the photographer Michael Tsegaye and found footage by Olani Ewunnet.”
The title of the project, “dragonchild,” refers to a line in the film “Teza,” where the protagonist returns to his small village after spending a long time in Germany and Addis Ababa. The movie ends on an optimistic and mysterious note: “we are children of the dragon, do not despair.” The dragon in reference is Erta Ale, an active lava lake in Ethiopia. Michael Tsegaye’s photographs of Erta Ale are included in the album artwork.
In his conversation with Tadias, Mekonnen described how “Unicode 1200″ utilizes clapping and tom-tom drums to provide a solid foundation for the lilting saxophone and dancing keys. The song’s stripped-down arrangement serves to accentuate the beauty of the Ethiopic language and honor its worldwide accessibility thanks to modern technology.
More about the album (Excerpts from Press Release)
Dragonchild takes the exploration of Ethiopian music Mekonnen began with Debo Band and explodes it into vivid, three-dimensional space. Where Debo called back to the sounds of 1970s Addis and added original material along those same lines, dragonchild shatters traditions and boundaries, incorporating sampled material, field recordings, experiments in high and low fidelity, and the throughline that unites the diverse sounds, layers of Mekonnen’s rich and ecstatic saxophone. “I’ve been thinking a lot about ego death and being willing to let certain things go,” he says. “Things that made you feel good about yourself, made you feel really successful. I think artistically those things can be really dangerous. They can be dangerous crutches.” In moving beyond what brought him success in a fickle industry, he is braving new territory to bring us something more, something vulnerable and alive.
The name of the project derives from Haile Gerima’s 2008 film Teza, the story of an Ethiopian lab researcher who returns to his small village after long sojourns in both Germany and Addis Ababa. Near the end of the film, there is the hopeful but enigmatic line “do not despair – we are children of the dragon,” which evokes the resilience of the people and of the earth. It’s a nod to Erta Ale, the active lava lake in Ethiopia photographed by Michael Tsegaye for his Afar series, included as part of the album artwork and recognized instinctively by Mekonnen as “portraits of the dragon.”
(Photo: by Michael Tsegaye)
Although the seeds of this music were solitary, collaborations abound in the dragonchild universe, with artists as diverse as ambient producer claire rousay, the Addis Ababa based multi-instrumentalist Ethiopian Records, and percussionist Sunken Cages. These duets fly freely across the borders of genre, stretching out like long late-night conversations between close friends, work created as an expression of community, abundance, and freedom. The physical form of the record is an eight channel, four LP mix of the final track and centerpiece of the album, a twenty-minute-long saxophone meditation. It is no coincidence that this mix is impossible to listen to alone. In order to experience it fully, you will need three friends and four turntables.
The photograph that occupies the front cover, also taken by Michael Tsegaye, is of another photo, one placed under glass in a cemetery as part of a common practice in Addis Ababa. Over time, water damage cracked and weathered the glass, and at first what you see are the sharp and irregular fractures, rendered with extreme clarity. It is only on second glance that you see the true subject of the portrait, the ghostly ancestor gazing out from the past. “We have to fight for our lives,” Mekonnen says. “That’s the thing that I feel most adamant about. Our creativity is our birthright.” With dragonchild, he gives voice to a new sound, hundreds of years of Ethiopian and American music all resonating at once. “The record feels and breathes to me like the Ethiopian music I’ve been trying to figure out my whole life.”
Kidus Asfaw (right), CEO and co-founder of the Ethiopian company Kubik, with Bram van den Bosch, chief executive and co-founder of the Uganda-based Emata. (Courtesy photo)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: April 4th, 2023
New York (TADIAS) — An Ethiopian environmental technology company, Kubik, has been named winner of the 2023 Global Startup Awards, the largest independent startup ecosystem competition in the world.
Kubik, which turns plastic waste into low-carbon, low-cost buildings, won the GSA’s Startup of the Year category. The award highlights the company’s contribution to sustainable development.
Kubik’s chief executive and co-founder, Kidus Asfaw, told Tadias Magazine the award serves as an inspiration for African entrepreneurs. He expressed hope that the world takes note and recognizes the continent’s potential for groundbreaking innovations.
“I hope this serves as an eye opener to the world for what Africans can do,” Kidus said. “And I hope African entrepreneurs draw inspiration on what they can achieve on the global stage.”
The venue for the event was Copenhagen, Europe’s celebrated green capital, which is also the location of the GSA’s headquarters.
This year’s awards ceremony also included investor delegation and meet-ups. These events provided startups with the chance to connect with potential investors and like-minded individuals who could offer support and resources for their growth and development.
Emata, a Ugandan fintech startup, won the Best Newcomer award for its innovative approach to providing affordable digital loans to smallholder farmers. The company has revolutionized the loan process by automating data collection, credit scoring, and loan disbursement. Emata offers loans as small as UGX 60,000 (approximately $15), providing previously inaccessible financing to farmers.
According to Jo Griffiths, co-founder of the GSA Africa and the Global Innovation Initiative Group, these awards serve to identify and celebrate future-shapers while building a global network of innovation organizations. She said that startups mastering technology and innovation will shape the future.
In a message to Tadias, Kidus emphasized the capability of Africa and his home country of Ethiopia to become a hub for innovative solutions and contribute to the promotion of global ingenuity.
“The potential of our continent and country to serve as launchpads for global innovations is tremendous,” Kidus stated in his message.
“It deeply humbles our team at Kubik to showcase one of so many of these African innovations.”
Hana Getachew turned her passion for home textiles that were both vibrant and meaningful into a home decor brand, Bolé Road Textiles. Getachew combines her own style of sketching and knowledge of fine arts with the traditional motifs from her home country of Ethiopia to create her one-of-a-kind home decor collections. Each collection is curated through a process of playing with different color schemes and thoughtful motifs.
In collaboration with her local group of skilled artisans in Ethiopia, they bring Getachew’s designs to life using ancient weaving traditions. Each individual product is handwoven one by one, making it as unique and personal as it can be.
What’s the Story Behind Bolé Road Textiles?
Hana Getachew: I worked in commercial interiors for ten years, it was a career I loved. However, I was curious about what it would be like to carve a path of my own based on my background and interests. It was a huge leap of faith but I’ve always enjoyed sharing my culture, now it’s part of what I do!
Where Did the Name Bolé Road Textiles Originate From?
HG: I was born in Ethiopia, and I lived in a neighborhood called Bole (no accent but pronounced the same). Bole Road was a main street that connected our neighborhood to the rest of Addis Ababa.
What Kind of Cultural Impact Do Your Products Have?
HG: I hope our textiles could be a conduit for cultural connection. I love telling stories of Ethiopia through our collections and I love that our clients get to share that and have a little piece of Ethiopian tradition in their homes.
What’s the Creative Process of Making Designs?
HG: I focus each collection around a concept or idea inspired by Ethiopia. Sometimes it’s about a particular region, as with the Heritage, Konso, and Harar Collections; sometimes, it’s about a landscape, such as the Admas Collection. The patterns and colors are all derived from the initial inspiration and concept.
Hello Music Theory highlights ten popular artists from Ethiopia including Aster Aweke, Teddy Afro, Mulatu Astatke, Gigi, Abinet Agonafir, Mahmoud Ahmed, Ali Birra, Zeritu Kebede, Betty G, and Abby Lakew. (Courtesy photos)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: April 3rd, 2023
New York (TADIAS) — Which Ethiopian musicians would make it to your top ten list?
According to a recent compilation by Hello Music Theory, created by music students in London, the list includes Aster Aweke, Teddy Afro, Mulatu Astatke, Gigi, Abinet Agonafir, Mahmoud Ahmed, Ali Birra, Zeritu Kebede, Betty G, and Abby Lakew.
While there are many other new and established talents that could be added to the list, Hello Music’s selection is impressive and highlights the increasing popularity of Ethiopian music beyond its borders.
Aster Aweke:
Legendary musician Aster Aweke is considered one of the best Ethiopian singers of all time. She is celebrated for her compelling vocals and captivating lyrics. Although born in Gondar, Aster spent her formative years in Addis Ababa, where her father worked. She began singing at the age of 13, driven by her passion for music. In her youth, she even performed alongside prominent bands in clubs throughout the city.
In 1981, Aster Aweke made a significant move to the United States, and that proved to be a pivotal moment in her career. That same year, she released her debut album on a US label, titled “Aster.” The song that brought her international acclaim, “Anteye,” has sold millions of copies, firmly establishing her as a star.
Teddy Afro:
Teddy Afro (real name Tewodros Kassahun Germamo) is one of the most popular contemporary musicians among Ethiopians worldwide. The renowned Singer-songwriter is admired for his exceptional songwriting abilities and revolutionary tracks. Teddy, who grew up in Addis Ababa, released his debut album in 2001. Four years later he dropped his third CD, Yasteseryal, which gained widespread attention due to the political turmoil in Ethiopia at the time. Although four of the songs on the album were banned, it still managed to sell millions of copies, solidifying Teddy Afro’s place as a prominent figure in Ethiopian music.
Mulatu Astatke:
Of course, Mulatu Astatke, the pioneer of Ethiopian Jazz, is also on the list. The composer and arranger is indeed a trailblazing figure in Ethiopian music. He is credited with creating a unique fusion of Ethiopian traditional music and jazz, which he called “Ethio-jazz.” Mulatu Astatke is known for his distinctive sound, which features complex rhythms and harmonies, and incorporates traditional Ethiopian instruments such as the krar and the washint.
Mulatu’s music gained international recognition in the 1960s and 70s, when he studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston and performed with jazz greats like Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie. He went on to release a series of influential albums, including “Afro-Latin Soul” and “Mulatu of Ethiopia,” which helped to establish him as a leading figure in the world music scene.
Today, Mulatu continues to tour and perform around the world, and his music has influenced a new generation of Ethiopian musicians. He is widely regarded as a cultural ambassador for Ethiopia and a pioneer in the development of African jazz.
Gigi:
Ejigayehu Shibabaw, known by her stage name Gigi, is a renowned vocalist. Her early exposure to traditional Ethiopian music came from an Orthodox priest during her upbringing.in northwestern Ethiopia.
Gigi rose to fame with the release of her self-titled album “Gigi” in 2001, which featured collaborations with several American jazz musicians. The album was a fusion of traditional and contemporary music, and it received critical acclaim and commercial success, making waves in her home country.
Following the success of her debut album, Gigi went on to release two more albums in 2003 and 2006, which further solidified her position as a prominent musician in Ethiopia. Notably, her captivating vocals were featured in the movie Beyond Borders, where the famous actress Angelina Jolie played the lead role.
Mahmoud Ahmed:
Mahmoud Ahmed, an iconic singer, rose to prominence in the 1970s and gained international recognition across Africa and Europe. Mahmoud began his singing career at an early age while residing in the Mercato district of Addis Ababa.
Initially, he started as a band singer and performed with various prominent groups of that era. Later on, he embarked on a solo music career and released several successful singles that gained him recognition in Ethiopia.
However, his global recognition came after the release of his album Ere Mela Mela, which was a compilation of tracks from two of his LPs. This was a time when Ethiopia was going through political turmoil. His most significant achievement was in 2007 when he won the BBC World Music Award.
Ali Birra:
Ali Birra.is another legendary Ethiopian singer featured by Hello Music. He was born in Dire Dawa. He is one of the few notable artists who popularized funk, jazz, rock, and reggae beats in East Africa.
Ali Birra was only 13 when he joined a cultural group to promote Oromo music and culture. His first singing engagement involved him singing “Birra dha Bari’e,” which gave birth to his nickname. Ali is from his first name, while Birra is from the song.
Ali Birra began his singing career in Addis Ababa after relocating from his native home. He met various nationalists, such as Ahmad Taqi, who influenced his music career. His big break came in 1971 when he released his first album, which was also the first album in Oromo music history.
Zeritu Kebede:
Zeritu Kebede represents the new era of Ethiopian music. Listening to her voice is a sure way to ignite a love for music.
Zeritu grew up in Addis Ababa and had a passion for music from an early age. She used to listen to her parents’ collection, which featured renowned musician Mahmoud Ahmed.
After completing high school, Zeritu pursued her passion for singing professionally, and she released her debut album in 2005. The album’s standout track was “Yane,” which quickly became a fan favorite in Ethiopia and propelled the album to great success.
Betty G:
Betty G, also known as Bruktawit Getahun, is a renowned Ethiopian singer-songwriter. She was raised in Addis Ababa and pursued higher education in Office Management, but her studies did not deter her from following her passion for music.
Initially, Betty G was not well-known in the Ethiopian music industry. However, after collaborating with prominent musicians like Nhatty Man, she started gaining recognition.
In 2015, Betty G made a name for herself with the release of her first album, Manew Fitsum. Since then, she has worked with other famous musicians such as Teddy Afro and Zeritu Kebede. Her second album, Wegegta, was released to critical acclaim and received six AFRIMA nominations.
Abby Lakew:
Abby Lakew, the final musician on this list, is an artist who sings in both English and Amharic. She was born and raised in Gondar until she relocated to the United States at the age of 13.
Her first album, produced in both English and Amharic, was released in 2005. She went on to release several other albums, including popular tracks like “Shikorina” and “Abrerew.”
In 2015, Lakew’s career skyrocketed with the release of her hit single, “Yene Habesha,” which amassed over 54 million views on YouTube. The song catapulted her to international fame, and in 2016, she was nominated for the Best Traditional Female Artist for Africa award, solidifying her place in the music industry.
New York (TADIAS) — One of the most rewarding aspect of publishing Tadias is to track the continued progress of professionals from diverse fields, including artists, entrepreneurs, and scientists whose work and future aspiration we’ve profiled from an early stage of their career.
Jomo Tariku, an industrial designer and data scientist, is a prime example of this success story. Tadias first featured Jomo’s work nearly 20 years ago, and since then, he has become one of the leading Black furniture designers in America.
Recently, The New York Times asked Jomo to compile a list of designers from the African Diaspora that he believed deserved international attention. Out of over 80 designers, Jomo selected nine, which were featured in The Times earlier this month.
“It took me 30 years to get here, and I don’t want it to die with me.” Jomo told the Times. “We keep saying design is a global language. Well, it did not include us.” He added: “What’s the global part?”
As the Newspaper noted he is determined to boost the careers of other Black designers, including those associated with the Black Artists + Designers Guild, a nonprofit platform and mentorship organization that he helped establish in 2018.
Jomo’s own designs have also received a well-deserved widespread recognition. His Meedo chair, inspired by a hair pick, was acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and his Nyala chair, modeled after an antelope found in high altitude woodlands in Ethiopia, was featured in the film sets of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
As Jomo continues to push boundaries in his field, he is also lifting up those around him, creating opportunities for emerging talent and ensuring that their potential is not overlooked.
Fasicka and Patrick Hicks, owners of Smoke’N Ash BBQ - Tex-Ethiopian Smokehouse, in Arlington, Texas. (Courtesy photo)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: March 29th, 2023
New York (TADIAS) — How does injera with Texas barbecue sound?
Well, that’s exactly what you get at Smoke’N Ash BBQ – Tex-Ethiopian Smokehouse, a one-of-a-kind restaurant in Texas.
Owned by Fasicka and Patrick Hicks, this joint serves up traditional American BBQ with a unique Ethiopian twist: With a creative menu featuring dishes like Rib tibs, Shiro, brisket, Doro Wat, and Ethiopian veggie combos, it’s no wonder Smoke’N Ash was named one of the top 50 restaurants in America by the New York Times last year.
The couple’s journey started with Patrick’s passion for barbecuing, which soon turned into a thriving business. Customers couldn’t get enough, and the couple decided to take the leap and open their own restaurant.
According to their website: Fasicka, who was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Patrick, a native of Waco, Texas, met in 1997 and quickly discovered their shared love of barbecuing. They began with a smoker trailer, selling BBQ dishes at weekend pop-ups, and eventually moved into a brick and mortar restaurant as their customer base grew.
As the business expanded, Fasicka added traditional Ethiopian family dishes to the menu, blending the flavors of Ethiopia with Texas-style smoked meats to create Tex-Ethiopian barbecue. Smoke’N Ash BBQ is now the first restaurant in the world to offer this unique cuisine.
Now, customers from all 50 states flock to try their famous Tex-Ethiopian BBQ.
Watch: Smoke N Ash restaurant combines Texas barbecue with Ethiopian spices
Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru, an Ethiopian nun and pianist who composed more than 150 original works of music, has passed away at the age of 99. (Photo: Emahoy music foundation)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: March 28th, 2023
New York (TADIAS) — Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru, the renowned Ethiopian nun Pianist & Composer, has passed away at the age of 99 in Jerusalem, where she had been living at the Ethiopian Monastery for almost 40 years. According to Fana Broadcasting, she died on March 23rd.
Emahoy Tsege Mariam was born as Yewubdar Gebru in Addis Abeba on December 12, 1923. She was sent to Switzerland at a young age, where she studied the violin and then the piano at a girls’ boarding school. After returning to Ethiopia, she was taken prisoner of war with her family during the Italian occupation and deported to the island of Asinara, north of Sardinia, and later to Mercogliano near Naples.
After the war, Yewubdar resumed her musical studies in Cairo and returned to Ethiopia accompanied by her teacher, the Polish violinist Alexander Kontorowicz. She then became a nun and took the title Emahoy and her name was changed to Tsege Mariam.
Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru. (Photo: Emahoy music foundation)
Left: Yewubdar Gebru, 1940s. (Photo: Emahoy music foundation)
Yewubdar Gebru as prisoner of War on the Italian Island of Azinara. (Photo: Emahoy music foundation)
Although she was raised in privilege with her father, Kantiba Gebru Desta, a former mayor of Gonder and Addis Abeba, Emahoy’s life was marked by struggles beyond her musical pursuits. She was taken as a prisoner of war by the Italian forces, and after their defeat, she faced obstacle from Ethiopian officials, who blocked her from obtaining a scholarship to study music in London.
Despite these challenges, she maintained a resilient attitude and famously remarked:
“We can’t always choose what life brings. But we can choose how to respond.”
(Photo: Emahoy music foundation)
After releasing her debut album in 1967, Emahoy Tsege Mariam dedicated the proceeds to charitable causes benefiting children. With the assistance of her family members residing in the United States, she eventually established the Emahoy Tsege Mariam Music Foundation, which aimed to provide children with opportunities to study music.
Emahoy gained international recognition through her solo compositions, which were published in the “Ethiopiques 21″ CD series by the French label Buda Musique in 2006. She is known for her classical and jazz music compositions, which are reflective and pensive, with ‘Homeless Wanderer’ being one of her most notable works.
Emahoy Tsege Mariam’s life has been one of resilience and commitment to her art. When she was denied the chance to study music in London, she entered the Guishen Mariam monastery in the Wello region at the age of 19. Within two years, she was ordained as a nun. During the 1960s, she studied the music of Saint Yared in Gonder, and in 1967, her first album was released in Germany.
Later Emahoy survived Ethiopia’s Marxist revolution in the 1970s and continued to create music, with her piano compositions being released in 1973 to raise funds for orphanages.
Her niece Hanna M. Kebbede emphasizes the teaching moments that can be drawn from Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru’s life, stating that “It is a uniquely Ethiopian story, but at the same time the lessons are universal.”
Emahoy’s music has been featured in several films, including the Oscar-nominated documentary Time and Rebecca Hall’s Netflix drama Passing. Journalist and author Kate Molleson made a documentary about Emahoy Tsege Mariam for BBC Radio Four called ‘The Honky Tonk Nun.’
In her interview with Alula Kebede on his Amharic radio program on the Voice of America, Emahoy said, “Although I did not have money to give them, I was determined to use my music to help these and other young people to get an education.”
The music and life of Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru continue to inspire young people, artists, and students around the world. Her unwavering commitment to using her talents for the betterment of others is a legacy that will endure.
Watch: Labyrinth of Belonging – Documentary about Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru
Addis Fine Art in London is currently hosting the first European solo exhibition by Ethiopian artist, Dawit Adnew. The show also marks the gallery's first exhibition of the year at their London location. (Courtesy photo)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: March 22nd, 2023
New York (TADIAS) — Addis Fine Art is currently showcasing the first European solo exhibition by Ethiopian artist Dawit Adnew. The show, which marks the gallery’s first of 2023, opened in February at their London gallery.
Dawit Adnew, born in 1973, presents a series of paintings that transport the viewer to a sumptuous and dream-like world, where languorous figures pose amid lush gardens overflowing with plants, fruits, and flowers. The artworks convey an atmosphere of perpetual calm, suggesting twilight, where color and pattern are sources of pure pleasure, much like Matisse or Gauguin.
Dawit’s works are informed by his studies in African masks and iconography, and his use of patterns and fabric emerges from his background as a textile designer. He is based in Addis Ababa and studied at the Alle School of Fine Arts and Design. His artistic career has included participation in various exhibitions in Addis Ababa, Kenya, and Malta.
Addis Fine Art’s exhibition of Dawit’s works is a rare opportunity for European audiences to experience the vibrant, enchanting world he has created. The show is a must-see for art enthusiasts seeking a fresh perspective on contemporary African art.
ALLE LEGENDS: GROUP SHOW
And in Ethiopia, art enthusiasts have only a few days left to catch the ‘Alle Legends’ exhibition at Addis Fine Arts gallery before it closes on Sunday, March 25th.
The exhibition is a large-scale group show featuring works from 19 artists who have played a crucial role in shaping and influencing successive generations of graduates from the Alle School of Fine Art and Design. Each of the exhibiting artists has spent time teaching and instructing at the renowned art school, and their personal experiences have helped to instill an environment of openness and exploration in one of the oldest art schools in East Africa.
(Courtesy of Addis Fine Art)
‘Alle Legends’ serves to illuminate the individual practices of each artist, as well as their lasting impact on Ethiopian contemporary art. The exhibition turns the lens onto the educators, highlighting their contributions to the development of the country’s artistic landscape.
The Addis Fine Arts gallery is known for its focus on contemporary art, and this exhibition is a testament to their commitment to showcasing the best and brightest talents from Ethiopia. The ‘Alle Legends’ exhibition is a must-see for those interested in the evolution of Ethiopian art and the influence of education on artistic practices.
Don’t miss your chance to see this impressive exhibition before it closes on Sunday.
From left: Yemane Tsegay of Ethiopia, Jemal Yimer of Ethiopia, the winner of the Los Angeles Marathon men's elite, and Barnaba Kipkoech of Kenya pose for a picture in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 19, 2023. (AP Photo)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: March 21st, 2023
Los Angeles (TADIAS) — Ethiopian athletes dominated the men’s division of the 2023 Los Angeles Marathon held on Sunday, claiming the first and second spots.
Jemal Yimer won the race, completing the 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometer) course in an impressive 2 hours, 13 minutes, 13.58 seconds, with his teammate Yemane Tsegay finishing second.
Barnaba Kipkoech of Kenya secured third place, while Hosava Kretzmann from Arizona was the top American men’s finisher, completing his first marathon in sixth place.
In the women’s division, Stacy Ndiwa from Kenya claimed the top spot, crossing the finish line in 2:31:00.24. Martha Akeno, also from Kenya, finished second, while Grace Kahura secured third place. Ashley Paulson from St. George, Utah, was the top American women’s finisher, coming in fourth place.
The marathon was held on a cloudy day with temperatures hovering around 60 degrees (15 Celsius), starting at Dodger Stadium and ending near Avenue of the Stars in Century City on Los Angeles’ westside.
Jemal Yimer, of Ethiopia, wins the men’s division of the Los Angeles Marathon in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 19, 2023. (AP Photo)
Yimer and Ndiwa each received $6,000 for their respective victories, with Ndiwa earning an additional $10,000 for finishing first. The men’s race began 15 minutes after the women’s race started.
The marathon showcased runners from various countries and backgrounds, making it an exciting and highly competitive event. The Los Angeles Marathon, one of the largest in the United States, is a popular annual event that attracts thousands of runners and spectators from all over the world, and all the participants deserve congratulations for their achievements!
The photographer's latest images are part of a public exhibition called "Aïda Muluneh: This is where I am," commissioned by Public Art Fund, a New York City-based nonprofit, which has taken over hundreds of bus stops in New York, Chicago, Boston, and Abidjan. (Courtesy Photo)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: March 20th, 2023
New York (TADIAS) — Aïda Muluneh’s surreal photographs featuring African women with symbols of power, conflict, and history have taken over bus stops in New York City.
Her latest images, which include painted eye motifs and chairs, are part of a public exhibition called “Aïda Muluneh: This is where I am,” commissioned by the New York City-based nonprofit Public Art Fund. The exhibition is on display at hundreds of bus stops in New York, Chicago, Boston, and Abidjan.
The primary symbol of the installation is the traditional Ethiopian coffee pot, or jebena, which the artist uses as a call for open dialogue in her birth country. Her enigmatic images aim to spark conversations and break the silence.
The exhibition, which runs through May, is displayed at over 330 bus stops. Below is a highlight from CNN’s African Voices program:
Former photojournalist, Aïda Muluneh now creates images that pose questions, rather than offering answers.
Muluneh has spent years creating surrealist photographs of stately African women bearing symbols that reckon with conflict, history and power. Painted eye motifs — as well as her subjects’ unflinching gaze — represent the need to bear witness, chairs represent seats of influence, and curtains pull back to show the stagecraft of politics.
Now, the Ethiopian artist’s images have taken over hundreds of bus shelters in New York, Chicago, Boston and her current home of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, through the exhibition “Aïda Muluneh: This is where I am,” commissioned by Public Art Fund, a New York City-based nonprofit.
Though Muluneh’s work has already served as public art, including open-air exhibitions in Europe, “This is where I am” is her largest public installation to date.
The documentary follows the story of Yeshi Kassa, great-granddaughter of Emperor Haile Selassie, as she investigates what happened to her family after the 1974 coup. The film looks at a rarely examined slice of history, delving into the complex legacy of Ethiopia's last emperor. (Courtesy photo)
Tadias Magazine
Published: March 18th, 2023
New York (TADIAS) — The New African Film Festival (NAFF) at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, Maryland, celebrates its 19th anniversary with a screening of the documentary “My Grandpa was an Emperor.”
The documentary follows the story of Yeshi Kassa, great-granddaughter of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie, as she investigates what happened to her family after the 1974 coup that led to the imprisonment of most of her family. The film looks at a rarely examined slice of history, delving into the complex legacy of Ethiopia’s last emperor.
The festival features 30 films from 22 countries, including six U.S. premieres. The opening night film was “Bobi Wine: The People’s President. The festival also features documentaries that explore the complex lives and legacies of well-known cultural figures from across the continent.
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If You Go:
GRANDPA WAS AN EMPEROR
Showtimes: Wednesday, March 22, 2023 07:00 PM Click here for tickets
Dinkinesh, which is Lucy's Ethiopian name, means "you are marvelous" in Amharic, reflecting the significance of this mission. (Photo: United Launch Alliance)
Tadias Magazine
Published: March 17th, 2023
New York (TADIAS) — NASA’s spacecraft Lucy is on its way to the Dinkinesh asteroid, paying homage to Ethiopia’s place as the cradle of humanity and one of the oldest civilizations on earth.
Dinkinesh, which is Lucy’s Ethiopian name, means “you are marvelous” in Amharic, reflecting the significance of this mission. Named after the famous Lucy fossil, which revolutionized our understanding of human evolution, the Lucy spacecraft is expected to do the same for our understanding of the origin and evolution of our solar system.
According to NASA’s Lucy project scientist Keith Noll, “We are excited to have another opportunity to honor that connection” between Lucy and Ethiopia. This mission is not only a scientific endeavor but also a tribute to Ethiopia’s rich cultural heritage and its contribution to our understanding of our shared human history.
Below is a highlight from Space.com:
Meet Dinkinesh: Asteroid targeted by NASA’s Lucy spacecraft gets a marvelous name
Asteroid Dinkinesh. (Image credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona)
The first asteroid to be visited by NASA’s space rock-hopping craft Lucy has finally been given a name. The tiny asteroid in the main asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter has received the moniker “Dinkinesh” or ድንቅነሽ in Amharic, the language of Ethiopia, which means “you are marvelous.”
Dinkinesh was discovered in 1999, but like millions of other main-belt asteroids, it didn’t get a name, only receiving a designation number when its orbit was well determined. First known under its provisional designation as 1999 VD57, the asteroid later entered catalogs as 152830. A proper name was only proposed when the rock was selected as a target for NASA’s Lucy mission.
Evolution enthusiasts may recognize the name Dinkinesh as it is the alternative name of the fossilized Australopithecus afarensis skeleton known as “Lucy”, which was discovered in 1974 in Ethiopia.
“This mission was named for Lucy because just as that fossil revolutionized our understanding of human evolution, we expect this mission to revolutionize our understanding of the origin and evolution of our solar system,” Lucy project scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Keith Noll, said in a statement(opens in new tab). “We are excited to have another opportunity to honor that connection.”
Dinkinesh will be first up in a packed tour for the Lucy spacecraft when it reaches the tiny asteroid on Nov. 1, 2023. The space rock wasn’t originally part of the 12-year tour that will see the spacecraft visit nine other asteroids and was only added in January.
Dinkinesh was added to Lucy’s itinerary because the spacecraft’s operators think that the tiny asteroid can be used to test the probe’s innovative terminal tracking system. The system will allow Lucy to precisely image the asteroids it encounters as it passes by them at high speeds.
The fact that Dinkinesh is under half a mile (under a kilometer) in diameter means it will provide an excellent test of Lucy’s high-speed imaging capabilities before the spacecraft starts its main science mission of investigating the never-before-explored Jupiter Trojan asteroids.
This large group of asteroids shares the orbit of Jupiter, the solar system’s largest planet. Astronomers believe that these Trojan asteroids are fossilized remnants of the material that formed the planets of the solar system over 4.5 billion years ago.
“This is really a tiny little asteroid,” Hal Levison, a planetary scientist at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and Lucy’s principal investigator, said about Dinkinesh in the statement. “Some of the team affectionately refer to it as ‘Dinky.’ But, for a small asteroid, we expect it to be a big help for the Lucy mission.”
The visit to Dinkinesh won’t be just a test of Lucy’s instrumentation. Researchers are also excited about what they can learn from the asteroid itself, which will be the smallest main asteroid belt object ever explored by a space probe.
In terms of size, Dinkinesh is actually more like a near-Earth asteroid than a main-belt object, as these tend to be bigger. Astronomers hope that the rock could help them discover how asteroids change as they leave their position between Jupiter and Mars and head closer to our planet.
“At closest approach, if all goes smoothly, we expect Dinkinesh to be 100s of pixels across as seen from Lucy’s sharpest imager,” Simone Marchi, a senior research scientist at SwRI, said in the statement. “While we won’t be able to see all the details of the surface, even the general shape may indicate whether near-Earth asteroids — which originate in the main belt — change significantly once they enter near-Earth space.”
That means, just as the Lucy skeleton proved revolutionary to our understanding of human evolution, Dinkinesh could be viral in our understanding of the evolution of the solar system.
SEED is one of the longest-serving Ethiopian nonprofit organizations in the United States. (courtesy photos)
Tadias Magazine
Published: March 16th, 2023
New York (TADIAS) — SEED, the Society of Ethiopians Established in the Diaspora, is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a gala event on May 28th, 2023 at the College Park Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Hyattsville, Maryland.
In a press release the organization said the event, titled “The Mighty Diaspora,” will honor visionary leaders and organizations for their outstanding achievements in various spheres, including academics, business, technology, art, humanitarian efforts, exemplary leadership, and distinguished service.
SEED is one of the longest-serving Ethiopian nonprofit organizations in the United States, and its 30th anniversary marks a significant milestone for the community. The organization has been instrumental in providing a platform for Ethiopian-Americans to showcase their talents and achievements and to build a strong community in the United States.
The event will feature a dinner and awards ceremony, where SEED will honor individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to their respective fields. This year the honorees include Prince Asfa-Wossen Assrate, Ph.D, Ustaz Jemal Beshir, Mrs. Rebecca Haile, Ms. Ethiopia Habtemariam, Dr. Lishan Kassa, Dr. Brook Lakew, Mr. Henok Tesfaye, Deacon Yoseph Tafari, Mr. Elias Wondimu, The Habesha Kids and Leadership, and The American Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee (AEPAC).
SEED is also committed to continuing its tradition of celebrating and honoring high school graduates. The organization will look back at its past high school honorees to see where they are now and showcase their growth in a special honorary booklet.
SEED’s 30th anniversary gala promises to be a memorable event, bringing together the Ethiopian-American community to celebrate its achievements and honor its leaders. The organization looks forward to continuing its mission of promoting excellence and making a positive impact on the community and the country.
The event held at 26 Bridge in Brooklyn honored Ethiopian-born artist Julie Mehretu and benefited a youth empowerment program in Ethiopia called Kefeta. (Photo: Courtesy of BFA)
Tadias Magazine
Updated: March 17th, 2023
New York (TADIAS) — Last month, Amref Health Africa hosted a sold-out ArtBall and Auction in New York, which celebrated the art and culture of African, Pan-African, and Black communities from the United States and Africa. The event honored world-renowned Ethiopian-born artist Julie Mehretu and benefited a youth empowerment program in Ethiopia called Kefeta.
The ArtBall showcased a wide range of artworks including paintings, sculptures, and photographs from various artists, such as Ethiopian American artists Helina Metaferia and Tariku Shiferaw. Tariku presented Julie with the Rees Visionary Award, recognizing her outstanding contribution to the art world.
Julie Mehretu at Amref Health Africa’s 2023 ArtBall & Auction. (Surface Mag)
Brooklyn’s Bunna Cafe hosted an Ethiopian coffee ceremony during the event, which also offered a variety of East and West African cuisine, beverages, and live music for guests to enjoy. (Photo: Courtesy of BFA)
“I am super-humbled by the work that Amref does,” Juile told the gathering. “After these last few years, we know more than ever, including those of us who aren’t usually on the frontline of healthcare, the imperative of healthcare and healthcare equity.”
Julie praised Amref’s work, noting that they have created a possibility where cultural work is made by Africans for Africans. The event brought people together and showcased the beauty of African art and culture while promoting positive change.
We had the privilege of attending the ArtBall and are excited to learn more about the Kefeta project in Ethiopia. We will be sharing an in-depth highlight of this remarkable initiative in the near future. We hope that more events like this continue to bring people together and promote positive change.
Priscilla Sims Brown, CEO of Amalgamated Bank. Born in 1957 to Ethiopian parents who were studying in New Mexico, she stayed behind when her mother and father returned to Africa. (Her mother, Marta Gabre-Tsadick, served as Ethiopia’s first woman senator.) Photo: NYT.
Tadias Magazine
Published: March 14th, 2023
New York (TADIAS) — In the following article The New York Times profiles Priscilla Sims Brown, the CEO of Amalgamated Bank, the largest union-owned bank in the US. Brown’s Ethiopian heritage (her mother Marta Gabre-Tsadick was the first woman to serve as a senator in Ethiopia) and unconventional upbringing, which included ten years living with an American military family in Germany, instilled in her a confidence to pursue an unconventional path. She rose through the ranks in the finance sector before joining Amalgamated in 2021. Under her leadership, the bank has prioritized issues such as workers’ and immigrants’ rights, racial justice, anti-violence, gun safety, affordable housing, and sustainability. Amalgamated is also the first bank to obtain a merchant category code for gun stores, and was one of the first companies to cover the costs of employees needing abortions following the U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned abortion rights.
Below is an excerpt and link to the full article:
A Bank President Who Embraces the Unconventional
Priscilla Sims Brown’s atypical childhood has helped her lead a financial institution from a different perspective as Amalgamated Bank’s chief executive.
This article is part of our Women and Leadership special report that profiles women leading the way on climate, politics, business and more.
Priscilla Sims Brown, chief executive of Amalgamated Bank, said it was her uncommon upbringing that put her on the path to running the country’s largest union-owned bank.
Born in 1957 to Ethiopian parents who were studying in New Mexico, she stayed behind when her mother and father returned to Africa. (Her mother, Marta Gabre-Tsadick, served as Ethiopia’s first woman senator.) She spent the next 10 years living with an American military family in a small town between two American bases in Germany.
But after a government coup in Ethiopia in the 1970s, her parents fled the country and returned to the United States. Ms. Brown joined them, and they moved from place to place while establishing a Christian nonprofit to help Ethiopian refugees.
Ms. Brown said her background gave her the confidence to pursue a path that could be difficult for women, and particularly women of color.
“Having spent my formative years in Germany, there were a lot of people from a lot of places,” she said. “People can be made to feel inferior by difference. I was made to feel difference was pretty cool.”
It wasn’t until she was 14 and had returned to the United States that she experienced racism, Ms. Brown said. “I learned that racism existed, but I didn’t own the inferiority, I didn’t own the prejudice. I learned to lean into differences and be somewhat unconventional.”
Ms. Brown studied journalism at San Francisco State University, then landed a job at KQED, the local public radio and television station in the Bay Area. “I was first hired on the nightly news and I remember getting promoted to $4 an hour,” she said.
This week The Atlantic features an interview with Kelela, an Ethiopian-American musician, providing a perceptive and insightful analysis of her most recent work, while highlighting the significance of her Ethiopian heritage on her music, cultural background, and personal identity. (Photo: Alima Lee)
Tadias Magazine
Published: March 13th, 2023
New York (TADIAS) — In the following article the Atlantic magazine features a recent interview with Ethiopian-American musician Kelela and a review of her latest album, “Raven.”
Written by Hannah Giorgis, a staff writer at The Atlantic, the article highlights the influence of Kelela’s Ethiopian heritage on her music and identity. Kelela discusses her upbringing as an Ethiopian-American and how it has informed her creative process, noting that her heritage is an important part of her identity.
In addition, the piece spotlights the cultural significance of the interview location, Benyam Cuisine, an Ethiopian restaurant in Harlem where Kelela and the author meet. This adds depth to the conversation, which further explores Kelela’s connection to Ethiopia and its impact on her music.
Overall, the article offers a perceptive and insightful analysis of Kelela’s latest work, underscoring how her Ethiopian roots have influenced her music, identity, and cultural background.
Below is an excerpt and link to the full article:
Kelela Knows What Intimacy Sounds Like
By Hannah Giorgis
On a Tuesday afternoon last month, I found refuge from the dreary chill of New York’s winter in the cardamom-scented warmth of Benyam Cuisine, a small Ethiopian restaurant in Harlem. The family-run establishment is normally only open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday. But that day, a co-owner trekked in from Jersey City to indulge two homesick Ethiopian American women: myself and Kelela, the enigmatic R&B singer whose fan base includes the likes of Beyoncé, Solange, Björk, and, not coincidentally, the Benyam host’s niece.
Kelela, who is 39, has cultivated a mystique that’s exceedingly rare in the modern music business. It’s been nearly 10 years since she released her 2013 mixtape, Cut 4 Me, which earned her an eclectic following of industry heavyweights, R&B purists, dance-music DJs, and indie obsessives. In 2017, she dropped her studio debut, Take Me Apart, which cemented her standing as one of modern R&B’s most inventive vocalists. Take Me Apart is by turns brooding, defiant, and haunting—and in each register, Kelela’s voice wraps itself around the melodies with hypnotic confidence. After that creative leap and the subsequent tour, she essentially vanished…
Before she became a singer so adored that fans Photoshop her face onto missing-persons posters, Kelela Mizanekristos was a student of sociology and of her parents’ record collections. The only child of two Ethiopian immigrants who came to the United States in the ’70s, Kelela was born in Washington, D.C., and raised speaking Amharic…(In Amharic, kelela loosely translates to “shelter.”) Her parents, who never married, lived in separate apartments in the same building until she reached school age and her mother moved the pair to Gaithersburg, a nearby suburb in Maryland.
Much of Kelela’s musical diet when she was a child was shaped by her parents’ transoceanic tastes. Like many second-generation kids, she grew up listening to a mix of American pop and R&B (Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Teddy Pendergrass) and so-called world music (Miriam Makeba, Aster Aweke). In her mother’s basement, which she dubbed the “Conservatory of Kelela,” she immersed herself in the discographies of jazz singers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Betty Carter.
The traveling exhibition that’s currently on view at The Africa Center in Harlem is curated by Fitsum Shebeshe, a former assistant curator at the National Museum of Ethiopia. The show titled the 'States of Becoming,'features 17 artists from the Diaspora, including several Ethiopian-Americans, who reside and work in various places across the United States. (Photo: The Africa Center in New York)
Okay Africa
Having grown up in Ethiopia all his life, Fitsum Shebeshe had never known what it was like to travel outside of Hawassa where he was born. When he went outside the country for the first time, on a visit to Mozambique for an informal arts training program, his eyes were opened to brand new experiences and he wanted to learn more about the possibilities that were waiting for him beyond the borders of his home country, and, indeed, outside of Africa. While working as an assistant curator at the National Museum of Ethiopia, he applied to arts school in the US. Upon acceptance, he was given a scholarship to complete his Masters of Fine Arts in Curatorial Practice at Maryland Institute College of Art.
Based in the Washington DC area, Shebeshe work has centered on roles as both a curator and painter. He is currently the gallery director at Harmony Hall Regional Center in Fort Washington, Maryland, where he spoke to OkayAfrica about his hopes for the exhibition.
States of Becoming On view through February 26, 2023
The concept for States of Becoming evolved from curator Fitsum Shebeshe’s lived experience following his 2016 move from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to Baltimore, Maryland and his subsequent firsthand knowledge of the weight of cultural assimilation. Confronted with a different society, Shebeshe encountered a wide range of existential questions that shaped his relationship to institutions and culture. Shebeshe also had the realization for the first time that he was viewed as belonging to a minority because of the color of his skin, and a newfound awareness of the profound impact the traditional and conservative culture he grew up with in Ethiopia had on his personal sense of individuality.
Having found kinship among cultural practitioners from the African Diaspora who shared his experience, Shebeshe has united 17 artists with States of Becoming who either came to the United States over the past thirty years or who are first-generation born. The artists represented in States of Becoming relocated from twelve countries in Africa and one in the Caribbean–Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe–with roots in cities across the U.S., including New York, Washington, D.C., New Haven, Detroit, and Los Angeles.
Video screen shot of artwork by one of the featured Ethiopian artists Kibrom Araya. Other Ethiopian artists highlighted in the show include Helina Metaferia, Amare Selfu and Tariku Shiferaw. (The Africa Center)
Like Shebeshe, each artist in the exhibition has had a unique relationship to the U.S. context, which is reflected in their work. States of Becoming explores these artists’ perpetual process of identifying, redefining, and becoming themselves in both local and global contexts, opening up perspectives into multiple states both geographic and emotional in a constant flux of social and cultural adaptations. The exhibition presents work across mediums including painting, photography, sculpture, installation, and video, that express the many different ways in which identity is remade and reimagined. For instance, Nontsikelelo Mutiti looks to hair braiding salons of the African Diaspora, and Amare Selfu moves from figuration to abstraction to express transformation as a result of relocation. These distinct experiences produce a sense of hybrid culture emerging out of real and imagined genealogies of cultural, racial, national, and geographic belonging.
Artists: Gabriel C. Amadi-Emina, Kearra Amaya Gopee, Kibrom Araya, Nadia Ayari, Vamba Bility, Elshafei Dafalla, Masimba Hwati, Chido Johnson, Miatta Kawinzi, Dora King, Helina Metaferia, Nontsikelelo Mutiti, Yvonne Osei, Kern Samuel, Amare Selfu, Tariku Shiferaw, and Yacine Tilala Fall.
The Ethiopian Diaspora Trust Fund is a U.S.-based non-profit organization established to mobilize the Ethiopian Diaspora to raise funds and support Ethiopian projects at home. (Courtesy image)
Tadias Magazine
Published: Friday, November 18th, 2022
New York (TADIAS) – The Ethiopian Diaspora Trust Fund (EDTF) is recruiting new board members.
The U.S.-based non-profit said in an announcement that it’s currently seeking applicants who wish to serve on its board.
EDTF was established four years ago to mobilize the Ethiopian Diaspora to raise funds and support“inclusive development projects” in Ethiopia.
According to the press release the organization said it’s looking for “experience and skills necessary for board level positions, which may include, but not limited to, prior board or nonprofit experience, professional leadership, etc. Additionally, demonstration of skills consistent with the needs of the board, including fundraising, project management, finance, governance, etc.”
Anyone interested in applying for a position on EDTF’s board should visit their website at www.ethiopiatrustfund.org
This week the Ethiopian government and TPLF announced that they have agreed on a permanent cessation of hostilities, hopefully bringing to an end a conflict that begun two years ago this month. The announcement was made by African Union chief mediator following talks between the two sides in South Africa. (Photo: Via Twitter/DIRCO South Africa)
Africa News
The Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces have agreed on a permanent cessation of hostilities to end the war in the northern Tigrayan region.
The announcement was made by African Union chief mediator Olusegun Obasanjo following talks between the two sides in South Africa, Wednesday (Nov 2).
In the first briefing on the peace talks in South Africa, confirmed that both sides agreed on a “restoration services” and of “law and order,” of as well as an “unhindered access to humanitarian supplies.”
In addition to former Nigerian president Obasanjo, who represents the AU in the Horn of Africa, and former Kenyan leader Kenyatta, the mediation team also included former South African vice president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka…
New York (TADIAS) — A master class led by renowned Ethiopian filmmaker, Haile Gerima, will take place on Saturday, May 14 at 11:30am as part of Film at Lincoln Center Events & Talks during the 2022 New York African Film Festival. The event, which is free and open to the public will be held in the Elinor Bunin Munroe Amphitheater.
The class, titled “Cinema of Liberation: From Inception and Execution to Exhibition,” will center on the content, form, and aesthetics of liberation cinema, empowering one’s particular narrative logic and the construction of audiences for partnership in liberation.
I am leaving Tadias temporarily to focus on personal and family matters. As most of you know Tadias has always been a labor of love for me and very proud of the work we've done passionately over the years. Needless to say, I plan to return as soon as I can -- Liben Eabisa. (Photo: Tadias Magazine)
Publisher’s Message:
Dear Tadias Readers,
After 20 years of uninterrupted service as publisher of Tadias Magazine, I am announcing today I will be taking a temporary leave to focus on personal and family matters.
As most of you know Tadias has always been a labor of love for me and very proud of the work we’ve done passionately over the years.
Needless to say (and God willing) I plan to return as soon as I can.
In the meantime, the website will continue to be periodically updated with timely news and information that’s relevant to our global audience.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please email info@tadias.com.
Jane Kurtz (right), who grew up in Ethiopia, is the Co-Founder of Ethiopia Reads, a U.S.-based non-profit that has been promoting a culture of reading in Ethiopia for more than two-decades. Since it was established in 1998 Ethiopia Reads has published hundreds of popular local children's books and English translations for Diaspora children in addition to opening over 70 libraries in every part of Ethiopia. (Courtesy photos)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Updated: March 25th, 2022
New York (TADIAS) — The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) has named Jane Kurtz, the Co-Founder of Ethiopia Reads, the winner of the 2022 iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Award.
In a press release announcing the award IBBY said the winners “are inspiring examples of reading promoters who show us how one person can truly make a difference, especially when we work together.”
According to its website IBBY “is a non-profit organization, which represents an international network of people from all over the world who are committed to bringing books and children together.”
Jane, who was raised in Ethiopia, co-founded Ethiopia Reads in 1998 to promote “a culture of reading in Ethiopia” and to serve as “a model for others to follow in support of the next generation of Ethiopian parents, teachers, and leaders.”
Since it was established more than two-decades ago Ethiopia Reads has published hundreds of popular local children’s books (in several Ethiopian languages) and English translations for Diaspora children in addition to opening over 70 libraries in every part of Ethiopia.
In a statement Ethiopia Reads said its proud of it’s founder’s accomplishments:
60+ years ago, a young Jane Kurtz was raised with her siblings in a far away magical place called Maji in southwest Ethiopia. She grew up to become one of the ultimate creative minds and literacy champion for Ethiopian children! We couldn’t be prouder of Ethiopia Reads’ Cofounder, longtime leader and Advisor @JaneKurtz on her award by @IBBYINT as IBBY-iRead Outstanding Reader Promoter for her 30+ years of consistent work supporting children reading in Ethiopia. We look forward to the second round of 100 Ethiopian local language books coming soon. Please support Jane’s work by checking out #ReadySetGo titles by Open Hearts Big Dreams on Amazon.”
The award announcement added:
Jane Kurtz grew up in Ethiopia and has spent the last 25 years helping to develop indigenous authors and illustrators in Ethiopia—and in multiple languages—while also establishing an infrastructure for publishing books and promoting literacy with training for teachers and librarians. Her work began in 1998 when she co-founded Ethiopia Reads and developed a strategy for starting libraries to support literacy development. In early 2016, Jane initiated a workshop in Ethiopia with artists, children and adult volunteers, which resulted in a prototype for Ready Set Go books—colourful, easy-to-read, culturally appropriate, and published in English and one local language. Jane’s work with literacy addresses the challenges of multiple official languages; lack of books reflecting Ethiopian culture, history, and landscape; obstacles in the translation, publication, and distribution process; and insufficient professional opportunities for educators and librarians. With her vision and collaboration with others, she has planted the seeds of literacy all over Ethiopia.”
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For more information, about the winners and about IBBY go to www.ibby.org. And learn more about Ethiopia Reads at www.ethiopiareads.org.
The Ethiopian government on Thursday announced an “indefinite humanitarian truce” in Tigray, saying the action was necessary to allow unimpeded relief supplies into the area. The government said [TPLF] must reciprocate the truce for the situation to improve in the region. It urged TPLF “to desist from all acts of further aggression and withdraw from areas they have occupied in neighboring regions." (Reuters photo)
LATEST: TPLF agrees to humanitarian truce
UPDATED March 25, 2022
BBC
Rebel forces fighting in northern Ethiopia have agreed to a government offer of a truce to allow aid deliveries to reach millions of people in urgent need of assistance…
The TPLF rebels said they would respect the ceasefire as long as aid deliveries resume “within reasonable time”
In its statement on Thursday, the government said that the truce was “indefinite” and “effective immediately”, but added that it would only improve the lives of people in the north of the country if the move was reciprocated.
It called on the Tigrayan forces to “stop further aggression and withdraw from areas they have occupied in neighbouring regions”.
In response, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) said it “will do everything it can do to make sure this cessation of hostilities is a success”.
Ethiopia Declares ‘Humanitarian Truce’ in Tigray to Allow Aid
Associated Press
March 24, 2022
Ethiopia’s government on Thursday announced what it called an “indefinite humanitarian truce” in its war-ravaged Tigray region, saying the action was necessary to allow unimpeded relief supplies into the area.
“The government calls upon the donor community to redouble their generous contributions to alleviate the situation and reiterates its commitment to work in collaboration with relevant organizations to expedite the provision of humanitarian assistance to those in need,” authorities said in a statement issued by the Government Communication Service.
The government statement said Tigray’s forces must reciprocate the truce for the humanitarian situation to improve in the region.
It urged fighters loyal to Tigray’s fugitive leaders “to desist from all acts of further aggression and withdraw from areas they have occupied in neighboring regions…”
Although the war has subsided in several places, notably within the Tigray and Amhara regions, concerns remain in the northeastern Afar region.
Aid into the Tigray region has been severely limited under what the United Nations described as a “de facto humanitarian blockade.”
Ethiopian Airlines has confirmed that its CEO Tewolde Gebremariam, who is currently in the U.S. receiving medical treatment, has stepped down from his position. In a statement the airline said Mr. Tewolde, who has worked at Ethiopian for 37 years including as CEO for the past decade, "requested early retirement in order for him to focus his full attention to his medical treatment." Below is the full statement. (Getty Images)
Ethiopian Airlines Statement
March 23rd, 2022
Early Retirement of Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, Ethiopian Group Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam has been under medical treatment in the USA for the last six months. As he needs to focus on his personal health issues, he is unable to continue leading the airline as a Group CEO, a duty which demands closer presence and full attention round the clock. Accordingly, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam requested the Board of Management of Ethiopian Airlines Group(the “Board”), for early retirement in order for him to focus his full attention to his medical treatment.
The Board, in its ordinary meeting held on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, has accepted Mr. Tewolde’s request for early retirement.
Mr. Tewolde led the Airline for over a decade with remarkable success reflected in its exceptional performance in all parameters including but not limited to exponential growth from one Billion USD annual turn-over to 4.5 Billion, from 33 airplanes to 130 airplanes and from 3 million passengers to 12 million passengers (pre-COVID).
Under his leadership, the airline group has grown by four fold in all measurements building more than USD 700 million worth of vital infrastructure like Africa’s biggest hotel, Cargo terminal, MRO hangars and shops, Aviation Academy and Full Flight Simulators. The Board, the Senior Management, employees and the whole Ethiopian Airlines family express their gratefulness for his contribution and wish him full recovery soon.
The Board will announce the new Group CEO and successor to Ato Tewolde GebreMariam shortly. Mr. Girma Wake, former CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, has been appointed recently as a new Chairman of the Board of Management of Ethiopian Airlines Group by the Ethiopian Public Enterprises Holding & Administration Agency.
Mr. Girma Wake is a highly experienced, successful and well-regarded business leader and a well-known figure in the aviation industry who previously led Ethiopian Airlines for 7 years as a CEO and laid the foundation for the fast and profitable growth of the airline. The combination of his experience, work-culture and drive makes him capable of chairing the board and take the airline to the next level. Mr. Girma’s decision-making skills are tested and well proved.”
Awol Erizku Reflects on “Memories of a Lost Sphinx” at Gagosian
Awol Erizku is an Ethiopian-American artist whose work draws on the vast expanse of history to create a counter-narrative to the largely Western discourse on African culture. Last week, the multi-disciplinary artist unveiled a new solo exhibition at Gagosian, titled “Memories of a Lost Sphinx.”
Set against a black-painted interior, a series of six lightbox photographs and an accompanying sculpture ruminates on the fabled sphinx as a complex, cross-cultural symbol that extends between and beyond Ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Asian mythologies. “My first encounter with the Great Sphinx of Giza led me to produce my own interpretation of the mystique and essence of the sphinx as a concept. The result is my interpolation of the space between my memory and imagination,” said the artist.
The constellation of images jumps from lions and falcons floating in the cosmos, a tarantula clamped against a man’s face, to the back of Kevin Durant’s head adjacent to a neighboring hyperrealistic portrait of a snake. Instead of presenting any singular narrative, Erizku uses this grouping to explore issues of identity in regards to the sphinx as a hybrid symbol that embodies riddles, wisdom, divinity, thresholds, and the transition between life and death.
Further bridging the symbols into the present, the Los Angeles-based artist illuminates the space with Nefertiti – Miles Davis (Gold) — a glowing disco ball named after the seminal musician’s 1968 album of the same name. Organized by Antwaun Sargent, “Memories of a Lost Sphinx” is on view at Gagosian New York until April 16, 2022.
My first encounter with the Great Sphinx of Giza led me to produce my own interpretation of the mystique and essence of the sphinx as a concept. The result is my interpolation of the space between my memory and imagination.
—Awol Erizku
Gagosian is pleased to announce Memories of a Lost Sphinx, an exhibition of new works by Awol Erizku. Installed in a black-painted interior, a set of six lightbox photographs accompanied by a mixed-media sculpture represent the sphinx as a complex, cross-cultural symbol that extends between and beyond Ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Asian mythologies. Organized by Antwaun Sargent, this is Erizku’s first exhibition at the gallery.
Erizku works in photography, film, sculpture, painting, and installation, making reference to spirituality, art history, and hip-hop; in the process, he aims to craft a new vernacular that bridges the gap between African and African American visual cultures. Further developing his “Afro-esoteric” iconography in Memories of a Lost Sphinx, Erizku explores the intersections of ancient mythology, diasporic tradition, and contemporary culture.
The sphinx is a hybrid creature with human and animal attributes: the head of a human, body of a lion, wings of a falcon, and, in some cases, a serpent-headed tail. According to Egyptian tradition, this guardian figure had a male head, whereas in Greek mythology, the sphinx was female and originated in Aethopia. The most notorious Greek sphinx was bested when Oedipus answered her riddle, “What walks on four feet in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three at night?”
Rather than convey any singular entity or narrative, the constellation of images presents allegories of the creature’s attributes, depicting a lion pacing before a cosmic background, a falcon landing on a gloved hand, a tightly coiled snake, and a menacing tarantula. Replacing a pharaoh’s head is a photograph of NBA star Kevin Durant.
The grouping probes issues of meaning and identity while supplanting the body with compositions that explore the conceptual framework of the sphinx as a hybrid symbol that embodies riddles, wisdom, divinity, thresholds, and the transition between life and death. The images are accompanied by Nefertiti – Miles Davis (Gold), a golden mirrored disco ball in the shape of the Egyptian queen’s iconic bust. Titled after Davis’s 1968 album, the sculpture unites visual art with music, known symbols with new forms, and antiquity with postmodernity, while dynamically illuminating the exhibition space.
Memories of a Lost Sphinx may be viewed within the gallery during operating hours, and at all times through its storefront windows, with the internally lit images and mirrored sculpture transforming the space throughout the day and night. This opportunity for public viewing of Erizku’s work extends the project of New Visions for Iris (2021), a presentation sponsored by the Public Art Fund of his backlit photographs in bus shelters across New York’s five boroughs and throughout Chicago. The lightbox format of these works also relates to the use of the format by Gregory Crewdson, with whom the artist studied while earning his MFA at Yale—while also evoking the way in which the monumental sphinx in Giza is illuminated for tourists.
Awol Erizku was born in 1988 in Gondar, Ethiopia, and lives and works in Los Angeles and New York. Erizku earned a BFA from the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, New York, and an MFA from the Yale School of Art, New Haven, CT. Collections include FLAG Art Foundation, New York, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Exhibitions include New Flower | Images of the Reclining Venus, FLAG Art Foundation, New York (2015); Mystic Parallax, FLAG Art Foundation, New York (2020); and New Visions for Iris, Public Art Fund, various sites in New York and Chicago (2021). His photographs of cultural and creative leaders have been featured in the New Yorker, New York, GQ, and Vanity Fair.
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If You Go:
AWOL ERIZKU
Memories of a Lost Sphinx
March 10–April 16, 2022
Gagosian Gallery
Park & 75, New York
More info at www.gagosian.com.
One of the most talented female Ethiopian singers, Aster Aweke, has made a name for herself [as] one of the most popular artists on the continent...in her native country, she is a musical legend. She has been nominated for many honors and awards throughout her career and enjoys huge mainstream popularity. (Photos via Aster Aweke's Facebook page)
Punch
Top 10 Best African Songs of All Time
African songs are some of the most popular worldwide and typically have a high-pitched melody or vocal pattern with elements of traditional African rhythms and Western pop music styles. Whenever we hear them, they instantly put us in a good mood and make us want to dance the night away. The list of the best African songs of all time is very long, but this blog will showcase only the best with a brief description of each song.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the list of the Top 10 best African songs of all time!
Mezez Alew’by Aster Aweke (Ethiopian)
When it comes to African music, a group deserves special mention: the Ethiopians. They are responsible for some of the greatest music ever recorded in Africa, such as Aster Aweke’s “Mezz Alew.” One of the most talented female Ethiopian singers, Aster Aweke, has made a name for herself after releasing one song with an incredible voice, leading her to become one of the most popular artists on the continent.
Aweke may not have the notoriety of American musical icon Beyonce or international sensation Madonna. Nevertheless, in her native country, she is a musical legend. She has been nominated for many honors and awards throughout her career and enjoys huge mainstream popularity.
(Photo: Aster Aweke/Facebook)
Aster Aweke performing in Washington D.C., July 2015. (Photo via the artist’s Facebook page)
This song, Mezz Alew, is one of several that she has written. All of her songs are considered to be romantic, uplifting, and inspirational. She uses a melodious voice and rich melodies that have become a trademark in the Ethiopian music industry because they are both timeless and catchy. This song is safe for use as relationship advice even though it is from the perspective of a female looking at her life from her lover’s point of view.
The general message of this song is that if you truly love someone, you should enjoy being with them even if it means sacrificing in some way. However, it should be noted that there is a particular context to this song that is not clear to non-Ethiopians or people who are not familiar with the culture and societal norms that are generally accepted.
Mezz is Ethiopian for juice, and Alew’ means “you” in Amharic, the main language of Ethiopia. The message of this song is quite simple and it has attracted a significant amount of popularity due to the perspective on life, and the positivity spread throughout its lyrics. Listeners can find inspiration from her lyrics, and some have even used them as relationship advice.
The latest video from Aster Aweke’s YouTube Chanel:
Singer/songwriter Aster Aweke has been entertaining international audiences for over 30 years and winning the hearts and minds of world music lovers everywhere. Her songs are anthems to Ethiopian fans and throughout the Ethiopian Diaspora.
Big things are expected of the rookie center back, who was selected first overall by the San Diego Wave ahead of the 2022 season. Naomi Girma was born and raised in San Jose, California, and both of her parents emigrated to the U.S. from Ethiopia. She spoke about how this dual upbring influenced her. (Photo: Wave)
USWNT prospect Girma opens up on being the top NWSL pick, training against Alex Morgan, and her Ethiopian roots
Big things are expected of the rookie center back, who was selected first overall by the San Diego Wave ahead of the 2022 season
U.S. women’s national team prospect and top NWSL draft pick Naomi Girma has spoken to GOAL about her experience with the expansion San Diego Wave, training against Alex Morgan and her Ethiopian-American upbringing, among other topics.
Girma was selected first overall by the Wave in the 2022 NWSL Draft out of Stanford University, and is now getting set to embark on her first professional season.
The 21-year-old center back, who was named the 2020 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year, has starred for the USWNT at various youth levels, and has been called into camp with the senior team on two occasions.
On starting with an expansion team
Girma is expected to feature heavily for the Wave, who will enter the league in 2022 along with Southern California rivals Angel City FC.
“I think [joining an expansion team] makes it easier being a rookie, because I’m not going into a team where everything’s already set and I can help with the beginnings and figuring out how we want things to work and how we want the culture to be,” Girma said on All of US: The U.S. Women’s Soccer Show.
Working with Stoney and Morgan
The Wave have brought ex-Manchester United boss Casey Stoney in as head coach, and Girma has enjoyed working under the former England international defender.
“She’s very personable as a coach and really wants to emphasize she’s here to support us on or off the field, and wants to build relationships with us as people as well,” Girma said of Stoney.
“She’ll be like, ‘OK, center backs come with me after training’ and we’ll do a little extra work on something like defending in the box or like, really small details that you don’t always get from coaches if they don’t have such expertise in that position.”
Girma also spoke about training against USWNT star Alex Morgan, one of the Wave’s biggest acquisitions ahead of their inaugural season.
“I think it’s teaching me [to] play faster, or there are certain things that maybe you can do in college, but you can’t do at the pro level.
“The level is higher, the players are better and playing against one of the top players in the world every day – I feel extremely blessed and grateful that I have this opportunity.”
On her Ethiopian roots
Girma was born and raised in San Jose, California, and both of her parents emigrated to the U.S. from Ethiopia. She spoke about how this dual upbring influenced her.
“At home… it was a lot of Ethiopian culture and then going to school, [it was] a lot of the American culture. That dual upbringing was definitely interesting and something I had to navigate when I was younger, but I’m really thankful I had that experience now,” Girma said.
“It’s shaped me as a person, my values and the emphasis on community and support. That’s a big thing in Ethiopian culture and it’s something that I highly value.”
Selome Muleta (b. 1992) is one of the most exciting young female artists to emerge from the Ethiopian visual arts scene in recent years. Her inaugural European solo show opens on March 11th, 2022 at Addis Fine Art gallery in London. (Photo: Courtesy of the artist via Addis Fine Art)
Press Release
Addis Fine Art London
Addis Fine Art, London is pleased to present Selome Muleta’s debut European solo show, Collapsing Space. This exhibition of the artist’s latest works explores womanhood through the playful merging of portraiture and still life, and examines the relationship between the internal self and the external world.
In Collapsing Space, Selome continues her exploration of female figures captured in states of inner reflection in the midst of vibrant environments. With her chosen medium of acrylic and oil pastel on canvas, Selome’s latest body of work interrogates and celebrates the rich interior worlds of her subjects, the stillness of their external forms reverberating against the vivid patterns and blossoming plants that crawl through their backdrops.
In a similar vein to the portraits of Jennifer Packer, Selome employs translucent washes of hue and busy patterns to create a sense of contemplative unity between her subjects and their respective environments. At times, the faces of her characters are obscured or cropped, and the viewer is invited instead to focus on objects that surround them. A drooping plant, a dozing feline companion, a distant crooked framed portrait – these forms stand as both symbolic and literal entry points to the interior self.
(Courtesy of the artist via Addis Fine Art)
Selome Muleta, Collapsing Space VII, 2021. Courtesy of the artist)
Much like the bottles and bowls of Morandi and Hockney’s plant-laden vases, the flattened characters and objects born from Selome’s brush seem to hum serenely with the energy of their very existence.
Biography
Selome Muleta (b. 1992) is one of the most exciting young female artists to emerge from the Ethiopian visual arts scene in recent years. Now based in Addis Ababa, Muleta studied art formally at the Abyssinia Fine Art School (2012) and Entoto Polytechnic College (2013-2014). She has had solo exhibitions at Guramayne Art Center, Fendika Art Gallery, Alliance Ethio-Francaise (2019) and most recently, Tsedal at Addis Fine Art, Addis Ababa (2020), she has also participated in group shows including From Modern to Contemporary, CFHILL gallery, Stockholm, Sweden (2020).
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If You Go:
COLLAPSING SPACE | SELOME MULETA
Addis Fine Art, London
11 March – 16 April 2022 (Private View: 10 March from 5-8PM)
More info at www.addisfineart.com
Photos from past events organized by the Ethiopian Community Mutual Assistance Association (ECMAA) in New York City. (Courtesy of ECMAA Facebook page)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Updated: March 4th, 2022
New York (TADIAS) — This weekend in New York the Ethiopian Community Mutual Assistance Association (ECMAA) will host an online panel discussion reflecting on two major defining historical events that to this day influence Ethiopia’s national approach to foreign policy, geopolitics and global affairs: Adwa & Yekatit 12.
Adwa
As historian Ayele Bekerie, who has written extensively about Ethiopia’s consequential victory at the battle of Adwa 126 years ago this month and one of the panelists at the event, explains: “Simply put, Adwa became a turning point in modern African history.”
Professor Ayele notes that not only did the victory against Italian colonial ambitions on March 1, 1896 preserve Ethiopia’s sovereignty and independence as the only Black nation that has never been colonized, but it also inspired freedom movements around the world.
But, for the current generation that’s grappling with Ethiopia’s modern vulnerability to foreign exploitation due to decades of social decay and debilitating ethnic-identity politics “the full meaning and relevance of the victory at Adwa has yet to be realized within Ethiopia,” Dr. Ayele argues in an article published in Tadias last year. “That formula of unity should be repeated now to counter the large-scale displacements and violence encountered by our fellow Ethiopians throughout the country to this date.”
Yekatit 12
Despite Ethiopia’s resounding triumph at Adwa, however, Italy was not finished as it launched a brutal second invasion of the country some four decades later, unleashing a wave of crimes against humanity in another failed attempt to terrorize Ethiopians into subjugation.
Ethiopia, who was a member of the League of Nations at the time, was all but abandoned by its European allies and left to fend for itself against a powerful foreign aggressor.
As warned by then exiled Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie, during his famous speech at the League’s headquarters in Geneva the October 1935 invasion of Ethiopia, which was led by the Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, would eventually set the stage for World War II engulfing Europe and the rest of the globe. Among the numerous crimes against humanity the Italian occupation forces committed in Ethiopia, the massacre of Yekatit 12 remains forever seared in the country’s collective memory.
For the past several years ECMAA, in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Justice, has been hosting an annual event in remembrance of Yekatit 12 and the lives lost at the Addis Ababa massacre on February 19, 1937.
According to the announcement in addition to Professor Ayele the virtual panel discussion on Sunday, March 6th will feature Professor Getachew Metaferia and will be moderated by Hanna Yesuf.
—— If You Attend:
More info and registration at ecmaany.org.
This year's New African Film Festival features three Ethiopian films including 'A Fire Within [ፍትህ],' the groundbreaking Ethiopian-American courtroom drama executive produced by Liya Kebede, as well as two new documentaries made in Ethiopia: 'Among Us Women' & 'Stand Up My Beauty.' (Photo: @AFireWithinDoc)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Updated: March 9th, 2022
New York (TADIAS) — The U.S. debut of two recently released Ethiopian documentary movies and an historic Ethiopian-American courtroom drama are part of the lineup at the 2022 New African Film Festival, which is set to kick-off this month in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Organizers announced the “American premieres of powerful Ethiopian documentaries Among us Women and Stand Up My Beauty” in a press release highlighting this year’s program that promises to showcase “the vibrancy of African filmmaking from all corners of the continent and across the diaspora to the Washington, DC, area.”
The annual festival, which celebrates its 18th anniversary this year, takes place from March 18 to 31 at AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in downtown Silver Spring.
The press release added: “This year’s fully in-person festival features 28 films from 17 countries, including five U.S. or North American premieres.”
The featured films include A Fire Within [ፍትህ], the groundbreaking Ethiopian-American courtroom drama executive produced by Liya Kebede and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Chambers. Organizers note that the screening of A Fire Within will feature a Q&A with Chambers.
Below are descriptions and trailers of the Ethiopian films courtesy of AFI Silver Theatre.
A FIRE WITHIN
Special Features: Q&A with filmmaker Christopher Chambers following the March 20 screening
[ፍትህ]
After suffering through the Red Terror, a dark time in Ethiopia’s history during which many educated young people were tortured and murdered, Edgegayehu “Edge” Taye fled to the United States in 1989 as a refugee. Settling in Atlanta, she found work at a hotel, only to discover that the very man who was responsible for her torture in Ethiopia was also working there. Along with several friends who were victims of the same man and are now all living in the U.S., Taye embarks on a landmark human rights case to bring their tormentor to trial. Executive produced by Ethiopian actress and activist Liya Kebede, this incredible and chilling true crime documentary shines a light on a painful time in Ethiopia’s history and reveals the healing power of restorative justice. Winner, Audience Award, Best Documentary, 2021 Atlanta, Naples and North Dakota Human Rights film festivals. DIR/SCR/PROD Christopher Chambers; PROD Ermias Woldeamlak. U.S./Canada/Ethiopia, 2021, color, 85 min. In English and Amharic with English subtitles. NOT RATED
No AFI Member passes accepted.
Run Time: 85 Minutes
Genre: Documentary
Opening Date: Sunday, March 20, 2022
U.S. Premiere
AMONG US WOMEN
Sat, March 26, 12:25 p.m.; Wed, March 30, 7:00 p.m.
The first feature-length documentary by German director Sarah Noa Bozenhardt and Ethiopian filmmaker Daniel Abate Tilahun follows Hulu Endeshaw, a young Ethiopian farmer who is awaiting the birth of her fourth child and finds herself caught between the modern and traditional systems of midwifery in place in her rural village of Megendi. On one hand, she regularly attends checkups at the local health center, where staff are fighting high maternal mortality rates. On the other, Hulu is apprehensive of a system in which she feels unheard and turns to the traditional midwife Endal Gedif for support and comfort. Surrounded by many varying female perspectives, Hulu wrestles with the roles she is expected to play as a mother, a wife and a woman. To unravel her personal wants and needs, she takes the film’s narrative into her own hands, exploring her burning past and her uncertain future. Both because of her fellow women and despite them, Hulu holds onto the desire to define her own path, and gradually unveils the secrets she has kept close to her chest. In English and Amharic with English subtitles. NOT RATED
STAND UP MY BEAUTY
Special Features: North American Premiere
Nardos, an Azmari singer from Addis Ababa, dreams of telling stories about the lives of ordinary people through her music. In her search for stories for her songs, she meets Gennet, a poet who lives on the streets with her children. As Nardos puts the lives of Ethiopian women, their visions and power at the center of her creation, the documentary dives deeper and deeper into a rapidly changing country. (Note courtesy of Deckert Distribution.) Official Selection, 2021 Locarno Film Festival. DIR Heidi Specogna; PROD Heino Deckert, Rolf Schmid. Switzerland/Germany, 2021, color, 110 min. In Amharic with English subtitles. NOT RATED
Run Time: 110 Minutes
Genre: Documentary – music
Opening Date: Saturday, March 26, 2022
"Taptap Send is an app that lets people send money back home quickly and at very low prices," says Helen Amelga, the company's US-Ethiopia Launcher. (Courtesy photo)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Updated: January 20th, 2022
New York (TADIAS) — In the following interview Helen Amelga, the US-Ethiopia Launcher at Taptap Send, explains the newly launched mobile money transfer service, which is considered the first app-based platform to specifically focus on remittances from the Diaspora to people back home.
Helen, whom we have previously featured in Tadias for her public service work in the Ethiopian American community, was most recently the Deputy Area Director at Office of Councilmember Kevin de Leon in Los Angeles, California.
Helen Amelga, the US-Ethiopia Launcher at Taptap Send. (Courtesy photo)
TADIAS: Helen, thank you for your time and congratulations on your new position as Taptap Send’s US representative for Ethiopia.
Helen Amelga: Hi Liben, thank you for having me back. It is always a pleasure to chat with the Tadias team.
TADIAS: How are you enjoying your transition from public service to business? What are some of the rewards and challenges?
Helen: I always try to focus my work through a lens of service. From my positions working in local government here in California, to the work I do through the Ethiopian Democratic Club of Los Angeles, the focus is always on serving my community. My work as US-Ethiopia Launcher at Taptap Send is an extension of that service. Through this role I am able to apply my skill set to serve Ethiopians not only in the diaspora, but those directly on the continent as well.
The work is incredibly rewarding, through connecting people to remittance services I am able to help folks get money to loved ones back home, and beyond the individual, I get to help the larger Ethiopian economy. It’s a win win.
TADIAS: Please tell us about Taptap Send and its recently launched mobile money transfer service to Ethiopia. How does it work?
Helen: Taptap Send is an app that lets people send money back home to Africa and Asia quickly and at very low prices. Since launching in summer 2018, we’ve already moved tens of millions of dollars and reached tens of thousands of customers. We just raised $65 million in a Series B funding. We’re live in the UK, EU, US and Canada, and we support payments into Ethiopia and 21 other countries with more countries launching soon.
How it works is simple, a user in the US just needs to download the Taptap Send app from the Apple Store or Google Play, upload their bank or debit card details, then select a recipient in Ethiopia. The recipient does not need a Taptap Send account. Select a dollar amount and hit send. You’re done! The funds will be deposited directly into your loved ones account that day.
TADIAS: Taptap Send is also the first platform to specifically focus on Remittances from the Diaspora to people back home. How does it differ from other money transfer companies and what are the benefits for us here in the Diaspora?
Helen: Great question. Here at Taptap Send we believe in impact first. We exclusively pursue products and strategies that are in the interests of our customers and the communities we serve, while recognizing the tradeoffs this implies.
Direct benefits to Diaspora are that we offer a great exchange rate and same day transfers at no fee. The app provides quick and easy access to sending money quite literally at the tap of a finger. Many of us have been in a situation where a loved one has an emergency back home, whether it be medical or elsewhere, and we need to get them money fast. Taptap Send gives us the power to get that funds there quickly just by using our phone. No need to go into a bank or brick and mortar institution.
Sending money legally also grows the Ethiopian economy which has been experiencing a cash shortage for some time now.
TADIAS: What are the various financial institutions you are working with in Ethiopia?
Helen: We provide Bank transfers to Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and Dashen bank. Mobile money transfers can be made to Amole and HelloCash, both of which provide cash out options at their local service centers. We will expand to include Telebirr mobile wallet in the coming weeks.
E-wallets in particular are great because the recipients can use their wallet to fund transfers, pay bills and pay diverse merchants without needing to cash out. Taptap Send in partnership with these services is revolutionizing the way we send and spend money.
TADIAS: Do people in the U.S. need an account in Ethiopia to send money?
Helen: Nope, all they need is the Taptap Send app and a debit card.
TADIAS: According to a press release from the company “the UN has set a goal for remittance pricing and commissions to be no higher for any company than 3% of the total sent. Taptap Send says that it’s the only company in the space that has publicly committed to that goal.” Please tell our audience about that goal and the various fees involved in sending and receiving money?
Helen: Our CEO put it best:
Cross-border payments are not only a large market — $540B through formal channels alone, with the informal sector estimated to be almost as large — but are also the central source of capital for low and middle income countries: remittance inflows exceeded foreign direct investment plus official development assistance by in 2020. And they’re growing quickly: more than 7x since 2000. So it should come as no surprise that the United Nations included lowering the price of remittances to 3% as a top-level indicator to “reduce inequality” among their Sustainable Development Goals. The cost of global remittances is simply that important to the reduction in inequality. We’re proud to be the only remittance company (of which we’re aware) that has publicly committed to hitting that goal.”
(Courtesy photo)
TADIAS: Given that remittance is an important source of income for Ethiopia and the limitations involved in terms of mobile wallets services outside of major cities, what are your goals in terms of expanding services to the wider population?
Helen: Excellent question. Our goal is to expand our reach to Ethiopians in every corridor. It’s all about creating access and equity. We are currently working on growing our network to partner with banks throughout Ethiopia.
TADIAS: Is there anything else that you would like to share with our audience?
Helen: Don’t just take my word for it, download and use the app yourself. Leave a review and let us know what you think. I am also happy to connect with folks directly and answer any questions. Helen.Amelga@taptapsend.com
TADIAS: Thank you again, Helen, and best wishes from all of us at Tadias.
Helen: Thanks Liben! It’s always a pleasure talking with you. Until next time.
As the U.S. removes Ethiopia from a critical trade program, it’s clear that the nation should focus on finding sovereign value. (Photo via lobalr2p.org)
The United States’ recent decision to remove Ethiopia from the African Growth And Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade program is a significant and intentional blow to the Ethiopian people and economy.
The country exported around $3 billion worth of product in 2019 — removal from AGOA will cut out approximately half of Ethiopia’s exports to the U.S., which has been the country’s largest export market. According to a recent article in Foreign Policy, this removal will force over 200,000 people, 80% of whom are young women, to lose their jobs. Those most affected by this particular move made by the U.S. are the Ethiopian people, not the Ethiopian Government.
And the reason this is being done to Ethiopia is no secret — it is also no secret to Ethiopians why they were allowed to be a part of AGOA in the first place.
The message of many in Ethiopia to the U.S. regarding this removal has been consistent: It is still not too late to stop what you are doing and start supporting a democratically-elected government. You can reverse the AGOA sanction on Ethiopia and save thousands of people their jobs and life security. This decision also damages Ethiopia’s export market significantly, which will hurt the overall population. America can still support Ethiopia and earn back the trust of the Ethiopian people. We still believe America is capable of standing for its founding values. If this continues, however, it’s clear that America will lose the hearts of Ethiopians to other super power influences.
As Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma from the Republican Party said: Other superpowers are already in Ethiopia, clearly ready to come off as more virtuous and supportive than the U.S. As of now, we still want to believe that it’s not the U.S. as a whole that wants to divide us, but rather a small arm of the current administration which is working hard to lose its longtime friend.
Nothing says “Black Lives Matter” like enforcing the unwanted will of the U.S. onto Africans through unsympathetic and harsh foreign policy on an already impoverished continent.
ETHIOPIA SHOULD CONVERT ENERGY DIRECTLY INTO SOVEREIGN MONEY
For Ethiopia, the only solution is to live outside of the centralized economic system of the world. If, instead of choosing between which foreign superpower should influence us, we want real sovereignty, we will need real, non-fiat, internationally-respected, hard money that we can produce entirely on our own. Freedom and sovereignty isn’t possible when all of the items we seek are audited by the centralized SWIFT system for days before they are allowed or denied.
Our developmental aspirations and wants are controlled by others who say “yes” or “no” based on how it benefits them. We need money we can move when we want to, money we can use to do what we want. We need the most secure, decentralized and incredible achievement of mankind that no superpower can tamper with. We need Bitcoin now more than ever.
ETHIOPIA CAN MAKE BILLIONS FROM MINING BITCOIN WITH LOCAL RESOURCES
Ethiopia doesn’t have much that it can sell without the approval of the superpower nations. The only thing that can be sold without anyone’s approval is energy — not to a nation, but to a network. The Bitcoin network pays energy providers (“miners”) with bitcoin and Ethiopia has enough installed generation capacity to make $4 billion to $6 billion per year, just in the short term — making the damages done by AGOA sanctions seem insignificant.
Ethiopia also has about 60,000 megawatts of untapped potential energy capacity, and with only 6,000 megawatts, Project Mano has projected that bitcoin mining would yield $2 billion to $3 billion annually at $25,000 BTC prices, or more like $4.5 billion to $5 billion at today’s BTC prices. Over 4,500 megawatts of power capacity has been built to support the AGOA-based companies that are leaving. That energy could immediately be used to generate even more money than it was generating while being used by the AGOA manufacturing companies. Ethiopia flagship project, GERD, can generate 6,000 megawatts by itself and remains remote, making it very expensive for internal or external use, but perfect for Bitcoin mining.
Alex Gladstein has written the following about how Bitcoin mining can help developing nations accelerate their growth, while simultaneously increasing their foreign currency and energy access:
Billions of people in developing nations face the stranded power problem. In order for their economies to grow, they have to expand their electrical infrastructure, a capital-intensive and complex undertaking. But when they … build power plants to try and capture renewable energy in remote places, that power often has nowhere to go…
Here is where bitcoin could be an incentives game-changer. New power plants, no matter how remote, can generate immediate revenue, even with no transmission lines, by directing their energy to the Bitcoin network and turning sunlight, water or wind into money…
With bitcoin, any excess energy can be directed to mining until the communities around the plant catch up.”
This is what Ethiopia should be doing to counter the AGOA sanctions: Provide power to the Bitcoin network to generate billions of dollars to use for its own aspirations, with un-sanctionable money that can be converted to any country’s currency at any time without anyone’s approval.
All Ethiopia needs to do to generate billions of dollars is to use its already-installed generation capacity. But that’s not where its potential ends. The 60,000 megawatts of potential energy that the country has is obviously not easy to realize. If Ethiopia invites Bitcoiners around the world to help us realize our energy potential, the kindest souls will come help set up power infrastructure that the population can use, while also helping to convert the excess energy into money that is fully sovereign.
All Ethiopia has to do is open its arms and express its energy aspirations. The nuances of these agreements will matter greatly, but if planned well, all Ethiopians will benefit.
Any power source, no matter how remote, can be used to mine bitcoin. The more energy we realize, the more we will develop our economy, the faster we close our trade deficits — the more bitcoin we will mine, the more energy we will realize, the more our economy grows. And this will all be a repeating cycle.
We sincerely ask the Ethiopian government to seriously look into mining Bitcoin to solve our most challenging problems and say “no more!” to the foreign interference into our culture and economy.
“Ethiopian music was the music I grew up on,” The Weeknd (Abel Makkonen Tesfaye) said in an interview. “Artists like Tilahun Gessesse, Aster Aweke, and Mahmoud Ahmed. These are my subconscious inspirations. ‘The Hills’ was the first time you actually heard the Ethiopian language in my music.” (Photo: @theweekend/instagram)
6ix Buzz
Abel Makkonen Tesfaye started out as a quiet mysterious artist from the 6ix, but eventually grew to become one of the greatest artists of our generations.
With multiple albums under his belt, and with his most recent album “Dawn FM” to add to the collection, the Scarborough native shows no sign of slowing down.
Here are six things you didn’t know about The Weeknd.
1. He is very proud of his Ethiopian heritage
Abel Tesfaye was born to Ethiopian immigrants in Scarborough. He was raised mostly by his mother and his grandmother, which is why the first language he learned was Amharic.
He’s shared in interviews that as he grew older, he learned that his heritage acted as subconscious inspiration.
“Ethiopian music was the music I grew up on,” he told VMan in an interview. “Artists like Tilahun Gessesse, Aster Aweke, and Mahmoud Ahmed. These are my subconscious inspirations. ‘The Hills’ was the first time you actually heard the Ethiopian language in my music.”
2. He and a few other XO members founded a creative arts incubator in Toronto
A few years ago, The Weeknd and business partners La Mar Taylor and Ahmed Ismail launched an incubator in Toronto. Their goal was to create a place that could help encourage young creatives to chase their passions, the same way they did when they were younger.
The founders are responsible for many creative advancements locally and nationally, even participating in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement of $221 million to support Black business.
The positive changes made by HXOUSE don’t include the several hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions, that The Weeknd has donated on the side.
Known as the Ethiopian Elvis, Alemayehu became an iconic figure on Ethiopia's jazz scene from the 1960s and performed right up until his last years. (Getty Images)
BBC
Notable African deaths of 2021: From ‘Ethiopia’s Elvis’ to mega pastors
As 2021 [comes] to a close, it is time to remember some of the pioneering, inspiring and controversial figures on the African continent who died this year.
Getty Images
Here is a look at 10 of those to whom we have said farewell.
MUSICIAN Alemayehu Eshete, 80
Known as the Ethiopian Elvis, Alemayehu became an iconic figure on Ethiopia’s jazz scene from the 1960s and performed right up until his last years. From his young days, he was known for his cover versions of Elvis Presley and told the Guardian in 2008 that James Brown later became a great influence.
Getty Images
“I dressed like an American, grew my hair, sang Jailhouse Rock and Teddy Bear – sometimes we would do Strangers in the Night. But the moment that I started singing Amharic songs my popularity shot up,” he said.
In its notes about one of his albums, record seller Rough Trade said “he didn’t so much sing to his audience as seduce it, working himself and his fans into a sweat-soaked frenzy”.
In a pleasant surprise and much-needed break from the usual gloomy portrait of Ethiopia we've come to expect from U.S. officials and media, former President Barack Obama announced that the new Ethiopian song 'Armash' አርማሽ (ቀና በል) by Ethiopia's superstar Teddy Afro is among his favorite music of 2021. (Photo: Teddy Afro at Echostage in Washington D.C, 2012/By Matt Andrea for Tadias Magazine)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Updated: December 18th, 2021
New York (TADIAS) — Ethiopia’s superstar Teddy Afro has been named one of President Barack Obama’s favorite artists.
The former U.S. President listed Teddy’s new single ‘Armash’ አርማሽ (ቀና በል) in his annual playlist released this week featuring his favorite songs of the year.
“I’ve always enjoyed listening to a wide variety of music, so it’s no surprise that I listened to a little bit of everything this year,” Obama said in a Twitter post. “I hope you find a new artist or song to add to your own playlist.”
I've always enjoyed listening to a wide variety of music, so it’s no surprise that I listened to a little bit of everything this year. I hope you find a new artist or song to add to your own playlist. pic.twitter.com/g6kBzAbrZG
The Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Ethiopia which is claimed to contain the Ark of the Covenant. A longstanding religious legend in Ethiopia describes how the Ark of the Covenant was brought there 3,000 years ago. (Image via YouTube)
A fascinating connection between Ethiopia and Jewish history is the belief that the Ark of the Covenant, containing the tablets of the Ten Commandments, may reside to this day in Ethiopia. While a Talmudic source relates that the ark – along with several other of the Temple’s sacred objects – was hidden just prior to the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash, numerous other theories exist as to its whereabouts.
A longstanding religious legend in Ethiopia describes how the Ark of the Covenant was brought there 3,000 years ago by a man named Menelik, who, according to the legend, was the son of the Queen of Sheba and Israel’s King Solomon. The legend states that the Queen of Sheba was from Ethiopia and that she traveled to Jerusalem, where she was seduced by King Solomon, giving birth to Menelik upon her return home. Menelik later traveled to Jerusalem and studied with his father before taking the ark and bringing it to Ethiopia, where, legend has it, it still resides in the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Aksum, where only “The Guardian of the Ark of the Covenant” can view it.
Others maintain that a sect of Jews driven by King Manasseh from Israel took the ark with them and transported it to Egypt, from where they eventually sailed up the Nile to Ethiopia.
Researchers who journeyed to Aksum and made their way to Mary of Zion Church were purportedly introduced to a man referred to as the guardian of the ark. This man was said to live his entire life inside a fenced-off area surrounding the church and will not leave his post until he dies, at which time he will be replaced by the next guardian. In the chapel of the church, 30 robes from 30 previous guardians are on display – and every one of those 30 professed that the object they protected was the true Ark of the Covenant.
While others dispute and debunk this legend – claiming that, at most, the ark in the church is merely a replica of the real thing – it fits neatly with the claim by Ethiopia’s former emperor Haile Selassie that he was a direct descendant of Menelik. Selassie, who ruled Ethiopia from 1930-1974, called himself “the Lion of Judah,” the 225th king descended from King David, and prominently displayed a Lion of Judah motif on the country’s flag and currency.
Emperor Haile Selassie speaking at the League of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland in 1936. On the eve of this week's controversial EU organized UN hearing there on Ethiopia, which is unanimously opposed by African countries, the historic speech given during the second Italo-Ethiopian War is getting renewed attention in Ethiopian media and online social platforms. Below is text and video of the speech. (Photo: LC)
ETHIOPIA’s APPEAL TO THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS
Haile Selassie
June, 1936.
Geneva, Switzerland.
“I, Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia, am here today to claim that justice which is due to my people, and the assistance promised to it eight months ago, when fifty nations asserted that aggression had been committed in violation of international treaties.
There is no precedent for a Head of State himself speaking in this assembly. But there is also no precedent for a people being victim of such injustice and being at present threatened by abandonment to its aggressor. Also, there has never before been an example of any Government proceeding to the systematic extermination of a nation by barbarous means, in violation of the most solemn promises made by the nations of the earth that there should not be used against innocent human beings the terrible poison of harmful gases. It is to defend a people struggling for its age-old independence that the head of the Ethiopian Empire has come to Geneva to fulfil this supreme duty, after having himself fought at the head of his armies.
I pray to Almighty God that He may spare nations the terrible sufferings that have just been inflicted on my people, and of which the chiefs who accompany me here have been the horrified witnesses.
It is my duty to inform the Governments assembled in Geneva, responsible as they are for the lives of millions of men, women and children, of the deadly peril which threatens them, by describing to them the fate which has been suffered by Ethiopia. It is not only upon warriors that the Italian Government has made war. It has above all attacked populations far removed from hostilities, in order to terrorize and exterminate them.
Watch: 1936 Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia Addresses League of Nations
At the beginning, towards the end of 1935, Italian aircraft hurled upon my armies bombs of tear-gas. Their effects were but slight. The soldiers learned to scatter, waiting until the wind had rapidly dispersed the poisonous gases. The Italian aircraft then resorted to mustard gas. Barrels of liquid were hurled upon armed groups. But this means also was not effective; the liquid affected only a few soldiers, and barrels upon the ground were themselves a warning to troops and to the population of the danger.
It was at the time when the operations for the encircling of Makalle were taking place that the Italian command, fearing a rout, followed the procedure which it is now my duty to denounce to the world. Special sprayers were installed on board aircraft so that they could vaporize, over vast areas of territory, a fine, death-dealing rain. Groups of nine, fifteen, eighteen aircraft followed one another so that the fog issuing from them formed a continuous sheet. It was thus that, as from the end of January, 1936, soldiers, women, children, cattle, rivers, lakes and pastures were drenched continually with this deadly rain. In order to kill off systematically all living creatures, in order to more surely to poison waters and pastures, the Italian command made its aircraft pass over and over again. That was its chief method of warfare.
Ravage and Terror
The very refinement of barbarism consisted in carrying ravage and terror into the most densely populated parts of the territory, the points farthest removed from the scene of hostilities. The object was to scatter fear and death over a great part of the Ethiopian territory. These fearful tactics succeeded. Men and animals succumbed. The deadly rain that fell from the aircraft made all those whom it touched fly shrieking with pain. All those who drank the poisoned water or ate the infected food also succumbed in dreadful suffering. In tens of thousands, the victims of the Italian mustard gas fell. It is in order to denounce to the civilized world the tortures inflicted upon the Ethiopian people that I resolved to come to Geneva. None other than myself and my brave companions in arms could bring the League of Nations the undeniable proof. The appeals of my delegates addressed to the League of Nations had remained without any answer; my delegates had not been witnesses. That is why I decided to come myself to bear witness against the crime perpetrated against my people and give Europe a warning of the doom that awaits it, if it should bow before the accomplished fact.
Is it necessary to remind the Assembly of the various stages of the Ethiopian drama? For 20 years past, either as Heir Apparent, Regent of the Empire, or as Emperor, I have never ceased to use all my efforts to bring my country the benefits of civilization, and in particular to establish relations of good neighbourliness with adjacent powers. In particular I succeeded in concluding with Italy the Treaty of Friendship of 1928, which absolutely prohibited the resort, under any pretext whatsoever, to force of arms, substituting for force and pressure the conciliation and arbitration on which civilized nations have based international order.
Country More United
In its report of October 5th 193S, the Committee of Thirteen recognized my effort and the results that I had achieved. The Governments thought that the entry of Ethiopia into the League, whilst giving that country a new guarantee for the maintenance of her territorial integrity and independence, would help her to reach a higher level of civilization. It does not seem that in Ethiopia today there is more disorder and insecurity than in 1923. On the contrary, the country is more united and the central power is better obeyed.
I should have procured still greater results for my people if obstacles of every kind had not been put in the way by the Italian Government, the Government which stirred up revolt and armed the rebels. Indeed the Rome Government, as it has today openly proclaimed, has never ceased to prepare for the conquest of Ethiopia. The Treaties of Friendship it signed with me were not sincere; their only object was to hide its real intention from me. The Italian Goverment asserts that for 14 years it has been preparing for its present conquest. It therefore recognizes today that when it supported the admission of Ethiopia to the League of Nations in 1923, when it concluded the Treaty of Friendship in 1928, when it signed the Pact of Paris outlawing war, it was deceiving the whole world. The Ethiopian Government was, in these solemn treaties, given additional guarantees of security which would enable it to achieve further progress along the specific path of reform on which it had set its feet, and to which it was devoting all its strength and all its heart.
Wal-Wal Pretext
The Wal-Wal incident, in December, 1934, came as a thunderbolt to me. The Italian provocation was obvious and I did not hesitate to appeal to the League of Nations. I invoked the provisions of the treaty of 1928, the principles of the Covenant; I urged the procedure of conciliation and arbitration. Unhappily for Ethiopia this was the time when a certain Government considered that the European situation made it imperative at all costs to obtain the friendship of Italy. The price paid was the abandonment of Ethiopian independence to the greed of the Italian Government. This secret agreement, contrary to the obligations of the Covenant, has exerted a great influence over the course of events. Ethiopia and the whole world have suffered and are still suffering today its disastrous consequences.
This first violation of the Covenant was followed by many others. Feeling itself encouraged in its policy against Ethiopia, the Rome Government feverishly made war preparations, thinking that the concerted pressure which was beginning to be exerted on the Ethiopian Government, might perhaps not overcome the resistance of my people to Italian domination. The time had to come, thus all sorts of difficulties were placed in the way with a view to breaking up the procedure; of conciliation and arbitration. All kinds of obstacles were placed in the way of that procedure. Governments tried to prevent the Ethiopian Government from finding arbitrators amongst their nationals: when once the arbitral tribunal a was set up pressure was exercised so that an award favourable to Italy should be given.
All this was in vain: the arbitrators, two of whom were Italian officials, were forced to recognize unanimously that in the Wal-Wal incident, as in the subsequent incidents, no international responsibility was to be attributed to Ethiopia.
Peace Efforts
Following on this award. the Ethiopian Government sincerely thought that an era of friendly relations might be opened with Italy. I loyally offered my hand to the Roman Government. The Assembly was informed by the report of the Committee of Thirteen, dated October 5th, 1935, of the details of the events which occurred after the month of December, 1934, and up to October 3rd, 1935.
It will be sufficient if I quote a few of the conclusions of that report Nos. 24, 25 and 26 “The Italian memorandum (containing the complaints made by Italy) was laid on the Council table on September 4th, 1935, whereas Ethiopia’s first appeal to the Council had been made on December 14th, 1934. In the interval between these two dates, the Italian Government opposed the consideration of the question by the Council on the ground that the only appropriate procedure was that provided for in the Italo-Ethiopian Treaty of 1928. Throughout the whole of that period, moreover, the despatch of Italian troops to East Africa was proceeding. These shipments of troops were represented to the Council by the Italian Government as necessary for the defense of its colonies menaced by Ethiopia’s preparations. Ethiopia, on the contrary, drew attention to the official pronouncements made in Italy which, in its opinion, left no doubt “as to the hostile intentions of the Italian Government.”
From the outset of the dispute, the Ethiopian Government has sought a settlement by peaceful means. It has appealed to the procedures of the Covenant. The Italian Government desiring to keep strictly to the procedures of the Italo-Ethiopian Treaty of 1928, the Ethiopian Government assented. It invariably stated that it would faithfully carry out the arbitral award even if the decision went against it. It agreed that the question of the ownership of Wal-Wal should not be dealt with by the arbitrators, because the Italian Government would not agree to such a course. It asked the Council to despatch neutral observers and offered to lend itself to any enquiries upon which the Council might decide.
Once the Wal-Wal dispute had been settled by arbiration, however, the Italian Govemmcnt submitted its detailed memorandum to the Council in support of its claim to liberty of action. It asserted that a case like that of Ethiopia cannot be settled by the means provided by the Covenant. It stated that, “since this question affects vital interest and is of primary importance to Italian security and civilization” it “would be failing in its most elementary duty, did it not cease once and for all to place any confidence in Ethiopia, reserving full liberty to adopt any measures that may become necessary to ensure the safety of its colonies and to safeguard its own interests.”
Covenant Violated
Those are the terms of the report of the Committee of Thirteen, The Council and the Assembly unanimously adopted the conclusion that the Italian Government had violated the Covenant and was in a state of aggression. I did not hesitate to declare that I did not wish for war, that it was imposed upon me, and I should struggle solely for the independence and integrity of my people, and that in that struggle I was the defender of the cause of all small States exposed to the greed of a powerful neighbour.
In October, 1935. the 52 nations who are listening to me today gave me an assurance that the aggressor would not triumph, that the resources of the Covenant would be employed in order to ensure the reign of right and the failure of violence.
I ask the fifty-two nations not to forget today the policy upon which they embarked eight months ago, and on faith of which I directed the resistance of my people against the aggressor whom they had denounced to the world. Despite the inferiority of my weapons, the complete lack of aircraft, artillery, munitions, hospital services, my confidence in the League was absolute. I thought it to be impossible that fifty-two nations, including the most powerful in the world, should be successfully opposed by a single aggressor. Counting on the faith due to treaties, I had made no preparation for war, and that is the case with certain small countries in Europe.
When the danger became more urgent, being aware of my responsibilities towards my people, during the first six months of 1935 I tried to acquire armaments. Many Governments proclaimed an embargo to prevent my doing so, whereas the Italian Government through the Suez Canal, was given all facilities for transporting without cessation and without protest, troops, arms, and munitions.
Forced to Mobilize
On October 3rd, 1935, the Italian troops invaded my territory. A few hours later only I decreed general mobilization. In my desire to maintain peace I had, following the example of a great country in Europe on the eve of the Great War, caused my troops to withdraw thirty kilometres so as to remove any pretext of provocation.
War then took place in the atrocious conditions which I have laid before the Assembly. In that unequal struggle between a Government commanding more than forty-two million inhabitants, having at its disposal financial, industrial and technical means which enabled it to create unlimited quantities of the most death-dealing weapons, and, on the other hand, a small people of twelve million inhabitants, without arms, without resources having on its side only the justice of its own cause and the promise of the League of Nations. What real assistance was given to Ethiopia by the fifty two nations who had declared the Rome Government guilty of a breach of the Covenant and had undertaken to prevent the triumph of the aggressor? Has each of the States Members, as it was its duty to do in virtue of its signature appended to Article 15 of the Covenant, considered the aggressor as having committed an act of war personally directed against itself? I had placed all my hopes in the execution of these undertakings. My confidence had been confirmed by the repeated declarations made in the Council to the effect that aggression must not be rewarded, and that force would end by being compelled to bow before right.
In December, 1935, the Council made it quite clear that its feelings were in harmony with those of hundreds of millions of people who, in all parts of the world, had protested against the proposal to dismember Ethiopia. It was constantly repeated that there was not merely a conflict between the Italian Government and the League of Nadons, and that is why I personally refused all proposals to my personal advantage made to me by the Italian Government, if only I would betray my people and the Covenant of the League of Nations. I was defending the cause of all small peoples who are threatened with aggression.
What of Promises?
What have become of the promises made to me as long ago as October, 1935? I noted with grief, but without surprise that three Powers considered their undertakings under the Covenant as absolutely of no value. Their connections with Italy impelled them to refuse to take any measures whatsoever in order to stop Italian aggression. On the contrary, it was a profound disappointment to me to learn the attitude of a certain Government which, whilst ever protesting its scrupulous attachment to the Covenant, has tirelessly used all its efforts to prevent its observance. As soon as any measure which was likely to be rapidly effective was proposed, various pretexts were devised in order to postpone even consideration of the measure. Did the secret agreements of January, 1935, provide for this tireless obstruction?
The Ethiopian Government never expected other Governments to shed their soldiers’ blood to defend the Covenant when their own immediately personal interests were not at stake. Ethiopian warriors asked only for means to defend themselves. On many occasions I have asked for financial assistance for the purchase of arms That assistance has been constantly refused me. What, then, in practice, is the meaning of Article 16 of the Covenant and of collective security?
The Ethiopian Government’s use of the railway from Djibouti to Addis Ababa was in practice a hazardous regards transport of arms intended for the Ethiopian forces. At the present moment this is the chief, if not the only means of supply of the Italian armies of occupation. The rules of neutrality should have prohibited transports intended for Italian forces, but there is not even neutrality since Article 16 lays upon every State Member of the League the duty not to remain a neutral but to come to the aid not of the aggressor but of the victim of aggression. Has the Covenant been respected? Is it today being respected?
Finally a statement has just been made in their Parliaments by the Governments of certain Powers, amongst them the most influential members of the League of Nations, that since the aggressor has succeeded in occupying a large part of Ethiopian territory they propose not to continue the application of any economic and financial measures that may have been decided upon against the Italian Government. These are the circumstances in which at the request of the Argentine Government, the Assembly of the League of Nations meets to consider the situation created by Italian aggression. I assert that the problem submitted to the Assembly today is a much wider one. It is not merely a question of the settlement of Italian aggression.
League Threatened
It is collective security: it is the very existence of the League of Nations. It is the confidence that each State is to place in international treaties. It is the value of promises made to small States that their integrity and their independence shall be respected and ensured. It is the principle of the equality of States on the one hand, or otherwise the obligation laid upon smail Powers to accept the bonds of vassalship. In a word, it is international morality that is at stake. Have the signatures appended to a Treaty value only in so far as the signatory Powers have a personal, direct and immediate interest involved?
No subtlety can change the problem or shift the grounds of the discussion. It is in all sincerity that I submit these considerations to the Assembly. At a time when my people are threatened with extermination, when the support of the League may ward off the final blow, may I be allowed to speak with complete frankness, without reticence, in all directness such as is demanded by the rule of equality as between all States Members of the League?
Apart from the Kingdom of the Lord there is not on this earth any nation that is superior to any other. Should it happen that a strong Government finds it may with impunity destroy a weak people, then the hour strikes for that weak people to appeal to the League of Nations to give its judgment in all freedom. God and history will remember your judgment.
Assistance Refused
I have heard it asserted that the inadequate sanctions already applied have not achieved their object. At no time, and under no circumstances could sanctions that were intentionally inadequate, intentionally badly applied, stop an aggressor. This is not a case of the impossibility of stopping an aggressor but of the refusal to stop an aggressor. When Ethiopia requested and requests that she should be given financial assistance, was that a measure which it was impossible to apply whereas financial assistance of the League has been granted, even in times of peace, to two countries and exactly to two countries who have refused to apply sanctions against the aggressor?
Faced by numerous violations by the Italian Government of all international treaties that prohibit resort to arms, and the use of barbarous methods of warfare, it is my painful duty to note that the initiative has today been taken with a view to raising sanctions. Does this initiative not mean in practice the abandonment of Ethiopia to the aggressor? On the very eve of the day when I was about to attempt a supreme effort in the defense of my people before this Assembly does not this initiative deprive Ethiopia of one of her last chances to succeed in obtaining the support and guarantee of States Members? Is that the guidance the League of Nations and each of the States Members are entitled to expect from the great Powers when they assert their right and their duty to guide the action of the League? Placed by the aggressor face to face with the accomplished fact, are States going to set up the terrible precendent of bowing before force?
Your Assembly will doubtless have laid before it proposals for the reform of the Covenant and for rendering more effective the guarantee of collective security. Is it the Covenant that needs reform? What undertakings can have any value if the will to keep them is lacking? It is international morality which is at stake and not the Articles of the Covenant. On behalf of the Ethiopian people, a member of the League of Nations, I request the Assembly to take all measures proper to ensure respect for the Covenant. I renew my protest against the violations of treaties of which the Ethiopian people has been the victim. I declare in the face of the whole world that the Emperor, the Government and the people of Ethiopia will not bow before force; that they maintain their claims that they will use all means in their power to ensure the triumph of right and the respect of the Covenant.
I ask the fifty-two nations, who have given the Ethiopian people a promise to help them in their resistance to the aggressor, what are they willing to do for Ethiopia? And the great Powers who have promised the guarantee of collective security to small States on whom weighs the threat that they may one day suffer the fate of Ethiopia, I ask what measures do you intend to take?
Representatives of the World I have come to Geneva to discharge in your midst the most painful of the duties of the head of a State. What reply shall I have to take back to my people?”
This week at the United Nations African countries unanimously sided with Ethiopia opposing the EU-led planned special session on the internal matter with TPLF. As The East African newspaper notes: "On Tuesday, none of the continent’s 13 representatives in the 47-member body of the UN, based in Geneva, backed a proposal to have the Human Rights Council discuss Ethiopia as had been proposed by the European Union." (UN photo)
Africa backs Addis protest against UN session on Ethiopia human rights
African countries have rallied behind Ethiopia in protesting against a planned special session at the UN Human Rights Council, which is aimed at reprimanding Addis Ababa’s alleged war atrocities in Tigray region.
On Tuesday, none of the continent’s 13 representatives in the 47-member body of the UN, based in Geneva, backed a proposal to have the Human Rights Council discuss Ethiopia as had been proposed by the European Union.
The session was due to be held later on Tuesday but the suggestion lacked African support.
Those pushing for the debate were mostly Western members of the Council, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France and Denmark.
The revelations emerged a day after Ethiopia issued a call to members of the Council to reject what it called a “regrettable” move to have the Tigray war discussed for the possibility of creating a special team to investigate war crimes in the country.
The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the move had a “politically motivated objective” and accused some members of the human rights body of choosing “to advance their political agenda through the work of the Council.”
“Ethiopia therefore calls on members of the Council to categorically reject and vote against the special session and its politically motivated outcome,” it said on Monday in a statement.
“What should have been a priority for the Council instead was the urgent task of carrying out investigation into the violations of human rights and atrocities committed by the TPLF terrorist group in the Afar and Amhara regional states. It is unfortunate to witness that no such call has come forth from some in the Council.’
The proposal to discuss Ethiopia emerged last Friday, pushed by the European Union.
On Monday, EU’s Head of Delegation to the UN in Geneva, Lotte Knudsen, wrote a joint letter with Slovak Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Anita Pipan, asking for a special session “because of the importance and urgency of the situation” in Ethiopia.
They said the request had the support of both members and observer states of the Human Rights Council, such as the US (which only returned to supporting the body after President Donald Trump left power.)
As is the rule, such a move required at least a third of the members supporting and according to the letter, 17 members of the Council and 35 non-members endorsed the call to have it go on later on Tuesday.
None of Africa’s members of the Council endorsed the move and none of the non-members who support the call came from Africa.
The continent is currently represented by Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Eritrea, Libya, Malawi, Namibia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan and Togo.
They are all serving three-year terms on the Council, although their start dates are staggered as is tradition with the Council.
The call though has been endorsed by other members, including South Korea, Fiji, Ukraine, Japan, Poland, Netherlands, Mexico and Bulgaria.
“The Human Rights Council has to stand up to its responsibilities,” Knudsen said on Monday, amplifying the call by EU High Representative Josep Borrel who had said the world has not reacted “properly to the large-scale human rights violations, mass rapes using sexual violence as a war arm, killings and concentration camps based on ethnic belonging.”
The problem though, says Ethiopia, is that discussing the country’s war problem appears to repeat what has already been done.
Earlier in August, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights conducted a joint investigation into alleged rights violations and abuses, and violations of international humanitarian law and refugee law.
It found that both the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian government forces and allied militia had committed atrocities, including killings, rape, forcible displacement and torture. But it did not find evidence of genocide.
Ethiopia says it has since formed a multiagency taskforce to implement some of the proposals in the report, including prosecution, rehabilitation of those who surrender, humanitarian service as well as assisting those who were sexually violated.
The problem though is that the war hasn’t stopped.
The government and the TPLF, once a ruling party and now a proscribed group, have been fighting since November last year.
The war has led to a large-scale humanitarian crisis, besides deaths of civilians, according to the UN.
Peaceful protesters outside the US Embassy in Jamaica this weekend. Organizers of the gathering, which included pan-Africanists, Rastafarians and Ethiopians, said they were calling out the widely panned and misguided US posture in Ethiopia's conflict with TPLF. (Photos: Jamaica Observer & Jamaica Gleaner)
Local Rastas march on US Embassy protesting its backing of Ethiopia rebel forces
“Leave Ethiopia alone and mind your own business.” That was the message wrapped up in the chants of scores of Rastafari, Ethiopian, and pan-Africanist representatives yesterday as they staged what they called a peaceful protest outside the US Embassy in St Andrew.
The demonstration signalled the groups’ disapproval of the USA’s backing of rebel forces in Tigray, Ethiopia, who are fighting against Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Veteran Rastafarian reggae artiste Tony Rebel, who was part of the protest, said the move was to show solidarity with their black brothers and sisters in Ethiopia.
“When His Majesty Haile Selassie came forward, he said Ethiopia and Jamaica, we are one. We are saying to the United ‘snakes’ of America that they should take their hands out of Ethiopia,” he said.
One female protester, who requested anonymity, directed her rebuke not only at the US Government, but also Western media, which she asked to “back off of Ethiopia”.
“America must mind their own business. They are promising sanctions on Ethiopia and trying to demonise the prime minister. The US has been backing the rebel forces and demonising the Ethiopian Government. We in Jamaica have always seen ourselves as Ethiopians abroad because Halie Selassie came here in 1966 and said that Ethiopians and Jamaicans are blood brothers, so when there is a crisis in Ethiopia it affects all of us,” she said.
She stated that the average Jamaican will watch news from foreign outlets and think it is a tribal war that they should not care about.
She however said it’s our business, and Jamaicans should stand up to the USA and its propaganda.
“We were sending the US a message that they should leave Ethiopian people alone and stop taking sides with a terrorist group. Last week the Ethiopians in America went to CNN headquarters telling them to stop telling lies in the media that Ethiopia is creating genocide. Nothing like genocide is happening. All the prime minister is doing is defending the sovereign rights of the people,” she said.
Inspector Earle Grant speaking with Rastafarian protesters during a demonstration in front of the United States Embassy in Liguanea, St Andrew, yesterday. The group said they were objecting to what they termed as the meddling of the United States in the yearlong conflict between the Ethiopian government and rebels.
One of the leaders of a protest staged yesterday across from the United States (US) Embassy in Liguanea, St Andrew, objecting to what is said was that country’s meddling in the current Ethiopian conflict, has declared that he would have no objection to the US yanking his visa for his stance.
There have been mounting global concern and calls for a peaceful resolution to the yearlong conflict between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government and rebels, who have joined a coalition of opposition groups, threatening his hold on power.
The United States has been one of the harshest critics of the Ethiopian government during the crisis, repeatedly calling for an end to the conflict as it urges the parties to hammer out a ceasefire agreement.
The United Nations has said that all parties to the conflict had violated international humanitarian law, citing reports of massacres, gang-rapes and ethnic cleansing with most of the offences carried out by Ethiopian and Eritrean forces.
Yesterday, Haile Mikael Brissett, a deacon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Jamaica and one of the leaders of the protest, blasted Western media for what he said was its spread of propaganda regarding the conflict as he and scores of Rastafarians gathered across from the American embassy.
“We are proud Ethiopians abroad and we stand in solidarity with what’s going on in Ethiopia. We say, ‘All for one and one for all’. Ethiopia was the only African country that wasn’t colonised. Ethiopia also is the Horn of Africa, so we here in Jamaica want the world to know that Africans at home and Africans abroad should be saying the same thing,” Brissett told The Gleaner.
“What we are doing here today is very symbolic. It’s a peaceful protest and we really appreciate the solidarity of our brothers and sisters – not just Rastafarians, but also Pan African members, Maroons; members who really want to see freedom,” said Brissett.
Some of the Rastafarians told The Gleaner that they chose to protest across from the US Embassy as a form of outcry at the position they said the US has taken, along with its allies, mainly in Europe, which are in support of the rebel forces.
The protesters said they were standing in solidarity with the people of Ethiopia in their efforts to restore law and order and to put down armed insurrection from the rebel group led by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and against all forms of foreign interference in Ethiopia’s internal affairs.
Brissett, who still holds a US visa, once travelled to Ethiopia in 2012 for clergy training and he had a connecting flight from Jamaica in Washington DC before arriving in Ethiopia.
“You have to lose some things to gain some things, so if a visa is lost, no problem with that for me, personally,” he said. “So if they want to revoke my visa, Jamaica is full of so much potential, Jamaica is so rich, Jamaica has so much wealth, so if I’m to stay here for the next 20, 30, 40 years, or the rest of my life, I am good with that because Ethiopia is within me.”
Brissett’s view was shared by other members of the Rastafarian community who were protesting.
Although the permit granted by the police to the protesters outlined that they should have been located on a parcel of land across from the US Embassy and at the entrance to Standpipe, some minutes after 10 a.m., some protesters walked on to the sidewalk immediately in front of the US Embassy, with cops advising them to leave.
Inspector Earle Grant, Matilda’s Corner Police Station commander, also instructed the protesters repeatedly to go within the boundaries of the area within which they applied for 10 persons to protest, while observing social distancing, but they refused and took to the sidewalks of Liguanea with their placards, some of which read ‘United Nations and America Need to Repent’, ‘War in Tigray’, ‘Hands off Ethiopia’, and ‘Defend Ethiopia Now’.
“They were given permission to demonstrate within the perimeters of the fencing area. It was in their application to the commissioner of police, hence permission was granted for them to demonstrate within that land space and not on the outskirts,” Grant told The Gleaner.
“The police can take some action, but we don’t want to ignite the situation. We just want to have a peaceful protest with respect for the rule of law, and we ask for compliance, not to obstruct pedestrians and using the sidewalk, and not to cause a traffic congestion,” he added.
Published in the Journal of African Archaeology, the team applied radiocarbon dating to monoliths from the Sakaro Sodo archaeological site in the Gedeo zone.“This is one of the most understudied archaeological sites in the world, and we wanted to change that,” said Ashenafi Zena, lead author of the study and a former Washington State University doctoral researcher now at the State Historical Society of North Dakota. (WSU))
Ethiopian monoliths are 1,000 years older than previously thought
Researchers from Washington State University have suggested that the giant stone monoliths of southern Ethiopia are 1,000 years older than previously thought.
Published in the Journal of African Archaeology, the team applied radiocarbon dating to monoliths from the Sakaro Sodo archaeological site in the Gedeo zone.
Sakaro Sodo is known to have the largest number and highest concentration of megalithic stele monuments in Africa, with an estimate of more than 10,000 stelae in sixty or more clusters.
The monoliths were first studied by French researchers in the 1990’s, where they proposed a construction date of around AD 1100.
With the results obtained from the latest study, this has been revised to sometime during the first century AD.
“This is one of the most understudied archaeological sites in the world, and we wanted to change that,” said Ashenafi Zena, lead author of the study and a former WSU doctoral researcher now at the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Zena, an Ethiopian native, originally decided to conduct a study of the stones after traveling to the region with his doctoral advisor Andrew Duff, a WSU professor of anthropology, in 2013.
“It was shocking to see such a large number of monuments in such a small area,” Zena said. “Looking at the stones, many of which had fallen to the ground and some have broken into pieces, I decided to focus my dissertation work there instead of investigating cave sites in southern Ethiopia.”
In addition to pushing back the date of the earliest monoliths’ construction by a millennium, the researchers also determined where the ancient builders of the site likely quarried raw stone for the project. They also identified, for the first time, the earliest known sources of obsidian artefacts that were recovered from the Gedeo stele sites.
Surprisingly, most of the obsidian the researchers identified at Sakaro Sodo originated some 300 km away in northern Kenya, illustrating that the people at Sakaro Sodo obtained most of their obsidian raw materials through some form of exchange or trade.
While little is known about the pastoral and/or agricultural people who populated the Sakaro Sodo region of southern Ethiopia at the turn of the first millennium, the new construction dates of the stele monuments identified by Zena and Duff appear to coincide with the arrival of domesticated animals in the region and the beginnings of more complex social and economic systems.
“One of the reasons why this research is important is because it has the potential to shed new light on what the earliest people in this area were doing for a living as well as what their cultural and social practices were,” Duff said.
Existing archaeological, ethnographic, and living megalithic stele traditions in the region suggest that the oldest stele sites in Ethiopia at Sakaro Sodo and other nearby locations were likely created for two purposes: to commemorate the transfer of power from one generation to the next or to record and commemorate group achievement.
“The diversity of function of the stele in Ethiopia is really fascinating,” Duff said. “For example, we know that the more recently constructed stele monuments of Tuto Fela in the north part of Gedeo were used as burial markers. While the linear placement pattern of the earliest stones at Sakaro Sodo makes us think they may have been markers to signify the passing of generational leadership.”
While the political situation and the recent escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia make following up on the investigation in the near term difficult, the researchers have several future projects in the works that they hope to continue as soon as possible.
One project involves more additional archaeological investigations at other stele sites in the areas with colleagues at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. The other is a project led by Duff and current WSU doctoral student Addisalem Melesse who are working with the Ethiopian Department of Archaeology and Heritage Management to determine how the stele sites can be better managed to both preserve the heritage of the region and generate tourism.
“Developing a better understanding of the function of these stones and how they were erected is really useful in terms of gaining a UNESCO World Heritage designation,” Duff said. “This could in turn help generate tourism revenue, which is a major economic factor for the country.”
Across America Ethiopian American voters, who are traditionally a reliable democratic base, are mobilizing on social media and other platforms - as they did in Virginia this past November -- to support the Republican take over of the U.S. Congress next year. As the following report from North Carolina indicate the community at large feels deeply disappointed as well as ignored and betrayed by the Biden administration's now ridiculous approach towards Ethiopia. (Photo: Ethiopians protest in Raleigh, North Carolina/Indy week).
Ethiopian Americans Dissatisfied with the Biden Administration’s Foreign Policy Positions Towards the African Nation Could Mean Democrats Can’t Rely on Their Votes in Next Year’s Elections
Last month, Teshale Gebremichael helped organize a protest for members of North Carolina’s Ethiopian American communities who condemned the U.S. government’s support of what they describe as a “terrorist” group that is attempting to usurp their country’s democratically elected government.
On November 21, the demonstrators assembled in front of the old state capitol grounds near the intersection of Hillsborough and Salisbury Streets at about three p.m. before marching to the front of the old Wake County Courthouse on Fayetteville Street. There, a man with a bullhorn exhorted the crowd to a call-and-response protest.
“African solutions for African problems!” he shouted into the bullhorn.
“African solutions for African problems!” his countrymen and women replied in unison.
“We are united!”
“No more! We say no more!”
“We stand with Ethiopia!”
“We stand with the Ethiopian government!”
Gebremichael, an Ethiopian American, has been living in the Triangle for over a decade.
“Why is the Biden administration standing with bad people? Why is Biden standing with gangsters?” Gebremichael asked, while speaking with the INDY last week. “And now our country is about to fall apart.”
Nearly 200 Ethiopian Americans, many of them wrapped in the red-green-and-gold flags of one of the world’s oldest nations, assembled at the old state capitol and voiced their disapproval on a day when similar protests were taking place across the globe.
The Ethiopian American protesters were joined by expatriates from neighboring Eritrea and gathered under a banner stating #NoMore to denounce what they described as the Biden administration’s “disastrous foreign policy” by way of sanctions that have hurt their country; the threat of sending U.S. ground troops into the country, and a disinformation campaign carried out by Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) to discredit the current government.
It’s a complicated issue.
A civil war erupted late last year between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and inhabitants of the country’s Tigray region…
That conflict is more than 8,000 miles away in the country’s northern region. The fighting and subsequent U.S. government sanctions could have dire consequences for Democratic Party candidates during the 2022 election. If President Joe Biden does not lift the sanctions, Ethiopian Americans here and across the United States are threatening to vote for Republicans next year.
Ethiopian Americans typically cast their votes for Democratic Party candidates, but they are deeply hurt by the Biden administration’s decision on September 17 to authorize sanctions that do not single out specific factions but hold the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea and the Tigray forces responsible for participating in a civil war that has left “nearly one million people living in famine-like conditions” while “millions more face acute food insecurity as a direct consequence of the violence,” according to a White House statement.
“I am appalled by the reports of mass murder, rape, and other sexual violence to terrorize civilian populations,” stated President Biden, who added that the “sanctions are not directed at the people of Ethiopia or Eritrea but rather the individuals and entities perpetrating the violence and driving a humanitarian disaster.”
But Ethiopian Americans here in the Triangle, and across the globe, say the sanctions are hurting their families and neighbors back home in an impoverished country that ranks 173 out of 189 countries and territories in human development, according to the 2020 Human Development Report.
On November 2, Biden suspended Ethiopia from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) “for gross violations of internationally recognised human rights,” according to Reuters. Days later, officials with the global fashion giant PVH Corp. announced that the company was shutting down a manufacturing factory in Ethiopia, owing to the loss of duty-free access to the United States because of the war.
Muna Mengesha, one of the organizers of the Raleigh protest and a real estate agent and mother of two, told the INDY the factory closing has left 150,000 people without work, but according to Reuters, officials in her homeland warned the shutdown “could take away 1 million jobs, disproportionately hurting poor women, who are the majority of garment workers.”
Mengesha says that in addition to factory workers losing their jobs in Addis Ababa, the country’s suspension from AGOA is also being felt in the rural parts of the country.
“Without AGOA, small farmers can’t send what they produce to the United States tax free,” she explains. “That’s their livelihood. That’s how they send their kids to school. That’s how they provide for their family.” Raleigh’s protest organizers say there’s currently a global movement among Ethiopia expatriates to heed Prime Minister Abiy’s call to return home for the Christmas holidays with the aim of supporting their country’s economy to offset the Biden administration’s sanctions.
“It’s a big movement right now,” Gebremichael said. “I’m not going because I went back last year. But I wish I could.”
Ethiopian expatriates point to last month’s gubernatorial election in Virginia where the Republican candidate, Glenn Youngkin, narrowly beat incumbent governor Terry McAuliffe. According to reports, a coordinated effort from Ethiopian expatriate voters helped contribute to Youngkin’s narrow margin of victory.
“That’s the plan here, too,” Mengesha said. “Personally, I don’t want to vote Republican, but at the end of the day that’s my homeland. In Virginia, people who don’t ever vote voted just because of the Biden administration and the way they handled the situation.”
Another Raleigh protest organizer, Fitsum Kedebe, 37, is a native of Ethiopia now living in Durham. During the past presidential election, Kedebe helped Democratic Party candidates by canvassing in Bull City neighborhoods.
“Donald Trump was saying things no world leader should ever say,” Kedebe, a married father of two children, told the INDY. “But I was never expecting Biden to go this extreme. I never expected him to go this far to support Tigray. Even [the U.S. government] has been saying since 1992 that the Tigray People’s Liberation Front is a terrorist group.”
Kedebe acknowledged the Sisyphean irony of casting a vote for an American political party enamored with misinformation to help bring about the downfall of a political party in his native country that also thrives in a false news ecosystem. He brushes aside the suggestion that a Republican administration may feel more comfortable with TPLF holding the reins of power in his country.
“The Democratic Party says it looks out for the poor, but it’s fractured,” he said. “It’s losing ground. The only reason Biden was elected was because of Black Lives Matter, and 79 million people still voted for Trump. We should be united. We see freedom losing.”
"We will be welcoming a baby girl in the new year and naming her Grace Ethiopia," the family announced in an Instagram post. "Our fellow Ethiopians have experienced such a difficult year, so it means a lot to us to honor and celebrate our country of origin through the birth of our daughter. We are sending our joy and light to you and our community." (Getty Images)
Marcus Samuelsson and Wife Maya Expecting Baby No. 2 — Find Out the Meaningful Name
Marcus Samuelsson is adding to his family!
The Top Chef Family Style judge, 50, took to Instagram on Friday to reveal that he and wife Maya Haile Samuelsson are expecting their second baby together, and the name they’ve chosen for their little bundle of joy has a sweet and special meaning behind it.
“Maya and I are very excited to share that Zion is going to be a big brother!” the award-winning chef captioned an adorable picture of Maya, their son and himself, who are all wearing matching white tops. The couple welcomed their son in 2016.
“We will be welcoming a baby girl in the new year and naming her Grace Ethiopia,” Marcus, whose native country is Ethiopia, continued. “Our fellow Ethiopians have experienced such a difficult year, so it means a lot to us to honor and celebrate our country of origin through the birth of our daughter. We are sending our joy and light to you and our community.”….
In September, the No Passport Required host joined the PEOPLE Every Day podcast hosted by Janine Rubenstein to talk about some of the challenges he faced as a young Black chef working in all-white kitchens.
“One of the … challenges when you’re a Black chef coming into a space and you’re very, very ambitious was finding role models,” said Samuelsson. “I worked in all-white kitchens and the chefs very upfront said to me, ‘You have to lower your ambition, because there is no Black chefs that owns restaurants like ours.’ ”
However, the lack of diversity in the kitchens he worked in only pushed Samuelsson to further challenge the status quo and be an advocate for those under-represented in the industry.
“I didn’t see a lot of women in the kitchen,” Samuelsson, who co-owns Red Rooster Harlem with chef Andrew Chapman, told Rubenstein. “I made a commitment to make sure that we have 50% women in our kitchen. Everything I did not see, I can now create.”
Under stark review, the concept of exiting the Ethiopian AGOA partnership is possibly a huge mistake – one that probably should (and could) be reversed. (Photo: An employee at a textile factory in Hawassa, Ethiopia, on Oct. 12, 2021/by Michael Tewelde/Getty Images)
The United States announced a plan to remove Ethiopia from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) by the first day of January – and shock waves quickly rolled through the U.S. apparel and footwear industries – like a tsunami that no one expected. Manufacturers were alerted that perhaps their good-will African investments – were made in vain, and retailers started to think about pulling out of Ethiopia.
Under stark review, the concept of exiting the Ethiopian AGOA partnership is possibly a huge mistake – one that probably should (and could) be reversed, resolved, extended, or at least peppered with exemptions. America encouraged the apparel and footwear industries to make investments in Ethiopia, and now is potentially leaving “the ask.” Plus, all things considered, an abrupt exit (with only two months’ notice) has frightened other sub-Saharan African investors. They worry that the United States won’t renew AGOA in 2025, and won’t have their back the next time that trouble breaks out.
Of course, China is watching America’s every move and they immediately pounced on the weakness. For years, they have made significant investments in Ethiopia, and the country is sometimes referred as the China of Africa. In keeping with that mindset, they immediately announced a plan to purchase $300 billion worth of goods from Africa over the next three years and invest about $10 billion dollars. China also sent their Foreign Minister Wang Yi directly to Ethiopia’s Capital City (Addis Ababa) to show support for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s elected government
America, on the other hand, worked a different strategy. Sanctions were announced, followed by a 60-day notice of a planned AGOA-EXIT. The United States sent U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken to nearby Kenya for negotiations, advised US citizens to leave the country, and asked for “precautionary assurances” for USA diplomats. Taking a page from the Administration’s “Diplomacy First” playbook, Secretary Blinken said that all the unrest and atrocities: “Needs to stop.”
Ethiopia’s civil war is constantly marred with accusations of humanitarian, political, and even geopolitical problems, but AGOA’s charter calls for the development of a market-based economy, observing the rule of law, political pluralism, the right to due process and reducing poverty – plus combatting corruption and protecting human rights. There is no right or wrong with considering the cessation of AGOA in Ethiopia – simply because America needs to follow the charter. However, if one takes a holistic view of sub-Sahara Africa, the announced AGOA plug-pulling may be the last straw for the struggling trade program, simply because the Ethiopian exit has reverberated well beyond the country’s borders.
Truth be told, AGOA is not the best trade program that the USA has ever created, but many developing countries have found it to be extremely helpful. For twenty-one years, the AGOA performance has been somewhat lackluster. This year’s trade volume shows little growth from the very first year that the program was created (back in 2001). One explanation is that the program is approximately divided between 55% energy and 45% non-energy sectors. In energy, there is not much duty savings, so oil is shipping to the USA because it is cheap, not because of AGOA
When looking at the results of AGOA, it is more important to focus on the non-energy sector – because that creates the most jobs and helps the most people on a humanitarian level – especially with apparel manufacturing in Kenya, Ghana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, and (of course) Ethiopia.
Non-energy shipments were $1.3 billion in 2001 and only $3.8 billion in 2019 – signifying not much growth in 18 years. But, after all this time, it was Ethiopia that finally broke the mold and achieved significant growth in the non-energy sector. That improvement provided thousands of jobs and added to Ethiopia’s growing GDP; exhibiting that the program could really be effective. Now, with America weaponizing AGOA (as a tool to resolve a country conflict), retailers are faced with another significant and growing loss of international supply. To put this in a different perspective, just a few days ago one very large and responsible USA mega-brand announced that they were closing their operations in Ethiopia. Other brands and retailers will probably follow suit.
During the last few years, modern manufacturing facilities were erected, and numerous industrial parks dotted the Ethiopian landscape. Assembled products could now be shipped back to the USA free of duty – which is a significant advantage because (for example) apparel duty rates could average around 20% or higher.
The duty-free incentive was created to offset the cost of development, and the lower worker productivity rates. By accepting the terms of AGOA, the impact on local employment was huge. Ethiopia quickly became the African model for others to follow. However, with AGOA now sitting on the chopping block (along with Mali and Guinea) retailers wonder if the investment was worth the risk, and that line of thinking creates an even bigger problem for all of Africa, because the AGOA program comes up for renewal in just a few years.
The United Nations, the African Union, the United States, and several other countries are working hard to broker a resolution to the Ethiopian conflict. News reports indicate that there is little progress – except for some notice that humanitarian aid is finally reaching the Tigray region. There are also claims that government forces have re-gained control of several key areas that had been overrun by the insurgent Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
The USA, for its part, should never approve any country’s bad behavior, but there is a distinct difference in terminology – if skills are being taught and families are being fed. Investors knew that Ethiopia was risky, but they expected America to stand behind their investment. Somehow, over time , there has been a failure to distinguish between a sewing machine operator earning a living, and an insurgent fighting a battle (all within the same country)…
Most everyone hopes that AGOA doesn’t become a missed opportunity.
Although misinformation in foreign press is still abundant, following the string of victories against TPLF in the past few days it appears that some Western media outlets are trying to adjust their unbalanced coverage of the situation in Ethiopia (See below an excerpt of AFP's latest news explainer). Meanwhile, the Biden administration says its shelving its dangerous 'genocide' PR scheme against the country as its runaway policy is receiving much-needed congressional criticism and oversight. (Photo: Ethiopians protest in DC/Reuters)
AFP
Ethiopia’s military this week regained control of territory previously claimed by [TPLF] rebels, a potential validation of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s decision to join soldiers to conflict-hit areas…
Just a month ago, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) rebel group appeared to be on the offensive, claiming to have captured Dessie and Kombolcha, towns on a key highway headed towards the capital Addis Ababa.
They reportedly reached as far as Shewa Robit, around 220 kilometres (135 miles) northeast of Addis Ababa by road.
But after Abiy announced last week he would lead operations in the field, the government announced a string of victories and the rebels acknowledged making adjustments to their strategy.
State media has responded with triumphalist wall-to-wall coverage.
There’s little doubt the government can claim to have the “upper hand” in specific areas, said Awet Weldemichael, a Horn of Africa security expert at Queen’s University in Canada…
- A surprise shift -
All the while, though, the exact nature of the TPLF advance was in dispute.
“I don’t know whether we should call it an advance,” one Western security official told AFP in mid-November.
“There’s not a huge column of tanks and armoured vehicles driving down the road towards Addis. It’s more complex than that. There are foot soldiers going into the mountains, they shoot and surround certain areas” but do not seem to fully control cities and towns, the official said.
The latest battlefield shifts unfolded swiftly.
The government first claimed towns in Afar, near a critical highway bringing goods to Addis Ababa, then on Wednesday it declared victory in Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage site that fell to the TPLF in August.
On Friday state media announced that towns on the road heading north towards Dessie and Kombolcha had been “liberated”.
The news could be a sign that government forces, as well as many thousands of new recruits who have enlisted in recent months, have more fight than they’ve gotten credit for.
“I was quite surprised by the latest counteroffensive by the government,” said Mehdi Labzae, a sociologist who studies land issues and mobilisation in Ethiopia.
“I have seen all the people who were mobilised… but the thing is I thought they were not trained and I thought they would just be destroyed.”
The path ahead
The African Union is trying to broker a ceasefire to avert further bloodshed, though there has been little progress so far.
The TPLF insists it will have the advantage in whatever fighting is to come…
One possibility, said Awet of Queen’s University, is that the government’s superior air power has turned the tide — at least for now.
“Drones are claimed to have played a decisive role in active combat, the full extent of which we are yet to find out,” he said.
“But so far, it appears like they have helped halt [TPLF] counterattacks and advances.”
Lalibela is back in the International news after Ethiopia announced a major victory this week that it has recaptured the historic town from TPLF. Home to some of Ethiopia's ancient churches Lalibela, which was designated a Unesco world heritage site in 1978, is considered one of the wonders of the world for its stunning architectural designs. Below is a Unesco description. (Photo: The Church of Saint George in Lalibela/By Chester Higgins, Jr.)
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, United Nations
Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela
The 11 medieval monolithic cave churches of this 13th-century ‘New Jerusalem’ are situated in a mountainous region in the heart of Ethiopia near a traditional village with circular-shaped dwellings. Lalibela is a high place of Ethiopian Christianity, still today a place of pilmigrage and devotion.
A pilgrimage to Lalibela’s churches. (Getty Images)
Getty Images
Getty Images
Brief synthesis
In a mountainous region in the heart of Ethiopia, some 645 km from Addis Ababa, eleven medieval monolithic churches were carved out of rock. Their building is attributed to King Lalibela who set out to construct in the 12th century a ‘New Jerusalem’, after Muslim conquests halted Christian pilgrimages to the holy Land. Lalibela flourished after the decline of the Aksum Empire.
There are two main groups of churches – to the north of the river Jordan: Biete Medhani Alem (House of the Saviour of the World), Biete Mariam (House of Mary), Biete Maskal (House of the Cross), Biete Denagel (House of Virgins), Biete Golgotha Mikael (House of Golgotha Mikael); and to the south of the river, Biete Amanuel (House of Emmanuel), Biete Qeddus Mercoreus (House of St. Mercoreos), Biete Abba Libanos (House of Abbot Libanos), Biete Gabriel Raphael (House of Gabriel Raphael), and Biete Lehem (House of Holy Bread). The eleventh church, Biete Ghiorgis (House of St. George), is isolated from the others, but connected by a system of trenches.
The churches were not constructed in a traditional way but rather were hewn from the living rock of monolithic blocks. These blocks were further chiselled out, forming doors, windows, columns, various floors, roofs etc. This gigantic work was further completed with an extensive system of drainage ditches, trenches and ceremonial passages, some with openings to hermit caves and catacombs.
Biete Medhani Alem, with its five aisles, is believed to be the largest monolithic church in the world, while Biete Ghiorgis has a remarkable cruciform plan. Most were probably used as churches from the outset, but Biete Mercoreos and Biete Gabriel Rafael may formerly have been royal residences. Several of the interiors are decorated with mural paintings.
Near the churches, the village of Lalibela has two storey round houses, constructed of local red stone, and known as the Lasta Tukuls. These exceptional churches have been the focus of pilgrimage for Coptic Christians since the 12th century.
Criterion (i): All the eleven churches represent a unique artistic achievement, in their execution, size and the variety and boldness of their form.
Criterion (ii): The King of Lalibela set out to build a symbol of the holy land, when pilgrimages to it were rendered impossible by the historical situation. In the Church of Biet Golgotha, are replicas of the tomb of Christ, and of Adam, and the crib of the Nativity. The holy city of Lalibela became a substitute for the holy places of Jerusalem and Bethlehem, and as such has had considerable influence on Ethiopian Christianity.
Criterion (iii): The whole of Lalibela offers an exceptional testimony to the medieval and post-medieval civilization of Ethiopia, including, next to the eleven churches, the extensive remains of traditional, two storey circular village houses with interior staircases and thatched roofs.
Integrity
The drainage ditches were filled up with earth for several centuries, before being cleared in the 20th century, and have been disrupted by seismic activity. This has resulted in a severe degradation of the monuments from water damage, and most of them are now considered to be in a critical condition.
Structural problems have been identified in Biet Amanuel where an imminent risk of collapse is possible, and other locations need to be monitored. Serious degradation of the paintings inside the churches has occurred over the last thirty years. Sculptures and bas-reliefs (such as at the entrance of Biet Mariam) have also been severely damaged, and their original features are hardly recognisable. All of this threatens the integrity of the property.
Temporary light-weight shelters have now been installed over some churches and these, while offering protection, impact on visual integrity.
Other threats include encroachment on the environment of the churches by new public and private construction, housing associated with the traditional village adjacent to the property, and from the infrastructure of tourism.
Authenticity
The Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela are still preserved in their natural settings. The association of the rock-hewn churches and the traditional vernacular circular houses, in the surrounding area, still demonstrate evidences of the ancient village layout. The original function of the site as a pilgrimage place still persists and provides evidence of the continuity of social practices. The intangible heritages associated with church practices are still preserved.
Watch: 60 Minutes Features Lalibela: A place where faith, mystery and miracles coexist
In a major victory since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed went to the front lines last week to lead the fight against TPLF Ethiopia said it has recaptured the historic city of Lalibela, a Unesco world heritage site and a popular tourist destination, that was taken by the rebels in August. Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen has taken charge of the day-to-day running of government while Mr Abiy is on the battlefield. (Getty Images)
BBC
Ethiopian troops have recaptured the historic town of Lalibela from [TPLF] rebels, the government has said.
This is the latest victory claimed by the government since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed went to the front lines last week to lead the fight-back…
Lalibela, famous for its rock-hewn churches, was captured by the rebels in August.
It is a Unesco world heritage site in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, and was a popular tourist destination before the civil war broke out in Ethiopia last year…
Earlier on Wednesday, government spokesman Legesse Tulu was quoted by state media as saying the military was also confident of retaking the strategic city of Dessie “in a short period of time”.
The TPLF captured Dessie last month…Other towns retaken from the rebels included Shewa Robit, about 220km (135 miles) from Addis Ababa, the government said.
State-linked TV aired footage of Mr Abiy on Tuesday in military jungle fatigues, scanning the horizon with binoculars.
There was once a friendly, cordial and respectful U.S.-Ethiopia relations going back to 1903 before it was replaced with the modern version of team Biden's duplicitous Horn of Africa diplomacy. The following is a transcript of a speech by U.S. President John F. Kennedy during a luncheon hosted by Ethiopia in his honor at the Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland on October 2nd, 1963. (Photos: Kennedy Library)
The American Presidency Project, UC Santa Barbara
Note: The President spoke at the Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md. at a luncheon given in his honor by Emperor Haile Selassie…
The Emperor, speaking before him, began by mentioning the warm and friendly relationship between his nation and the United States. He referred to the growing number of Americans who go to Ethiopia–as members of economic and military aid missions, in the Peace Corps, as businessmen, and as tourists. Such associations, the Emperor continued, cannot but help the Ethiopian and American peoples to know each other better. Mutual understanding has also been broadened, he pointed out, by the many young Ethiopian leaders who have studied in the United States. “If their number now declines,” he added, “it will be because of the new university which has, with the generous help of the people and the Government of the United States, now assumed the responsibility for providing higher education in Ethiopia.”
The Charter of Unity recently signed in his capital by African heads of state demonstrates, said Emperor Haile Selassie, the will of their peoples, inspired by America’s example past and present, to prepare for themselves a future of unity and brotherhood.
He concluded with a toast to the President and to the two peoples, who are, he said, distant in geography but proximate in friendship and in spirit.
President Kennedy’s Remarks at the Luncheon
October 02, 1963
Your Majesty:
On behalf of all of my fellow citizens, I want to express our great appreciation to you for having traveled across so many thousands of miles to visit us once again and also for the pleasure that you have brought us all in bringing with you your granddaughter, and the benefit you have brought us in bringing the members of your Government.
As you say, Ethiopia and the United States are separated not only by geography but by history and culture, but I think that they are bound together by necessity, and that is the necessity for all sovereign free countries to maintain the most intimate association.
So we are very proud to have you here because of what your country has done, what it is doing, because of the hospitality you have shown to my fellow countrymen when they have gone there to work or to visit.
Most of all, we are glad to have you here because of your own extraordinary record. Those of us who have held office for a comparatively brief time are somewhat awed to realize that you have borne the responsibility of leadership in your country for more than 45 years. For a good part of this century, with all the changes that it has brought to not only your own country but to the continent of Africa, and so much of the West during this whole period, the central thrust of burden has been borne by you. And to have borne it with such distinction in other days and to still bear it with such force-demonstrated by the fact that your capital was chosen by your fellow leaders of Africa to be the center of this great, cooperative movement which was symbolized by the summit meeting in your capital and which was made a success by your own very patient efforts–brings accord out of what could have been on occasion perhaps a disagreement.
So, looking to a long past, looking to a promising future, we want to say, Your Majesty, that we are proud to have you here, we have been honored by the visit, and I hope that this short time here in Washington will remind you once again of how strongly your place is secured in the affection of all of the people of the United States. I hope all of you will join with me in a toast to His Imperial Majesty.
The Ethiopia-born Belgian singer-songwriter Meskerem Mees is the winner of the 2021 Montreux Jazz Talent Award. According to organizers the up-and-coming musician was "elected unanimously by a jury that comprised both professional judges and members of the public." (Montreux Jazz Festival)
Press Release
Montreux Jazz Festival
The Montreux Jazz Talent Award 2021 has been awarded to the Belgian singer and composer Meskerem Mees. The 21-year-old artist performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival alongside eight other emerging talents selected by the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation. Meskerem Mees was elected unanimously by a jury that comprised both professional judges and members of the public, as well as an Artists Committee, including Yaron Herman, Anne Paceo, Shabaka Hutchings and Michael League.
The Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation (MJAF) invited eight artists to perform at the Montreux Jazz Talent Awards, between the 2nd and 17th of July 2021. Each candidate was carefully selected by the booking team for their diverse interpretations of jazz and soul-inspired music.
The eight artists performed during the 55th edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival in front of a jury of professional judges and members of the public. Four musicians, who work closely with the MJAF, also participated in the vote: Yaron Herman, Anne Paceo, Shabaka Hutchings (Sons of Kemet) and Michael League (Snarky Puppy).
THE VOTE FOR MESKEREM MEES WAS UNANIMOUS
Beautifully composed tunes, a magnetic presence and a distinct velvet voice: Meskereem Mees was a true revelation during the competition, impressing all three juries. The 21-year-old Flemish musician says she is inspired by artists such as Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone and Courtney Barnett. After releasing a handful of singles including the stunning “Joe”, Meskerem Mees is set to release her highly anticipated debut album, Julius, on November 12, 2021.
“I feel very honored to be the winner of a talent award competition hosted by a festival as renowned as the Montreux Jazz Festival. I’m looking forward to learn from some of the world’s best musicians at the Montreux Jazz Academy. Thank you all, once again, for this amazing opportunity.”
— Meskerem Mees
PRIZES AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT
Meskerem Mees has been awarded a one-week artistic residency at La Becque on the shores of Lake Geneva. She will also perform at the Montreux Jazz Academy under the musical direction of Shabaka Hutchings, Edward Wakili-Hick and Alexander Hawkins. The 7th edition of the Montreux Jazz Academy will take place at the Autumn of Music festival, organised by the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation between the 27th and 30th of October 2021.
At a key point in their careers, they also get long-term professional support from the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation (MJAF) and the Festival’s large network of contacts. The MJAF is regularly involved in the programming of concerts in Switzerland and abroad, for instance at the Swiss cultural centres in Paris and in Rome.
Captain Mohammed Ahmed, a trailblazer in African aviation, led Ethiopian Airlines through transformative times, cementing its place as a leading carrier while safeguarding its independence and innovation. (Photo: Wikimedia/Ethiopian Airlines - Original publication: Ethiopia 1980s, immediate source Addis Insight)
