I am sitting by the banks of the James River in Richmond, VA next to a friend who is sunbathing in her bikini on a beautiful sunny Friday afternoon. The sun is playing hide and seek with us drifting in and out of scattered clouds on the otherwise striking blue sky. As I listen to the soothing sounds of the river flowing continuously and stare into the clear water which forms white foams every time it hits the huge domes of rocks and finds a way around to get past them or above them, I think about my life and the many turns and twists it has taken and it will take.
I think about my travels, my hopes, dreams, aspirations, disappointments and heartbreaks. I think about the tumultuous year I have had with my sunbathing friend. The friend I am referring to is a woman I have dated on and off for the past year. We come from two completely different backgrounds and parts of the world and the way our personalities clash reminds me of a volcanic eruption.
I have come to the conclusion that relationships are basically a myth. May be I am too lazy to work on them or too hedonistic to bear the pains of boredom and miscommunication brought about in the absence of the initial surge of electricity you feel when you see, meet and fall in love with a beautiful woman. From where I am sitting my friend’s beauty has faded, her exciting appeal is gone. All that remains and is visible is the constant arguments and fights we have endured for the last leg of our relationship. Continue reading ‘Whats Love Got To Do With It?’
Published by Dawit May 18th, 2006 in Dating, Social and Thoughts.
From L to R Ahsa Ahla, Dale Saunders(I think), Fasil Wuhib, Teferi Assefa and Jorga Mesfin
I'm a frequent visitor at Abesha.com . It was there I read of a group based in Atlanta, Georgia. Their name, "Wudasse." A quick search on the internet returned this result- www.wudasse.com. Wudasse is an Ethio Jazz band. As an enthusiast of Ethio Jazz, I was extremely interested. From the website I found out the band was composed of Fasil Wuhib (Bass), Jorga Mesfin (Sax/Keyboards), Teferi Assefa (Drums) and Ahsa Ahla (Percussion)-The website provides a detailed bio section. But, since the website was still under construction, it did not contain any music samples. I wanted to get a hold of the album and "Speech" helped me get in touch with "Funky Dread" who promised I would get a call from her for a chance to purchase a copy. The call never came, and so I put my excitement on hold. That is until I heard that Wudasse would be having an album release party at Roha Restaurant on Wednesday April 19, 2006.
The time slated for this event was 7:00pm. When I showed up at 8:00pm the band was no where to be seen. I was sitting with Nolawi and Girum discussing the dismal affairs of the current Ethiopian Music scene when I saw someone I though I recognized walk in through the door. A second look confirmed my inital thought. I was dumbfounded and speechless for a little while. I'll come back to this a little later on.
The restaurant started filling up as the band was ready to begin. The set started with Kevin Spears playing a solo jam on the Kalimba, also known as Mrimba and Tom. Tom being the one widely played by the people in the South West of Ethiopia namely, Gambela. The set was amazingly head nodding, foot thumping and heavily groovy. Continue reading ‘"Have you been Wudassed?"*’
Published by Ethio Jazz May 16th, 2006 in Music and Thoughts.
Three Bernos Shirts are now on sale on the front page of this website. We now sale the shirts online & ship them in the US and Canada. We have three different designs; all screen printed on the very best American apparel T-shirts. The shirts are all 18.99$ and shipping is UPS ground (the charge for shipping is 3.99$.) For more information about the shirts, please check the Frequently Asked Questions or email us at info@bernos.org. Sales outside that of US & Canada is now on hold; till we figure out a cheap shipping method.
Long live Abebe Bikila, the barefoot Ethiopian Marathon runner who won the gold medal 1960 Olympics in Rome. Bikila returned to the Olympics in 1964 in Tokyo, even though he had undergone an appendectomy 40 days before the race.
Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. The site was chosen by Empress Taytu Betul and the city was founded in 1886 by her husband, Emperor Menelik II. Addis Ababa motif is written the Coca Cola logo. Addis Ababa Classic; on red American Apparel shirt.
Desta is the brand name of a popular candy that was made in Ethiopia. Keremela means candy and Desta means happy. Growing up we ate it with lemon. Desta Keremela is the first candy ever manufactured in Ethiopia.
Published by Nolawi May 14th, 2006 in Bernos.
I was in the club last Saturday, there were many guys and few females. The females that were there were enclosed like a pack of wolves. All the guys stand around and watch the girls. Those men who have the courage to approach one of the wolves better be ready get humiliated. As she will make sure that every one of the club hears when she tells him that she is not interested.
Published by Nolawi May 11th, 2006 in Dating and Social.
SURRENDER: BY. RAHEL W
Woken by a soul….
that unknown.
Just a glimpse,
a glance,
a shadow..
was shown.
Who….Why….… Where..?
……..I wonder’.
I quiver’,
I shiver’,
I feebled…
..as a sinner.
Tiled back ma head,
With my eyes closed.
Lay down ma hand,
..and let the vision unfold’.
“hash….relax….
and beloved…”
A murmur, I hear’.
A sound….
soon after..
A touch of…
…’a’ tender. Continue reading ‘TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL’
Published by Rahel May 8th, 2006 in Design and Poetry.
