Archive Page 105

Qededa – Ayee! 18 Comments

What do you guys think of these guys?

From what I say in discussion forums and what i heard in the buna betoch, there is a distaste. Somebody said that they should close them down because they are obtuse. OK, obtuse but entertaining. The Internet is a place where the KKK recruits members as well as endless political propaganda is disbursed. Why not political satire? We do lack satire in Ethiopian circles. Come to think of it, the proportion between Ethiopian news versus Ethiopian editorial cartoons is so far apart that it seems Ethiopians lack sense of humor. 

Published by Nolawi April 17th, 2006 in Shameless Plug.
Ethiopian Hooters 179 Comments

When was the last time you were served by a male waiter in an Ethiopian restaurant?

If you are like me, only once; and in that instance the waiter happened to the owner of the restaurant. Ethiopian restaurants servers, in general are only females. Of course, I am talking about the restaurants here in the United States. I have not been to every restaurant, but I have been to many in different cities.

Hooters is the brand name of a popular restaurant based in the US plus 13 other countries throughout the world. The marketing strategy is brilliantly masterminded to serving bad food with a beautiful young woman in scantly clad clothing. “Hooter girls ” are chosen based upon their breast size, as well as all round good looks.

If small-chested, they may be asked to pad their bras. They are instantly recognizable by their uniform of a white tank top with the Hooters owl logo and the location name on the front paired with the famously short orange runners' shorts. Originally, the T-shirts were white cotton, pulled tight, and knotted in the back to emphasize the breasts.

The qualifications to be a “hooters girl” are controversial, as it is objectification of woman at best. The number of past and pending sexual discrimination law suits is astounding. At the end, it is legal in almost all countries.

In Washington D.C. Metro

There are over 50 Ethiopian restaurants, most marketed directly to Ethiopians. Increasingly, I have noticed that some are exploring outside that of the traditional marketing strategy. Some like Zed’s Ethiopian Restaurant and others advertise only to non-Ethiopians. Some have nightly entertainment; some have big flat screen television screens with Ethiopian music videos.

The traditional marketing philosophy of “serve good food and they will come” has become antiquated. Good service has never really corresponded with Ethiopian restaurants, atleast not in the US.

The new philosophy seems to be “a kitfo served with a beautiful young Ethiopian tastes much better than just a kitfo.”

In addition, I think they might be right, as I prefer Madjet to Roha . Madjet servers are younger and more Konjo!

Published by Nolawi April 14th, 2006 in Design and Food.
YeTintu Tiz ALegn 72 Comments

That was a song as well.
I want to extend my appreciation for providing us the platform to reminisce tizetachinen. As I was reading the articles in this bulletin it took me be back to the 1950‘s in the Ethiopian Calendar. Ene “Alemush Manbo sherebush whiskey jenenushe“ (???? ??? ???? ??? ????) Ene Woy Kalibso YeAmara Kalibso sew Keseraw yemeTal temeleso;” (?? ???? ???? ???? ?? ???? ???? ????) took me back to the yesteryears.

When Alchalukem by Tilahun Gessese was sung, it sounded like yeFiqir (????) song; he was lamenting how he couldn’t handle his lover. But, in actuality it was a protest song. It is SemNa Work; (??? ???) what he could not handle anymore was the incompetence and repression of the, then Government leadership. To say “Astedaderune alchalkume” (?????? ??????) followed right after by OuOuTa aYaskefame sileyu tewado kezihe yebelete keyete yemeta merdo" (???? ?????? ??? ??? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???); that song he was reiteration of peoples exhaustion of the leadership. He cried, he screamed and then came Mengistu Neway’s Coup d'état.

If one goes back to the song of the sixties, the song mentioned by Ethio jazz, Lomi tera tera by Telele Kebede where among the protest songs. Telela was arrested because of the song as well. The revolution occurred right after; these protest songs are not only telltales of the lives of our people, but also serve as a precursor of ensuing socio-political change of the country. “Tebale Ende & Ethiopia," by Tsehaye Yohannes, Almazen Ayechie, during Mengistu’s era; Zero Lezero, Yasteseryal during the EPRDF are indicative of the yearning of our people for social change. I hope people will pay attention to the SemNa Work (??? ???) nature of these songs.

Published by W/o Tedeneqiyalesh April 12th, 2006 in History, Music and Noteworthy.
Avi & Cabra 52 Comments

 

avi&cabra2.jpg

Last Tuesday I went to see the Idan Raichel's Project's live in concert in Washington D.C. I must say I enjoyed it very much. The band consisted of a seven members, if I remember correctly. Idan is the keyboardist and does not do much vocally. There were three vocalists, of which two are from Ethiopia. Most of the vocals were in Amharic, although there was some Israeli and I believe Yemeni.

The Ethiopian vocalists Avi Wassa (wegderess) did about 60 percent of the singing in Amharic accompanied by Cabra Kassai; both such great talents. It was good to see about five hundred or so white people dancing to Avi's old school vocals.

If I was to describe the music its very Gypsy Kings meets Aster Aweke. I think it is remarkable that Ethiopian music is getting recognition internationally; not to take away from other influences in Idan Raichels compositions. As the group did a performance at New Yorks Apollo Theater last week as well. Newspapers like Dallas Morning News and New York times are raving about the band.

The secret to Raichel's success is a delicate yet passionate mixture of traditional Ethiopian music sampled Jewish prayers chanted mostly in Amharic and rhythmic African folk grooves with contemporary dance beats and synthesizer textures.

There were barely any Ethiopians, although I saw about a dozen people. We have to do our part in supporting the outbreak of Ethiopian musical sway on the international level. sample can be found here.

Published by Nolawi April 11th, 2006 in Music and Social.
Blind Teddy 427 Comments

I like Teddy’s Music, respect his talent and feel like he is a grade above the rest of the new Ethiopian musical artists.

I saw the Lamba Dina video yesterday, and I must say I was in shock. Apparently, the director whoever he is decided to make the video as an impersonation of the late great Ray Charles. Teddy has black sunglasses and shakes his head as blind pianists do—left to right and right to left with a smile.

Influence from the west, is good but imitation, is a horrible scheme. As it ensued that, the director(s) opted to make a ghastly rendition of Michael Jackson’s thriller dance for another video. The production of the videos’ as a whole was good; what I have a problem with is the blatant replication from the west. Moreover, the fact that they geared Teddy as blind was tasteless, and horrible. Who ever made the choice to make a Ray Charles impression should be ashamed.

Published by Nolawi April 10th, 2006 in Design and Music.
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