This happened several years ago but I remember it like it was yesterday….. I received a call, “leqso endetedershe, ye Selam ehet arfalech”
I said “ Ehet? What are you talking about she doesn’t have a sister she only has two brothers. Which Selam are you talking about?” She replied, “The Selam we both know.” At this point I was totally and completely confused then I thought oh ok some Ethio’s refer to friends or cousins as ehetoch. I didn’t want to ask too many questions as I knew it wasn’t her sister but a close friend or relative.
So I go to the leqso and it was a very sad moment. The family was uncontrollably crying. When I saw my friends, I asked “guadegnwa nat?” One girl said “nope we all just found out Selam had a sister.” Say what? Supposedly only few people knew of Selam’s sister and our group was not part of the few people. We knew Selam very well so this was a true shock. Continue reading ‘Selam had a sister?’
Published by celebratelife September 28th, 2007 in Family.
- Roots is part of the body of a plant that develops, typically, from the radicle and grows downward into the soil,
- it is also the very foundation or source; origin; base; beginning
More than the preliminary usages of the word root, it also used in connotations with other words, the disambiguation’s are endless. It is used in computing mathematics, music, entertainment etc… In essence though, it is the source as in ‘the roots of the roots miniseries in Alex Hailey’s novel.’
For us Africans it is more often associated with themes including social issues & resistance such as its use as a sub genre of reggae, and the knowledge of our story. Our saga, our history, our origin, our foundation, ie our roots”
The Concept
The core of our Project Roots notion is the knowledge of our origin, history and culture. Unpretentious as ‘a broken root is lacking firmness of a solid base.’ Akin to the prevalent quotation of Marcus Garvey;
A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” Continue reading ‘Roots is Here!’
Published by Nolawi September 26th, 2007 in Bernos, Design, History and Noteworthy.
The word ‘ethnomusicology‘ carries with it certain connotations that may make one squirm: tokenizing, misappropriated cultural anthropology, exoticism, etc. However, after watching Itsushi Kawase’s three short documentaries on how music is interwoven into the fabric of those who live outside the fringes of conventional comfort, I am left refreshed that maybe, just maybe, there is still hope out there for genuine and unpretentious story-telling. And for that accomplishment, Kawase gets my standing ovation.
Set in Gondar, Kawase’s films document his interactions with industrious street children, Lalibeloch, and Enzatawoch (azmariwoch). Given the tight-rope walk between cultural immersion and objective observation, Kawase tells the poignant stories that manage to amuse and tug at the heart at the same time, brimming with unbridled optimism despite being set around the lives of the poor.
After the screening, which lasted about 90 minutes, Kawase was open to questions from the racially and ethnically mixed crowd.
Then the idiocracy began. Continue reading ‘Of Symbols & Idiots’
Published by Toothpick September 23rd, 2007 in History.
Image from Yilud
September is the beginning! It is when Ethiopian skies bid farewell to the clouds of the rainy season and welcome the New Year! Daisies, called “Adey Ababa,” cover the highlands in gold.
Young girls gather the flowers and go door to door singing the traditional New Year song “Abeba- Ayehosh!“
In Ethiopia September 12 marked the end of the old century and the beginning of the 21st century – a brand new millennium. Amidst all the celebration, New Year resolutions and season greetings one might ponder what the last ten decades have brought Ethiopians, what the new century has in stock for them and the importance and message of the coming millennium.
One of the things I enjoy most while telling friends of the Ethiopian year, is a dazzled and confused look followed by:
so how old will that make you in Ethiopia?”
How it came to be?
Ethiopia being among the first states to adopt Christianity follows the Coptic Calendar which was based on the calendar formulated by Julius Caesar. When Pope Gregory XIII decreed the modification of the Julian calendar many states started counting days and religious holidays with the new Gregorian calendar while the Eastern Orthodox Churches and Ethiopian Orthodox Church continued to use the Julian calendar. Continue reading ‘EnQutatsh!’
Published by Ameleworq September 20th, 2007 in Current Issues and History.
After an online discussion a few months ago, a small group of people suggested that we have a social/business gathering…EthioMeetup, composed of local DC area Ethiopian Professionals, is an environment in which people get introduced to each other for various social opportunities.
Em, ya it has been done hasn’t it? Well it has, and is being done, so why should we organize one when there is one or two or three already?
About five of us gathered and discussed what we should do and why we should do it. The answer is simple, other gatherings in our experience have not been inclusive; meaning that people come to the happy hour with their own friends; they have a drink, socialize and leave.
The problem: No one gets introduced to someone new, Generally speaking. Those who come together leave together circa last Friday at the club.
The solution, you come there; compulsory introduction at the beginning of the MeetUp. Continue reading ‘EthioMeetUp!’
Published by Nolawi September 18th, 2007 in Shameless Plug and Social.
