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USDFA to host First Ladies from African countries for first-ever U.S. Summit

Published by News Room December 22nd, 2008 in Events and News & Hot Shots. 1 Comment

By Tadias Staff

Published: Saturday, December 20, 2008

New York (Tadias) - U.S. Doctors for Africa (USDFA) and “African Synergy”, an organization founded by African First Ladies, are convening their first joint health summit entitled “Leadership for Health” at the RAND Corporation in Los Angeles. The two-day summit in April 2009 will focus on HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, and girls’ education, as Africa’s First Ladies seek to forge new partnerships with U.S.-based agencies and foundations to tackle the continent’s health crisis.

Over 20 African First Ladies are expected to assemble for their first-ever U.S.-based health summit on April 20-21, 2009, and will be hosted by USDFA, a California based non-profit organization, founded by social entrepreneur Ted Alemayuhu (pictured above).

“These First Ladies recognize their powerful position as role models, spokeswomen and advocates for their people,” says Ted Alemayhu, Founder and Chairman of USDFA. “Through collaborations with our organization and the summit’s other partners, we believe they can continue to inspire and work towards even greater change in their countries.”

The expected dignitaries hail from member countries of “African Synergy”, a health initiative alliance made up of 22 African First Ladies, established in 2002. Participating nations include: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, Egypt, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Morocco, Maurice, Namibia, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda, Central African Republic, Senegal, Sudan, Chad, and Togo.

The April 2009 summit will engage the First Ladies in professional skills-building workshops, identify top priorities for the coming year, highlight key partners on the ground, and name actionable steps towards achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals related to maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS and education.

“This is probably one of the most empowering initiatives we have ever been involved in,” says Mr. Alemayhu. “What is exciting about this particular partnership is that the entire movement is initiated and mobilized by the First Ladies themselves. USDFA and African Synergy share the common belief that healthcare is a basic human right, and recognize that a healthy population is essential for growth, development, and prosperity in every society and this is a great testimony, commitment, and dedication that needs to be encouraged and supported by all stake-holders around the world.”

The closed door VIP summit is being organized by USDFA in collaboration with the RAND corporation, UCLA, ONE, the Vital Voices Global Partnership and White Ribbon Alliance, as well as General Electric and Procter & Gamble, which are listed as sponsors.

Invited guests include First Lady-Elect Michelle Obama, First Lady Laura Bush, former U.S. First Lady Hillary Clinton, Sarah Brown (First Lady of UK), and Maria Shriver (First Lady of California) and several first ladies of Hollywood. The Gala event will be co-chaired by actress Jessica Alba.

Cover photo by Jeffrey Phipps for Tadias Magazine.

Wisconsin Concert to raise funds for health care clinics in Ethiopia

Published by News Room December 5th, 2008 in Events and Featured. 0 Comments

Natty Nation will perform at the Clinic at a Time benefit
concert Dec. 13. (State Journal archives)

Wisconsin State Journal

MICHAEL JONES
For the State Journal
FRI., DEC 5, 2008

Mulusew Yayehyirad is figuring out new ways to give brighter futures to those halfway around the world.

The Ethiopian native and registered nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital looked at the damage of her home country due to poverty and disease and felt she needed to do something about it. So she started Clinic At A Time, a non-profit charity whose mission is to combat her homeland’s ills with better supplies, facilities and education.

On Saturday, Dec. 13, CAAT will host a benefit concert, starring the acclaimed reggae-funk-rock group Natty Nation, at the East Madison Community Center with the goal of sending Yayehyirad and a group of volunteers to her hometown of Bichina to help the local clinic next year. Already, the group has raised enough to help construct a new waiting facility in the clinic, a common problem in impoverished areas where diseases can be transmitted between people as they are waiting extremely long hours for care from health care workers who are ill-equipped and sometimes undereducated.

“The volunteers can help out by giving immunizations and sharing their educational and professional experiences with the health care workers,” said Yayehyirad.

According to the Earth Institute at Columbia University, Ethiopia’s health care system is considered one of the most underdeveloped in Africa, leading to a current life-expectancy rate of 54 years with the prospect of it free-falling to 46 years due to high rates of HIV/AIDS. The institute estimates up to 80 percent of the country’s health problems stem from preventable, communicable and nutritional diseases. Yayehyirad believes these problems can be combated with a combination of education, better facilities and better access to supplies.

“In all of these clinics there is no running water, gloves are high commodities, syringes are hard to get. There is no equipment to do minor stitches or if there is, they are not sanitized properly which puts the public in much higher risk for disease transmission,” said Yayehyirad. “We need to build more rooms in these clinics so that the woman who is having a baby is not in the same room with a tuberculosis patient, which is a reality.

“It is important educating the health care workers and the public about HIV/AIDS and other diseases coupled by providing the material which could be educational and equipments for the clinics. You can’t teach them the importance of sanitization or proper use of equipments if they don’t have one to use,” she said.

Yayehyirad has been able to bring this all together in addition to raising four children with her husband and holding down a nursing job with the help of her family, friends, CAAT’s board and her faith.

“I manage my busy schedule with the help of my husband, my mother and my kids, most of all with the grace of God. Everyone in my house understands and values one another. When you have that kind of support … you can accomplish a lot,” she said. “My board members are also helpful and supportive of what we do as an organization, which takes some of the responsibilities off of my shoulder.”

In addition to Natty Nation’s musical stylings, there will be a video presentation with further information about CAAT’s mission and accomplishments. Also, people will have a chance to try some Ethiopian dishes such as ingera, a flat bread made from three different flours with beef stew or a vegetarian option. Whether you come down for the music, the food or the mission, every penny will go toward the people that need it the most — something very important to Yayehyirad.

“I think it is important for my contributors and donors to know that their contribution is directly going to the people who need the help,” she said.

If you go

What: Benefit Concert for Clinic At A Time

When: Saturday, Dec. 13, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: East Madison Community Center, 8 Straubel Court, Madison 53704

Audience: All ages

Cost: $20, kids under 5 are free

Details: www.clinicatatime.org

Mahamud Ahmed at a Benefit Concert to Build Ethiopian Church in San Diego

Published by News Room November 29th, 2008 in Events. 9 Comments

Above: Mahmoud Ahmed at Damrosch’s Park in NYC on
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 (Trent Wolbe/Tadias File).

Source: YebboEvents

On Jan. 3, 2009 , the legendary Mahamud Ahmed will be in San Diego at a benefit concert organized by St. Gabriel Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Ticket are sold in San Diego at local Ethiopian restaurants, shops and cafes.

(For those of you who are out of state or may not make it for this event but want to help St. Gabriel Independent Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church, you can send your donation to the church and Mahamud Ahmed will announce your name during the concert. Church address is: 4808 Trojan Avenue, San diego, CA 92115).

Skoto Gallery is pleased to present Visionaries and Outcasts

Published by Lifestyle Editor November 28th, 2008 in Events. 0 Comments

Above: Michael Ince, River Bird Landing, 2008, black locust
wood, southern yellow pine, stone, glass, 84×96x36 inches.
(Photo: Zabby Scott).

Source: Skoto Gallery

New York - Skoto Gallery will present Visionaries and Outcasts, an exhibition of recent works by Michael Ince (USA), Olalekan B. Jeyifous (USA/Nigeria) and Pefura (France/Cameroon). The reception is Thursday, December 4th, 6-8pm and the artists will be present.

Despite their varied traditions and personal cultural backgrounds the three artists in this show respond to the challenges of developing strategies of survival and resistance in emerging societies, and in the process create aesthetic forms that respond to the consequences of political, economic and social crisis caused by policies of international financial organizations such as the IMF and the World Bank. Each of the artists explore issues such as the deterioration in standard of living, environmental degradation, renewable energy, unemployment and migration that are likely related to the contradictory result of globalization due to policies that force these societies to devalue their currencies against the dollar; lift import and export restrictions; balance their budgets and not overspend; and remove price controls and state subsidies. This has led to the formation of mass movements and protests in every continent as people organize to combat the pillaging of lands, resources and livelihood.

Michael Ince has always been motivated by a deep connection to nature, but over the years, the ability of social and economic policies to impact the natural world and its endangered state have become central to his practice. His sculpture installation River Bird Landing, 2008 is elegant in its poetic evocation of the fragility of our ecosystem as a result of the undermining of environmental rules and regulations. His forms, reduced to its essences are derived from nature and culture, and still suggest the actual objects to which they refer. They are the product of much thought and simple design that are meticulously crafted. He grew up in Brookhaven, Long Island where, when not in Paris, he lives with his family on a small farm surrounded by buildings of his making, planting carrots, rearing chickens, making prints and drawings, and birding. A 1964 graduate of Bowdoin College, he traveled to India as a Peace Corps, and has subsequently returned on a major pilgrimage. He is widely exhibited in galleries around the US and in Paris; and in several collections.

Olalekan B. Jeyifous draws from his background as an architect to create works in digital media that are expressive of architectural considerations and the vicissitudes of life that continue to shape and reflect the changing contours of urban landscapes such as the favelas of Brazil, overpopulated cities such as Lagos, Mexico City or Mumbai, as well as areas such as the oil-rich Niger Delta of Nigeria.

Above: Olalekan B. Jeyifous, The Outer-City Settlement, digital media on
paper, 40×60 inches.

His work does not seek to assert formal solutions to spatial problems, but instead exists as a vehicle for social critique and establishing unique visual languages, ultimately striking the balance between design informed by the notion of industrial production and design informed by the practical and psychological needs of the inhabitants of “contested” spaces. He was born 1977 in Ibadan, Nigeria, and graduated from Cornell University School of Architecture, Art and Planning, Ithaca, New York in 2000. Recent exhibitions include Studio Museum in Harlem and The Kitchen, NYC 2008, The Drawing Center, NYC 2006, International Architecture Biennale, Rotterdam, Netherlands 2005, and the New Museum of Contemporary Art, NYC 2003.

Pefura’s portraits of African immigrants living in the Parisian suburb of Montreuil are pleasingly complicated, and merge themes of race, migration and social identity with personal experience and art-historical references. They are layered with profound sociopolitical subtexts, combine painterly gestures of expressionism with the critical distance of conceptual art and provide insightful understanding of the human condition. Pefura was born 1967 in Paris to Cameroonian parents and obtained a diploma in Architecture from Ecole d’Architecture, Paris-Tolbiac in 1999. He has actively practiced as an artist since the early 1990s and is widely exhibited in Africa, Europe and USA. Residencies include Cite des Arts Internatiionale, Paris in 1999 and La Source – Atelier V. Guerolde in France. Collections include Fondation Guerlain, Paris and Conseil General de l’Europe, France.

Learn more about the gallery at : skotogallery.com

Abyssinian Baptist Church Celebrates Ties to Ethiopia on the Occasion of Its 200th Anniversary

Published by News Room November 12th, 2008 in Events. 1 Comment

Above: Reverend Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, current
head of the Abyssinia Baptist Church in Harlem, led a delegation of
150 to Ethiopia in 2007 as part of the church’s bicentennial
celebration and in honor of the Ethiopian Millennium.
(At Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem on Sunday,
November 4, 2007. Tadias File).

PRNewswire

WASHINGTON, Nov 12, 2008 — The Abyssinian Baptist Church yesterday celebrated its 200th anniversary and its deep ties of friendship with Ethiopia. At a white-tie dinner gala at the uptown Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the United States Samuel Assefa was recognized as a special guest by Abyssinian Baptist Church Leader Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III.

“I was thrilled to join the Abyssinian Baptist Church to celebrate its 200th anniversary,” said Ethiopian Ambassador to the United States Samuel Assefa. “For two centuries the Abyssinian Baptist Church has played an integral role in helping strengthen Ethiopia’s relations with the United States and with the African-American community.”

The 200th Anniversary of the Abyssinian Baptist Church coincides with the celebration of the Ethiopian Millennium. The gala affair drew an impressive roster of political and civic leaders and celebrities. Former President Bill Clinton, Senator Hillary Clinton and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg joined Rev. Butts at the podium as speakers. President-Elect Barack Obama sent his greetings, which were delivered on his behalf by Sen. Clinton.

President Clinton spoke passionately about America’s strong relationship with Ethiopia, calling for the two countries to continue working closely together. He talked about Ethiopia’s rich history and described the glories of ancient and modern Ethiopia, pointing to the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela as a fitting example of Ethiopia’s timeless treasures and living monuments.

Honorary and event chairs and members of the benefit committee included actor/comedian Chris Rock, his philanthropist wife Malaak Compton-Rock, American Express CEO Ken Chenault and his philanthropist wife Kathryn Chenault, actors Latanya R. and Samuel L. Jackson and Vogue editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley. Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated actress Cicely Tyson and accomplished stage, television and film actor Avery Brooks served as the gala’s emcees.

The bicentennial celebration — Abyssinian 200: True to Our God, True to Our Native Land — marked the Abyssinian Baptist Church’s distinction as one of the oldest and most prominent African-American institutions in America. The 18-month bicentennial commemoration included a pilgrimage to Ethiopia to meet with senior Ethiopian officials.

SOURCE: Embassy of Ethiopia

Ethiopian musical styles: Capturing a Moment in Time

Published by News Room November 10th, 2008 in Events. 1 Comment

Source: Harvard

“Capturing a Moment in Time”
A presentation by Kay Kaufman Shelemay (pictured above).

Kay Kaufman Shelemay is a professor of music and African and African American Studies at Harvard. She is author of A Song of Longing: An Ethiopian Journey (University of Illinois Press, 1991).

In “Capturing a Moment in Time,” Kay Kaufman Shelemay will use images and recordings to introduce Ethiopian musical styles and the musicians behind them.

Religion, culture, and history intertwine in Ethiopia, which was a Christian empire from the fourth century until 1974. Since 1974, an extraordinary number of Ethiopian musicians have migrated to the United States, bringing with them an array of musical styles.

During her 2007-2008 fellowship year at Radcliffe, Shelemay explored musical performance as a creative process through which the Ethiopian immigrant community negotiates ethnic, religious, and social boundaries. Her presentation will draw on this research, which has become the foundation of a new collection established in the Library of Congress.

Shelemay, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. She is a past president of the Society for Ethnomusicology and a former chair of the board of trustees of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

Date: Nov 20, 2008
Time: 6:30PM ET
Location: Thursday, November 20, 2008
6:30 PM
Harvard Club of New York City
Cambridge Room
27 West 44th Street
New York, New York

“Migration of Beauty” to Screen in D.C.

Published by News Room November 10th, 2008 in Events. 0 Comments

Source: Chris Flaherty, Producer

The Refugee Experience Series is proud to present the premiere of Migration of Beauty with DC producer Chris Flaherty (pictured above), community organizer Abdulazziz Kamus, and distinguished audience members. The DC area is home to one of the largest populations of Ethiopians outside of Africa. Many came to escape political oppression and human rights violations. Now as US citizens, they exercise Constitutional rights without fear of death or persecution.

Enjoy an Ethiopian reception after the discussion and inspirational reggae by Fasimpas African Dub Sound.

Friday, Nov. 21 at 6 pm

The Goethe-Institut, 812 Seventh St., NW, Washington, DC 20001 One block from Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro.

$10 Requested donation.

WWO Honors Ethiopian Ambassador and Others

Published by News Room November 10th, 2008 in Events. 0 Comments

By Tadias Staff

Published: Monday, November 10, 2008

New York (Tadias) - The Worldwide Orphans Foundation, dedicated to transforming the lives of orphans around the world (with work in several countries, including Ethiopia), held it’s fourth annual benefit gala at Cipriani Wall Street on Monday, November 3.

The organization raised more than $1.3 million at the gala, according to a press release sent to Tadias Magazine. In addition: “In a surprise announcement that evening, an anonymous donor pledged to match all donations made at the benefit gala – raising the pre-gala donations by approximately $240,000 that evening.”

Brooke Smith, star of Grey’s Anatomy presented an award to Ethiopian Ambassador Dr. Samuel Assefa (pictured above) for Ethiopia’s support of WWO programs and services. In accepting the award, the Ambassador said: “A decade ago, a child born with HIV/AIDS had no future. Today, thanks to the commitment of the Worldwide Orphans Foundation, hundreds of Ethiopian children with HIV/AIDS are not just surviving but living full lives.”

According to the press release, Mary-Louise Parker, Tony-award winning actress and star of TV’s Weeds, presented another award to RBC Dexia Investor Services, which was recognized as WWO’s first Corporate Honoree for its financial support that helped to launch WWO Canada, the organization’s first chapter outside the United States. The event also honored Lois Whitman for her work as Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, Children’s Rights Division, in advocating for the rights of vulnerable children.

The press release also noted that Actress Naomi Watts was in attendance at the benefit gala. Actor Liev Schrieber narrated the WWO film highlighting programs and the children served.

The WWO founder invited supporters to become more engaged with the organization by volunteering their time, energy and skills as “Service Rangers” to help children living in orphanages worldwide. “We are responsible for these children and must keep our promises,” proclaimed Dr. Jane Aronson, who emphasized that WWO is committed to ensuring that no child is forgotten.

The 2008 Gala theme was “Every Child Ought to Know: What Love Is, What Health Is, What Childhood Is,” and the event was co-chaired by Janet Kagan, WWO’s Board Chair, and Brittany Levinson.

Children from the National Dance Institute presented an electrifying African dance performance. Vocal selections by performance artist Sasha Lazard and the musical duo John Pizzarelli and Jessical Molaskey entertained gala guests. Tony-award winning director Kathleen Marshall served as Entertainment Chair.

Ethiopia Reads Founder Named Top 10 CNN Hero of the Year

Published by News Room October 9th, 2008 in Events. 4 Comments

Source: Ethiopia Reads

Denver, CO — Yohannes Gebregeorgis, a native of Ethiopia and children’s literacy advocate, has been named a Top 10 Hero of the Year by CNN. Mr. Gebregeorgis was selected from more than 3,000 individuals nominated by viewers throughout the year. Finalists were selected by a Blue Ribbon panel of judges that includes Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Jane Goodall and Deepak Chopra. The Top 10 Heroes will be recognized in CNN’s “All-Star Tribute” to air on Thanksgiving.

Yohannes was first recognized as a “hero” by CNN in May for his work championing children in Ethiopia. A former political refugee who worked as a librarian at San Francisco Public Library, Yohannes is the co-founder of Ethiopia Reads, a non-profit organization that works to create a reading culture in Ethiopia by connecting children with books. In a country where 99% of schools have no libraries, Yohannes and Ethiopia Reads are improving lives, one book at a time.

We share this amazing moment with you — our wonderful supporters and friends across the world.

Lear more at: ethiopiareads.org

Cocktails for Reading: Oct 11th in Washington D.C.

Published by News Room October 9th, 2008 in Events. 3 Comments

By Tadias Staff

Updated: Thursday, October 9, 2008

New York (Tadias) - Bernos in collaboration with Ethiopia Reads and Tsehai Publishers announced the launch of ‘Cocktails for Reading’ a social networking event for readers, publishers, authors and writers in the Ethiopian American community. Aimed at promoting reading among Ethiopians, the first gathering is scheduled to take place on October 11th at Touchstone Gallery in Washington D.C.

“The format is simple,” Bernos Founder Nolawi Petros tells Tadias. He describes it as “a party promoting reading among Ethiopians with cocktails, speakers, books, and souvenirs thrown in the mix.” The Cocktails for Reading website includes a signup email list and takes advantage of online Google and Yahoo calendar reminders as well as popular social networking site Facebook to attract a diverse population of attendees.

The October Cocktails for Reading event will be hosted by Elias Fullmore from the Burntface music group and featured keynote speakers include CNN Hero Yohannes Gebregeorgis of Ethiopia Reads and Elias Wondimu, Founder of Tsehai Publishers and Distributor. The event will also host tables for authors who will be selling their recent books and participating in book signing. Invited participants to include Nebiyou Mekonnen, Fasil Yitbarek, Dej. Zewde Gebresellasie, Andarge Asfaw, Getachew Metaferia, Tewodros Abebe and Tayitu Entertainment.

Bernos is an innovative clothing company that creates high-quality, eye-catching t-shirts featuring African themes.

Ethiopia Reads works to improve literacy and create a culture of reading in Ethiopia, in order to bring hope, vision and educational skills to this generation of Ethiopian children. They plant libraries for children to provide quality reading materials, publish books in local Ethiopian languages and train teachers and librarians to nurture a love of reading and books.

Tsehai Publishers and Distributors is a publishing company founded with the intention of spreading currently absent knowledge about underserved communities, such as the African Diaspora.

—
Cocktails for Reading, Saturday October 11th, 2008 at 5:30pm (Touchstone Gallery, 406 7th Street NW 2nd Flr, Washington, DC 20004. For more information about the event please email reading@bernos.org.

San Francisco Sunday Oct 5: Free Ethiopian Cultural Show–Circus– & Aikido

Published by Lifestyle Editor October 3rd, 2008 in Events and Featured. 1 Comment

Source: Awassa Children’s Project and Aiki Extensions, Inc.

Updated: Saturday, October 4, 2008

San Francisco - On Sunday, October 5, come see Tesfaye Tekelu, dance and aikido instructor, and Meshu Tamrat, theater director and gymnastic trainer, as they present a variety of colorful performances never before seen in the United States.

Their five-week nationwide tour promotes the Awassa Youth Campus. This unique center offers a range of learning opportunities for young at-risk students, through dance, theater, music, art, academic tutoring, and the discipline and nonviolence education of aikido. Its OneLove Theater carries out HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns through free public performances all over Ethiopia.

With your help and our collective hope we can sustain and nourish this mission– assisting children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, educating the region about HIV/AIDS prevention, and offering alternatives to violence in the solution of social problems.

Event Detail: Sunday, October 5, 2008, 7:00pm–PERFORMANCE at THEATER ARTAUD
450 Florida Street, San Francisco, CA 94110, 9:00pm–RECEPTION at the CIRCOLO LOUNGE
500 Florida Street.

For more info, contact Adoria - 415-516-2231 or Kris (krislefan@gmail.com) 323-387-2770.

In Pictures: The Street Named Little Ethiopia in L.A.

Published by News Room September 16th, 2008 in Events, News & Hot Shots and Reviews. 14 Comments

Photos by Ayele Bekerie

Updated: Friday, September 19, 2008

Los Angeles, CA (Tadias) - The seventh annual anniversary of Little Ethiopia took place in Los Angeles on September 14, 2008.

The celebration was organized by the Little Ethiopia Business Association, which is chaired by Woizero Negest Legesse. Among the most active organizers of the event were: Mesob Restaurant, Rosalind Restaurant, Rahel Vegan Cuisine, Nyala Restaurant, Ferede Child Care Center, Selam Travel, and the Ethiopian Airlines. The office of the Mayor of Los Angeles and City Councils have also provided assistance to the event.

This year’s theme, “International Unity Parade in Celebration of Africa”, had two components: a parade and cultural show. Eighteen African countries were represented at the parade. There were also school bands, and representatives of the Mexican American, Indigenous American, African American and Caribbean communities.

The cultural show included Ethiopian music and dance, comedy, and a speech. Ayele Bekerie, Assistant Professor at the Africana Studies and Research Center of Cornell University (a regular contributor to Tadias Magazine) gave a keynote address entitled: The Street Named Ethiopia: Some Historical and Cultural Reflections on Global Ethiopia.

The events were well attended. It is estimated that there were over 2,500 people in attendance. Here are some selected pictures by Dr. Ayele Bekerie.

The official street sign for ‘Little Ethiopia’ on a clear sunny day.

One of the Caribbean carnival dancers with his vast colorful (green, yellow, red)
wings in the midst of the crowd at the site of cultural show. (September 14, 2008).

Ethiopian professional dancers leading the crowd to Iskista, traditional Ethiopian
dance.(September 14, 2008).

The Ethiopian Airlines Float with a tropical theme and photos of Abebe Bikila,
the great Marathon runner. (September 14, 2008).

Selam, owner of Selam Travel, handing out ‘Little Ethiopia’ t-shirts to parade
participants.(September 14, 2008).

W/O Negest Legesse and two other organizers of the event riding an elegant
model car. W/O Negest is the president of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce in
Little Ethiopia, L.A.

W/O Tigist Ferede, the owner of Ferede Child Care Center, marching alongside
a real elephant and its trainer.

North Park Middle School Band marching to the tune of ‘Ethiopia Hoy Des Yibelesh.’.

Ato Aberra Gebre and Ato Berhanu Asfaw (Mesob Restaurant), parade and
festival organizers in front of the North Park Middle School Band. The Band
members are decked with green and white costumes and are carrying Ethiopian flags.

Grand Marshals of the Parade marching behind a banner: ‘International Unity
Parade in Celebration of Africa.’

While an Ethiopian singer from San Diego, Ahmed, singing on stage, Meskerem
Bekele, master of ceremony and comedian, waiting for his turn at the back of the stage.

Ethio Jazz in Addis Attracts Diverse Audience

Published by News Room September 15th, 2008 in Events. 0 Comments

Addis Fortune

A Thursday night at Club Alize represents Addis Abeba’s successful, prosperous side. Classy and civilized, with lights dimmed and maroon drapes floating overhead, the atmosphere is completed, rather than created, by the elegant live music.

A long L-shaped bar takes up one side of the room with booths on the opposite side, two of them featuring large murals by noted Ethiopian artist, Daniel Taye. Art is a theme at Alize, with paintings by other well-known artists Tibebe Terffa, Behailu Bezabih and Dawit Abebe serving as further decoration.

But the attractive interior is not why the club is standing room only most Thursday nights. Instead, the seven strong group playing the fusion of pop, jazz and folk music is very much the focus of the well-heeled audience’s attention.

The Addis Acoustic Renaissance Group is led by Girum Mezmur on guitar and is made up of Henock Temesgen on double bass; Natnael Tessema on drums; Ayele Mamo playing the Mandolin, as he has done for the last 50 years; Shaleka Melaku Tegegn on accordion; clarinet player Dawit Ferew; and another percussionist, Mesale Legesse.

The group’s reinventions of Ethiopian songs from the fifties and sixties by artists such as Buzenesh Bekele are short and melodious, with the different components complementing each other and never competing for centre song. A rustic, folksy edge is added to the performance by the presence of the clarinet and accordion, producing a lilting sound and a mood that is uplifting and never mournful.

The set lacks the self indulgence of jazz, but does contain that genre’s dedication to serious musicianship. Clearly, the performers enjoy themselves, but their pleasure comes from playing as an intense, technically accomplished unit to an appreciative crowd, not through showmanship, or audience interaction.

While the Renaissance Group may not turn Club Alize into the writhing mass of bodies that can be found at other nightspots around town, each of their innovative instrumental interpretations receives an enthusiastic response from the audience - although for the members of Addis’ foreign community present, the most familiar adaptation was possibly of the ‘Happy Birthday’ tune.

Girzum, 34, has been around a while on the Addis music scene and started off one of the first jazz clubs in the city ten years ago at the Coffee House in Siddist Kilo. The jam session has been going strong ever since, although for the last few months it has not taken place as the venue is being renovated.

The musician used this opportunity to create the Renaissance Group, which in its first couple of months of performances at Alize has been similarly successful.

The organizer explained the concept behind the group: “The mandolin, accordion and clarinet were much more extensively used back in the 50s and 60s. A big part of pop music recorded then had that sound.”

Read the whole story here.

Video | Obama & McCain at Columbia University Forum (Tadias)

Published by News Room September 12th, 2008 in Events and Podcast. 1 Comment

By Tadias Staff
Photos by Tseday Alehegn

Published: Friday, September 12, 2008

New York (Tadias) - Presidential nominees Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain participated in a discussion regarding the importance of engaging in service and civic responsibilities on the seventh anniversary of 9/11 in New York at Columbia University.

The ServiceNation Presidential Candidates Forum was organized by ServiceNation, a collective of approximately 100 million Americans focused on increasing civic engagement in service and volunteer programs.

The Presidential Forum was part of a two-day summit which included speeches by Al Gore, Governor Patterson, Columbia President Bollinger and Barnard Provost Elizabeth Boylan. The forum was moderated by Judy Woodruff of PBS’ “NewsHour” and Richard Stengel, managing editor of Time magazine.

Governor Patterson announced a cabinet level position for community service, while Provost Boylan held a moment of silence in commemoration of 9/11. Presidential Candidates were interviewed separately for approximately 45 minutes each by the moderators regarding their views on community service, their experience serving the nation, and the possibility of expanding opportunities for college graduates in both volunteer and military service.

Approximately 1,000 Columbia student recipients of the forum lottery tickets listened to the presidential candidates in Alfred Lerner Hall, while an even larger crowd flocked onto the lawn in front of Low Library, which was packed to capacity. The majority of the young crowd clapped and cheered when Obama appeared on the giant jumbotron screen erected outside. A student observing the cheers commented “it’s pretty clear which way the wind is blowing here.”

While waiting for the forum to officially begin, students were encouraged to read and pass out pamphlets on volunteer opportunities as well as registering to vote.

(Live stream of Presidential Forum)

The crowd in front of Low Library at Columbia University (September 11, 2008 |
Photo by Tseday Alehegn/Tadias)

A large crowd flocked onto the lawn in front of Low Library, which was packed to
capacity. (New York | September 11, 2008 | Photo by Tseday Alehegn/Tadias)

Students hold banners near the jumbotron screen on the lawn while waiting
for forum to begin. (Photo by Tseday Alehegn/Tadias)

Students reserving their seats on the lawn approximately 3 hours before the
forum started at 8:00 PM (Photo by Tseday Alehegn/Tadias).

Non-Columbia protesters outside the gates of the university during the
ServiceNation Presidential Candidates Forum (Photo by Tseday Alehegn/Tadias)

Senator Barack Obama

Senator John McCain

Happy New Year! Ethiopian New Year Concert, NYC | Tonight @ SOB’s

Published by News Room September 11th, 2008 in Events. 2 Comments

By Tadias Staff

Updated: Friday, September 12, 2008

New York (Tadias) - The Sounds of Brazil (SOB’s) in New York City has played host to African Music since it opened in 1982. And, over the years, it has featured its share of Ethiopian artists, including big names such as Aster Aweke and Kuku Sebsibe.

Tonight, SOB’s will continue the tradition with an Ethiopian New Year 2001 celebration featuring the Mehari Brothers with Zeritu Kebede & Abenet Agonafer (direct from Ethiopia) in their first-ever performance in the U.S.

———–
Friday, September 12, 11:00pm at SOB’s (204 Varick St. New York, NY, 212-243-4940).
Price: $30. For more info., call Mengie at 201.220.3442 or Mickey Dread at 917.821.9213.

Artists for Obama Exhibition in Washington, D.C.

Published by News Room September 6th, 2008 in Events. 1 Comment

Above: L.A.-based artist Shepard Fairey created the
now-ubiquitous graphic of Obama, who wrote to him,
“Your images have a profound effect on people.”
(Photo: Jay L. Clendenin, LAT)

By Tadias Staff

Published: Saturday, September 6, 2008

New York (Tadias) - Some of the most striking posters of the 2008 elections are homemade by artists who embrace Barack Obama’s quest for the White House. And now comes a fundraising group exhibition featuring 28 Artists for Obama. The show takes place at the International Visions Gallery in Washington D.C. from September 3 to September 27. Opening reception is scheduled for Saturday, September 6 (6:30 - 9PM).

According to its website, International Visions Art Gallery is designed to advance cultural understanding through art: “Our mission is to exhibit and promote multi-cultural original work by national and international artists, International Visions presents visual art exhibitions and special cultural traditions in dance, music, theater and the literary arts. The Gallery’s goal is to become a link between people, cultures and beliefs.”

The following artists will participate in the show:
ALEX BAY, ADAM ABDALLA, ADGER COWANS, ALONZO DAVIS, BETTY MURCHISON, BILL DORSEY, CLAIRE MCARDLE, DAVID CARLSON, FRANK SMITH, GEORGE KOTCHEV, HELEN ZUGHAIB, JAMES PHILLIPS, JOE RUFFIN, KEVIN COLE, LEONARD DAWSON, LISA WILLIAMSON, LOUIS DELSARTE, MICHAEL PLATT, OTIS MOTLEY, PETER ROBINSON, PRESTON SAMPSON, RICHARD DANA, RON WALTON, SHELLEY MILLER, TAFA, TIM DAVIS, ULYSSES MARSHALL, and VICTOR HOLT.

For more information contact: Juliana Takaki, gallery assistant, 2629 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC 20008, 202.234.5112, www.inter-visions.com

Live Ethiopian New Year Concert in NYC, Sept 12 @ SOB’s

Published by News Room September 5th, 2008 in Events. 3 Comments

By Tadias Staff

Published: Friday, September 5, 2008

New York (Tadias) - The Sounds of Brazil (SOB’s) has been the host of African Music and a gift to Afro-Latino diaspora in New York since it opened in 1982. And, over the years, it has featured its share of Ethiopian artists, including big names such as Aster Aweke and Kuku Sebsibe.

On Friday September 12, 2008, SOB’s will continue the tradition with an Ethiopian New Year 2001 celebration featuring the Mehari Brothers with Zeritu Kebede & Abenet Agonafer (direct from Ethiopia) in their first-ever performance in the U.S.

———–
Friday, September 12, 11:00pm at SOB’s (204 Varick St. New York, NY, 212-243-4940).
Price: $30. For more info., call Mengie at 201.220.3442 or Mickey Dread at 917.821.9213.

Library Takes a Trip to Ethiopia - All Without Leaving Maryland

Published by News Room September 3rd, 2008 in Events. 0 Comments

The Gazette
By Jeremy Arias | Staff Writer
Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008

Visitors to the Long Branch Library will have the unique opportunity to take a trip around the world this year, all without having to leave the library. Ethiopia will be the first stop in the library’s world culture festival, which plans to explore the traditions of seven international cultures.

The event kicks off 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday with a showcase of Ethiopian food, music and culture in a festival inspired by past library cultural celebrations, according to librarian Sue Unger, who organized the event.

“We had this idea blossom from something last year when we had some people come from Ghana and they helped everyone explore West African culture and traditions. … We were just overwhelmed!” Unger said. “I thought about that and I said, well, we can do that for all of our cultures.”

Long Branch Library, located at 8800 Garland Ave. in Silver Spring, obtained a grant from the Friends of the Library foundation to host a multipart celebration of world culture.

Unger expects the kick-off festival to be a success, and hopes the food donated by the Langano Ethiopian Restaurant in Silver Spring will help draw the crowd. Yohannis Yibass, a manager at Langano, says the restaurant is no stranger to community involvement.

“We owe it to the community, we have a large community in this area; the Wheaton area, Silver Spring, Takoma Park … so we reach out to the community.” Yibass said. “We believe in the beauty of the diversity of the area.”

Yibass, who is originally from Ethiopia, has lived in the area with his family since 1971. He says that by introducing attendees to the food of his home country, important aspects of Ethiopian culture become evident, such as the strong community and social practice of the coffee ceremony. Read More.

Ethiopians for Obama Convention Watch Party

Published by News Room August 28th, 2008 in Events. 0 Comments

Source: Ethiopians for Obama
Photo Credit: Richard A. Lipski (WaPo)

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Ethiopians for Obama, in conjunction with DC for Obama, will be holding a convention watch party on Thursday, August 28th starting at 7:00 PM. We will be celebrating the nomination of Senator Obama and a major milestone in the efforts of Ethiopians for Obama to help elect Senator Barack Obama our next President.

The Bohemian Cavern is located in the heart of what many call “Little Ethiopia in DC”.

Located on U Street, Senator Obama’s acceptance speech will be televised live with multiple big screen televisions and a premium sound system. Additionally, special invited bands and DJ’s will help kick-start the party as we celebrate this momentous occasion. We are expecting a large turnout, so come early and celebrate with friends and family.

Event Details:
Location: Bohemian Cavern
Address: 2001 11th St. NW Washington, DC
Date: Thursday, August 28th
Start time: 7:00 PM

For more information, email ethiopiansforobama@gmail.com

GHCG Fundraiser in Atlanta to Benefit the Building of Children’s Hospital in Ethiopia

Published by News Room August 26th, 2008 in Events. 3 Comments

By Tadias Staff

Published: Tuesday, August 26, 2008

New York (TADIAS) - The Gemini Health Care Group, a non-profit established to provide health care to Ethiopian children, has announced it will be hosting its first annual fundraiser in Atlanta to benefit the building of children’s hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

“One of our first projects is to help build and support a 50 bed pediatric hospital in Addis Ababa. We are going to support the hospital with three fully equipped pediatric mobile clinics to undertake the public health initiatives”, Dr. Ebba Ebba of GHCG, told Tadias Magazine in a recent interview. “I encourage those interested to visit our website to learn about the organization, the projects and how you can be part of it. You may visit us at www.ghcg.org. Finally, we are well aware that what we are attempting to do is like a drop in a bucket; but we hope that drop will create a ripple effect to inspire others to join in the effort to find solutions.”

The event, which includes a dinner reception and entertainment, will take place on Saturday, October 4th, 2008, at Sheraton Atlanta (165 Courtland Street, Atlanta, GA, 30303).

To RSVP, please call 404-593-6446 or visit: ghcg.org