Category Archives: Featured

David Mesfin Working on New TV AD Featuring 2015 Hyundai Sedan

January 3, 2014 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Published: Friday, January 3rd, 2014

New York (TADIAS) — David Mesfin will be spending this weekend shooting an AD featuring the brand new Hyundai vehicle that is going to be announced on January 13th at the Detroit Auto Show. David tells Tadias he will be working with Academy Award winning film director Janusz Zygmunt Kamiński who is the cinematographer behind all of Stephen Spielberg’s movies, including Schindler’s List, Catch Me If You Can, Private Ryan, and Minority Report.

The shoot will take place on January 4th and 5th in Los Angeles. “The launch date for the project is during the 2014 Super Bowl,” David said, adding that “it’s not a super bowl spot. However it’s interesting content that would support the super bowl spot online.” David said Kaminski is the Director of Photography on the project.

David Mesfin also worked as an Associate Creative Director on last year’s Hyundai TV commercial featuring the remix of reggae legend Bob Marley’s popular song Three Little Birds produced by Stephen Marley and Jason Bentley. He also engineered the high profile “Hyundai Epic Playdate” ad that aired during the 2013 Super Bowl.

Below is a video of the 2013 Hyundai AD featuring the Bob Marley remix song.

Watch: Next Oil Change — 15 seconds AD (Hyundai USA)

Watch: Making of “Three Little Birds” Remix Hyundai AD (Hyundai USA)

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Related:
Three Ethiopian Animators Vie For Doritos Superbowl AD Grand Prize

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Featured

D.C. Fellowship for Young African Leaders

January 2, 2014 Tadias Magazine

Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI)

The Washington Fellowship is the new flagship program of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative. President Obama launched YALI in 2010 to support young African leaders as they spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa. The Washington Fellowship, which begins in 2014, will bring 500 young leaders to the United States each year for academic coursework and leadership training and will create unique opportunities in Africa for Fellows to put new skills to practical use in leading organizations, communities, and countries.

The online application for the Washington Fellowship is currently available. Completed applications, including all supporting documents, are due by 12:00 midnight Eastern Standard Time, January 27, 2014. All applications must be submitted via the online application system. The application instructions provide detailed information regarding the financial provisions of the fellowship, eligibility and selection criteria for the program, and details on applying. Please read the application instructions carefully prior to beginning the application. We recommend printing these instructions and referring to them while completing the application.

If you have questions about the application, please email washingtonfellowship@irex.org

Participating countries: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Click here to Apply.

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Featured, Reviews

New Book by Ethiopian Author: How Obama Won the 2012 Election

January 1, 2014 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Published: Wednesday, January 1st, 2014

New York (TADIAS) — During the 2012 presidential election, President Obama was supposed to be headed for a sure defeat on election day given that most polls had shown him trailing his opponent by a significant number, which was trumpeted by many pundits across the country, including by several in the Ethiopian American community. But how did they get it so wrong? “As one prominent pollster put it they were drinking the ‘Republican Kool-Aid’,” said Dereje Befekadu Tessema, author of the new book How this Happened—Election 2012: Perfecting the Science of Presidential Campaigning, pointing out that most of the major polling agencies missed predicting that election accurately because they were ‘out to lunch’ when it came to understanding “new ways of collecting data” from young people and minority communities that he argues the Obama campaign perfected. “The only person who got it right is Nate Silver, the statistician and author of the FiveThirtyEight blog then published in The New York Times.”

In its review of Dereje’s book (Gashe Publishing) ForeWord Clarion Reviews noted: “A meticulously constructed, frank examination of the 2012 US presidential election drawing from a plethora of sources, How This Happened follows up on Dereje B. Tessema’s earlier project of the same title, which covered the 2008 election. This exploration of how Barack Obama secured his second term expounds upon other Monday-morning analyses. Though few pollsters and pundits predicted a strong win, the Obama administration ended up being re-elected by a strong margin, and the author makes a case that the victory was well-earned. ‘The signature of the Obama campaign,’ Tessema asserts, ‘was its ability to maximize positive events and turn challenges [in]to opportunities.'”

Dereje, who teaches at Virginia International University in Fairfax, Virginia, told Tadias that he is in the process of organizing a “semi-professional” panel discussion at a university location in Washington, D.C. area to explore “the lessons learned from the past” as we approach another election season that he hopes will include a record participation by Ethiopian American voters.

“Both in the 2008 and 2012 elections Alexanderia, Virginia [home to a sizable number of Ethiopians] was the tipping point,” said Dereje in a recent interview with Tadias Magazine, emphasizing that the large turnout by Ethiopian American voters was crucial in the swing state.

Dereje said he was a volunteer with the Obama campaign in both elections. “How This Happened is a cleverly constructed, well contextualized insider’s history of the 2012 presidential campaign, one which will imbue supporters with a sense of pride, and which may prompt fruitful conversations with detractors,” Michelle Anne Schingler concluded in the Clarion Reviews. “It is a sure treat for those fascinated by the political process.”
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You can learn more and purchase the book at: www.amazon.com.

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Featured

2013: Great Year for Ethiopian Football

December 31, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Super Sport

By Collins Okinyo

It is without doubt that 2013 should be regarded as a vintage year for Ethiopian football as the game had a seemingly endless capacity for delivering excitement, intrigue and fantastic tiki taka football.

The last 12 months have seen tremendous growth as the Ethiopian national team nicknamed the Walia were the pride of the country as they qualified for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations hosted in South Africa, reached the playoffs of the 2014 World Cup and qualified for the 2014 Chan.

Supersport.com gives you a brief round-up of the year that was for Ethiopian football.

Interview With Zemedeneh Negatu

December 30, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Published: Monday, December 30th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) — As a teenager in 1978 when Zemedeneh Negatu headed to the United States with his future uncertain, he had no idea that three decades later he would be named one of Africa’s 100 Most influential individuals for his role in promoting economic growth in the country of his birth and in Africa. The current Managing Partner of Ernst & Young Ethiopia (EY) received the accolade last month from New African Magazine, which called him “a truly global citizen” and further noted that “anyone who has done business in Ethiopia will have come across Zemedeneh Negatu” or Zem, as he is affectionately known.

In a follow-up interview with Tadias Magazine during his recent trip to Washington, D.C., Zem said that his decision to return home in 1998 was inspired by “love at first sight” during a vacation trip to Ethiopia in April 1995 when he met his future wife, Julie Ricco, just days after he landed in Addis. “It was a Thursday,” he recalled laughing. “We spent the weekend in Langano and by Sunday we had decided to get married.” At the time he had just finished a two year expatriate assignment in Argentina as a consultant and was in the process of relocating to Brazil. “They were shipping my stuff from Buenos Aires to São Paulo and I had a little bit of free time so I thought why not visit home.” He added: “And I ended up meeting this beautiful woman that would change my life forever and to whom I have now been married almost 19 years and have a wonderful 11 year old son named Michael.”

After studying Business and Finance at Howard University in Washington, D.C., Zem worked as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) before landing a job in D.C. with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the global professional services firm, which would eventually take him to Latin America. “I have always been interested in emerging markets where you feel you are actually making a difference,” Zem said. ” I have gained a great deal of experience by working in South America where the business and investment environment in Argentina and Brazil in the 1990s was similar to what’s taking place today in Africa, where some of the fastest growing economies are located.”

In Ethiopia, Zem said, the economy has dramatically changed in the last fifteen years. “There wasn’t much back then,” he said, sharing that his first investment was a factory for feminine health products that did not pan out. “So I decided to settle for what I know best and opened a consulting firm.” His firm, EY Ethiopia, has been at the center of some of the biggest and most publicized business deals in the country, including the recent purchase of Meta Beer by the British-owned corporation Diageo, the world’s largest spirits drinks maker famous for Guinness Beer and Johnnie Walker. “I like to believe that we have contributed in our own small way to put Ethiopia on the global map as an attractive emerging market,” he said. “Of course the country’s progress has made our effort much easier since we have references we can highlight to global investors such as the significant GDP growth and major infrastructure projects including the $5.0 billion dam on the Nile river, the largest in Africa, and even the new subway in Addis Ababa, which is the only one in Sub-Saharan Africa outside of Johannesburg”.

For Zem, however, his proudest accomplishment came when his firm won a bid to work with the country’s homegrown global brand, Ethiopian Airlines, that he helped advise in their Vision 2010 Plan. When EY Ethiopia was hired in 2004, Ethiopian Airlines had 11 aircraft and less than 400 million dollars in annual revenue. Five years later, Zem said, the airline’s revenues had jumped to 1.2 billion dollars. “Today Ethiopian Airlines generates more profits than all African airlines combined,” he added. And since then his firm’s airline clients have expanded to include Rwandair, Virgin Nigeria Airlines, Mozambique Airlines, ASKY Airlines in Togo and many others. Zem also pointed out that initially while working on the Ethiopian Airlines project he had to outsource some of the tasks to professionals from a foreign firm. “Over time we have managed to build that capacity locally,” he said. “So we are now fully staffed by Ethiopians just like Ethiopian Airlines and we have some of the most sophisticated Transaction Advisory professionals based in Addis who win cross border African deals not just against our traditional “Big 4″ competitors but even big Wall Street investment firms.”

Zem is a highly sought after speaker at many high profile global conferences including the World Economic Forum, New York Forum and Harvard Business School where he completed the LSE program. He’s appeared many times on the international media such as CNN and BBC and was recently a “Power Lunch” guest on CNBC television. Zem has won many awards for his achievements including “Managing Partner of the Year – 2013” from a top UK corporate finance magazine and “Pioneer Diaspora Business Person of the Year” at the annual event held in Washington in July 2012.

As to those who want to follow in his footsteps to Ethiopia, especially the Diaspora in the U.S., Zem recommends optimism and perseverance as the secret to success. “I say come with the glass half full mentality than the glass half empty attitude and you will enhance your chances of success,” he emphasized. “I put my money where my mouth is and continue to personally invest in Ethiopia because there are still vast untapped opportunities compared to many other emerging economies.”

When asked how it feels to be named as part of the 100 Most influential Africans, Zem stated: “I am honored and humbled by the recognition and I know that there will be many more Ethiopians, including those in the Diaspora, who will make the list in the future.”
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Featured

2013: The Year in Pictures

December 30, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Published: Monday, December 30th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) — We close the year in the same spirit as our first editorial published ten years ago this month. In 2014 our mission remains the same and we look forward to another decade of celebrating and exploring the facets and various interests of the Ethiopian-American community and beyond. We wish all of you a happy and safe New Year!

Below are photos from 2013:

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Art, Featured

10 Arts and Culture Stories of 2013

December 29, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tigist Selam

Published: Sunday, December 29th, 2013

Kelela- Underground Queen

This past October, The Guardian dubbed Ethiopian-American musician Kelela Mizanekristos as “one to watch.” She recently released her first mixtape, Cut 4 Me, on the Los Angeles-based Fade to Mind record label. In her interview with Billboard Kelela shares that “with the mix tape I was presenting you with ideas. I presented the idea and then I let it go a little bit. I wasn’t trying to make every song an epic pop radio hit.” But for her upcoming album she says “I’d like to take it further. I want to make it so that every song is super, ultra epic and there are a million interludes.”

Kelela (Courtesy photo)

I was immediately drawn to Kelela’s music. Her sound is as effortless and distinct as her look. I can’t wait to see her music videos that will capture her beautiful face and will elevate her music. You can hear all of her songs here until then: https://soundcloud.com/kelelam.

Sheba Film & Arts Festival- 10 Years Strong

At the 10th anniversary celebration of the Sheba Film Festival on June 22, 2013. (Tadias Photographs)

That Sheba Film Festival has survived ten years in New York City where there are film festivals all year round bewilders me. It’s a testament to its uniqueness. The annual event also highlights works by local Ethiopian artists. Throughout the years, I have seen Ethiopian films at the festival that I would have never had a chance to see anywhere else on the big screen. As the Ethiopian film world continues to grow I look forward to the expansion of Sheba Film Festival throughout the U.S. More info here: www.binacf.org.

Nishan- A Young Woman’s Twisted Journey

Poster for the movie Nishan. (Photo by Matt Andrea)

When I sat down to ask Yidnekachew Shumete, the director of Nishan, about his inspiration for the film, I was surprised to find out that he didn’t have a woman in mind for the lead. However, it was inspiring to see a brave, complex female lead in an Ethiopian film. After being selected to participate in workshops during the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, Yidnekachew presented Nishan at the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) – the largest film festival in the African continent – before screening it at various international locations including at the Seattle International Film Festival and in New York City. I truly enjoyed watching all of the multi-dimensional characters as the story slowly unfolded in great suspense. It was one of the most well-made Ethiopian films I’ve seen in a long time. Watch the trailer here.

Aida Muluneh – An Eye for Beauty

I’ve been following Aida’s work for many years. This past year her solo show So Long A Letter in Addis Ababa was based on the groundbreaking novel by the Senegalese writer, Mariama Ba and combined mixed media with photography. “In a sense it was my ‘So Long Letter’ to all the women in the country who often go unrecognized or are under-appreciated in our society,” Aida says. “I have always loved the book and the fact that it was written in a letter format.” You may get a glimpse of her work here.

Mizan Kidanu- Embodied Simplicity

Sometimes bluesy, sometimes jazzy and always soulful Mizan’s voice leaves you wanting more. There is a certain warmth that she brings to every song and an honesty in her lyrics that demands your attention. I look forward to what the future holds for this young songstress. I am mesmerized with the simplicity of this song and video.

Deseta- When Old Meets New

Design by Maro Haile. (Image courtesy of the artist)

I am hooked. For months, I’ve been sending cards with the recognizable Ethiopian imagery in bright colors for any possible occasion. Maro Haile’s paintings have been slowly flowing into her design work. “I am creating new and unique designs that touch on our rich Ethiopian design heritage but also with a universal appeal,” she says. “This process has been exciting, challenging, nerve-wracking and quite rewarding.” I am in love with Deseta, I can’t help it. Get hooked here: www.deseta.net.

Kenna- Gap #MakeLove

Ethiopian-American Musician Kenna & actress Beau Garrett Gap AD.

It feels great to see Kenna’s handsome face plastered all over New York City next to model and actress Beau Garrett. Both of them have been involved in making a difference in response to the global water crisis. Advertisement at its best.

Munit+Jörg – When Ethiopia meets Germany

Munit and Jorg performing live at Silvana in Harlem, NYC on July 12, 2013 (Photographs: Tadias)

Munit simply enjoys herself on stage and immediately pulls the audience into her music with her playfulness, but also her exceptional range. With the rather laid back and introverted Jörg, they make the best duo on stage singing in Amharic and English. Their long awaited album has something for everybody: http://munitandjorg.bandcamp.com.

Yityish Aynaw – Miss Israel in 2013 is Ethiopian!

It was so beautiful to see Yityish win Miss Israel 2013. To be recognized, to be seen and celebrated as a black woman in today’s world is a big deal. Hailing from Netanya, Yityish, or Titi as she is popularly known, is using her new fame to bring attention and resources to the children in her hometown, and building an arts community center that will help the children “learn what they shown interest in, whether it’s dance or music.”

Anthm – Handful of Goodness

Anteneh Addisu aka ANTHM. (Photo: Supermegatrend)

For Anthm (aka Anteneh Addisu) 2013 was really a busy year, dropping two albums. Produced by Blu, A Handful Of Dust reminds me of what Hip-Hop used to be and is an instant classic. His second album The Fire Next Time, whose name derives from a James Baldwin book title, experiments with different styles. It shows you can’t put him in a box, and for that I salute him! Listen to his music here: https://soundcloud.com/amgesquires.
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Related:
Tadias Year in Review: 2015 in Pictures
Ten Arts & Culture Stories of 2015
Tadias Year in Review: 2014 in Pictures
Ten Arts & Culture Stories of 2014
Tadias Year in Review: 2013 in Pictures
Top Ten Stories of 2013

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Featured

Funeral Services Held for Teddy Mitiku

December 23, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Updated: Sunday, December 29th, 2013

Washington, DC (TADIAS) – Funeral services were held for legendary Saxophonist Theodros (Teddy) Mitiku on Saturday, December 28th at the Debre Selam Kidist Mariam Church in Washington, DC. He was laid to rest at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring.

Teddy, who passed away on December 22nd, 2013 following months of medical treatment, was one of the most talented and versatile Ethiopian musicians of his generation. Teddy was a member of the legendary Soul Ekos Band — the first independent musical ensemble to be recorded in Ethiopia — as well as Ibex and Menelik bands. Since then he has accompanied many of Ethiopia’s famous singers, including his brother Teshome Mitiku, as well as entertained audiences with solo albums and performances.

Teddy Mitiku is survived by his wife of 22 years, Meaza Bezu, a daughter, Makeda, his brother, the renowned musician Teshome Mitiku and his sister Chuchu.

We extend our heartfelt condolences and prayers to his family and loved ones.

Video: Tribute to Saxophonist Teddy Mitiku

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Featured, Profiles

Azla + Tesh: Contemporary Artisan Ethiopian Food & Merchandise in LA

December 22, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Aida B. Solomon

Updated: Monday, December 23, 2013

Los Angeles (TADIAS) — Walking into the Mercado La Paloma on a Saturday evening, you feel an immediate tranquility from the busy streets of Downtown Los Angeles. The open space of Mercado La Paloma presents a line of eateries, with an unexpected new tenant nestled into one corner: Azla Ethiopian Vegan. Alongside the simple white countertops is a joint space labeled Azla+Tesh, filled with goodies ranging from jewelry to vinyl records to original stylish crop tees. As someone who has frequented Little Ethiopia in Los Angeles’ Fairfax District since childhood to indulge in Ethiopian cuisine and merchandise, pleasantly surprised is an understatement to describe this newest modern addition to the LA food scene.

So who was the mastermind behind Azla? Needlessly to say, it was a family effort as Nesanet Teshager Abegaze tells Tadias Magazine. With mother Azla Mekonen as the head chef behind the vegan and gluten-free menu, and siblings Nesanet, Sonny, and Banchamlak Abegaze as the brains behind the lifestyle brand and boutique next door named Azla+Tesh. Nesanet runs the day-to-day operations, while Banchamlak, an attorney, handles the legal and financial aspects of Azla. Their brother Sonny Abegaze, a DJ and manager of the Ethio-jazz group Ethio-Cali, dons the title of “Chief Vibe Creator” curating merchandise and producing events. Together the powerhouse family has created not only nutritious vegan treats, but also an empowering space for Ethiopians and non-Ethiopians alike to come together around the concepts of wellness, health, and creativity.

Nesanet’s journey to opening Azla first began after graduating from Stanford University with a degree in Human Biology. She soon began working for The New World Foundation in New York City, supporting non-profits advocating for environmental justice and workers rights among other causes. Nesanet’s work in the nonprofit sector took her to the South where she became increasingly involved in education policy. She went on to obtain a Masters at UCLA in science education, and began working at various schools, eventually becoming an assistant principal. However it was Banchamlak opening her own law firm that would shift Nesanet’s career from school administration to management. After a few years, one of Banch’s clients offered both sisters an opportunity to work at Atom Factory, an entertainment company. Nesanet served as Vice President of Operations for the creative division, managing campaigns including superstar Lady Gaga’s perfume line, Fame and clients like Barneys New York. Nesanet was able to explore her love of marketing and design and gain confidence in her creative skills.

Combining her work experience with her passion in health and nutrition, Nesanet developed the concept of a contemporary, family-owned Ethiopian restaurant – Azla – that serves traditional Ethiopian vegan cuisine alongside modern artisan fare. Azla emphasizes supporting local, organic farmers and uses their produce in designing their menu.

“Throughout all of my career transitions, the common denominator has been my love for food and wellness. It’s been a lifelong dream to create a space to share our family’s love of healthy cuisine, as well as Ethiopian art, fashion and culture. We are very excited to share the rich culinary and art/design tradition of Ethiopia with our customer base, which includes neighboring USC students and professors, downtown professionals, creatives, and members of Los Angeles’ thriving Ethiopian community,” Nesanet says.

Azla has been open for just six months and is already creating a buzz with its fresh vegan Ethiopian meals, as well as their signature Ethiopian pizza made with a berbere marinara sauce, soups, and inventive desserts. It was a no-brainer to the family that the restaurant be named after the matriarch, Azla, whose family dinners are said to be nothing short of legendary. Azla’s genuine love for cooking fresh meals for her six children and husband was contagious, as Nesanet says that all of her siblings not only share a passion for food, but are also vegetarian/vegan. “For us my mother really expressed her love through food.” And the customers agree. “A lot of customers have told us that they can taste the love in the food. They say it tastes like a big hug. We love seeing how people respond to the food, often coming by to meet chef Azla.”

What also sets Azla’s menu apart is the incorporation of ingredients such as kale to a classic collard green (gomen) dish and making gluten-free injera to ensure not only taste but healthier food options, which is a vital aspect of Azla’s mission.

“I feel that Ethiopian cuisine has so much to offer as the awareness of the benefits of a plant-based diet grows,” Nesanet said. “Oftentimes, people turn to processed meat alternatives when exploring vegetarianism, but Ethiopian food offers abundant flavor and texture with unprocessed whole foods.”

Nesanet cites The China Study written by T. Colin Campbell as a personal favorite in her personal journey of following a plant-based and vegan diet. The book argues that most chronic diseases can be reversed through a plant-based diet, and Nesanet says that the rest of the public is catching on and becoming more empowered. “A lot of customers who eat meat religiously come in and are open to trying our food because they realize their current diet is making them sick and lethargic. They often say ‘I never knew vegan food can taste like this.’”

In addition to the cuisine at Azla, Azla+Tesh next door offers unique jewelry including colorful acrylic and wood Orthodox cross earrings, apparel including crop-tees and sweatshirts with graphics such as the Lalibela churches and a vintage Alemayehu Eshete album cover. Honoring timeless design elements from Ethiopia, while incorporating current fashion elements is the approach that the Abegaze siblings take in order to attract both Ethiopian and non-Ethiopian customers to the merchandise. “We’ve always been enchanted by Ethiopian crosses and the intricacy of their designs,” Nesanet shares. “We’ve worked to create jewelry that explores new materials such as acrylic and wood with pop colors to speak to a younger demographic.” The collection also includes necklaces with vintage bridal pendants and telsum beads from Ethiopia, using thicker bold chains, and a juxtaposition of modern and classic that guides the Azla+Tesh design aesthetic. In addition to accessories and clothing, Azla+Tesh offers old-school vinyl records, Ethiopian literature and films, and artisan food products that are packaged in beautiful mason jars.

As for what the future has in store for Azla and Azla+Tesh, there will be a series of free monthly events for the community, including guest speakers in acupuncture and yoga, vegan supper clubs in collaboration with local vegan chefs, as well as musical performances and networking events. The Azla team is dedicated to providing customers with a wonderful dining experience, as well as inspiring a more healthful lifestyle by providing cooking tips, recipes, and cooking demonstrations. Sure enough, Azla is already making its mark in Los Angeles not only for its fresh and tasty vegan dishes, but by providing a new space for Ethiopians and Non-Ethiopians alike to indulge in history, fashion, music, and health all in one place.

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You can learn more about the restaurant at www.azlavegan.com and shop for Azla+Tesh products at www.azlaandtesh.com. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Soundcloud handles are @azlavegan and @azlaandtesh.

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Featured

Hailu Mergia Performs in Brooklyn

December 21, 2013 Tadias Magazine

The New York Times

By JON PARELES

There’s a back story behind the African funk that had the whole room dancing on Thursday night at Baby’s All Right, the new club in Williamsburg. Hailu Mergia, the keyboardist leading the band, was playing his first American show since 1991. For the last two decades, he has been driving an airport taxicab in Washington.

Mr. Mergia was a star of Ethiopian music in the 1970s as a member of the Walias Band, which had worked its way to the top of the Addis Ababa club circuit. In 1981, when Ethiopia was ruled by a brutal military dictatorship, the Walias Band came to perform in the United States, and Mr. Mergia and some of the other band members stayed, settling among the many Ethiopian immigrants in Washington.

For a few years, Mr. Mergia led the Zula Band there; after it dissolved, Mr. Mergia studied music at Howard University and decided to start playing the accordion, an instrument that had been used in Ethiopian music of an earlier generation.

A Call for Writers in the African Diaspora

December 20, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
Op-Ed

By Rahwa Hassen

Published: Friday, December 20th, 2013

Columbus, Ohio — You are invited to submit an autobiographical essay or creative nonfiction story for this anthology of African Immigrant Literature, the Promises of Freedom Book Project. This book will focus on how Africa-born youth are impacted by immigration, American race/racial relations, Americana socio-economic-cultural dynamics, and familial dislocation/adjustments. African-born immigrants (whether USA citizens or not) and first generation born Africans are invited to send autobiographical stories and first-person creative nonfiction (essays/memoirs).

The Promises of Freedom (POF) book project is spearheaded by Mr. Malcolm Cash, Lecturer in the Department of African American and African Studies at Ohio State University and Instructor of English & English Composition at Central State University. The team also comprises of Jonathan Woldaub of Seattle, Washington and Rahwa Hassen of Columbus, Ohio.

The aim of POF is to create a book of narratives from young adults within the African diaspora who either immigrated to the United States as a child/teenager or are a part of the first-generation experience. Our goal with Promises of Freedom is to build a collection of stories (5-10 pages each) that reflect the diverse experiences of young adults — one which could be used to better understand the complexity, challenges, and beauty of growing up African in America.

If you are interested in submitting a piece, the following criteria shall be met: Writers can be from the ages of 18-30 years; are first-generation Americans (one or both parents immigrated to the U.S.); or immigrated as children or teenagers (no later than the beginning of high school).

Please email us at promisesoffreedom@gmail.com for more information and a copy of our writers’ guidelines.
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Rahwa Hassen is a Senior at Ohio State University majoring in International Development with minors in African Studies, Arabic, and Global Public Health.

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Featured

Ethiopia’s Yegna – More Girl Power Than Spice Girls

December 18, 2013 Tadias Magazine

The Africa Report

Whilst both Yegna and the Spice Girls were deliberately manufactured, comparisons between the Ethiopian girl group and their British predecessors are simplistic. Yegna are not in it for the money or the fame.

It’s a cold and wet afternoon in Addis Ababa and the girls from Yegna (pronounced yen-ya) – Ethiopia’s first and only manufactured pop band – straggle in late for their interview. Shaking off the rain from their umbrellas and clothes they greet each other warmly with smiles, kisses and hugs, excitedly chatting and giggling amongst themselves.

In time-honored teen tradition, their camaraderie – and their music – makes them stronger.

Read more at The Africa Report.
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Events, Featured, News

Tadias Magazine Roundtable Discussion at National Press Club

December 16, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Monday, December 16th, 2013

Washington, D.C. (TADIAS) — Tadias Magazine hosted a roundtable discussion on Ethiopian migrants in the Middle East at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. on Saturday, December 14th.

The roundtable discussion presented a panel of scholars, legal experts and civic society leaders from the Ethiopian and Middle Eastern communities who informed the audience about the status of Ethiopian migrant workers in gulf states using data and research to promote a continued dialogue on short and long-term solutions. A Q&A session followed panelist presentations.

Panelists included Jomo Tariku, developer of a crowdmapping website on domestic help abuse in the Middle East; scholar Khaled Beydoun who focused on international anti-trafficking protocols and the legal issues facing Ethiopian migrants working in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and various gulf states; Dr. Maigenet Shifferaw, President of the Center for the Rights of Ethiopian Women (CREW) in Washington, DC; Kumera Genet, Huffington Post contributor who has written extensively on the status of Ethiopian migrants in the Middle East; Dawit Wolde Giorgis, Research Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington, D.C.; and Rima Kalush, Editor and Head Researcher for Bahrain-based Migrant-Rights.org.

Several media organizations attended the event including Deutsche Welle German Amharic radio program, Voice of America, EBS, and ESAT. We also extend our thanks to Ethiomedia.com who helped publicize the event.

Below is a video trailer and slideshow of the roundtable discussion.

Video: Tadias Roundtable on Ethiopian Migrants in the Middle East at National Press Club

Photos by Matt Andrea:

The following are tweets from the audience:

Rima Kalush:http://t.co/KFmYT5X3C3 Speaking @PressClubDC discussion w@TadiasNews #Ethiopia #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia pic.twitter.com/MHO3MCt3AI

— tellsaudiarabia (@tellsaudiarabia) December 14, 2013

Jomo Tariku discussing the crowd sourcing website @TadiasNews panel discussion @PressClubDC #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia pic.twitter.com/w7ezRLz2Qm

— tellsaudiarabia (@tellsaudiarabia) December 14, 2013

Doing something different: solution based discussion… Q&A Thanks #TADIAS pic.twitter.com/xMQ05VLk5F

— Liyou ልዩ (@liyounique) December 14, 2013

Q&A / Discussion on #Ethiopian Migrants in the middle East #TADIAS pic.twitter.com/Dk1Cl7rCa0

— Liyou ልዩ (@liyounique) December 14, 2013

PANELIST BIOS

Jomo Tariku developed a crowdmapping site that documents domestic help abuse in the Middle East. Jomo is a voracious reader of current events around the world, a tinkerer of web technologies and a volunteer for various causes. He is also in the process of documenting Ethiopian (TimeLineEthiopia.com) and soon African stories using freely available data and data visualization tools. Jomo was born to Ethiopian parents in Kenya in 1968. He was named after Jomo Kenyatta, founder of the Kenyan nation. Jomo completed his higher education in Industrial Design (BFA) at the University of Kansas. After almost 10 years of operating a design studio in Washington, DC, Jomo joined The World Bank as a Publishing Officer/Designer in 2011. In his spare time he is an advocate of peaceful means of solving difficult problems. Jomo is married with two sons and lives in Springfield, VA.

Khaled A. Beydoun’s insight on domestic and international legal matters has been featured on television and radio, including CNN, NPR, MSNBC, Al-Jazeera, Voice America, and the Washington Post. Professor Beydoun’s scholarship focuses on immigration law, criminal law, critical race theory, and legal history. His research interests focus on the intersection of race and religion in criminal and immigration law. Professor Beydoun earned his J.D. from UCLA School of Law, and holds a B.A., with distinction, from the University of Michigan. In addition, he earned an LL.M. with an emphasis on Islamic Law from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. Before joining UCLA School of Law as a Critical Race Studies Fellow, Professor Beydoun practiced in the areas of criminal law and civil rights advocacy. He served as an Appellate Defense attorney for the State Appellate Defender of Michigan, and served as a Racial Justice Fellow with the ACLU of Michigan. In addition, Professor Beydoun also served as the Middle East & North Africa Legal Analyst for the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative in Washington, D.C. Professor Beydoun’s work has been featured in the Berkeley Journal of International Law, the Michigan Journal of Race and Law, the Journal of Islamic Law and Culture, and his forthcoming work will be featured in the NYU Survey of American Law.

Maigenet Shifferraw is currently the president of the Center for the Rights of Ethiopian Women (CREW) in Washington, DC. Dr. Maigenet earned her Ph.D. in education from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in 1982. She was an Associate Professor in adult education at the Department of Education at the University of the District of Columbia for twenty years. She has served as a consultant in education at the World Bank, the US Department of Education and other institutions. She has been a women’s rights advocate for the last thirty five years.

Kumera Genet blogs about African migrant issues for the Huffington Post and has built relationships with Lebanese and Arab American activists who support legal, economic, and cultural change in the Middle East to respect migrant workers. Kumera is originally from Austin, Texas, and has been living and working in the DC area for the past 6 years. He has worked in various youth serving organizations and non-profits focusing on job readiness training, immigrant rights, parental engagement in education and community organizing.

Dawit Wolde Giorgis represents the newly formed global alliance on the issue of Ethiopian migrants in the Middle East. He is a Research Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington, D.C.

Rima Kalush is the current editor and head researcher of Migrant-rights.org, a platform dedicated to advancing migrants’ rights throughout the Middle East. She has several years of research experience in diverse fields, ranging from North African history to California politics. Her pieces have been republished by digital journals including Jadaliyya, and her research has been referenced by institutions such as Gender Across Borders and the Institute for Global Labour Rights.

—
Roundtable Discussion on Ethiopian Migrants in the Middle East
National Press Club
Saturday, December 14, 2013 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM (EST)
529 14th Street Northwest, Murrow Conference Room
Washington, DC 20045

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Events, Featured

Tadias Roundtable on Ethiopian Migrants in the Middle East at National Press Club

December 10, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Updated: Saturday, December 14th, 2013

Washington, D.C. (TADIAS) — Tadias Magazine will be hosting a roundtable discussion on Ethiopian migrants in the Middle East at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. today (December 14th) from 3:00 to 5:00 PM.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

This roundtable discussion brings together panelists and experts on the status of Ethiopian workers in the Middle East and include discussion of long-term solutions to alleviate the plight of migrants in gulf states and enhance their safety and human rights. Primarily this roundtable aims to serve in two ways: to inform the public about the status of Ethiopian migrant workers in the Middle East using data and research collected by individuals and human rights agencies, and to re-channel the energy around this subject into a more fruitful dialogue on long-term solutions.

SCHEDULE
3:10pm – Welcome Remarks
3:20pm -‐ Panelist Presentations
4:30pm – Q&A
 5pm – Closing Remarks

ROUNDTABLE PANELIST BIOS

PANELIST BIOS

Jomo Tariku was born to Ethiopian parents in Kenya in 1968. He was named after Jomo Kenyatta, founder of the Kenyan nation. Jomo completed his higher education in Industrial Design (BFA) at the University of Kansas. After almost 10 years of operating a design studio in Washington, DC, Jomo joined The World Bank as a Publishing Officer/Designer in 2011. In his spare time he is an advocate of peaceful means of solving difficult problems. He developed a crowdmapping site that documents domestic help abuse in the Middle East. Jomo is a voracious reader of current events around the world, a tinkerer of web technologies and a volunteer for various causes. He is also in the process of documenting Ethiopian (TimeLineEthiopia.com) and soon African stories using freely available data and data visualization tools. Jomo is married with two sons and lives in Springfield, VA.

Khaled A. Beydoun’s scholarship focuses on immigration law, criminal law, critical race theory, and legal history. His research interests focus on the intersection of race and religion in criminal and immigration law. Professor Beydoun earned his J.D. from UCLA School of Law, and holds a B.A., with distinction, from the University of Michigan. In addition, he earned an LL.M. with an emphasis on Islamic Law from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. Before joining UCLA School of Law as a Critical Race Studies Fellow, Professor Beydoun practiced in the areas of criminal law and civil rights advocacy. He served as an Appellate Defense attorney for the State Appellate Defender of Michigan, and served as a Racial Justice Fellow with the ACLU of Michigan. In addition, Professor Beydoun also served as the Middle East & North Africa Legal Analyst for the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative in Washington, D.C. Professor Beydoun’s work has been featured in the Berkeley Journal of International Law, the Michigan Journal of Race and Law, the Journal of Islamic Law and Culture, and his forthcoming work will be featured in the NYU Survey of American Law. His insight on domestic and international legal matters has been featured on television and radio, including CNN, NPR, MSNBC, Al-Jazeera, Voice America, and the Washington Post.

Maigenet Shifferraw earned her Ph.D. in education from the University of WisconsinMilwaukee in 1982. She was an Associate Professor in adult education at the Department of Education at the University of the District of Columbia for twenty years. She has served as a consultant in education at the World Bank, the US Department of Education and other institutions. She has been a women’s rights advocate for the last thirty five years. She is currently the president of the Center for the Rights of Ethiopian Women (CREW) in Washington, DC.

Kumera Genet is originally from Austin, Texas, and has been living and working in the DC area for the past 6 years. He has worked in various youth serving organizations and non-profits focusing on job readiness training, immigrant rights, parental engagement in education and community organizing. He blogs about African migrant issues for the Huffington Post and has built relationships with Lebanese and Arab American activists who support legal, economic, and cultural change in the Middle East to respect migrant workers.

Dawit Wolde Giorgis is a Research Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington, D.C. and also represents the newly formed global alliance on the issue of Ethiopian migrants in the Middle East.

Rima Kalush is the current editor and head researcher of Migrant-rights.org, a platform dedicated to advancing migrants’ rights throughout the Middle East. She has several years of research experience in diverse fields, ranging from North African history to California politics. Hder pieces have been republished by digital journals including Jadaliyya, and her research has been referenced by institutions such as Gender Across Borders and the Institute for Global Labour Rights.

—
IF You Go:
Roundtable Discussion on Ethiopian Migrants in the Middle East
Saturday, December 14, 2013 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM (EST)
529 14th Street Northwest, Murrow Conference Room
Washington, DC 20045
RSVP is required.

With Thanks to our Generous Sponsors:
PLATINUM SPONSOR: Mesfin Addi
GOLD SPONSOR: U Street Parking
SILVER SPONSOR: Ted Alemayhu

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Events, Featured

The 2013 DC to Africa Business Symposium

December 10, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
Events News

Published: Tuesday, December 10th, 2013

Washington, D.C. (TADIAS) — Mayor Vincent C. Gray and his Office on African Affairs hosted The 2nd Annual DC to Africa Business Symposium on Monday, November 25th, 2013. The all-day event was held at the Mayor’s Citywide Conference Center at One Judiciary Square, and was attended by over 300 local business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs as well as more than 20 business resource providers from District, federal and nonprofit agencies.

The symposium was designed to promote emerging opportunities in U.S.-Africa trade and was coordinated in partnership with the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), the US Department of Commerce, and the Office of Community Affairs.

“By connecting our aspiring and existing businesses to resources and opportunities, we diversify our economy and build resilience and sustainability,” the Mayor said in his welcoming remarks. “Our 1776 Incubator Program, DSLBD’s Export DC Program, our Great Streets Capital Improvement Program, and our new Innovation Hub for Entrepreneurs at St. Elizabeth are just a few examples of the kinds of business development programs we are implementing to nurture entrepreneurship and innovation.”

Acting U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Patrick Gallagher noted: “Sub-Saharan Africa has six of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world, which makes Africa poised to be the world’s next great economic success story. That is why the Commerce Department launched the Doing Business in Africa Campaign last year — to help American businesses take advantage of that growth and increase exports, which support millions of U.S. jobs.”

The 2nd Annual DC to Africa symposium also included breakout sessions tailored to the distinct needs of startups and established businesses provided resources on licensing, counseling services, access to capital, contracting and procurement, international trade financing, export incentives, and country-specific investment opportunities in Africa.

In her speech OAA Director Ngozi Nmezi added: “We’re here to encourage and equip the District’s African diaspora community to invest in and trade with their countries of origin in Africa by building sustainable enterprises that can simultaneously stimulate the U.S. economy.”

Below are photos courtesy of the Mayor’s photographer Lateef Mangum:

—
Related:
DC & Addis to Become Sister Cities

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Featured

Photographer Gediyon Kifle’s Tribute to Nelson Mandela

December 7, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Updated: Tuesday, December 10th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) — The above photo of Nelson Mandela was captured by photographer Gediyon Kifle during the iconic leader’s last visit to the United States in 2005 at a meeting hosted by The Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, D.C.

For Gediyon the gathering at a Georgetown hotel eight years ago was a personal and professional opportunity of a lifetime that he can’t forget. He said it was a moment that he had been eyeing ever since Mandela was released from prison on February 11th, 1990 — an event etched in his memory as if it was yesterday.

“I vividly remember that it was a Sunday morning because we were headed to the chapel on campus,” Gediyon recalled in an interview with Tadias Magazine shortly after news broke on December 5th, 2013 that the iconic anti-apartheid leader had passed away. At the time when Mandela was released from prison Gediyon was a senior attending boarding school in Virginia. Like Mandela, Gediyon’s father was also a prisoner during the Derg regime in Ethiopia, but he never made it out alive.

“My teacher knew what Mandela had meant to me, so he allowed me to stay behind and watch the live broadcast of his release,” Gediyon said. “It was as if my own father was coming out of prison. Here I was by myself, full of pure excitement and gratification, very emotional and it gave me a sense of closure about my own dad.”

Since then in his career as a photojournalist Gediyon has photographed several personalities around the world, including all the living U.S. presidents as well as athletes like Haile Gebrselassie and Muhammad Ali. But, he said, nothing compares to how he felt in the presence of Nelson Mandela. “To just give you an example,” he added, “I documented post genocide Rwanda, which was a display of the worst side of human beings. For me Mandela represents the exact opposite. He epitomizes the best of humanity. He is a force for peace, justice, fairness, reconciliation and forgiveness. He embodies what’s good about humans. His achievements speak for themselves.”

Gediyon was only one of two photographers invited to cover the 2005 meeting at the Four Seasons hotel in Washington, D.C. That was the first and last time that he saw Mandela in person. Prior to that, he said, he had made several arrangements to meet with the legend in private, including traveling to Johannesburg. “It was doable, but our timing never worked out. My only regret is that I did not pose to take a picture with him when I had a chance.” Gediyon reflected on this decision noting that at the time he wanted to maintain his “professionalism as a photographer.” And yet he admitted “inside me I had this desire to reach-out and touch him.”

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Featured

Nelson Mandela: 1918 – 2013

December 5, 2013 Tadias Magazine

The New York Times

Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s Liberator as Prisoner and President, Dies at 95

By BILL KELLER

Nelson Mandela, who led the emancipation of South Africa from white minority rule and served as his country’s first black president, becoming an international emblem of dignity and forbearance, died Thursday. He was 95.

The South African president, Jacob Zuma, announced Mr. Mandela’s death.

Mr. Mandela had long declared he wanted a quiet exit, but the time he spent in a Pretoria hospital in recent months was a clamor of quarreling family, hungry news media, spotlight-seeking politicians and a national outpouring of affection and loss. The vigil even eclipsed a recent visit by President Obama, who paid homage to Mr. Mandela but decided not to intrude on the privacy of a dying man he considered his hero.

Mr. Mandela will be buried, according to his wishes, in the village of Qunu, where he grew up. The exhumed remains of three of his children were reinterred there in early July under a court order, resolving a family squabble that had played out in the news media.

Feature Film Difret Selected for 2014 Sundance Film Festival

December 5, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Published: Thursday, December 5th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) — A new Ethiopian feature film Difret (formerly titled Oblivion) has been selected to be screened at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival under the World Cinema Dramatic Competition category. The film was selected for next year’s festival out of 2,043 international submissions. A total of 118 feature-length films were chosen, representing 37 countries. “This is a huge vote of confidence in our film and the years of hard work we’ve put into making it,” the Ethiopian filmmakers said in a statement. “Sundance is the most important film festival in the USA and we are incredibly honored to have the world premiere of DIFRET in Park City Utah, in January.”

Difret, which was funded through the online crowdsourcing platform Kickstarter, chronicles the true story of a teenager from a small, rural village in the Arsi region whose widely publicized arrest for murder in the late 1990s unleashed a historic court battle that resulted in the girl’s acquittal on the grounds of self-defense, legally ending the traditional practice of child marriage by abduction in Ethiopia.

“Throughout the process of making this film, you have been our tireless champions,” the independent filmmakers added thanking their supporters. “You have advocated for us, wrote letters of support for us, called friends on our behalf, utilized your social media pages and donated financially to this project. We salute you and offer our heartfelt gratitude to your unyielding commitment to this project and the filmmakers.”

In a press release Robert Redford, President & Founder of Sundance Institute stated: “That the Festival has evolved and grown as it has over the past 30 years is a credit to both our audiences and our artists, who continue to find ways to take risks and open our minds to the power of story. This year’s films and artists promise to do the same.”

Keri Putnam, Executive Director of Sundance Institute, noted, “We are energized by the rich diversity of voices, characters and places represented in the films selected for our 2014 Sundance Film Festival. Independent filmmakers continue to engage us with stories from worlds both intimately familiar and unknown.”

In addition to those announced today, the Festival will also present feature-length films in the Spotlight, Park City at Midnight, New Frontier, Premieres and Documentary Premieres categories. Those announcements, as well as selections for the Short Film section and new Sundance Kids section of films for younger audiences, are forthcoming. Stay tuned for more updates.
—
Learn more about the film at Difret.com.

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Featured, News

“Write for Rights” Campaign Launched for Journalist Eskinder Nega (Video)

December 4, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
News Update

December 4th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) — Amnesty International has launched a global “Write for Rights” campaign to raise worldwide awareness about the case of imprisoned journalist Eskinder Nega.” Eskinder has been locked up at Kaliti prison since 2011 serving an 18-year sentence on terrorism charges.

In May 2013, Eskinder wrote from prison: “I will live to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It may or may not be a long wait. Whichever way events may go, I shall persevere!”

You can take action at http://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/LWM2013-Ethiopia

Below is a video from his wife Serkalem Fasil.

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Featured

International Rights Group Appeals for Release of Eskinder Nega

December 4, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Associated Press

December 4th, 2013

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA – A rights group is making a global appeal for the release from prison of an award-winning journalist in Ethiopia.

Amnesty International this week is trying to raise awareness of the case of Eskinder Nega as part of a campaign called “Write for Rights.” Eskinder, in prison since 2011, is serving an 18-year sentence on terrorism charges.

Amnesty says Eskinder simply was a “thorn in the side of the Ethiopian authorities” for giving speeches and writing articles critical of the government.

Ethiopian government spokesman Shimelis Kemal said Eskinder wasn’t convicted for criticism but because he was running a clandestine terrorist organization.

The Committee to Protect Journalists says that Ethiopia has the second highest number of journalists in jail in Africa and is the eighth biggest jailer of journalists in the world.
—
Related:
Ethiopia: A Lifeline to the World — Wire Interview With Birtukan Mideksa
Taking Eskinder Nega & Reeyot Alemu’s Case to African Court on Human Rights (TADIAS)

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Featured

Ethiopia: A Lifeline to the World — Wire Interview With Birtukan Mideksa

December 3, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Wire: Amnesty International’s Global Magazine

Birtukan Mideksa spent years in an Ethiopian prison, and was featured in Write for Rights 2009 as a prisoner of conscience. She told WIRE what international support meant to her, and how the power of letter writing can be harnessed again this year to help her good friend, Eskinder Nega.

Birtukan Mideksa speaks to us from her desk in Boston, USA, amid the bustle of student life. A Harvard fellow, she is taking an MA in Public Administration at Kennedy School and is a thriving academic.

It’s a far cry from the Ethiopian prison cell she occupied only a few years ago – a place her friend, Eskinder Nega, knows only too well. He is currently serving an 18-year sentence because of his journalism.

In fact, the two were detained together between 2005 and 2007, alongside Eskinder’s wife Serkalem. All three were declared prisoners of conscience. They have also featured in Amnesty’s Write for Rights campaign – Serkalem in 2006, Birtukan in 2009, and this year, Eskinder, because he’s in prison again.

“I was incarcerated twice. The first time, for 18 months, the second, 21 months,” recalls Birtukan. “Look at how many times Eskinder has been imprisoned over the past 10 years – eight times. His wife, Serkalem, was also incarcerated. This is a story of thousands and millions of government opponents in Ethiopia. If you look at the pattern, it’s getting worse.”

The toughest time in prison

In 2005, Birtukan was leader of Ethiopia’s main opposition party, Unity for Democracy and Justice. Her party contested the elections that year, but lost under questionable circumstances. When she and her supporters peacefully protested against the legitimacy of the election results, thousands were arrested. Birtukan, Eskinder, Serkalem and over 100 journalists, opposition leaders and others were put on trial.

“The whole time was very difficult, especially for Serkalem,” says Birtukan, who shared a cell with her at one point.

“She was pregnant and she had to live with 70 to 80 prisoners in a very unclean cell. The smell was terrible.

“When she finally had her baby, that was one of the times I really felt low. She went to the hospital and… came back alone. She had to leave the little one with her mum. My daughter was with my mum – she was eight months old. So we consoled each other. Our major difficulties came because of our responsibilities as mothers, and our attachment to our children. That was really the toughest time in prison.”

Silver lining

Birtukan was given a life sentence, but was eventually pardoned and released after nearly 18 months in detention. Her freedom, however, was short-lived. After speaking publicly in Sweden in November 2008 about the process that had led to her release, she was re-arrested in Ethiopia on 28 December 2008. Her pardon was revoked and her life sentence re-imposed.

Amnesty issued Urgent Actions on her behalf and promoted her case in Write for Rights 2009. For Birtukan, who was kept in solitary confinement for long periods, this collective effort was a lifeline.

“In 2009, only my mum and my daughter were allowed to visit me,” says Birtukan. “I was really cut off from the whole world. I didn’t have any access to the media. We were not allowed to talk about Amnesty International’s initiatives, but my mum mentioned to me that Amnesty people were trying to advocate for me. That was like a silver lining. It gave me hope. It connected me to the real world.”

Birtukan was finally freed in October 2010. “The pressure you guys were exerting on the Ethiopian government was very instrumental in securing my release,” says Birtukan.

She hopes it will be possible to do this again, this time for Eskinder.

Sustained optimism

In 2012, Eskinder was jailed for “terrorism” after giving speeches and writing articles criticizing the government and supporting free speech.

To Birtukan, his struggle is almost heroic.

“Eskinder is one of the most virtuous people I know in my country,” she says. “He really believes in the good in all of us. It’s vivid in his personal life and in his activism. The love he has for his country, his dedication to seeing people living a dignified life – it’s really huge.

“He didn’t start his activism with just criticizing the government. He always gave them the benefit of the doubt. He was relentlessly committed to expressing his views, his ideas.”

That commitment triggered a campaign of harassment, including threats, a ban on the newspaper Eskinder ran with Serkalem, and repeated imprisonment. In 2005, when all three were jailed, Eskinder was thrown into solitary confinement for months on end. “That didn’t make him a hateful person,” observes Birtukan. “Still, he sustained his optimism and strong belief in his cause.”

Indispensible support

With its network of supporters worldwide, Amnesty’s potential to secure Eskinder’s freedom is significant, notes Birtukan. “The support we get as political prisoners is indispensible.”

But, she adds, “We shouldn’t forget the people back home – they would love to support us – but the suppression is huge. People can’t express that kind of protest against our imprisonment in an organized way.” This makes Amnesty’s support all the more crucial, she says.

It also lends legitimacy to the struggle. “Some people say fighting for rights and democracy in Africa is futile,” explains Birtukan. “Some people even try to focus on the economic performance of a country. But we mustn’t trade off our human rights for monetary benefit.

“The things you are working on – they validate and reassert those aspirations and those rights we have as human beings as inviolable, no matter what. It has huge significance in terms of the moral support you generate for activists like Eskinder and myself.”
—
Related:
Taking Eskinder Nega & Reeyot Alemu’s Case to African Court on Human Rights (TADIAS)

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Featured

New Climate Innovation Center in Ethiopia Aims to Create Thousands of Green Jobs

December 3, 2013 Tadias Magazine

World Bank Group

Addis Ababa — Ethiopia is set to reap the rewards of a new initiative to help local businesses develop and deploy climate friendly technologies that will create thousands of new green jobs. The new Climate Innovation Center (CIC) in Ethiopia was announced today through the support of a US$ 5 million grant agreement, signed between the World Bank and Addis Ababa University.

The grant agreement was signed by Mr. Guang Z.Chen, World Bank Country Director for Ethiopia and Dr. Admassu Tsegaye, President of Addis Ababa University, in the presence of invited guests, the university community, donors and the media.

The Ethiopia CIC, spearheaded by infoDev, a global innovation program of the World Bank, will accelerate the use of emerging technologies in locally owned and developed solutions to climate change. The center, which is supported by the government of Norway, UKAid and the World Bank, will provide financing as well as mentorship and advisory services to a growing number of local climate innovators and entrepreneurs. Through its support to local entrepreneurs, the center will propel innovative solutions to climate change while creating jobs and improving livelihoods. It is expected to support up to 20 sustainable climate technology ventures in its first year, and more than two hundred over the next ten years leading to up to 12,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The Ethiopia CIC, which will be inaugurated in the first quarter of 2014, will be established through a consortium led by the Horn of Africa Regional Environment Center (HoAREC) — a regional institution hosted by Addis Ababa University (AAU), Meta Meta, Climate Science Center and Maxwell Stamp. The CIC will collaborate closely with the government of Ethiopia to align priorities according to the Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) Strategy.

In anticipation of the launch, the CIC is currently running a Proof of Concept competition. The competition is designed to build a pipeline of entrepreneurs and startup businesses that will be supported by the center once it becomes operational.

The Ethiopia CIC is part of infoDev’s Climate Technology Program (CTP) which is establishing a network of CICs to help countries benefit from more pro-active participation in the ongoing global clean technology revolution, leading to economic gain and job creation, while reducing emissions. The first CIC was opened in Kenya in September 2012, and has already supported over 70 local innovative clean tech ventures. Other CICs are being established in Vietnam, the Caribbean, India, Morocco, South Africa and Ghana.
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Featured

New African Magazine Names Zemedeneh Negatu Among 100 Most Influential Africans

December 2, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Published: Monday, December 2nd, 2013

New York (TADIAS) — The New African Magazine has named Zemedeneh Negatu, Managing Partner of Ernst & Young Ethiopia, among its 2013 list of 100 Most Influential Africans.

The annual list recognizes individuals from various fields that are contributing to the new ‘Africa Rising’ narrative. “One yardstick we used was to emphasize that influence is not about popularity and popularity is not always influential,” the announcement said. “The influencer’s impact on public, social and political discourse, however, is what largely helps us determine their influence.”

Zemedeneh, a naturalized American citizen, is highlighted in the business category for his work in Ethiopia. “Recently, his firm has been responsible for many of the country’s major deals, including British alcoholic beverages company Diageo’s purchase of a local brewery,” the magazine noted. “A true global citizen, having lived and worked extensively in North and Latin America as well as Saudi Arabia, Zem, as he is affectionately known, is often the spokesperson for the private sector at the country’s official international roadshows.”

In a statement Zemedeneh said: “I am honored to be acknowledged amongst the men and women, who strive each day to shape the economic landscape of the African continent. This accolade reflects the continued commitment towards building a better working world for our people, clients and communities we operate within.”

Zemedneh is also scheduled to speak at Economist Magazine’s African High-Growth Markets Summit being held in Addis Ababa from December 2-3, 2013.

Click here to read the full list at New African Magazine.
—
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Featured, Opinion

Taking Eskinder Nega & Reeyot Alemu’s Case to African Court on Human Rights

November 30, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Updated: December 1st, 2013

“Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed; everything else is public relations.”

The above quote, which is often attributed to George Orwell (née Eric Arthur Blair) — one of the most influential journalists of the 20th century — rings true of 21st century politics in Ethiopia where some individuals who are keen to write dissenting news articles are accused of “clandestine terrorism” and punished with decade-long prison terms.

Just ask Eskinder Nega and Reeyot Alemu, who are languishing at Kaliti prion for bringing forth hard-hitting questions that the authorities would rather sweep under the carpet. Eskinder Nega is serving an 18-year sentence for publishing a piece in 2011 that raised the question: Could an Arab Spring-like movement take place in Ethiopia?

“This is the eighth time in his 20-year career that he has been imprisoned simply for doing his job,” notes a new crowd-sourcing campaign attempting to raise funds to cover the legal expenses required to take their case to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. “If Eskinder’s conviction is not quashed, his seven year old son will be an adult before he is released.”

Reeyot Alemu, a former teacher, was likewise sentenced to five years in prison after writing articles focusing on minority rights and the mismanagement of government funded projects including a hydroelectric dam. While in prison she was diagnosed with breast cancer and has not received adequate care. Her family members including her sister and fiancé have also been restricted from visiting her. Reeyot was awarded the prestigious World Press Freedom Award in 2013 in recognition of her work and struggle.

Although the African Court on Human & Peoples’ Rights officially began its operation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2006 it has since been moved to Arusha, Tanzania. Twenty-six African countries have ratified the protocol of the court, but Ethiopia is not one of those listed. Only five countries (Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, and Tanzania) have to date made a declaration accepting the jurisdiction of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Even if a decision made on Eskinder and Reeyot’s case in this court may be non-binding, it nonetheless can shed a crucial spotlight on the status of press freedom in Ethiopia.

Belwo is the IndieVoices crowdfunding campaign.

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Events, Featured

7th Annual Artists for Charity Holiday Art Auction

November 28, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
Events News

Published: Thursday, November 28th, 2013

Washington, DC (TADIAS) — The 7th Annual Artists for Charity (AFC) Holiday Benefit is scheduled for Saturday, December 7th at the DC Architecture Center. The yearly event helps raise funds for AFC’s group home in Addis Ababa that houses children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. The D.C.-based Ethiopian-American organization has been on the forefront of efforts that have seen vast improvements in awareness and education. The AFC Children’s Home serves as a residence for young people who have lost both their parents and was one of the first few places to accept children living with HIV in Ethiopia.

“Today, AFC is proud to have sent two children to college,” the organization said in a press release. The home provides food, shelter, medical care, school fees and supplies for the children in addition to an Artist-in-Residency program, which allows qualified volunteers to spend up to a year in Ethiopia while sharing their creative talents with AFC children.

“Less than a decade ago having HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia meant a life of stigma and no chance of achieving your dream,” the press release highlighted. “Today we have seen vast improvements in medicine, education on HIV/AIDS and organizations dedicated to the cause. AFC is one of those that is making a momentous impact on the lives of countless orphaned children who live with HIV/AIDS.”
—
IF You Go:
AFC’s 7th Annual Holiday Benefit & Art Auction
Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 7:00 PM
DC Architecture Center
421 7th St. NW Washington, DC 20004
Tickets $45 in Advance, $50 at the door
To donate artwork for the event please contact Hanna Tadesse at hanna@artistsforcharity.org.
Interested volunteers please contact Anne Batchelder at anne@artistsforcharity.org.
For media inquiries please contact Bethel Tsegaye at bethel@artistsforcharity.org.
www.artistsforcharity.org.

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Featured

Three Ethiopian Animators Vie For Doritos Superbowl AD Grand Prize

November 27, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Published: Wednesday, November 27th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) — A commercial created by a trio of Ethiopian animators for the tortilla chips brand Doritos is part of this year’s “Crash the Superbowl Contest.” The winning ad will be broadcast during the 2014 Super Bowl and comes with a grand prize of $1 million dollars. The childhood friends –Animation Supervisor and Art Director Abel Tilahun, Compositor Daniel Tamrat, and 3D Animator Ephrem Hagos — collaborated with the DC-based Lateral Lines Productions for their showcase.

“It’s a fresh and exciting take on the relationship between a man, his goldfish, and his snack food,” said Abel Tilahun, describing their creation: Doritos Lovin Goldfish. Abel, who is also an Adjunct Professor at American University in Washington D.C., recruited his friends in Ethiopia to collaborate on the project online. “We grew up making animation together,” he said. “We all attended St. Joseph school. There is a lot of talent in Ethiopia in this field but the market and interest is not as developed as in Western countries.”

Abel, a graduate of the School of Fine Art & Design of Addis Ababa University, moved to the U.S. in 2007 to pursue his Masters in Fine Art at Adams State College in Colorado where he finished his studies in 2010. In Ethiopia, he was the first student at his school to exhibit an animation installation as his thesis project, and he said he will return next year for a solo exhibition in Addis.

You can view their Doritos commercial submission below and vote for them at www.doritos.com.

Slideshow: More photos from the set courtesy of Abel Tilahun

—
Related:
David Mesfin: A Look at his Role in Hyundai TV Ad With Bob Marley’s Song

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Featured

Week Three: Ethiopians Rally in Portland, Denver Against Saudi Treatment of Migrants

November 26, 2013 Tadias Magazine

The Oregonian

By Andrew Theen

Several dozen people marched through downtown Portland and the South Park Blocks Monday to protest what they called Saudi Arabia’s violent crackdown on Ethiopian workers in the Middle Eastern kingdom.

Men, women and children marched down Southwest Broadway carrying signs and chanting during the noon hour. Many wore black t-shirts with a large red hand reading “Stop violence against Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia.”

Protesters spread the word of Monday’s march through a Facebook page and at Ethiopian restaurants and other community institutions.

“We’re just out here standing up for our people,” Wienta Mebrahtu said.

Mebrahtu said the issue of violence against foreign workers in Saudi Arabia has grown more visible in recent weeks.

The People’s United Nations Exhibition at Queens Museum

November 26, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
Events News

Published: Tuesday, November 26th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) — New York is by far the most diverse city in the world and nowhere is it more apparent than the borough of Queens where nearly 50 percent of the population is foreign-born and over 138 different languages are spoken. Organizers of the The People’s United Nations (pUN), a performance art exhibition held at the Queens Museum this past weekend, did not have to look far to find New Yorkers to represent each nation of the world and to debate world issues that politicians and diplomacy have failed to solve — from poverty to gender inequality, hunger, the environment and gun control. The idea is the brainchild of Mexican artist Pedro Reyes who staged the exhibition in the former building that housed the United Nations General Assembly from 1946-1950.

“One of the main differences between the pUN and the UN is that delegates at the UN represent their government,” Reyes told the Huffington Post. “And governments have an agenda which is first, their national interest; second, the interest of the their people; and third, the interest of the planet. In pUN, I think that the delegates are not concerned with representing their governments — they represent their nation-states, their people. It’s not the usual agenda. So they can take a stand with having a more global perspective.”

Reyes added: “But I don’t think pUN is in itself a critique of the UN. It’s more about the idea of making a crash course on conflict resolution. It’s like a tool kit. And the hope is that those who attend the summit learn techniques and learn about issues that affect us all. It’s a very intensive educational experience, but it’s also fun, no?”

The exhibition will be on view until March 30, 2014.

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Featured

Beyond Outrage: How the African Diaspora Can Support Migrant Worker Rights

November 25, 2013 Tadias Magazine

The Huffington Post

By Kumera Genet

In the past weeks, Ethiopians have protested at Saudi Embassies around the world because of recently posted videos documenting wanton violence against Ethiopian migrant workers in Saudi Arabia. This occurred during a Saudi crackdown on unregistered foreign workers in the Kingdom, which followed a seven month amnesty period. After the November 4th deadline, Ethiopian migrant workers in Riyadh attempted to protest the police tactics in the round up and became the target of angry vigilante mobs that beat and killed at least 3 Ethiopian workers, and injured many more. This violence is only symptom of the larger problem that is the lack of legal protection for migrant workers around the world. The situation is particularly acute in the Middle East, and the abuses against Africans in the region have become increasingly publicized in the past decade.

Abuse and mistreatment of migrant workers in the Middle East is well understood in the African Diaspora. It has been a year and a half since the tragic death of Ethiopian domestic worker Alem Dechasa-Desisa in Beirut, who committed suicide after being publicly beaten and threatened with deportation. Outrage followed that incident, but change has been slow or non-existent in Lebanon and the region since then.

It is time to move beyond outrage and to consider governmental and non-governmental strategies that the Ethiopian Diaspora, African Diaspora, activists in the Middle East and any willing allies can use to work towards ending the abuse of migrant domestic workers and refugees in the Middle East.

Some of my suggestions are:

Support Local Activists and Organizations in the Gulf and Lebanon

How many of us know that there is an annual Migrant Domestic Worker’s Day march in Beirut? It has been coordinated for the past two years by local organizations to advocate for the ending of the ‘Kafala’ labor sponsorship system that ties migrant worker’s residence permit to a specific employer in Lebanon.

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Events, Featured, News

Columbia University’s African Diplomatic Forum Explores New Frontier of Leadership

November 23, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
Events News

Updated: Monday, November 25th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) – As Africa grapples to adopt to the rapidly changing global media environment, transparency and a paradigm shift in public leadership, the impact of new media on society and good governance in Africa was one of the topics highlighted at the 7th Annual African Diplomatic Forum (ADF) on Friday at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.

Tadias Magazine was a media sponsor of this year’s conference, which was themed ‘The New Frontier of African Leadership.’

“New media and technology are changing the way millions of Africans communicate and connect with one another on a slew of social and economic issues,” the ADF 2013 press release noted.

Keynote speakers this year included George Ayittey, Founder and President of Free Africa Foundation and Author of Africa Unchained: The Blueprint for Development as well as Colin Coleman, Head of Investment Banking, Sub-Saharan Africa at Goldman Sachs.

The forum featured panel discussions on fostering investment in African infrastructure, the role of the press on society and good governance, human rights law and building African capacities for justice, and women as catalysts of change in the African development story.

Tseliso Thipanyane, Former CEO of the South African Human Rights Commission and current Lecturer at Columbia University Law School addressed the issue of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta’s recent indictment by the International Criminal Court and the Kenyan Parliament’s subsequent vote to withdraw from the ICC. “What does it mean for the fight against impunity in Africa? What does it mean for the rule of law and African countries themselves upholding their own constitution and addressing issues of crimes against humanity?” Thipanyane asked the audience. “For me, I think it is completely unacceptable for African leaders to say that no sitting heads of state should be tried in an international criminal court. That is nonsense.” Thipanyane added. “I mean in my country we don’t have that. No one is above the law. And secondly that’s what we all signed up for and agreed to when we ratified the Rome Statute. We will not have impunity for heads of state.”

Thipanyane, further pointed out that although Kenya’s constitution does provide immunity from prosecution for the president of Kenya in his country, he noted that “however, the very same constitution says that he can be prosecuted internationally.” In order for the Kenyans to abide by their constitution they pulled out from the ICC and claimed ‘Okay now we are not party to any international treaty.’ Thipanyane asserted that granting impunity to heads of state from being indicted by the ICC will only encourage leaders to hold on to their power for life and strongly condemned making such exemptions.

The gathering concluded with a networking session for attendees. Below is a video excerpt and photos from the event as well as a description of the various panels.

ADF 2013 PANEL DISCUSSIONS

Panel 1: Bridging the Gap: Fostering Investment in African Infrastructure
Moderator: Akbar Noman, Senior Fellow, Initiative for Policy Dialogue; and Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University
H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Thiam, Founding Partner and CEO, Thiam & Co; and Former Minister of Mining, Energy and Hydraulics, Republic of Guinea
Joel Moser, Partner and Head, Energy & Infrastructure Group of Kaye Scholer LLP; and Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University
Mark Rosenberg, Senior Analyst for Africa, The Eurasia Group
Jamal Saghir, Director, Sustainable Development Department, Africa Region, World Bank

Panel 2: New Media, New Voices: The Impact of New Media on Society and Good Governance
Moderator: Anya Schiffrin, Director, Journalism Training Programs, Initiative for Policy Dialogue; and Director, International Media, Advocacy, and Communications Specialization, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University
Emmanuel K. Dogbevi, Founder and Managing Online Director, www.ghanabusinessnews.com
Karen Attiah, Freelance Journalist, Blogger, and Consultant, World Bank (SIPA Graduate, 2012)
Dayo Olopade, Journalist and Writer, The New Republic, Slate, Dailybeast; and Knight Law and Media Scholar, Yale University
Erika Rodigues, Social Marketing and Branding Specialist, Ulula.com

Panel 3: Human Rights, Law, and Building African Capacities for Justice
Mahmood Mamdani, Director, Makerere Institute of Social Research, Makerere University, Uganda; and Herbert Lehman Professor of Government, and Professor of Anthropology, Columbia University
Tseliso Thipanyane, Adjunct Lecturer, Columbia University Law School; and Former CEO of the South African Human Rights Commission

Panel 4: Women as Catalysts of Change in the African Development Story
Moderator: Sara Minard, Socio-economist and Lecturer-in-Discipline of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University
Farai Gundan, Co-founder, FaraiMedia.com and Contributor, Forbes USA, Forbes Africa, Forbes Women Africa, Forbes Life Africa
Mpule K. Kwelagobe, Managing Director, Pula Agriculture Fund; Founder, MPULE Institute for Endogenous Development; and President of Botswana-based MPULE Foundation
Katie Meyler, Founder, More than Me (MTM) – MTM gets girls off the street and off to school in one of the poorest slums in Liberia.
Macintosh Johnson, Program Coordinator, More than Me, Liberia
H.E Dr. Hadja Saran Daraba Kabba, First woman secretary-general of the four-nation Mano River Union (The Mano River Union, which comprises Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire, was established in 1973 with the objective of promoting regional integration along economic lines).

The African Diplomatic Forum is one of the largest Africa-focused gatherings taking place at the Columbia campus bringing together scholars, policy makers, leaders and development practitioners.
Sponsors of ADF 2013 include Arik Air and Columbia University Institute of African Studies. Media sponsors included MediAfritiQ, Face2Face Africa, Africa.com, Tadias Magazine, Afrique Expansion, Africa Trade, Africa 2.0, 3G Media, and Africa Women Power.

Learn more about the Columbia University African Diplomatic Form (CUADF) at www.cuadf.com/

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Featured

Ethiopian Migrants Victimized in Saudi Arabia: Trail of Abuse and Negligence

November 23, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Counter Punch

By GRAHAM PEEBLES

In the last 10 days persecution of Ethiopian migrant workers in Saudi Arabia has escalated. Men and women are forced from their homes by mobs of civilians and dragged through the streets of Riyadh and Jeddah. Distressing videos of Ethiopian men being mercilessly beaten, kicked and punched have circulated the Internet and triggered worldwide protests by members of the Ethiopian diaspora as well as outraged civilians in Ethiopia. Women report being raped, many repeatedly, by vigilantes and Saudi police. Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT), has received reports of fifty deaths and states that thousands living with or without visas have been detained awaiting repatriation. Imprisoned, many relay experiences of torture and violent beatings.

Earlier this year the Saudi authorities announced plans to purge the kingdom of illegal migrants. In July, King Abdullah extended the deadline for them to “regularize their residency and employment status [from 3 rd July] to November 4th. Obtain the correct visa documentation, or risk arrest, imprisonment and/or repatriation. On 6th November, Inter Press Service (IPS) reports, Saudi police, “rounded up more than 4,000 illegal foreign workers at the start of a nationwide crackdown,“ undertaken in an attempt (the authorities say), to reduce the 12% unemployment rate “creating more jobs for locals”.

Leading up to the “crackdown” many visa-less migrants left the country: nearly a million Bangladeshis, Indians, Filipinos, Nepalis, Pakistanis and Yemenis are estimated to have left the country in the past three months. More than 30,000 Yemenis have reportedly crossed to their home country in the past two weeks,” and around 23,000 Ethiopian men and women have “surrendered to Saudi authorities” [BBC].

The police and civilian vigilante gangs are victimizing Ethiopian migrants, residing with and without visas; the “crackdown” has provided the police and certain sectors of the civilian population with an excuse to attack Ethiopians. Press TV reports that “Saudi police killed three Ethiopian migrant workers in the impoverished neighborhood of Manfuhah in the capital, Riyadh, where thousands of African workers, mostly Ethiopians, were waiting for buses to take them to deportation centers.” Hundreds have been arrested and report being tortured: “we are kept in a concentration camp, we do not get enough food and drink, when we defend our sisters from being raped, they beat and kill us,” a migrant named Kedir, told ESAT TV. Women seeking refuge within the Ethiopian consulate tell of being abducted from the building by Saudi men and raped. ESAT, reports that several thousand migrants have been transported by trucks to unknown destinations outside the cities.

Whilst the repatriation of illegal migrants is lawful, the Saudi authorities do not have the right to act violently; beating, torturing and raping vulnerable, frightened people: people, who wish simply to work in order to support their families. The abuse that has overflowed from the homes where domestic workers are employed onto the streets of the capital reflects the wide-ranging abuse suffered by migrant workers of all nationalities in Saudi Arabia and throughout the Gulf States.

Trail of Abuse

This explosion of state sponsored violence against Ethiopians highlights the plight of thousands of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia. They tell of physical, sexual and psychological abuse at the hands of employers, agents and family members. The draconian Kafala sponsorship system, (which grants ownership of migrants to their sponsor), together with poor or non-existent labour laws, endemic racism and gender prejudice, creates an environment in which extreme mistreatment has become commonplace in the oil-rich kingdom.

There are over nine million migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, that’s 30% of the population. They come from poor backgrounds in Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Indonesia and Ethiopia and make up “more than half the work force. The country would grind to an embarrassing stand still without their daily toil. “Many suffer multiple abuses and labor exploitation [including withholding of wages, excessive working hours and confinement], sometimes amounting to slavery-like conditions”, Human Rights Watch (HRW) states.

Ethiopian Governments Negligence

Whilst thousands of its nationals are detained, beaten, killed and raped, the Ethiopian government hangs its negligent head in silence in Addis Ababa, does not act to protect or swiftly repatriate their nationals, and criminalises those protesting in Addis Ababa against the Saudi actions.

Although freedom to protest is enshrined within the Ethiopian constitution (a liberal minded, largely ignored document written by the incumbent party), dissent and public demonstrations, if not publicly outlawed, are actively discouraged by the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) regime. In response to the brutal treatment meted out by the Saudi police and gangs of vigilantes in Riyadh and Jeddah, outraged civilians in Addis Ababa staged a protest outside the Saudi Embassy, only to be confronted by their own police force, wielding batons and beating demonstrators. Al Jazeera reports that police “arrested dozens of people outside the Saudi embassy [in Addis Ababa] in a crackdown on demonstrators protesting against targeted attacks on Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia.” A senior member of The Blue Party, Getaneh Balcha was one of over 100 people arrested for peacefully protesting.

The government’s justification, rolled out to defend yet another suppressive response to a democratic display, was to assert that the protest “was an illegal demonstration, they had not got a permit from the appropriate office”: petty bureaucratic nonsense, hiding the undemocratic truth that the government does not want public protests of any kind on the streets of its cities: effectively, freedom of assembly is banned in Ethiopia. The protestors, he said, “were fomenting anti-Arab sentiments here among Ethiopians.” Given the brutal treatment of Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia, anger and anti-Saudi sentiment (not anti Arab) is, one would imagine understandable, and should be shared by the Ethiopian government.

The people of Ethiopia are living under a duplicitous highly repressive regime. The EPRDF consistently demonstrates it’s total indifference to the needs and human rights of the people. Freedom of expression, political dissent and public assembly is denied by a regime that is committing a plethora f human rights violations in various parts of the country, atrocities constituting in certain regions crimes against humanity. In fact, according to Genocide Watch, the Ethiopian government is committing genocide in the Somali region, as well as on the “Anuak, Oromo and Omo” ethnic groups (or tribes).Freedom of expression, political dissent and public assembly is denied by a regime that is committing a plethora f human rights violations in various parts of the country, atrocities constituting in certain regions crimes against humanity.

The recent appalling events in Saudi Arabia have brought thousands of impassioned Ethiopians living inside the country and overseas onto the streets. This powerful worldwide action presents a tremendous opportunity for the people to unite, to demand their rights through peaceful demonstrations and to call with one voice for change within their beloved country. The time to act is now, as a wise man has rightly said, “nothing happens by itself, man must act and implement his will”.

Graham Peebles is director of the Create Trust. He can be reached at: graham@thecreatetrust.org
—
Related:
UPDATE: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Says 20,618 Repatriated From Saudi Arabia (Twitter)
#SomeoneTellSaudiArabia: Ethiopians Hold Protest at Saudi Embassy in Los Angeles (TADIAS)
NYC Ethiopians Make Presence Felt at the Saudi Mission to the United Nations (TADIAS)

Photos: Ethiopians Hold Protest Outside Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C. (TADIAS)

Ethiopians march in downtown Dallas to protest abuse in Saudi Arabia (Dallas News)
Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Ethiopians Protest Killings In Saudi Arabia (KDLT News)
Ethiopians demonstrate outside Saudi embassy in London (BBC News)
Canada: Ethiopian community protests working conditions in Saudi Arabia (CTV News)
The Ethiopian Migrant Crisis in Saudi Arabia: Taking Accountability (TADIAS)
Tadias Interview With Rima Kalush: Migrant-Rights Org Seeks Long Term Solutions
Ethiopians Continue Peaceful Protests Against Migrant Abuse in Saudi Arabia (TADIAS)
Ethiopians: #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia to Stop Crackdown (Global Voices)
First group of Ethiopians from Saudi arrive in Addis (ERTA)
23,000 Ethiopians ‘Surrender’ in Saudi After Clamp Down (BBC)
Three Ethiopians Killed in Saudi Arabia Visa Crackdown (AFP)
Ethiopian Domestic Help Abuse Headlines From the Middle East (TADIAS)
Changing Ethiopia’s Media Image: The Case of People-Trafficking (TADIAS)
Video: Ethiopian migrants tell of torture and rape in Yemen (BBC)
Video: Inside Yemen’s ‘torture camps’ (BBC News)
BBC Uncovers Untold People-Trafficking, Torture of Ethiopians in Yemen (TADIAS)
Meskerem Assefa Advocates for Ethiopian Women in the Middle East (TADIAS)
In Memory of Alem Dechassa: Reporting & Mapping Domestic Migrant Worker Abuse
Photos: Vigil for Alem Dechassa Outside Lebanon Embassy in D.C.
The Plight of Ethiopian Women in the Middle East: Q & A With Rahel Zegeye

Ethiopians Returning From Saudi Arabia Describe Horrible Attacks http://t.co/EFWepkLsct

— Tadias Magazine (@TadiasNews) November 17, 2013

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Events, Featured

DC to Africa Business Symposium 2013

November 22, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
Events News

Updated: Saturday, November 23rd, 2013

Washington, D.C. (TADIAS) — The 2013 DC to Africa Business Symposium Africa: Growing Local, Going Global will be held on Monday, November 25th at the Citywide Conference Center at One Judiciary Square.

The annual event, hosted by The DC Mayor’s Office on African Affairs, brings together hundreds of people from the District’s business community in direct contact with local and federal government officials for an all-day seminar.

Last year over 250 business owners, entrepreneurs, government officials, community members and nonprofit leaders packed all six rooms of the Citywide Conference Center for various workshops.

The program this year features African embassy trade representatives and private sector resource providers. Mayor Vincent Gray will be making remarks along with US Acting Deputy Secretary of Commerce Dr. Patrick Gallagher.
—
If You Go:
When: Monday November 25th | 9am – 4pm
Where: Mayor’s Citywide Conference Room
One Judiciary Square, 441 4th Street N.W. Washington, DC 20001 | 11th Floor
[The use of public transportation is highly recommended: Metro Red Line Judiciary Square]

RSVP
Limited Space Available | Amharic & French Interpretation Available Upon Request
For more information contact the Mayor’s Office on African Affairs at 202-727-5634 or oaa@dc.gov.

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Featured, Interviews

Ethiopia Inspired Holiday Cards: Tadias Interview With Deseta Design’s Maro Haile

November 22, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Published: Friday, November 22nd, 2013

New York (TADIAS) — For Mariam-Sena (Maro) Haile, a Brooklyn-based artist and owner of the e-commerce website Deseta.net, it all started following the debut of her afro angel artwork on Facebook in 2011. “The idea of it actually started a few years back when friends who were throwing a monthly party asked me to design a logo for them, and that’s when I came up with the pink afro angel wearing lipstick and mascara,” she recalled. “I held onto that design, and two Christmases ago I designed a card that I called “3 happy angels” and posted it on Facebook, just for fun.” Friends re-posted the card, and asked if Maro was selling them. “That’s when I decided to print and sell my first line of Christmas cards. Over the past year I kept designing and selling new products in my shop” she added.

Since then a witty friend has nicknamed her “Hallmaro” (as in Hallmark), for her creative designs of holiday cards and other product lines called Deseta with the motto: “live happy.” In a recent interview with Tadias Magazine Maro shared that her playful drawings and paintings are inspired by Ethiopian culture but with her own twist that reflects her multicultural upbringing in the United States. She defines Deseta as follows: “deseta [deh-seh-ta]: n. happiness; how you feel when something puts a smile on your face. from Amharic, one of the many languages spoken in Ethiopia. also spelled/pronounced desta.”

Maro was born in Addis Ababa and grew up in Minnesota before settling in New York City in 2000. “I was born in Ethiopia, raised in a tiny town in the Midwest, and now have Brooklyn planted deep in my heart,” she said. “My target market ranges from shoppers who appreciate the unique, non-traditional aesthetic found in gift shops and boutiques to young families and friends of young families looking for printed accessories for their children.” Maro’s aim is to reach as diverse an audience as her background.

The online venture, she pointed out, ties in well with her profession. “A few years ago I landed a career as a product designer and developer; I work for companies that design and sell products for the home i.e. bedding, pillows, shower curtains, and rugs. I’ve learned so much about designing for big box retail stores and doing production with overseas factories, much to the amusement of my Ethiopian immigrant parents who thought their children would all pursue a career in academia or health.”

Maro’s father, a well known Geez scholar, relocated his family from Ethiopia to Minnesota after he was shot by a military junta during the Derg regime. That explains, she said, why she does not speak Amharic. “Starting deseta has been a great move for me,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to do my own thing, but never knew how or in what capacity.” I’ve always enjoyed being artsy since I can remember, but knew that becoming a full time studio artist was not for me.”

Another favorite product available at her store is a tote bag called Bole Girl. “I really like that design, but I do have conflicted feelings about it.” she said. “I know that the economy in Ethiopia is rapidly growing, and that Bole road is at the center of this development. This is a comforting notion for the little girl in me who has roots on Bole road, but grew up here as the only Ethiopian, only person of color for that matter, for miles. And constantly had to hear, ‘You’re Ethiopian?’ But “why aren’t you skinny like the Ethiopians on TV?’ and only knew of my country as a place that needed benefit concerts to come to its rescue. As you can imagine, I hated being Ethiopian when I was growing up. But with all the exciting economic development currently happening in Ethiopia, I know that not everyone has the same opportunity to take part in it, and that is a big problem. I also know that there is an elitist connotation to being a Bole girl, and I don’t want anyone to think that this design is intended to convey that sentiment. In the end, I just wanted to have fun with a positive image of Ethiopia, and that bag is for the little girl in many of us so that we can say yes, Ethiopia is fly and sophisticated, and we’re proud of it.”

When Deseta launched last year, Maro only had fine art pieces (commission work), and her line of holiday cards. “There was definitely an interest in the cards, as they were affordable products that were Ethiopian inspired, but with a universal, commercial appeal,” She noted. “Since then, I continued to design cards for other occasions, but I obviously don’t want to be just a card company as ‘Hallmaro’ is what a witty friend jokingly called me once. So I started to take my aesthetic to other everyday type goods, like tote bags, wall art for kids, and fun little temporary tattoos.”

The energetic entrepreneur is confident of developing a niche for Deseta, although she emphasized that “breaking into the world as an independent designer is tough and very competitive.” In fact, she said, Deseta is an reincarnation of what she tried to do five years ago when she initially came up with the brand name, registered the domain, and launched a line of nursery décor. “It was a fun and adorable line if I do say so myself,” Maro added. “But I did not have the resources to break into such a well saturated market, so I let it dissolve. It was frustrating, I had put a lot of work into it, but I really like what I’m doing now. I am creating new and unique designs that touch on our rich Ethiopian design heritage but also with a universal appeal. This process has been exciting, challenging, nerve-wracking and quite rewarding.”

Below are images of some of Maro’s Deseta designs.

—
You can learn more and purchase Deseta products at www.deseta.net, on Etsy at www.etsy.com/shop/deseta and follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/desetaArtAndDesign.

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Featured

UPDATE: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Says 20,618 Repatriated From Saudi Arabia

November 21, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
News Update

Friday, November 22nd, 2013

New York (TADIAS) — As week two of protests continue in reaction to the recent beatings and killings of Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it has so far repatriated over 20,000 people back to their country.

Below are the latest updates via Twitter:

Total repatriated until late last night reached 20,618.

— Tedros Adhanom (@DrTedros) November 23, 2013

#MinistryUpdate: total repatriation has reached 16248. 105 women and 26 children are among today's returnees. @DrTedros.

— Ethiopian Diplomacy (@mfaethiopia) November 22, 2013

Ethiopians march in downtown Dallas to protest abuse in Saudi Arabia (Dallas News)
Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Ethiopians Protest Killings In Saudi Arabia (KDLT News)
Ethiopians demonstrate outside Saudi embassy in London (BBC News)
Canada: Ethiopian community protests working conditions in Saudi Arabia (CTV News)
The Ethiopian Migrant Crisis in Saudi Arabia: Taking Accountability (TADIAS)
Tadias Interview With Rima Kalush: Migrant-Rights Org Seeks Long Term Solutions
Ethiopians Continue Peaceful Protests Against Migrant Abuse in Saudi Arabia (TADIAS)
Photos: Ethiopians Hold Protest Outside Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C. (TADIAS)
Ethiopians: #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia to Stop Crackdown (Global Voices)
First group of Ethiopians from Saudi arrive in Addis (ERTA)
23,000 Ethiopians ‘Surrender’ in Saudi After Clamp Down (BBC)
Three Ethiopians Killed in Saudi Arabia Visa Crackdown (AFP)
Ethiopian Domestic Help Abuse Headlines From the Middle East (TADIAS)
Changing Ethiopia’s Media Image: The Case of People-Trafficking (TADIAS)
Video: Ethiopian migrants tell of torture and rape in Yemen (BBC)
Video: Inside Yemen’s ‘torture camps’ (BBC News)
BBC Uncovers Untold People-Trafficking, Torture of Ethiopians in Yemen (TADIAS)
Meskerem Assefa Advocates for Ethiopian Women in the Middle East (TADIAS)
In Memory of Alem Dechassa: Reporting & Mapping Domestic Migrant Worker Abuse
Photos: Vigil for Alem Dechassa Outside Lebanon Embassy in D.C.
The Plight of Ethiopian Women in the Middle East: Q & A With Rahel Zegeye

Ethiopians Returning From Saudi Arabia Describe Horrible Attacks http://t.co/EFWepkLsct

— Tadias Magazine (@TadiasNews) November 17, 2013

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Protest at Saudi Embassy in Los Angeles

November 20, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
News Update

Wednesday, November 20th, 2013

Los Angeles (TADIAS) — Ethiopians gathered at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Los Angeles today to protest the recent mob violence targeting foreigners that claimed the lives of several Ethiopian nationals. The disturbing photos and videos galvanized Ethiopians around the world to speak out on behalf of the tens of thousands of migrants who still remain in the country awaiting to return home. Some 23,000 Ethiopians have so far turned themselves in to the Saudi authorities, but thousands remain at large and without proper legal protection.

Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom announced that the Ethiopian government is speeding up the repatriation process. “Today alone 3,067 citizens arrived home & making total arrivals so far 10,707” he tweeted. Earlier in the day the Foreign Ministry reported that it plans to repatriate “approx. 2400 citizens per day with 6 daily flights from Saudi.”

This is the second week of protests that are taking place in Ethiopian communities worldwide.

Stay tuned for updates.

Today alone 3,067 citizens arrived home & making total arrivals so far 10,707

— Tedros Adhanom (@DrTedros) November 20, 2013

Ethiopians march in downtown Dallas to protest abuse in Saudi Arabia (Dallas News)
Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Ethiopians Protest Killings In Saudi Arabia (KDLT News)
Ethiopians demonstrate outside Saudi embassy in London (BBC News)
Canada: Ethiopian community protests working conditions in Saudi Arabia (CTV News)
The Ethiopian Migrant Crisis in Saudi Arabia: Taking Accountability (TADIAS)
Tadias Interview With Rima Kalush: Migrant-Rights Org Seeks Long Term Solutions
Ethiopians Continue Peaceful Protests Against Migrant Abuse in Saudi Arabia (TADIAS)
Photos: Ethiopians Hold Protest Outside Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C. (TADIAS)
Ethiopians: #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia to Stop Crackdown (Global Voices)
First group of Ethiopians from Saudi arrive in Addis (ERTA)
23,000 Ethiopians ‘Surrender’ in Saudi After Clamp Down (BBC)
Three Ethiopians Killed in Saudi Arabia Visa Crackdown (AFP)
Ethiopian Domestic Help Abuse Headlines From the Middle East (TADIAS)
Changing Ethiopia’s Media Image: The Case of People-Trafficking (TADIAS)
Video: Ethiopian migrants tell of torture and rape in Yemen (BBC)
Video: Inside Yemen’s ‘torture camps’ (BBC News)
BBC Uncovers Untold People-Trafficking, Torture of Ethiopians in Yemen (TADIAS)
Meskerem Assefa Advocates for Ethiopian Women in the Middle East (TADIAS)
In Memory of Alem Dechassa: Reporting & Mapping Domestic Migrant Worker Abuse
Photos: Vigil for Alem Dechassa Outside Lebanon Embassy in D.C.
The Plight of Ethiopian Women in the Middle East: Q & A With Rahel Zegeye

Ethiopians Returning From Saudi Arabia Describe Horrible Attacks http://t.co/EFWepkLsct

— Tadias Magazine (@TadiasNews) November 17, 2013

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NYC Ethiopians Make Presence Felt at the Saudi Mission to the United Nations

November 19, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Updated: Wednesday, November 20th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) — Ethiopians in New York made their presence felt outside the Permanent Mission of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations on Monday, November 18th.

The demonstration followed last week’s deadly immigration crackdown in Saudi Arabia that claimed the lives of several Ethiopian citizens.

The diverse crowd included members of the Caribbean and other African communities joining fellow Ethiopians around the world who are holding similar events this month to raise global awareness and to protest the recent killings and continuing mistreatment of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia. There are still tens of thousands of undocumented Ethiopians in limbo facing danger without adequate legal protection in the region.

More protests are scheduled this week in front of Saudi embassies and missions including in Los Angeles. Stay tuned for updates.

Below are photos from New York:

Ethiopians Returning From Saudi Arabia Describe Horrible Attacks http://t.co/EFWepkLsct

— Tadias Magazine (@TadiasNews) November 17, 2013

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Ethiopians Demonstrate Outside Saudi Embassy in London (BBC News)

November 18, 2013 Tadias Magazine

BBC News

There’s been growing anger among Ethiopians in and outside the country, about the way that some of their compatriots have been treated in Saudi Arabia.

Things came to a head following an ultimatum for illegal migrant workers to leave the country.

And there were clashes in Riyadh which led to several deaths last week.

On Monday, there have been demonstrations at Saudi embassies around the world.

BBC Africa’s Kasim Kayira went to the one in London.

Watch the video at BBC.

More video from London
http://instagram.com/p/g3Z2qeFFBg/
—
Related:
NYC Ethiopians Make Presence Felt at the Saudi Mission to the United Nations (TADIAS)
The Ethiopian Migrant Crisis in Saudi Arabia: Taking Accountability (TADIAS)
Tadias Interview With Rima Kalush: Migrant-Rights Org Seeks Long Term Solutions
Ethiopians Continue Peaceful Protests Against Migrant Abuse in Saudi Arabia (TADIAS)
Photos: Ethiopians Hold Protest Outside Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C. (TADIAS)
Ethiopians: #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia to Stop Crackdown (Global Voices)
First group of Ethiopians from Saudi arrive in Addis (ERTA)
23,000 Ethiopians ‘Surrender’ in Saudi After Clamp Down (BBC)
Three Ethiopians Killed in Saudi Arabia Visa Crackdown (AFP)
Ethiopian Domestic Help Abuse Headlines From the Middle East (TADIAS)
Changing Ethiopia’s Media Image: The Case of People-Trafficking (TADIAS)
Video: Ethiopian migrants tell of torture and rape in Yemen (BBC)
Video: Inside Yemen’s ‘torture camps’ (BBC News)
BBC Uncovers Untold People-Trafficking, Torture of Ethiopians in Yemen (TADIAS)
Meskerem Assefa Advocates for Ethiopian Women in the Middle East (TADIAS)
In Memory of Alem Dechassa: Reporting & Mapping Domestic Migrant Worker Abuse
Photos: Vigil for Alem Dechassa Outside Lebanon Embassy in D.C.
The Plight of Ethiopian Women in the Middle East: Q & A With Rahel Zegeye

Ethiopians Returning From Saudi Arabia Describe Horrible Attacks http://t.co/EFWepkLsct

— Tadias Magazine (@TadiasNews) November 17, 2013

Join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook.

Featured, News, Opinion

The Ethiopian Migrant Crisis in Saudi Arabia: Taking Accountability

November 18, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
Editorial

Published: Monday, November 18th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) — If it was up to the Ethiopian migrants — who last week were savagely attacked, beaten, robbed and killed amid a mob of violence targeting foreigners — the Saudis would have been stripped of their seat on the UN Human Rights Council. It makes a mockery of the international organization that Saudi Arabia was elected to the position the same week that thousands of non-Saudi nationals were being hunted and several murdered in the streets of Riyadh. It’s a shame that Saudi Arabia, now a member of the world’s highest rights monitoring body, gets to make human rights decisions at the global level despite the fact that to date it has refused to let U.N. investigators visit to check alleged abuses. The New York-based Human Rights Watch describes the oil rich kingdom as an enemy of minority rights and political freedom.

The Saudis, however, are not the only ones to blame for the continuing plight of Ethiopian citizens inside their territory. It’s unfortunate that the Ethiopian government also failed to take advantage of the amnesty period to properly register and account for its nationals as Pakistan has done. Pakistani Ambassador Muhammad Naeem Khan told Arab News that more than 700,000 of his country’s citizens have been legalized by Saudi Arabia ahead of the November 4th deadline to avoid forced deportation. “The embassy has created 80 different focal points all over the Kingdom to help illegal workers register” Ambassader Khan reported. What effort did the Ethiopian embassy make to register its citizens and provide access to legality or else repatriate Ethiopians before the amnesty expired? Even now, the Saudi government has stated that it will continue to receive adjustment applications from migrants as long as fines are paid given that they missed the amnesty deadline. Do representatives of the Ethiopian government in Saudi Arabia have plans to assist detained migrants given this leeway? If Pakistan can get 700,000 of their nationals registered there is no reason why Ethiopia can’t do the same for a much smaller migrant worker population.

The matter is complicated by the fact that in most Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, having an official sponsor is a legal requirement. According to Gulf News: “nearly a million migrants — Bangladeshis, Filipinos, Indians, Nepalis, Pakistanis and Yemenis among them — took advantage of the amnesty to leave when they failed to guarantee a sponsor. If Ethiopia chooses to repatriate all non-legal migrants it must do so in a timely manner, as those detained are facing risky and life-threatening conditions.

On the ground, this is a time of intense difficulty for many Ethiopians and their families. We are encouraged by the collective efforts of Ethiopians worldwide to bring about global awareness, as well as government efforts to open an investigation into the deaths of three Ethiopians and repatriation of a few hundred so far. However, tweets and press releases may not be enough. We urge a united public engagement among Ethiopians both at home and abroad to close this sad chapter in Ethiopia’s modern history. We watched the videos and photos depicting unimaginable human cruelty, but we cannot imagine what it must have been like for those stranded after the amnesty expired and who found themselves being chased by armed gangs. And how about their relatives who watched in horror from afar?

We call on the members of the United Nations to urge Saudia Arabia to adhere by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights especially now that they are a UN Human Rights Council member. We also call upon the Ethiopian embassy in Saudi Arabia to take up collective responsibility to work to register its citizens and assist them — as other nations have for their people — in adjusting their status, or voluntarily repatriating them in a timely manner so that they don’t continue to languish in detention.
—
Related:
NYC Ethiopians Make Presence Felt at the Saudi Mission to the United Nations (TADIAS)
Ethiopians demonstrate outside Saudi embassy in London (BBC News)
Tadias Interview With Rima Kalush: Migrant-Rights Org Seeks Long Term Solutions
Ethiopians Continue Peaceful Protests Against Migrant Abuse in Saudi Arabia (TADIAS)
Photos: Ethiopians Hold Protest Outside Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C. (TADIAS)
Ethiopians: #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia to Stop Crackdown (Global Voices)
First group of Ethiopians from Saudi arrive in Addis (ERTA)
23,000 Ethiopians ‘Surrender’ in Saudi After Clamp Down (BBC)
Three Ethiopians Killed in Saudi Arabia Visa Crackdown (AFP)
Ethiopian Domestic Help Abuse Headlines From the Middle East (TADIAS)
Changing Ethiopia’s Media Image: The Case of People-Trafficking (TADIAS)
Video: Ethiopian migrants tell of torture and rape in Yemen (BBC)
Video: Inside Yemen’s ‘torture camps’ (BBC News)
BBC Uncovers Untold People-Trafficking, Torture of Ethiopians in Yemen (TADIAS)
Meskerem Assefa Advocates for Ethiopian Women in the Middle East (TADIAS)
In Memory of Alem Dechassa: Reporting & Mapping Domestic Migrant Worker Abuse
Photos: Vigil for Alem Dechassa Outside Lebanon Embassy in D.C.
The Plight of Ethiopian Women in the Middle East: Q & A With Rahel Zegeye

Ethiopians Returning From Saudi Arabia Describe Horrible Attacks http://t.co/EFWepkLsct

— Tadias Magazine (@TadiasNews) November 17, 2013

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UPDATE: Los Angeles to Hold Protest Against Migrant Abuse in Saudi Arabia

November 16, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
News Update

Tuesday, November 19th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) — Ethiopians in Los Angeles plan to hold a peaceful protest on Wednesday, November 20th in front of the Saudi Consulate against the recent violence targeting Ethiopian migrants in Saudi Arabia.

If You Go:
Wednesday, November 20th at Noon
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
2045 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Wear Black
—
Ethiopians Continue Peaceful Protests Against Migrant Abuse in Saudi Arabia

Making posters at Oakland Ethiopian Community & Cultural Center. (Photo credit: Ashe Abebe/Facebook)

Tadias Magazine
News Update

Saturday, November 16th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) – The aftermath of last week’s deadly immigration crackdown in Saudi Arabia that claimed the lives of three Ethiopian citizens and the images of targeted mob-violence continue to elicit strong reaction from Ethiopians worldwide.

More protests are scheduled next week in front of Saudi embassies and missions including in Washington, D.C. and New York.

The Ethiopian Community in NYC is scheduled to hold a rally at the Permanent Mission of Saudi Arabia to United Nations on Monday, November 18th. Organizers say the upcoming event has no affiliation with any political or religious entity. They urge attendees to wear black.

“The sole purpose of this protest is to standby with our fellow Ethiopians, Africans and other immigrant workers in Saudi Arabia who are suffering from horrific acts of abuse and human rights violations,” the announcement said. “We urge the government of Saudi Arabia to live up to its international obligations and responsibilities to protect migrant workers who are under the country’s jurisdiction from abuse, torture, rape, killings and unlawful deportation.”

The statement added: “This demonstration is intended to condemn gross violations of basic human rights by Saudi Arabia as stated in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and to bring awareness to the international community about the immigrants whose only crime is a desire to work and provide for their needy families back home. The Ethiopian Community demands the launch of thorough and independent investigation into the killings, beatings, torturing and raping of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia and to bring those responsible to justice.”
—
If You Go:
Permanent Mission of Saudi Arabia to UN
Monday November 18, 2013
Time: 3 pm. – 5:30 pm.
Between 1st. & 2nd. Avenue on East 46 st.
(Close to 1st ave & 46 st.)

#SomeoneTellSaudiArabia NYC Peaceful Protest Mon Nov 18th 3pm 809 UN Plaza b/n 45th & 46th on 1st Ave.

— Tez (@Tezutopia) November 15, 2013

Protest at the Saudi embassy Washington, D.C. November 18th 11am. Me #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia pic.twitter.com/6dFg4UCMrf

— Ethiopia (@Haddisu) November 12, 2013

Ethiopians Shame Saudi Arabia On Twitter For Inhumane Treatment Of Migrant Workers – See more at: http://t.co/JXarZ38k12

— Tadias Magazine (@TadiasNews) November 13, 2013

The Ethiopian Migrant Crisis in Saudi Arabia: Taking Accountability http://t.co/7t09Yg3jhf

— Tadias Magazine (@TadiasNews) November 18, 2013

Join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook.

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Arrests at Saudi Embassy Protest in Addis

November 15, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Associated Press

Updated: Friday, November 15, 7:18 AM

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopian police used force Friday to disperse hundreds of people protesting against targeted attacks on Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia.

Police units blocked roads to prevent the protest at the Saudi Arabia Embassy from growing. Some two dozen people were detained. The police also forced some journalists to delete photos.

Many foreign workers in Saudi Arabia are fleeing or are under arrest amid a crackdown on the kingdom’s 9 million migrant laborers. Close to 500 Ethiopians have been repatriated. Last weekend, Saudi residents fought with Ethiopians, and video emerged of a crowd dragging an Ethiopian from his house and beating him.

Join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook.

Featured, News

Photos: Ethiopians Hold Protest Outside Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C.

November 14, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Dagnachew Teklu

Published: Thursday, November 14th, 2013

Washington, D.C. (TADIAS) — Thousands of Ethiopian demonstrators gathered outside the Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C. today to protest the killings of several Ethiopian citizens and the violent clampdown against foreign migrants workers in Saudi Arabia. The protesters also denounced xenophobia in the kingdom and the role of vigilante Saudi civilians in violence directed against Ethiopians.

The protesters were dressed in black scarves and held placards that read, “Shame on You” and “Stop Killing and Raping our Sisters.” Emotions ran high as protestors braved the cold weather to express their disappointment and outrage at both the Saudi and Ethiopian governments, waving the Ethiopian flag and shouting various slogans.

“We don’t understand why our government is unable to protect our citizens,” some asked angrily.

Shimeles Legese, a member of the protest organizing committee, told Tadias that the large turnout was more than he had expected.

“This is special because it’s a matter of humanity and Ethiopian dignity,” Shimeles said. “I have not seen anything like it at any previous demonstrations here in Washington.” Leaders of the protest also presented a letter to the Embassy.

According to officials more than 23,000 Ethiopians are being held at various detention centers across Saudi Arabia. Three Ethiopians are among the five people that died following clashes with police in the capital, Riyadh, this week.

The protesters asked “Why do they kill them, why do they rape our women? Why don’t they let them leave their country freely?” referring to Ethiopian migrants who are currently facing abuse while being stuck in Saudi Arabia having either over-stayed their visa or entered the country illegally.

A tearful demonstrator from Maryland, Fekerte Belete, said she has no words to express her feelings, except to say: “please tell our government to rescue the poor people and tell the Saudis to stop mistreating pregnant women.”

Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said earlier that it has evacuated some 31 Ethiopian nationals from Saudi Arabia and had registered over 20,000 Ethiopian who are willing to return to their country.

Organizers said this is the first of many protests planned to take place in front of Saudi embassies in major cities around the world to galvanize action and solutions for this migrants’ rights issue. The next D.C.-based protest is scheduled for Monday, November 18th, 2013.

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23,000 Ethiopians ‘Surrender’ in Saudi After Clamp Down

November 14, 2013 Tadias Magazine

BBC News

November 14th, 2013

About 23,000 Ethiopians have surrendered to Saudi authorities since a clampdown on illegal migrant workers began in the oil-rich kingdom last week, officials have said.

The clampdown has led to clashes in the capital, Riyadh, with at least five people killed.

Saudi authorities say they are trying to reduce the 12% unemployment rate among native Saudis.

An estimated nine million migrant workers are in Saudi Arabia.

They are said to make up more than half the workforce, filling manual, clerical and service jobs.

‘Hurling rocks’

Ethiopia’s ambassador in Riyadh, Muhammed Hassan Kabiera, said the embassy had been informed by Saudi officials that some 23,000 Ethiopians had so far handed themselves in.

Some of them have already been repatriated, with the first group arriving in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, on Wednesday, reports from Ethiopia say.

In renewed clashes on Wednesday in Riyadh’s Manfuhah district, a Sudanese national was killed, Saudi Arabia’s state-owned SPA news agency reports.

Illegal migrants “rioted, hurling rocks at passersby and cars”, it quoted police as saying.

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Ethiopians Shame Saudi Arabia On Twitter For Inhumane Treatment Of Migrant Workers

November 13, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
News Update

Wednesday, November 13, 2013.

New York (TADIAS) — Ethiopians have taken to Twitter to express their outrage and draw much needed attention to the ongoing brutal treatment of tens of thousands of migrant workers stuck in Saudi Arabia. So far police and vigilante civilians have killed at least three Ethiopian citizens.

BuzzFeed highlighted a Twitter campaign that started yesterday with a message from user Abdi Lemessa who wrote: “#SomeoneTellSaudiArabia to stop killing our brothers and sisters.”

The hashtag has since ignited a social media storm over the kingdom’s abuse of migrant workers.

Below are several tweets:

#SomeOneTellSaudiArabia Stop killing our brothers & sisters #Ethiopia

— Abdi Lemessa (@AbdiDis) November 10, 2013

#SomeoneTellSaudiArabia How they are a Disgrace and Shame to Humanity.

— Zelalem Kibret (@zelalemkibret) November 10, 2013

#SomeOneTellSaudiArabia Eth should expel Saudi Ambassador so that big news is created & z world understands despair of our citizens in Saudi

— Bisrat Teshome (@BisreT) November 13, 2013

STOPtheVIOLENCEagainst Ethios.inSaudi! ProtestNov18 11am! SA Embassy 601 NewHampshire Ave.DC #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia pic.twitter.com/uX5YkVE8sl

— ephremgirma (@ephremgirma) November 12, 2013

How come civilians attack unarmed immigrants? The Anger is burning me. #SomeOneTellSaudiArabia

— Abel Wabella (@abelpoly) November 13, 2013

! RT @kiruskyy #SomeOneTellSaudiArabia Deport us, kill us not!!! Humbly, Ethiopian Immigrants

— Blén Sahilu (@Blen_s) November 10, 2013

Ethiopian brother shares his views about injustice against Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia. #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia http://t.co/6FsFDW6dDl

— EthioTube (@ethiotube) November 18, 2013

@Reem_Mohammad It is not the cops rather, the Stupid 'Vigilante'. Sad to see such defenders of Barbarity, like you!

— Zelalem Kibret (@zelalemkibret) November 13, 2013

#Saudi Human Rights Record Praised in UN Review. Ridiculous. Absurd @UNWatch @AmbassadorPower #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia http://t.co/6jkjlfgIdB

— Alemayehu Fentaw (@AlemayehuFentaw) November 13, 2013

Ethiopians: #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia to Stop Immigration Crackdown – Global Voices… http://t.co/iw7U9Nmt5Q by EthioSun

— ethiosun (@ethiosun) November 13, 2013

Really hoping for peace and return of all #ethiopians in the middle east. #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia

— Kyle LaMere (@KyleLaMere) November 14, 2013

#SomeoneTellSaudiArabia I pray that NONE of the families whose family members were killed + tortured via Public Media watch the videos.Peace

— elevating…∞ (@bossladydeess) November 12, 2013

Please #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia that there are a lot of ways to deal with illegal immigrants; brutality isn't one of them.

— BefeQadu Z Hailu™ (@befeqe) November 13, 2013

#SomeoneTellSaudiArabia Saudi Human Rights Commission should make sure human rights are not violated when detaining & repatriating migrants.

— TS∑DAY ፀደይ (@Tseday) November 10, 2013

#SomeOneTellSaudiArabia The people that you suffer might be poor in money, but you r poor in soul.

— ✈ Abudi (@AbdulrrhmnAli) November 10, 2013

Oh God!! A Very Sad Message from #SaudiArabia [Must Watch] የእህታችን አሳዛኝ መልዕክት ከሳዑዲ አረቢያ #Ethiopia http://t.co/bugm4L6upf

— De Birhan Media/Blog (@DeBirhaner) November 13, 2013

#SomeoneTellSaudiArabia Zat these R our brave brothers who refused humiliation by ur 11century styled government. pic.twitter.com/kBjh6X7UNI

— TameratNegeraFeyisa (@TameZKafir) November 10, 2013

#SomeOneTellSaudiArabia First you grabbed our land. It was not really enough. So you start grabbing our life on the streets too?

— Kirubel (@kiruskyy) November 10, 2013

#SomeoneTellSaudiArabia No Sides. Stand Firm United to #StopViolenceAgainstEthiopians @Mahlet_S @SMNE2008 @dimetros pic.twitter.com/XAgVoOP3ac

— Liyou ልዩ (@liyounique) November 13, 2013

#SomeOneTellSaudiArabia your illiteracy can't be excuse for your inhumane and barbaric act on the poor immigrants!

— Anteneh Teshome (@Anteneh73) November 10, 2013

Friends in Houston saying #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia STOP the Violence against Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia. pic.twitter.com/W3gxjrtzmU

— Blén Sahilu (@Blen_s) November 13, 2013

Looking for someone who has worked in Saudi Arabia and can tell @BBCAfrica about the problems? #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia

— Hewete Haileselassie (@Hewete) November 10, 2013

Protest at The Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Stockholm November 14 at 12-15 Sweden time #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia http://t.co/1yjaqIAuwb

— Ethiopia (@aradatimes) November 12, 2013

#ethiopians and friends of #ethiopia, #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia prostest happening in the #DMV: https://t.co/8Fioy4rXHf Pls RT

— beshou (@LaBeautifulMess) November 13, 2013

The time is always right to do the right thing. #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia BEKA! #StopViolenceAgainstEthiopians pic.twitter.com/0mlhexBrtF

— Liyou ልዩ (@liyounique) November 17, 2013

Few days ago #Ethiopians' face was flooded in tears and blood, today Saudis streets are flooded in excessive rain #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia .

— Konjit Berhanu (@koniberhanu) November 17, 2013

Protest against violence on Ethiopians in SA Mon Nov18-9AM Saudi Embassy DC.Black Dress #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia #SomeonetellEthiopia

— Ethiopia (@Haddisu) November 17, 2013

#SomeoneTellSaudiArabia 'God works in mysterious ways' – Video clip of Saudi flood http://t.co/Xd7Y0pHCiq

— TS∑DAY ፀደይ (@Tseday) November 17, 2013

Could someone confirm if the flooding in Saudi Arabia is true. Could this be the work of YeEthiopiaAmlak? #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia #Ethiopia

— Ethio Forward (@EthioForward) November 17, 2013

#SomeOneTellSaudiArabia First warning: let my people go!

— Liyou ልዩ (@liyounique) November 17, 2013

What most Saudi Arabians must watch & relearn #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia http://t.co/5sitDbvJam … In memory of those killed & abused! @DrTedros

— Ashenafi W. (@Ashe_Q) November 18, 2013

B4 we conclude z flood is z punishment, r our people ok? zey were on z streets http://t.co/EPiThRMG2Y #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia @tadeleassefa

— Ebba T. (@radioebbat) November 17, 2013

“#Saudi capital hit with rare floods, residents urged to stay indoors" – http://t.co/tA3tjpCliC #Ethiopia #SomeoneTellSaudiArabia

— Kweschn Media ➤ መቻቻል (@KweschnMedia) November 16, 2013

Ethiopians Continue Peaceful Protests Against Migrant Abuse in Saudi Arabia http://t.co/wxVqGqaBKW

— Tadias Magazine (@TadiasNews) November 17, 2013

Tadias Interview With Rima Kalush: Migrant-Rights Org Seeks Long Term Solutions http://t.co/MrVZ0njFln

— Tadias Magazine (@TadiasNews) November 17, 2013

The Ethiopian Migrant Crisis in Saudi Arabia: Taking Accountability http://t.co/7t09Yg3jhf

— Tadias Magazine (@TadiasNews) November 18, 2013

Video shows mass exodus of immigrants in Saudi Arabia

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Three Ethiopians Killed in Saudi Arabia

November 11, 2013 Tadias Magazine

AFP

November 12, 2013

ADDIS ABABA: Three Ethiopians have been killed in Saudi Arabia when violence broke out between police and illegal immigrants preparing to return home, Ethiopian officials said Tuesday.

Each year, large numbers of Ethiopians move to the Middle East looking for jobs, often as domestic workers. Saudi Arabia is among the preferred destinations.

“The act of killing innocent civilians is uncalled for, we condemn that,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Dina Mufti told reporters, saying he had been informed of the death of three Ethiopian citizens.

Ethiopia announced last week it would repatriate its citizens illegally living in Saudi Arabia after a seven-month amnesty period allowing immigrants to gain legal status expired.

Dina said the government has called for an investigation into the deaths and said that a delegation has been sent to Saudi Arabia to help the repatriation process.

“We have asked also for an investigation into the killings,” he said, adding that Addis Ababa had dispatched a team to Saudi Arabia to take care of Ethiopians there, and either register them or bring them home.

Around 200,000 women sought work abroad in 2012, according to Ethiopia’s Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

Video shows mass exodus of immigrants in Saudi Arabia

—
Ethiopia Urges Probe After 3 Die in Saudi Labor Crackdown (Bloomberg News)

(Photo: Reuters)

Bloomberg

By William Davison

Nov 12, 2013

Ethiopia demanded Saudi Arabia probe the deaths of its citizens as the kingdom prepared to expel tens of thousands of foreigners in a crackdown on undocumented workers.

Three Ethiopian nationals were killed in recent clashes with Saudi police, Foreign Ministry spokesman Dina Mufti told reporters today in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, without giving details. Ethiopia’s government has spoken to Saudi Arabian officials and condemned the “deplorable” killing of “innocent citizens,” Dina said.

Saudi authorities on Nov. 4 started implementing measures against violators of the kingdom’s labor laws. About 17,000 Ethiopians have surrendered themselves in the capital, Riyadh, since Nov. 10 after clashes with police in the Manfouha neighborhood left two people dead, al-Riyadh newspaper reported today, citing Nasser al-Qahtani, spokesman for the city’s police.

In Riyadh, Thousands of Ethiopians Await Repatriation After Riot Deaths

Ethiopians gather in Manfouha, southern Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as they wait to be repatriated on Sunday, a day after rioting that followed a visa crackdown by Saudi authorities. (Reuters).

Reuters

Published — Monday 11 November 2013

RIYADH: Thousands of mostly African workers gathered in Riyadh on Sunday seeking repatriation after two people were killed in overnight rioting that followed a visa crackdown by Saudi authorities.

One of those killed was a Saudi, said a government statement, and the other was not identified. An Ethiopian man was killed in a visa raid last week.

Ethiopia’s foreign minister condemned the deaths, and told Reuters his government was working to bring its citizens home.

“This is unacceptable. We call on the Saudi government to investigate this issue seriously. We are also happy to take our citizens, who should be treated with dignity while they are there,” Foreign Affairs Minister Tedros Adhanom said.

He said Addis Ababa had formally complained to Riyadh and that embassy staff were working to help Ethiopians return home.

Hundreds of foreign workers clashed with police on Saturday night and into Sunday in Manfouha, a poor district of southern Riyadh where many low-income expatriates live.

Saudi authorities said 68 were also wounded, including 20 Saudis. More than 500 were detained and over 100 cars torched.

The Saudis said earlier this year they would no longer tolerate visa irregularities which have led to a large black market in cheap foreign labor in the world’s top oil exporter.

Government raids on businesses, markets and homes began last week after a seven-month amnesty for foreigners to correct their visas or leave without paying penalties for overstaying or breaking other rules, ended on Nov. 4.

CROWDED SCENES

In Manfouha, a long line of buses slowly filled up, as Africans arrived from neighboring streets, alone or in groups, and carrying bags. One man walked with his little daughter, while women carried babies, Reuters witnesses said.

Groups of people in Arab and south Asian dress stood on rooftops to watch. While the scene unfolded peacefully, many police stood nearby and several ambulances were also present.

“No iqama (residence permit),” said one man who said he was seeking repatriation to Ethiopia. He said he had arrived in Saudi Arabia illegally a year ago after paying smugglers 5,000 Saudi riyals ($1,333) to make the dangerous trip over the Strait of Hormuz and overland through Yemen.

“There’s no money at home. Nothing at home,” he said, pulling a suitcase on wheels.
Saudi authorities hope to open up private sector jobs to their own citizens by sending illegal workers home. Hundreds of thousands have left in recent months, but several million have corrected their visas and will remain in Saudi Arabia.

Many say they could not take advantage of the amnesty due to bureaucratic problems or disputes with their original employers.

On Saturday the Labour Ministry announced it would continue to allow foreign workers to rectify their visas, but only if they paid fines for previous breaches of regulations.

More than 9 million of Saudi Arabia’s 28 million inhabitants are foreigners.

While many of those targeted in the crackdown entered the country legally but later broke the terms of their residence permits by changing jobs, many others were smuggled across the border or came as pilgrims and did not return home.
—
Related:
Ethiopia condemns Saudi crackdown (Press TV)
Ethiopia to Repatriate Migrants From Saudi Arabia (AFP)
Ethiopian migrant killed in Saudi crackdown (Al Jazeera)
Ethiopia Bans Citizens From Travelling Abroad for Work (BBC)

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Featured, Interviews

Brewing Change: Maryland’s Blessed Coffee Eyes Retail Market

November 10, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Updated: Monday, November 11th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) — If everything goes as planned the husband and wife team of Tebabu Assefa and Sara Mussie, co-founders of Blessed Coffee established three years ago in Silver Spring, Maryland under the state’s Benefit Corporation law, may soon open a new cottage cafe that offers not only premium Ethiopian coffee roasted on site, but also a community space where you can hold meetings, cooking classes, book reading clubs and other activities.

At a dinner last month celebrating the venture’s third anniversary at Addis Ababa restaurant in Silver Spring the couple announced their plans to expand the venture unveiling their “Brewing Change” crowdsourcing campaign for funds to build a prototype facility in Maryland that they hope to duplicate across the country. The gathering was attended by a diverse group of elected officials, business leaders, social entrepreneurs and activists — among them state Senator Jamie B. Raskin who authored Maryland’s Benefit Corporation law.

In an interview with Tadias Magazine Tebabu said that for the past three years they have been introducing their Blessed Coffee brand at coffee shops, farmers markets and festivals around Maryland. “We are now moving to the second phase, from wholesale to opening our own retail shop,” Tebabu added. The “Brewing Change” campaign was conceived in his living room by a group of 16 volunteers from various professions and cultural backgrounds that had met at his home every other week for nearly six months. “They are made up of men, women, young, old, Latinos, Black, White, you name it,” he said. “They are business experts, freelance writers, IT professionals, and community organizers.”

The driving factor behind the operation is neither charity nor profits exclusively, but a combination of both. As Tebabu puts it: “to create wealth while making a difference on both sides of the Atlantic.” He pointed out that coffee is the second most traded commodity next to oil, and that the market share is large enough to go around.

“We call our business model a ‘Virtues Exchange,’ he explained. The idea is to go beyond foreign aid and fair-trade through public-private partnerships that create jobs in America while empowering coffee farmers in Ethiopia as stakeholders in the transaction. In the process, he said, they also aim to educate the U.S market about the Ethiopian traditions of consuming coffee.

“My wife Sara reminded the gathering at Addis Ababa restaurant that in Ethiopia we drink coffee with a social purpose, in a relaxed fashion, with neighbors, friends and family to catch up with the latest news, gossip, and other happenings,” Tebabu told Tadias. “Here in America, on the other hand, people grab a cup to run.”

Tebabu said they plan to present their “grassroots social change model” at a local symposium in Silver Spring tentatively scheduled for January 2014 called “The African Diaspora Business Community Conference,” that they will host. “We are assembling local organizational partners that reflect the shifting paradigm in the Diaspora especially among the young generation,” he said. “We have already enlisted, for example, the dynamic organization, Young Ethiopian Professionals (YEP) and Qmem, a new business started by two Ethiopian American youth who were inspired by their trip to Ethiopia to do the same thing with spices as what we are trying to do with coffee.”

For now Blessed Coffee is enjoying invitations from Ethiopian and other organizations to present their coffee and ceremony at various cultural and religious events. Their latest was in New York when they were invited by the Ethiopian Israeli group Chassida Shmella to take part at last week’s Sigd service at Bnai Jeshurun Synagogue in Manhattan.

“It was magical,” said Tebabu of the ceremony marking the ancient Ethiopian Jewish festival (now a national holiday in Israel). “I was struck by how similar it was to Sigdet in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.”

Below is a video narrated by co-founder Sara Mussie explaining their mission.

Watch:

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You can learn more at www.blessedcoffee.us. Click here to meet the Brewing Change Team. See the Brewing Change Campaign at www.indiegogo.com.

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Featured

Africans Tweet on Ethiopian Press Freedom at African Media Leaders Forum

November 9, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Storify

By Africamedia CPJ

Africa’s media, business and political leaders met this week in Ethiopia, the second worst jailer of journalists and premier censor of internet freedom in Sub-Saharan Africa. During the two-day meeting they stirred up an unprecedented and vigorous debate about press freedom – or lack thereof.

The African media Leaders Forum is billed as Africa’s largest gathering of media chiefs and news industry stakeholders.

Click here to read tweets and see photos at Storify.com.
—
Related:
At African Media Leaders Forum in Addis, Press Freedom Isn’t Top Concern (VOA)
Addis Hosts African Media Leaders Forum (ERTA)
Africans Must Speak Up for Journalist Jailed in Ethiopia (The Guardian Africa Network)
2 Ethio-Mihdar journalists arrested for reporting on Corruption (CPJ)
Africa’s Journalists Honor Jailed Ethiopian Editor Woubshet Taye (CNN Photos)
The Challenges of Independent Media In Ethiopia: Tadias Interview With Ron Singer

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Events, Featured, News

Columbia University’s 7th Annual African Diplomatic Forum

November 7, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
Events News

Published: Thursday, November 7th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) – Tadias Magazine is proud to partner with Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) as media sponsor of the 7th annual African Diplomatic Forum (ADF), which will take place on Friday, November 22nd, 2013.

The SIPA Pan-African Network (SPAN) is a student group dedicated towards providing a platform for all students interested in business, economic, political, and social development of Africa and its diaspora. Every year they host and co-host two of Columbia University’s largest Africa focused events, the African Diplomatic Forum and African Economic Forum respectively. The forums provide great learning and networking opportunities for students, faculty, alumni, and working professionals passionate about the success of the continent.

A new generation of leaders in Africa is grappling with a number of challenges, old and new, across the continent. In the public sector, good governance paradigms are shifting and democratic processes are taking hold, yet problems of electoral corruption and public mistrust remain. In the private sector, foreign direct investment and liberal economic reform are on the rise at the same time that resource exploitation and the merits of local versus foreign market control are debated. Leaders in the non-profit and social welfare sectors must grapple with the changing role of foreign aid, emerging micro-finance and social enterprises, and the capacity of local organizations to combat poverty, health, hunger and education-related problems. New media and technology are changing the way millions of Africans communicate and connect with one another on a slew of social and economic issues. This conference will focus on how the nature of African leadership across the aforementioned sectors and in various industries and levels of government is changing in response to these new challenges and opportunities.

Questions that the conference will broadly address include:

What does a changing leadership landscape mean for governance reform and democracy, both at home and with regard to perceptions of African leadership abroad? How are private sector companies and international institutions responding to the need for increased investment in the context of new governance paradigms? How are young, business-minded leaders – many of them women – changing the face of social welfare, education and health programs? And what role might new media, cellphones, and other forms of network technology play in the execution of policy, the formation of new business, and the rise of new constituencies?

Panel specific content will focus on the role of women and gender in African leadership changes, the role of governance, law, and international institutions in fostering economic growth andsocial equality, the urgency of infrastructure investment and leaders’ role in encouraging it, and the role of new media in debates about development and reform on the continent.
—
If You Go:
Columbia University’s 7th Annual African Diplomatic Forum
Date: November 22, 2013
Time: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Location: Columbia SIPA, 15th Floor
420 W 118th St,
New York, NY, 10027
Click here to register.

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Featured

Four Killed in Bomb Blast as Ethiopia Raises Security Alert: Official

November 5, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Reuters

Updated: Wed Nov 6, 2013

ADDIS ABABA – Four people were killed when a bomb blast tore through a minibus in western Ethiopia late on Tuesday, at about the same time that the government warned of imminent attacks by militants, an official said.

The official, speaking to Reuters on Wednesday, said nobody had claimed responsibility for the blast.

Addis Ababa put its security forces on heightened alert on Tuesday night after receiving strong evidence that Somalia’s Islamist al Shabaab group was plotting assaults.

It was not clear whether the blast occurred before or after that warning.

“The bomb exploded on Tuesday inside a minibus travelling in Segno Gebeya,” government spokesman Shimeles Kemal said, referring to a region bordering Sudan.

“No one has claimed responsibility yet. The case is under investigation.”

The warning came three weeks after officials said two Somali suicide bombers accidentally blew themselves up while preparing for an attack on football fans during Ethiopia’s World Cup qualifying match against Nigeria.

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Featured

Africans Must Speak Up for Journalist Jailed in Ethiopia

November 5, 2013 Tadias Magazine

The Guardian

By Zakes Mda in Johannesburg

The award-winning Ethiopian journalist Eskinder Nega will turn 45 this month in Kaliti prison outside Addis Ababa whilst serving an 18-year sentence as a convicted terrorist. The government in Addis would have the world believe he is a reckless, even racist, agitator bent on violent revolution. Yet, a review of the evidence against him and his writings reveals a thoughtful and principled man whose only crime has been to urge, peacefully and publicly, Ethiopia’s rulers to deliver on their long broken promise of peaceful, democratic reform.

“Democracy is so important to Ethiopia, because we need it to moderate the differences between civilization and civilization,” Eskinder said in a 2010 interview. “I hope the EPRDF (the ruling party) will be pragmatic enough to realise reform would be the better option, even for itself,” he added. “I believe in forgiving… that we shouldn’t have any grudge against the EPRDF, despite what it has done. I believe that the best thing for the country is reconciliation. I believe in the South African experience, that model.”

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Art, Featured

Tadias Interview With Musician Mizan Kidanu

November 4, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Heran Abate

Updated: Friday, November 8th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) – The most striking thing about Mizan Kidanu, as I discovered soon after we sat down for this conversation, is her frankness about her creative journey in a fickle industry. Songwriter and artist, Mizan makes the type of music that is self-declaratory with an imposingly rich voice, scant in glitz yet decadent in the exploration of human emotion. I was compelled to discuss her music with her not only because I relate to it, but also to investigate what allowed her to make the leap of faith to pursue music as a career. I would soon learn that my approach needed some fine-tuning: a leap of faith implies a lone and momentary act of bravery, white heat of passion, starry-eyed certainty looking into the future.

Yet, Mizan’s account of moving to New York City two years ago to court her craft implies that ‘leap of faith’ does not have the consummate relief of being momentary, it is more of a sweeping undertaking to nurture embryonic wings into a tenacious wingspan. Her choice of relocation after graduating from college in Delaware was decisive in that it exposed her to whole ecosystems of musicians and showed her, from the benefit of other artists’ experiences, that talent is not the prerequisite of success. As in, establishing music as a career is not just about creating the music, it requires the business savvy to run a one-woman show however long it takes to delegate management and operations.

Interestingly, the unflinching consent to her trade does not leave evidence of strain or exhaustion on her music. In fact, it sounds as effortless as if she sat down at her piano and recorded in one go. Rather than frustrate her expression, the anxious and urgent call manifests itself as an element turned into art, a feeling that she simulates beautifully through jarring acoustics and abstract lyrics. For one, the title of her upcoming EP, Dark Blue, is a telling description of her music personified in a color. Ethereal and nuanced, dark if for no other reason than it is a deep-sea exploration of a shared human experience of ebbing and flowing emotions that are hidden under the surface of every day life.

She is versatile, spanning from free-styled covers of songs like “Crazy” by Cee-Lo Green, which to date has garnered upwards of 34,000 hits on YouTube, and original, more melancholy ones like “No Fool,” the first track on her new album. A number of record companies have been quick to take notice of the essential common denominator of her music, her singular voice adorned only by the elegance of visual and aural simplicity. So too have artist collectives and musical news outlets that have called her in for interviews. Back in April 2013 she won first place at Amateur Night at the Apollo for a sultry and resplendent cover of “Ain’t No Sunshine”.

Offstage, her community of friends who are filmmakers, illustrators and digital engineers enable the signature simplicity of her videos and crisp quality of her music’s sound engineering. This availability of in-kind resources, of valuable equipment and skill from her friends’ respective artistic endeavors, seams together an audiovisual experience that she invites her listeners into. The multiplicity of venues where she can perform in real-time and virtual social media outlets enable a feedback loop for her to grow in dialogue with her audience. In a word, New York City and the Internet provide a means to participate in a diversified economy built around a circulating production and consumption of music.

This is notable not least because the availability and establishment of such opportunities is just budding in the homeland. For the time being, Mizan’s career choice is to remain in the United States to develop her skills and market. Both the decision and its byproduct have received some criticism and concern at home. Popular wisdom has it that unless you study law, medicine or engineering, you are not quite fulfilling your duty to the development of your country. There is, of course, a certain irony in being a people whose celebratory heritage is rich with music and poetry where there is a taken-for-granted understanding that the culture will produce itself.

Perhaps the scorn is targeted more at the allocation of financial resources to the production of culture, a ‘secondary’ priority where primary ones like public health and education abound. While Mizan acknowledges the gravity of tangible contributions to development, she asserts that it is not mutually exclusive to the progress of culture. As she puts it, “just because it doesn’t solve world hunger, it doesn’t mean that it’s not a valuable pursuit”. One could add that, from an archival standpoint, a past moment in time is untouchable through the head-on lens of history. Conversely, art, music in this context, entices us to perceive time-specific essence indirectly by way of all our senses. What better way to mark moments in the course of societal progress?

Responsibilities to the homeland considered, Mizan points out that realizing a professional vision in the U.S. entertainment industry has its own challenges, namely resisting the ready-made molds that promise an incomplete success. She credits her Ethiopian upbringing for exercising the foresight to opt out of the waylaying frivolity in her trade. Ultimately, she admits that no obstacle course is more potent than self between her and her quest to “sing about the human condition, to reach people in their solitude.”

It is this very journey of exploring and mastering self that becomes the stuff of her music. No song is more indicative than “Anxious”. Through this latest single, she takes a taxing emotion, anxiety, and wraps it around bars and a vision to make something you can dance to. It marks the indecisive beat between a strident step in one direction and another. It shows vision frustrated by the subtle differences between the grays, the black and white; the whole picture is not revealed to you at once, it comes in flashes, blurs of a monochromatic optical illusion. Call it the practice of deliberate and resolute expression where uncertainty is the overwhelming principle. It is a slice of subjective reality that may just reflect your own.

Watch: Mizan – Anxious

Photographs: Mizan Kidanu at work and play. (Photos courtesy of the artist)

—
About the Author:
Heran Abate is a creative non-fiction writer. Born and raised in Ethiopia, she recently graduated from Wesleyan University where she studied Sociology and Hispanic Cultures and Literatures. She chronicles her own generation, the Millennials, for Tadias Magazine.

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Featured

Interview: Frehiwot Dado and Buzunesh Deba Ready for NYC Marathon

November 1, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Sabrina Yohannes

Published: Friday, November 1st, 2013

New York (TADIAS) — Frehiwot Dado and Buzunesh Deba have a lot in common. They finished in the top two places at the 2011 New York City marathon, with Frehiwot winning in 2:23:15 and Buzunesh finishing just four seconds later. They are both from the town of Asela in the central Ethiopian Arssi area, where they both belonged to the athletics club sponsored by the police force. And while chatting over a meal on Wednesday, a few days before running the 2013 NYC marathon on November 3, they found they share the same mortal fear.

“My biggest fear in life is snakes,” said Firehiwot. “I’ve never seen one, but I don’t even want to see them on TV.” The New York-based Buzunesh echoed the same fear, but she had encountered one on a training stint in Albuquerque, New Mexico. “The place is full of snakes!” she said, relaying an incident where she and her husband and trainer Worku Beyi went out running early in the morning, a time she thought the cooler weather would keep the reptiles away. “It was huge, as long as a crocodile, and it had doubled back on itself,” she said. “I screamed.” Worku picked up a can of Coca Cola off the lunch table. “The snake’s girth was about the size of this can,” he said. Buzunesh had never wanted to leave her beloved Bronx, where she lives and trains most of the year, anyway, and the encounter became one more reason to wish to head back. “I wanted out of New Mexico,” she said.

As Buzunesh described the snake, Firehiwot shuddered and looked away. “I don’t even like hearing the word ‘snake’,” she said. Apart from the despised serpent, she has few fears, and none going into a race in general or the upcoming New York marathon in particular. “Sometimes, people have unfortunate experiences,” she said. “One can choke on a swig of water, or get stitches, but you try to take precautions against such things,” she said. “Although racing is tough, you rely on your training and you hope to reap the results.”

Following the 2013 Boston marathon bomb explosions, security concerns are an inevitable topic of conversation at marathons and road races this year, but Frehiwot said she’s not worried about it. “I had heard of the Boston marathon [incident], and have seen it,” she said. “People from my country were running as well, but my focus at this marathon is to win, and I wasn’t in the least bit perturbed.”

Frehiwot and Buzunesh finished ahead of the then-reigning London marathon champion Mary Keitany of Kenya in the 2011 New York marathon, and the 2013 race features top Kenyans Edna Kiplagat, the two-time world and 2010 New York champion, and Priscah Jeptoo, the Olympic silver medalist and current London marathon winner. “Kiplagat is an amazing athlete, and I am her fan, but Buzunesh and I have been training tremendously, and we are hoping with the help of God that we will keep them in check,” said Frehiwot.

The two Ethiopians worked together to rein in and overhaul Keitany in 2011. “After a certain amount of distance, we started talking, and Buzunesh was getting me water,” said Firehiwot. “If there is anything I will never forget, it’s that day because Buzunesh and I grew up together. We were very close friends and running with her was the happiest day of my life. I love her very much.” The women had parted ways when they left Asela years ago, with Buzunesh eventually settling in New York, where the marathon brought them together. “Oh, 2011, I saw her on the list of names, and I was so happy,” said Buzunesh. “I missed her.”

The following year’s marathon was eventually canceled due to superstorm Sandy, but Firehiwot had been forced to pull out ahead of the race due to injury. “I got a blister on my heel,” she said. “Then, after having taken a break, I resumed with harder training.” She placed third in a half marathon in Lisbon on October 6, her last race before Sunday’s marathon. “I wasn’t so well-prepared for it, as I was training for this marathon,” said the 2012 NYC half marathon champion and course record-holder. “Since then, my training has been good, praise God.”

“The speed endurance work has increased,” her coach Haji Adilo said, comparing her current training and readiness to 2011. “The mileage is the same and the rest is more or less the same. But since the speed endurance work covered in training is harder, my guess is that she can run better.”

“I’d like to run faster than last time, as that was my personal best,” said Firehiwot. “It’s a tough race, and there are strong competitors. I know I have to watch my pace and run a smart race.”

The 2011 Los Angeles and San Diego marathon champion Buzunesh also ran a personal best in New York that year, something she has aimed to do at successive marathons. “This time too, God willing, I hope to improve my personal best,” she said. “But if the others are running at an excessively high pace, I’ll stay on my own pace and won’t follow them.”

Her years since 2011 have also included injury, causing her to pull out of the 2012 Boston marathon, where Firehiwot was fourth, the only non-Kenyan in the top six. Buzunesh ran the 2013 Houston marathon in January. “Before the race, especially three days before it, I wasn’t feeling well,” she said. “I had abdominal pain and bloating. But I guess because I was well-prepared, I still managed to run well, and was second in 2:24. I was very pleased with the results.”

She won a 7-mile race in Spokane, Washington in May. “One week later, I strained a muscle in my right leg,” she said. “I didn’t train for one month and one week.” She ran a few shorter road races after recovering and has since been training for New York. “I have prepared very well,” she said. “If God gives me the strength, I’m hoping for victory.”

Then she and her companions all laughed as she added: “Everyone is looking for victory. I want to win, she wants to win.” The three-time former Rome marathon winner Firehiwot, who has remained the NYC defending champion for two years due to the 2012 cancellation, concurred. “I’ve trained hard and pray that God would help me to be successful,” she said.

Winning in athletics is something Firehwiot dreamed of as a youngster, with no less a local role model than the legendary two-time Olympic champion and former marathon world record-holder Haile Gebrselassie, who is also from Asela and who serves as inspiration for all Ethiopian athletes of recent decades. “Haile is an amazing athlete whom we love and admire, and since he’s from our hometown we are even prouder of him,” said Firehiwot. “We all wanted to be him.”

Frehiwot lives and trains in the Ethiopian capital currently and doesn’t head back to Asela too often. “I was born there and grew up there, and my mother and father are there, but they come and stay with me,” she said. Buzunesh has also not been back in a long time, but the two chatted about local developments, like the Asela stadium that replaced the old dirt track they knew. “I see photos when my friends who are there post them on Facebook,” said Buzunesh. Their family members there will be watching the New York City marathon on satellite television, the women said.

“We’ll write a new chapter on Sunday, I hope!” said Firehiwot with a laugh.
—
Related:
Top 5 Women To Watch At 2013 NYC Marathon on Sunday
Top-5 International Men To Watch At 2013 New York City Marathon
—
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Featured

Head of European Soccer Wants World Cup Expansion to Make Room for Africa & Asia

October 29, 2013 Tadias Magazine

The Telegraph

By Ben Rumsby

Michel Platini will push for the World Cup finals to be expanded from 32 to 40 teams and is confident Fifa will back what would be the most significant change to the tournament in two decades.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter last week called for more African and Asian representation at football’s biggest event, something that was widely regarded as a call for the number of European teams to be cut.

But Uefa counterpart Platini has turned the argument on its head by revealing he wants to add eight countries to the mix, two from Africa, two from Asia, two from North and Central America, one from Oceania and one from Europe.

Platini told The Times: “I totally agree with Mr Blatter that we need more African and Asian [countries]. But instead of taking away some European, we have to go to 40 teams.”

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Featured

FIFA Member States by Continent Versus Allocations for the World Cup

October 28, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Published: Monday, October 28th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) — Today FIFA, the governing body that organizes the World Cup, counts 54 countries hailing from Africa. From Tunsia to South Africa and from Nigeria to Ethiopia, soccer is by far the most popular sport in the continent. Yet, when it comes to representation at World Cup competitions, Africa has been shortchanged by FIFA ever since the first World Cup was held in the 1930s without any African participation. Granted that was 83 years ago when most of the continent was still under the yoke of colonialism, but does it make sense that in 2013 Europe has 13 slots reserved, while out of the 53 African nations that took part in the preliminary competitions only five will make the cut for Brazil next year?

The current President of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, does not think so. “This flawed state of affairs must be rectified,” Blatter said in a recent letter published in the organization’s weekly magazine. “Africa, the confederation with the most member associations (54), is woefully under-represented at the World Cup.” He added: “As long as this remains the case African sides may never win an intercontinental trophy, regardless of progress on the playing side…At the end of the day an equal chance for all is the paramount imperative of elite sport.”

Historically only 13 African teams have made it to the World Cup in the last eight decades: Cameroon (6 times), Morocco (4 times), Tunisia (4 times), Nigeria (4 times), Algeria (3 times), South Africa (3 times), Egypt (twice), Ghana (twice), Ivory Coast (twice), Zaire, Senega1, Angola and Togo (once each).

At the moment, however, the top ten teams battling it out for the limited prime spots at the globe’s most popular sporting event include: Ethiopia, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Senegal, Tunisia, Cameroon, Ghana, and Egypt. We will know the top five finishers by the end of November.

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Featured

Telescopes at Entoto Have Students, Astronomers Seeing Stars

October 26, 2013 Tadias Magazine

International Business Times

By Jacey Fortin

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — If you’re in Africa and want to get a good look at the reaches of outer space, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better vantage point than the top of Entoto, a mountain on the outskirts of Ethiopia’s capital city of Addis Ababa. Up there, 10,499 feet (3,200 meters) above sea level, the air is thin and cloud cover is minimal for most of the year. Stargazers’ annoyances — tall buildings, street lamps and bright car headlights — are virtually nonexistent.

It’s prime real estate for the Ethiopian Space Science Society, which is building an observatory on Entoto that will feature two massive optical telescopes. The project will bring this East African country one step closer to developing a formal space program.

Thursday marked the installation of a silver dome that will house one of the two telescopes. A towering crane hoisted the dome from the ground, and workers secured it atop a small concrete building. The cavity where the telescope is meant to sit remains empty — but not for long. Scientists at the facility expect both telescopes to be delivered and begin functioning within a matter of weeks.

Read more at ibtimes.com.
—
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Featured

Africa’s Tech Innovators Show Off at ‘Demo Africa’ in Nairobi (Video)

October 24, 2013 Tadias Magazine

VOA News

By Gabe Joselow

NAIROBI, KENYA — From games to mobile payment systems, entrepreneurs from across Africa are getting together in Nairobi, Kenya, to pitch their high-tech innovations to potential investors and partners. Some of the newest trends are on display at Demo Africa.

By his stall at the back of the showroom floor, Bayo Puddicombe of Nigeria plays a bus-driving game on his phone as he touts a new mobile payment system called ChopUP.

“ChopUP is a social platform that helps local developers to monetize using locally available payment messages, such as premium SMS and mobile money,” said Puddicombe.

The game shows how one can go to a “garage” for a bus and buy upgrades by using ChopUP to send the payment through existing mobile money transfer services.

Puddicombe said the idea came to him following some early disappointments when he first tried to launch the game.

“I made it available on the Nokia store for $1, six months later, I had seven downloads. It wasn’t the brightest spot on my existence, but we realized that most of our target audience didn’t have credit cards and all that, they didn’t have the means to do those kinds of transactions,” he said.

Creative, useful products

The companies launching products here at Demo Africa range from new social media platforms, event organizing applications and many new ways to buy things online.

The event’s producer, Harry Hare, said organizers had to select the best products from more than 300 applications.

“So what we do is we curate them from different countries, then we take them through a whole process of adjudication and preparation, and find the best 40 out of those and we bring them to launch in Nairobi,” said Hare.

Hare said he has noticed a theme of more hardware products being showcased compared to the previous year, when mobile applications and software dominated. Among them is an on-demand streaming media player from Kenya’s Able Wireless Company. The company’s CEO, Kahenya Kamunya, explained how it works.

“You get a black box, plug it into your TV set, put it into power, it connects to a Wi-Fi network and basically starts streaming content. So you get to choose what you want to watch on demand, you have a remote control, search, press ‘ok’ and you’re good to go,” he said.

Kamunya said the little plastic box will be assembled in Kenya. It costs a little less than $100, and can provide Internet in addition to streaming movies, news and other video content.

“If you don’t have access to Internet and there’s no existing infrastructure there, we bring the infrastructure to your neighborhood and this device will be able to connect to our infrastructure, so you’ll ideally just need the box,” he said.

Able Wireless already has $1.5 million in funding for the product, which Kamunya expects to launch next month.

Other companies here at Demo Africa are hoping to raise a bit more money for their products, or find partners to help distribute or further develop their ideas.

Watch: Africa’s Tech Innovators Show Off at ‘Demo Africa’ in Nairobi

—
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Art, Featured

8 Ethiopian Artists Bringing East Africa to the Future (MTV)

October 22, 2013 Tadias Magazine

MTV

By Marlon Bishop

Electrified lyres. Auto-tuned vocal acrobatics. Undulating digital synths. Extremely funky dance moves, all happening above the shoulders. Those are just a few of the awesome things to expect when you go to see an Ethiopian pop music concert in 2013.

African pop music is steadily gaining exposure abroad as Nigerian afrobeats take over Europe, azonto goes viral and South African rappers get big record deals. Yet up in the Northeast corner of Africa, nothing of the sort is happening. The modern music of Ethiopia is very little known outside the country and its diaspora. That’s a shame, because Ethiopian music is amazing and sounds like nothing else on the continent — or in the rest of the world, for that matter.

If Ethiopia sounds different from the rest of Africa, that’s because the country is pretty different. It was the center of some of Africa’s most powerful historical empires, home to one of the world’s oldest Christian communities, and the only African territory (other than Liberia) to stay independent through the colonial era. Ethiopian languages are written in their own cool-looking alphabet. Culturally, it’s long been influenced by the Middle East, North Africa and the Indian Ocean as well as the rest of Africa. Chances are you’ve tried that spongy injera bread once or twice.

Most people familiar with Ethiopian music know it for the “ethio-jazz” sound which thrived in 1970s Addis Ababa, during the final years of Emperor Haile Selassie’s reign. Musicians like Mulatu Astatke took American jazz and soul and refashioned it with the eerie, ancient-sounding pentatonic scales of Ethiopian traditional music, with swinging results.The sound has made popular abroad by the 28-disc Ethiopiques series put out by the French Buda Musique label over the last decade. Ethiopiques piqued the interest of beatniks the world over and has inspired a number of revivalist groups, like Daptone Records‘ Budos Band.

While bands in New York and Tokyo relive the 1970s, Ethiopia has moved on to make pop music for the present day. Those same ancient scales and melismatic vocals are there, but instead of jazz, the tracks are influenced by tinges of synthy funk, reggae and R&B. It’s a sound that was developed to a large degree by a guy named Abegaz Shiota, a Japanese-Ethiopian producer who has cut records for virtually every major Ethiopian pop singer over the past few decades. For much of that time, Shiota worked out of the Ethiopian community in Washington DC, where the music scene largely relocated during the military dictatorship years of the 70s and 80s.

“There’s a really strong focus on vocals and lyricism,” says Danny Mekonnen, leader of the Boston based “ethio-groove” group Debo Band. Mekonnen says he’s not crazy about the reliance on digital synth sounds in the musical arrangements, but he thinks there’s still a lot to love about Ethiopian pop. “A lot of artists are taking pop music forward by pulling elements from the past, not in a nostalgic way, but honoring the past to create something new.”

Unlike many other regions of Africa, where hip-hop and other foreign styles are coming to dominate the soundscape, Ethiopia sticks close to its roots in sound and style. A lot of younger artists are even including the traditional masengo fiddle and krar lyre on the tracks, playing along with the high-flying synthesizers. And while it’s true that the production-quality can be a bit chintzy, the success of South African Shangaan electro music and digital-traditional artists like Omar Souleyman has proven that younger “world music” audiences can get into the lo-fi aesthetics of the developing world. If you find yourself able to get down, Ethiopian pop music is hypnotizing and hot all at once.

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Featured, News

Ethiopia’s First International Marathon Draws Crowds to ‘Land of Runners’

October 21, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Agence France-Presse

By Jenny Vaughan

HAWASSA, Ethiopia – The sun had barely risen but the cool morning air was buzzing with excitement: 350 participants had gathered in Ethiopia, the land of runners, for the country’s first international marathon organized by athletics legend Haile Gebrselassie.

Sunday’s (October 20) race, which drew 150 elite Ethiopian athletes and about 150 foreign “fun runners”, promises to boost professionalism in a country that has produced scores of world-class runners, many of whom started running barefoot along dusty country roads.

“Believe me, we can produce more big names, we can produce more marathon runners, more Olympic champions, world champion and world record holders,” said Gebrselassie, two-time marathon record-breaker and 10,000 Olympic champion.

Lelisa Desisa Delivers an Ethiopian Victory Amidst Sporting Disappointments

October 15, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Sabrina Yohannes

Published: Tuesday, October 15th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) – On a day that began with optimism and ended with crushing defeats for fans of Ethiopian sports in the United States, the athletics world marathon silver medalist Lelisa Desisa delivered victory for the nation at the BAA Half Marathon in Boston, where he had triumphed over twice the distance six months earlier.

The 2013 Boston marathon champion Lelisa set a course record of 1 hour and 34 seconds (1:00:34) in winning the BAA race on Sunday October 13, ahead of Kenya’s Daniel Salel and Stephen Sambu, who were both given a time of 1:00:41. Lelisa pulled ahead in the 11th mile of the 13.1 mile race.

“I wasn’t feeling well as a result of a cold I caught, but I ran as well as I could,” said Lelisa, who has a 2011 personal best of 59:30 for the distance, and ran 2:04:45 in winning the 2013 Dubai marathon at the head of an Ethiopian sweep of the men’s and women’s race there. Lelisa also overcame illness to medal in his third marathon of the year at the Moscow world championships in August, where he was sick after eating his breakfast on the day of the race.

“After this, my only plan as far as marathons are concerned is to return to Boston, but there will be other races like half marathons,” said Lelisa, who is not planning to defend his Dubai title in January.

On Sunday, his race began at 8am local time, and 30 minutes later, the gun went off at the Chicago marathon, where Ethiopia’s former world cross country junior champion and Dubai marathon champion Ayele Abshero was a contender and Atsede Baysa was the defending women’s champion. At 9am Eastern United States time, Ethiopia’s soccer team kicked off its 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Nigeria in Addis Ababa, with U.S. coverage beginning at 8:50am.

“I thought Ethiopia would win, I would win, and in Chicago, I thought Ayele would be a strong contender,” said Lelisa.

By morning’s end, however, no Ethiopians had made the podium in Chicago, where Ayele placed sixth and Atsede fifth; and after Ethiopia held off the African champion Nigerian team, remaining tied at 1-1 until the 89th minute of the regulation 90-minute game, Nigeria scored a penalty goal to hand Ethiopia a crushing defeat at home.

“I was watching the game closely,” said Lelisa, who is himself a continental champion, having won the 2011 All Africa Games half marathon. “I was watching on the internet, on the Oromia channel. It was going so well until the penalty kick.”

Like his countrymen all over the U.S., Lelisa was consumed by the game. “Ethiopians here had it on,” he said. “As soon as I finished the race, we were watching on a mobile phone, right there, at the race location, near the medal ceremony. In the beginning, when we scored a goal, I was so happy, and while we were hoping for them to add another goal, the other side scored, and then came the penalty goal.”

Ethiopia scored the first goal in the second half of the game with Nigeria tying the score shortly thereafter. “I expected that our team would somehow win, but as luck would have it, the opposition prevailed,” said Lelisa, who downplayed any offsetting effect his own victory may have against the day’s other losses in much bigger and more widely-watched contests. “The half marathon is my specialty, I’ve run it for many years, I know what kind of shape I’m running in – even if I did happen to catch a cold in the preceding week – I know what kind of shape I was in,” he said.

“But Ethiopia, and football!” he added, his emphasis conveying the passions that surround the game in the nation, despite it being a land of legendary runners. “I was sure that because of the home advantage and the climate, and because we had had a draw against them before, and our team has since gotten much stronger, our team could win.”

Ethiopia has never made it to the World Cup and its last victory in the African Cup of Nations came in 1962, making its 2013 position historic. Nigeria, meanwhile, is the reigning continental champion, had four World Cup appearances since 1994, and took Olympic football gold in 1996 and silver in 2008.

But Ethiopian optimism was boosted by the national Walia Antelopes team’s run of late and its record in home games. Prior to Sunday, the nation had won all four of its matches in Addis Ababa in the quest for a 2014 World Cup berth, including its game against South Africa. And although Nigeria has the upper hand in head-to-heads between the two countries regardless of the venue, Ethiopia also recorded two notable prior results in home matches against the West African nation, winning 1-0 in 1993 and drawing a 2-2 tie in 2011 during African Cup of Nations qualifying matches.

“It was a good performance,” said Lelisa of the Walias’ game Sunday. “I mean, they’ve been improving from the past. It’s just that the opposing team came and defeated us at home, but really, it was a good performance.” There were notable Ethiopian athletic performances elsewhere in the world on Sunday. In the Netherlands, Yemane Tsegaye led an Ethiopian sweep at the Eindhoven marathon, and Yenew Alamirew won over 4 miles with former marathon world record holder Haile Gebrselassie dipping down in distance to take third. And Ethiopia will have another chance to play against Nigeria to determine which country goes to next summer’s soccer World Cup in Brazil; but the Nigerian powerhouse which is already ahead will enjoy the home team advantage in that November 16 qualification match, making Ethiopia’s loss on Sunday a critical blow.

Lelisa’s first Boston win, in the April 15 marathon, came on a day that was devastating in a literal sense, when bombs exploded on the race course, hours after the elite runners’ race ended. When he returned two months later for the June 23 BAA 10K, Lelisa expressed his sympathy by giving his marathon medal to the city of Boston, where his gesture was appreciated.

His world championship medal run on August 17 in Moscow, however, was followed by his teammate Tadesse Tola’s marathon bronze medal and his compatriots Meseret Defar’s gold and Almaz Ayana’s bronze in the women’s 5000 meters on the same day, after which the team was given a hero’s welcome in Addis Ababa on August 21. “It was a wonderful reception,” said Lelisa. “They didn’t even want us dispersing to our homes and put us up in a hotel, and in the morning, a bus took us around the streets where people stood and cheered.”

On Sunday, Lelisa also received cheers from Bostonians, and he’ll be looking to be the first to receive the same cheers at the end of another major marathon there on April 21, 2014.
—
Related:
World Cup 2014: Ethiopia 1-2 Nigeria (Video Highlights)
Lelisa Desisa at home in record win (Boston Herald)

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Featured

Update: Africa’s Journalists Honor Jailed Editor Woubshet Taye

October 14, 2013 Tadias Magazine

By Sue Valentine/CPJ Africa Program Coordinator

Updated: Wednesday, October 16th, 2013

Journalists and media owners across Africa gave Ethiopian journalist Woubshet Taye a standing ovation in Cape Town on Saturday night at the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2013, but he wasn’t there to see it. Instead his wife and son accepted the Free Press Award on his behalf.

Part of the citation for the award reads: “Ethiopia is a jewel in the African crown for its beauty, its people, its history and, most recently, for its astonishing growth rates. It is the judges’ view that journalists like Woubshet Taye and his colleagues Reeyot Alemu and Eskinder Nega should be out of prison and working to build the prosperity and the freedom of a new Ethiopia. The judges make this award in recognition of Mr. Taye’s work and in solidarity with his condition.”

Presenting the award to Berhane Tesfaye and the couple’s not-quite-five-year-old son, who were dressed in matching white and blue outfits, chair of the judging panel and editor-in-chief of the South African weekly City Press Ferial Haffajee said it was disappointing that “once again there were too many cases” for the judges to consider in this category, which recognizes “excellence and provides support to African journalists who report at continuing risk to their lives and safety.”

Woubshet, deputy editor of the Awramba Times, has been in jail for more than two years. He was detained in June 2011and held incommunicado before being convicted on terrorism charges and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment in January 2012. After Woubshet’s arrest, the paper stopped publishing in Ethiopia and the editor fled into exile. Accepting the award on his behalf, Berhane Tesfaye said her husband was grateful for the solidarity and received the award in the name of all journalists who are oppressed.

In April this year, Ethiopian authorities moved Woubshet to the remote Ziway prison about 83 miles (160 kilometers) from the capital Addis Ababa. His wife said that although it is a long way to travel, she is usually able to visit her husband every two weeks. However, she said that Woubshet’s parents–his father is 102 and his mother 90–are too old to make the journey. In September, Woubshet’s application for a presidential pardon was rejected, according to news sources.

The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards began in 1995. A panel of 10 independent judges selected finalists and winners in 14 categories before naming an overall 2013 winner.

Below are tweets and photos from the event.

Free Press Africa Award goes to Award: Collected by Beshane Tesfaye Alema on behalf Woubshet Taye, Ethiopia #africanawards

— AfricanJournoAwards (@AfricanJourno) October 12, 2013

Standing ovation for jailed #Ethiopia journalist Woubshet Taye #CNN Free Press Award, CapeTown. Wife & child accept award. @africamedia_CPJ

— sue valentine (@stumblestone) October 12, 2013

Most moving #africanawards moment: wife and young son of jailed Ethiopian journalist Woubshet Taye accepting award on his behalf.

— Bridget Pringle (@bridgetfpringle) October 12, 2013

(CNN Photo)

The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards is the most prestigious and respected Award for journalists across the African Continent. (CNN)

CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year Awards 2013 Finalists. (CNN photo)

See more photos at: https://www.facebook.com/CNNMultichoiceAfricanJournalistOfTheYearAwards.
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Featured, Interviews

SoleRebels Wins Domain Name Dispute Against Owner of Oliberte

October 13, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Updated: Monday, September 14th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) — The Ethiopian footwear company SoleRebels, known for its brand of eco-friendly shoes and sandals hand-made in Ethiopia, has won an arbitration proceeding in a domain name dispute against Toronto resident Tal Dehtiar, who had registered the URL “solerebels.com” and is the owner of Oliberte shoe company with a factory in Ethiopia.

On August 27, 2013, U.S.-based attorneys representing SoleRebels filed a complaint against the Canadian individual with the National Arbitration Forum that helps resolve domain name disputes in accordance with the Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP). The lawyer for SoleRebels (Alex P. Garens of Grossman, Tucker, Perreault & Pfleger PLLC of New Hampshire) alleges that Tal Dehtiar had hijacked the e-commerce address of his African competition. Last week, the Arbitration Forum sided with SoleRebels transferring the domain name to the Ethiopian company.

“It was with great shock and revulsion that we found that Tal Dehtiar, the owner of Oliberte, had registered the soleRebels.com domain and then redirected all web traffic to his company’s website selling their shoes,” Bethlehem Alemu, Founder and CEO of Sole Rebels, told Tadias Magazine. “This act was deliberate sabotage designed to hurt our company and our brand.”

In response to Tadias’ query about the case, Tal Dehtiar admitted that he had personally registered the SoleRebels.com domain name earlier this summer. “The website SoleRebels.com was available a few months back during a random search I did online,” he told Tadias Magazine. “It was bought by me personally, not Oliberte, without any intention to harm, upset or use it against SoleRebels.” Bethlehem stated that the arbitration panel has found the latter to be “false.” In fact, Bethlehem said, Tal Dehtiar had visited the Sole Rebels facility in Addis Ababa as far back as 2009 in advance of launching his own shoe factory called Oliberte Limited Ethiopia Branch.

“It must be understood that Tal Dehtiar did not appear out of the blue,” Bethlehem said. “He has known SoleRebels for many years prior to starting his company. The same person who illicitly registered our trademarked name as his own domain posed as a buyer so he could gain access to myself and to survey along with his staff our operations on site over a period of weeks.” She added: “This latest and gravest incident, is simply the culmination of a variety of insidious acts that Oliberte has tried against us.”

Dehtiar said he purchased the domain name for $500 via a 7-day auction on Godaddy.com on June 22, 2013. “If the website was so important to SoleRebels, I would have assumed they would have tried to buy it asap, but they didn’t,” he claimed. “Even now, if you try and look for solerebelsfootwear.com it is actually available via auction.” He added: “You would think that would be a website they would try and buy asap too, and should you write about this, I’d encourage you to recommend them to buy that website, before someone gets it.”

Dehtiar denied visiting the SoleRebels’ factory on false pretense. “I never ‘posed’ as a customer,” Dehtiar said. “I had a genuine interest in buying their product, but for some key reasons, it did not work out.” He added: “I did end up buying and working with three other factories in Addis, which were able to produce our specific style under our brand name, which was always key to any partnership for us in Ethiopia.”

However, the complaint lodged by SoleRebels with the National Arbitration Forum asserts that Tal Dehtiar has no rights or legitimate interests in the SoleRebels’ domain name because he has no rights in the SoleRebels trademark. The complainant (SoleRebels’ parent company BOSTEX, PLC) further argues that Tal Dehtiar is not making a legitimate noncommercial or fair use of SoleRebels’ domain.

“Registering and using a domain name that is your competitor’s registered trademark for the sole purpose of redirecting their traffic to your website is about as low down as it gets,” Bethlehem said.

Bethlehem emphasized that Tal Dehtiar was very much aware that soleRebels is a globally registered trademark in the footwear market. “This deliberate act therefore not only violates the Anti Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act and the Lanham Act, but more fundamentally it also violated the fair trade standards regarding IP and Anti-competitive actions designed to harm another businesses,” she said. “For Ethiopia and Africa to truly prosper, creating potent homegrown globally successful brands is key and protecting those brands is an equally crucial piece of that endeavor.”

In explaining his side of the story Dehtiar shared: “At any rate, once we heard form SoleRebels that they were not happy, I tried 3-4 times to contact them and even their business agent in Canada directly to give them the website at our cost and to close this matter.” He indicated that the dispute had escalated into a Facebook fight. “They refused to respond and preferred to use lawyers,” he said.

The National Arbitration Forum’s decision on this matter is final and it found that Tal Dehtiar registered and used SoleRebel.com in bad faith.

“Today soleRebels showed the world just how serious we are about protecting our business name,” Bethlehem said. “And in the process sent a very clear warning message that we will use all the legal leverage at our disposal to stop anyone who tries to mis-appropriate our Intellectual Property. It isn’t the first time someone has tried to threaten our Intellectual Property and we know it won’t be the last. But at least the record is clear – mess with our brand and we will take action against you. And win.”
—
Related:
National Arbitration Forum Decision: BOSTEX, PLC v. Tal Dehtiar

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Featured

UPDATE: World Cup 2014: Ethiopia 1-2 Nigeria (Video Highlights)

October 13, 2013 Tadias Magazine

BBC Sport

By Piers Edwards

Nigeria survived a scare in Addis Ababa as the African champions rallied to beat Ethiopia 2-1 in the opening leg of their World Cup play-off.

The hosts were the superior team for the first hour and led after 56 minutes as Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama misjudged a cross from Behailu Assefa.

Nigeria, who were not at their best, equalised through Emmanuel Emenike’s ferocious drive after 67 minutes.

Emenike then won and scored a penalty late on to secure the win.

The match was in the 90th minute when Aynalem Hailu needlessly brought the Nigerian down, allowing the Turkey-based striker to coolly slot home a decisive goal.

Read more at BBC News.
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Featured

Ethiopia, Africa’s Sleeping Soccer Giant, Starts to Stir (The New York Times)

October 10, 2013 Tadias Magazine

The New York Times

By BENNO MUCHLER

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Less than a week before the most important match in its history, Ethiopia’s national soccer team trained on a wet, uneven field on the outskirts of the capital. Nearby, a woman hung her wash on a clothesline. Birds of prey circled overhead, and sometimes a plane flew past at low altitude, coming from the capital’s busy airport, which a few months ago added a connection to Rio de Janeiro.

The timing could not have been better. Ethiopia will face Nigeria on Sunday in the first leg of one of five home-and-home playoffs that will determine the five African teams in next summer’s World Cup in Brazil. A few years after it was barred from even attempting to qualify for the 2010 World Cup, Ethiopia is two games from reaching the tournament for the first time.

Mulatu Teshome Elected As Ethiopia’s New President

October 7, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Dagnachew Teklu

Published: Monday, October 7th, 2013

Washington D.C. (TADIAS) — The Ethiopian parliament has elected Dr. Mulatu Teshome Wirtu to serve as Ethiopia’s President for the next six years.

Dr. Mulatu replaces the outgoing Girma Wolde-Giorgis who has held the position for the past 12 years.

Mulatu, a 57-year-old economist, was Ethiopia’s top diplomat in Ankara, Turkey prior to his election as President on Monday, October 7th, 2013. Mulatu has also served as Ethiopia’s ambassador to China and Japan, as well as several other government posts including as Ethiopia’s Minister of Agriculture. The new president, a father of one son, said he is humbled by the appointment and vowed to work hard to speed up the the country’s development.

Mulatu is the fourth president since the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) took power some 21 years ago. The ruling party controls 546 out of 547 seats in the Ethiopian parliament, and the lone opposition parliament member, Girma Seifu, represents the Unity for Democracy and Justice Party (UDJ).

Video: Dr. Mulatu Teshome becomes new president of Ethiopia

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Related:
Ethiopia parliament elects Mulatu Teshome as new president (AFP)

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Events, Featured

Sincerely Ethiopia Documentary to Screen at University of Maryland

October 6, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
Events News

Updated: Monday, October 7th, 2013

Washington, D.C. (TADIAS) — The University of Maryland Ethiopian Student Association will be hosting the screening of the new documentary Sincerely Ethiopia on Thursday, October 17th at 6:30pm at Hoff Theater in Stamp Student Union.

The film, which is written and directed by up-and-coming filmmaker Nathan Araya, highlights the efforts by a mixed generation of Ethiopian social entrepreneurs and activists from the Diaspora and at home determined to change Ethiopia’s global image from that of a poster country for famine, disease, poverty and instability to that of a nation on the rise.

Blain Belayneh, the DC Representative for Sincerely Ethiopia, says the film features the lives of ordinary people who are addressing the ongoing challenges of HIV/Aids, homelessness, illiteracy, disability and other pressing social issues. “The documentary will encompass everything from philanthropy, art, business, fashion, and healthcare as different avenues that are changing lives of countless Ethiopians,” Blain said. “Our aim in this piece is to tell these stories and showcase the beauty of people overcoming odds to make a change in their country in this generation.”

Watch: Sincerely Ethiopia Documentary Trailer

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If You Go:

"Sincerely Ethiopia" FREE documentary screening on October 17th!!! pic.twitter.com/mkOkVEL7em

— Ethiopian Student A. (@UMCP_ESA) October 6, 2013

You can learn more about the film at www.sincerelyethiopia.com.

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Featured

Is ICC Racist? Reviewing The Docket for Crimes Against Humanity

October 4, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Published: Friday, October 4th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) – When Ghanian Judge Akua Kuenheyia, Vice-President of the International Criminal Court since 2003, spoke last November at Duke University about ICC and its impact on law and democracy in Africa, she could not have imagined that less than a year later a group of African politicians would stage a threat of mass withdrawal from the court in protest that the majority of those listed in the dockets hail from the continent. Some heads of state have even gone as far as describing the court as being on a “racist” witch hunt against black people.

A quick review of the 20 cases in 8 situations that have been brought before the International Criminal Court since its inception ten years ago on March 11th, 2003 indeed reveal that most of the indictments stem from the African continent — including the senseless violence that took place in Darfur, Sudan; Libya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Mali and the 2007-08 post-election violence in Kenya. One of the most notorious fugitives on the list include Joseph Kony of Uganda, who is wanted on multiple counts of crimes against humanity in regards to his role as the head of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) that is accused of mass killing, torture and enslavement of people including children. The current President of Sudan, Lieutenant General Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir, was also indicted on March 4th, 2009 on five counts of crimes against humanity and two counts of war crimes for his parts related to the Darfur conflict.

It’s fair to note, however, that the ICC, which is an independent entity financed by member states and voluntary contributions, came to existence in the past decade on the heels of the Rwandan genocide that in the mid-nineties had taken the lives of more than half a million people in a matter of 100 days. In its recent compilation of frequently asked questions about the legal institution, the Council on Foreign Relations highlights that the International Criminal Court is based on a principle of complementarity: “This means that the ICC can only act when a national court is unable or unwilling to carry out a prosecution itself because the ICC was not created to supplant the authority of the national courts. However, when a state’s legal system collapses or when a government is a perpetrator of heinous crimes, the ICC can exercise jurisdiction.”

Furthermore, based on the statute established at the United Nations conference in Rome on July 17, 1998, the prosecutor “can initiate an investigation on the basis of a referral from any State Party or from the United Nations Security Council. In addition, the Prosecutor can initiate investigations proprio motu on the basis of information on crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court received from individuals or organizations (“communications”).”

Below is a list of pending cases before the international court courtesy of ICC.

Situation in Uganda

The case The Prosecutor v. Joseph Kony, Vincent Otti, Okot Odhiambo and Dominic Ongwen is currently being heard before Pre-Trial Chamber II. In this case, five warrants of arrest have been issued against [the] five top members of the Lords Resistance Army (LRA). Following the confirmation of the death of Mr Lukwiya, the proceedings against him have been terminated. The four remaining suspects are still at large.

Situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

In this situation, five cases have been brought before the relevant Chambers: The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo; The Prosecutor v. Bosco Ntaganda; The Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga; The Prosecutor v. Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui; The Prosecutor v. Callixte Mbarushimana; and The Prosecutor v. Sylvestre Mudacumura. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, Germain Katanga and Bosco Ntaganda are currently in the custody of the ICC. Sylvestre Mudacumura remains at large.

Trial Chamber I convicted Mr Lubanga Dyilo on 14 March 2012. The trial in this case, The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, had started on 26 January 2009. On 10 July 2012, he was sentenced to a total period of 14 years of imprisonment. The time he spent in the ICC’s custody will be deducted from this total sentence. On 7 August 2012, Trial Chamber I issued a decision on the principles and the process to be implemented for reparations to victims in the case. All three decisions are currently subject to appeal.

The trial in the case of The Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui started on 24 November 2009. Closing statements in the case were heard from 15 to 23 May 2012. On 21 November 2012, Trial Chamber II decided to sever the charges against Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui and Germain Katanga. On 18 December 2012, Trial Chamber II acquitted Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui of the charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity and ordered his immediate release. On 21 December 2012, Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui was released from custody. The Office of the Prosecutor has appealed the verdict.

The verdict regarding German Katanga will be delivered at a later stage.

The confirmation of charges hearing in the case The Prosecutor v. Callixte Mbarushimana took place from 16 to 21 September 2011. On 16 December 2011, Pre-Trial Chamber I decided by Majority to decline to confirm the charges against Mr Mbarushimana. Mr Mbarushimana was released from the ICC’s custody on 23 December 2011, upon the completion of the necessary arrangements, as ordered by Pre-Trial Chamber I.

On 22 March 2013, Bosco Ntaganda surrendered himself voluntarily and is now in the ICC’s custody. His initial appearance hearing took place before Pre-Trial Chamber II on 26 March 2013. The confirmation of charges hearing in the case is scheduled to start on 10 February 2014.

Situation in Darfur, Sudan

There are five cases in the situation in Darfur, Sudan: The Prosecutor v. Ahmad Muhammad Harun (”Ahmad Harun”) and Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman (“Ali Kushayb”); The Prosecutor v. Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir; The Prosecutor v. Bahar Idriss Abu Garda; The Prosecutor v. Abdallah Banda Abakaer Nourain and Saleh Mohammed Jerbo Jamus; and The Prosecutor v. Abdel Raheem Muhammad Hussein.

Warrants of arrest have been issued by Pre-Trial Chamber I for Messrs Harun, Kushayb, Al Bashir and Hussein. The four suspects remain at large.

A summons to appear was issued for Mr Abu Garda, who appeared voluntarily before the Chamber on 18 May 2009. After the hearing of confirmation of charges, on February 2010, Pre-Trial Chamber I declined to confirm the charges. Mr Abu Garda is not in the custody of the ICC.

Two other summonses to appear were issued for Mr Banda and Mr Jerbo who appeared voluntarily on 17 June 2010; the confirmation of charges hearing took place on 8 December 2010. On 7 March 2011, Pre- Trial Chamber I unanimously decided to confirm the charges of war crimes brought by the ICC’s Prosecutor against Mr Banda and Mr Jerbo, and committed them to trial. The trial in the case The Prosecutor v. Abdallah Banda Abakaer Nourain and Saleh Mohammed Jerbo Jamus is scheduled to start on 5 May 2014.

Situation in the Central African Republic

The situation was referred to the Court by the Government of the Central African Republic in December 2004. The Prosecutor opened an investigation in May 2007. In the only case in this situation, The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, Pre-Trial Chamber II confirmed, on 15 June 2009, two charges of crimes against humanity and three charges of war crimes, and committed the accused to trial before Trial Chamber III. The trial started on 22 November 2010.

Situation in the Republic of Kenya

On 31 March 2010, Pre-Trial Chamber II granted the Prosecutor’s request to open an investigation proprio motu in the situation in Kenya, State Party since 2005. Following summonses to appear issued on 8 March 2011, six Kenyan citizens voluntarily appeared before Pre-Trial Chamber II on 7 and 8 April 2011. The confirmation of charges hearing in the case The Prosecutor v. William Samoei Ruto and Joshua Arap Sang were held from 1 to 8 September 2011. The confirmation of charges hearing in the case The Prosecutor v. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta took place from 21 September to 5 October 2011. On 23 January 2012, the judges declined to confirm the charges against Henry Kiprono Kosgey and Mohammed Hussein Ali. Pre-Trial Chamber II confirmed the charges against William Samoei Ruto, Joshua Arap Sang, Francis Kirimi Muthaura and Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta and committed them to trial. On 18 March 2013, the charges against Francis Kirimi Muthaura were withdrawn. The trial of William Samoei Ruto and Joshua Arap is started on 10 September 2013 and the trial of Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta is scheduled to start on 12 November 2013.

On 2 October 2013, Pre-Trial Chamber II unsealed an arrest warrant against Walter Osapiri Barasa, initially issued on 2 August 2013, for several offences against the administration of justice consisting in corruptly or attempting to corruptly influencing ICC witnesses.

Situation in Libya

On 26 February 2011, the United Nations Security Council decided unanimously to refer the situation in Libya since 15 February 2011 to the ICC Prosecutor. On 3 March 2011, the ICC Prosecutor announced his decision to open an investigation in the situation in Libya, which was assigned by the Presidency to Pre-Trial Chamber I. On 27 June 2011, Pre-Trial Chamber I issued three warrants of arrest respectively for Muammar Mohammed Abu Minyar Gaddafi, Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah Al-Senussi for crimes against humanity (murder and persecution) allegedly committed across Libya from 15 until at least 28 February 2011, through the State apparatus and Security Forces. On 22 November 2011, Pre-Trial Chamber I formally terminated the case against Muammar Gaddafi due to his death. The two other suspects are not in the custody of the Court. On 31 May 2013, Pre-Trial Chamber I rejected Libya’s challenge to the admissibility of the case against Saif Al Islam Gaddafi and reminded Libya of its obligation to surrender the suspect to the Court.

Situation in Côte d’Ivoire

Côte d’Ivoire, was not party to the Rome Statute at the time, had accepted the jurisdiction of the ICC on 18 April 2003; more recently, and on both 14 December 2010 and 3 May 2011, the Presidency of Côte d’Ivoire reconfirmed the country’s acceptance of this jurisdiction. On 15 February 2013, Côte d’Ivoire ratified the Rome Statute.

On 3 October 2011, Pre-Trial Chamber III granted the Prosecutor’s request for authorisation to open investigations proprio motu into the situation in Côte d’Ivoire with respect to alleged crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court, committed since 28 November 2010, as well as with regard to crimes that may be committed in the future in the context of this situation. On 22 February 2012, Pre-Trial Chamber III decided to expand its authorisation for the investigation in Côte d’Ivoire to include crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court allegedly committed between 19 September 2002 and 28 November 2010.

On 23 November 2011, Pre-Trial Chamber III issued a warrant of arrest under seal in the case The Prosecutor v. Laurent Gbagbo for four counts of crimes against humanity. The arrest warrant against Mr Gbagbo was unsealed on 30 November 2011, when the suspect was transferred to the ICC detention centre at The Hague, by the Ivorian authorities. On 5 December 2011, Pre-Trial Chamber III held an initial appearance hearing. The confirmation of charges hearing took place between 19 and 28 February 2013. On 3 June 2013, Pre-Trial Chamber I adjourned the hearing on the confirmation of charges and requested the Prosecutor to consider providing further evidence or conducting further investigation with respect to the charges presented against Laurent Gbagbo.

On 22 November 2012, Pre-Trial Chamber I decided to unseal a warrant of arrest issued initially on 29 February 2012 against Simone Gbagbo for four counts of crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the territory of Côte d’Ivoire between 16 December 2010 and 12 April 2011. Mrs. Gbagbo is not in the custody of the Court.

On 30 September 2013, Pre-Trial Chamber I unsealed an arrest warrant against Charles Blé Goudé initially issued on 21 December 2011 for four counts of crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the territory of Côte d’Ivoire between 16 December 2010 and 12 April 2011. Mr Blé Goudé is not in the custody of the Court.

Situation in Mali

On 16 January 2013, the Office of the Prosecutor opened an investigation into alleged crimes committed on the territory of Mali since January 2012.

The situation in Mali was referred to the Court by the Government of Mali on 13 July 2012. After conducting a preliminary examination of the situation, including an assessment of admissibility of potential cases, the OTP determined that there was a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation.

The situation in Mali is assigned to Pre-Trial Chamber II.
—
Related:
Kofi Annan Urges African Leaders to Stand by International Criminal Court (LA Times)
Ethiopia Criticises ICC Policy against Africa (Sudan Tribune)
African Leaders to Hold Summit in Ethiopia on Kenya’s International Court Cases (VOA)
Ethiopia Supports Campaign Against International Court (VOA News)

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Art, Featured

And the Beat Making Lab goes on, to Ethiopia

October 3, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Public Radio International

By Pierce Freelon

Each morning in Addis Ababa, I piled into the historic home of the late Muluemebet Emiru — Africa’s first woman pilot — with 16 musicians and poets. The house was temporarily transformed into a community space for songwriting and music production called a Beat Making Lab.

In Addis Ababa, we collaborated with a global health organization called Intrahealth, asking students to reflect on health issues in their communities as they composed beats and poems. Among our most talented students was a young woman named Gelila, whose poem about access to health care facilities became the basis for a catchy anthem collectively produced by several of our Ethiopian students.

Cuso International Seeks Skilled Diaspora Volunteers for Projects in Ethiopia

October 1, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Published: Tuesday, October 1st, 2013

Washington, D.C. (TADIAS) – Cuso International, North America’s largest volunteer-based development organization, is seeking skilled diaspora professionals willing to donate their time in Ethiopia as part of the Diasporas for Development Initiative — a public-private partnership supported by USAID and Accenture. The initiative is designed to promote the mobilization of diaspora communities to address human resources gaps, often due to “brain drain,” in their countries of ancestry and heritage.

“The Diasporas for Development (DfD) volunteers will provide support to partner organizations in the creation of employability and entrepreneurship skills and opportunities,” the organization’s statement said. “DfD is open to all US citizens or permanent residents who are members of the diaspora community and others who have a demonstrated relevant connection to, or experience in, the target country.”

Kayla Sainato, Program Support Officer at Friends of Cuso International in Washington, D.C., shared that the current openings in Ethiopia include recruitment of volunteers for multiple placements in Addis Ababa as well as a position as a Women’s Promotion Livelihood Officer in Assosa. The positions require a university degree in enterprise development, marketing and other relevant business disciplines or work experience in women and youth economic empowerment.

Kayla highlighted the success of past and present volunteers like Melat Ijigu, who was selected to receive the 2013 VEGA Diaspora Volunteer Award for her outstanding service working with the National Network of Positive Women Ethiopians (NNPWE). She was honored at an awards ceremony and reception at VEGA’s Washington, DC offices in May this year in conjunction with the 2013 Global Diaspora Forum. Melat has lived in the U.S for the past 15 years and holds a BA in Communications from Northern Illinois University and Master’s in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago .

During the course of her one-year volunteer assignment in Ethiopia, Melat helped NNPWE deliver improved services to its core beneficiary group: HIV-positive women residing in several regions of Ethiopia. After conducting a needs assessment of the organization at the start of her placement, Melat applied successfully for a grant from VSO Ethiopia to set up PMTCT (Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV) training for Home-Based Care Providers (HBCPs) from all the 23 associations that make up the NNPWE network.

Kayla noted that for those interested Cuso International she will be hosting a virtual information session for US based diaspora professionals to learn more about volunteering overseas on Thursday, October 3rd at 4 pm EST.
—
To register and for more details, please click here. Or you may apply directly via the Cuso International website.

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Featured

Icelandic Company, Reykjavik Geothermal, to Build 1,000 Megawatts Power Plant in Ethiopia

September 28, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Bloomberg News

By Justin Doom

Reykjavik Geothermal, the Icelandic company that’s helped build power plants in more than 30 countries, agreed to develop as much as 1,000 megawatts of projects in Ethiopia over the next 10 years.

The company expects to spend a total of $4 billion and will begin drilling test wells early next year, Chairman Michael Philipp said in an interview today in New York. About 10 megawatts will be in operation by 2015, with a total of 500 megawatts by 2018. A second phase may include as much as 500 additional megawatts of capacity. Ethiopian Electric Power Corp. has agreed to buy all the electricity under a 25-year contract.

“This is the kind of commitment you need to get the financial backing to finalize the development phase,” Philipp said. About one-fourth to one-third of the project will be financed with equity.

The Great Rift Valley in East Africa, which spans eight countries, may have as much as 20 gigawatts of potential geothermal energy, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The agreement between Reykjavik Geothermal and Ethiopia may be the first of many on the continent, said Mark Taylor, a Bloomberg New Energy Finance analyst.

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Featured, Interviews

The Challenges of Independent Media In Ethiopia: Interview With Ron Singer

September 25, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Updated: Thursday, September 26th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) – In his upcoming book entitled Uhuru Revisited author Ron Singer features a chapter on Ethiopia highlighting a collection of fascinating interviews with Ethiopian publishers, editors and journalists regarding the ongoing challenges of creating a culture of independence in the Ethiopian press. The book will be released in November by Africa World Press/Red Sea Press.

In an interview with Tadias Magazine, Singer said that two of the other nine chapters in the book focus on the massive corruption culture in Nigeria and the state of media in Kenya. “By many accounts, the country has been backsliding from its past reputation as Africa’s beacon of free media,” Singer says, referring to Kenya. Chaacha Mwita, former managing editor of The Standard, Kenya’s second-largest daily newspaper, shared a first-hand account of the infamous government raid on their offices during the 2007–08 election. In addition, the famous Kenyan whistle-blower, John Githongo, speaks about the growing monopoly of mass communication by politicians and wealthy businessmen, not just in Kenya, but in many countries beyond Africa.

The section on Ethiopia, Singer said, is based primarily on four interviews he conducted for the book during his two-week visit to Addis Ababa in February 2011. The individuals he met were Amare Aregawi, owner and editor of The Reporter; Tamrat G. Giorgis, publisher of Addis Fortune; now imprisoned journalist Eskinder Nega; and exiled journalist Dawit Kebede, editor-in-chief of Awramba Times. During 2009 in the U.S., Singer had already conducted two interviews with Abiye Teklemariam, currently a blogger, and founding editor of the defunct Amharic weekly Addis Neger.

By far Ron Singer’s most engaging conversations in Ethiopia took place at the Jerusalem Hotel, Arbegnoch (‘Patriot’) district, of Addis Ababa, with long-time dissident journalist and blogger Eskinder Nega. Singer noted that his second meeting with Eskinder was recorded from start to end by “a very ordinary-looking man,” who sat near their table in the otherwise empty dining room, aiming his mobile phone in their direction.

As Singer observes, Eskinder’s central argument is that the only way to sustain Ethiopia’s experiment with ethnic federalism is to accelerate the democratic process. “The alternative [to democratization] would be the break-up of Ethiopia,” Eskinder told the author. “All politics are the outcomes of history. Ethiopia has a unique history in Africa, much as, say, the Balkans, in Europe, or Japan or Thailand, in Asia, have had a unique history. The content of our politics is different from everywhere else in Africa. At the core of our politics is the national question. That’s the bone of contention in our politics.”

On February 14th, 2011 Singer received a follow-up email from Eskinder: “Meant to respond earlier but heavily armed riot police picked me up last Friday and took me to their second in command. He accused me of trying to incite an “Egyptian like protest in Ethiopia” and warned me that the government is losing patience with me. “We are tired of imprisoning you,” he told me. “This time it will not be imprisonment.” And I just don’t know if he is bluffing or not. Since then, they have made it a point to be visibly present wherever I am.”

Singer emphasized that private media ownership in Ethiopia is much more complicated than meets the eye. He pointed out that even The Reporter, which proclaims as its motto:“Free Press, Free Speech, Free Spirit,” and which is owned and edited by Amare Aregawi, a former TPLF rebel and a fellow combatant of the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, gets in trouble from time to time for pushing the envelope too far. Amare mentioned in the interview that he has been taken to court 414 times.

Returning to Eskinder, Singer said the journalist, whose father was a senior official in the regime of Emperor Haile Selassie, may be liberal when it comes to political issues, but is conservative about economics. “We had a debate about American politics,” Singer recalled. “I told him with horror that I could see he was a Republican.”

As they ended their meeting, Singer joked with Eskinder: “Just in case we’re being photographed, I’ll give you a cold handshake, instead of a hug.”

To which Eskinder replied “Very American. It’s been nice talking to you.”
—
Stay tuned for our review of Ron Singer’s book: Uhuru Revisited.

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Events, Featured

5th Global P2P Ethiopian Diaspora Conference on Health Care & Medical Education

September 25, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
Events News

Published: Wednesday, September 25th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) – The 2013 Global Ethiopian Diaspora Conference on Health Care and Medical Education organized by the U.S.-based NGO, People to People (P2P), will take place at Sheraton Pentagon City in Arlington, Virginia on Saturday, September 28th.

The theme this year is “Triangular Partnership to Support Medical Education in Ethiopia: The Diaspora as a Bridge between Ethiopian Medical Schools & Foreign Institutions.” What are Ethiopia’s priorities and how can the triangular partnership work on the ground? Dr. Keseteberhan Admasu, Ethiopia’s Health Minister, will be on hand to address that question from the government’s perspective along with Dr. Zerihun Abebe, the Dean of Mekelle University’s College of Health Sciences. Other panelists include Enawgaw Mehari, Founder and President of P2P, who will speak from the Diaspora’s vantage point. The views of foreign and funding institutions will be represented by Dr. Cynthia Haq, Professor of Family Medicine and Population Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin, School of Medicine and Public Health and Founding Director of the Center for Global Health, as well as U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Eric Goosby.

Hundreds of Ethiopian medical professionals from the Diaspora are expected to attend the annual gathering. Other speaker’s include Dr. Girma Tefera, Vice President of International Medical Affairs, P2P and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ethio-American Doctors Group (EADG). Dr. Girma is Professor of Surgery and Vice Chairman of Vascular Surgery at University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Organizers note fee is waived for students and those in residency training with proper identification.
—
If you go:
5th Global Ethiopian Diaspora Conference on Health Care
Saturday September 28th, 2013
8:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Sheraton Pentagon City
900 S. Orme Street,
Arlington, VA 22204
Telephone: (703) 521-1900
On Site Registration Fee: $40.00
For more information, contact: info@peoplepeople.org
Learn more about P2P at www.peoplepeople.org.
—
Photos from previous conferences:

(Photo courtesy P2P)

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Featured

Mhadere Tigabe Crowned Miss Universe Ethiopia 2013

September 22, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
News Update

Published: Sunday, September 22nd, 2013

New York (TADIAS) – Mhadere Tigabe has been crowned Miss Universe Ethiopia 2013 after winning the final contest held on Friday evening at the Radisson Blu hotel in Addis Ababa.

Mhadere will represent Ethiopia at the upcoming Miss Universe competition in Moscow, Russia on November 9th, 2013.

Below are photos courtesy of the organizers.

—
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Events, Featured

At Last Week’s Ethiopian Festival in Silver Spring: Food, Fashion, And A Whole Lot More

September 20, 2013 Tadias Magazine

The Gazette

By St. John Barned-Smith, Staff Writer

At the third annual Ethiopian Festival in Silver Spring on Sunday, Teru Fentike was dishing out plates of lentils, greens and injera — a traditional starch.

“I’m so excited!” she said.

Fentike lived in Silver Spring when she first came to the U.S. 26 years ago. Now, the Bowie resident still runs a restaurant, Bete Ethiopian, just blocks from Veterans Plaza, where music boomed, and Ethiopians, friends and festival-goers mingled, many sporting soccer jerseys or traditional dress.

The area, and the Ethiopian community, has changed since then, she said.

“When we came here a long time ago [and saw another Ethiopian] we’d hug and say, ‘It’s another Ethiopian!’ Now, look,” she said, waving at the thousands of people packed into the plaza.

“The Ethiopian community is growing rapidly,” she said, grinning.

Silver Spring’s — and the metro Washington, D.C., area’s — Ethiopian population has exploded in recent years, according to festival organizer Tebabu Assefa. There are more than 75 Ethiopian small businesses in the greater downtown area of Silver Spring, many of which have opened since 2008, he said.

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Art, Featured

Contemporary Art in Ethiopia: Ephrem Solomon Reflects on His Work

September 18, 2013 Tadias Magazine

The Guardian

By Karen Obling

Ephrem Solomon’s work differs from the prevailing artistic style in Ethiopia in many ways. Although his art is also two-dimensional and on canvas, a strong graphic emphasis makes it stand out from the ever-dominant paintings, be they figurative or abstract.

Solomon was born in Addis Ababa in 1983, and developed an interest in art early. After high school he studied fine art and graphic design, which shows in his portfolio. His works is often very descriptive and literal, focusing on the world around him; the city of Addis, its people, places, spaces and nature. Objects such as the signature chair and slippers are incorporated as a reflection on broader political and social themes.

“My works portrays the distance between what the governed people need and want and what the response is from the governors. I have tried to picture, as precisely as possible, the actual and innocent feeling of the governed,” Solomon says.

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Featured, Reviews

Yohannes Aramde’s Bona Fide Step

September 17, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Heran Abate

Updated: Wednesday, September 18th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) – Among Ethiopians the well-known Scotch Whisky brand Johnnie Walker is humorously nicknamed Yohannes Aramde. And recently a collection of t-shirts depicting the gabi-clad version of the Scotsman, complete with his own dula, has become a hit in the Ethiopian Diaspora and at home. On social media Yohannes Aramde’s Twitter handle says it all, “#walkdifferent, #becauseyoudeservebetter.” The series was unveiled this past July during the 2013 ESFNA Ethiopian Soccer Tournament in Maryland by a trio of young Ethiopian designers and entrepreneurs residing in the U.S. — Teffera G. Teffera, Zerabrook Minassie and Ambaye Michael Tesfay.

Unlike John “Johnnie” Walker who started to sell whisky in his grocery shop in Ayrshire, Scotland in 1820, the Ethiopian Yohannes Aramde is Teffera G. Teffera’s imagination that comes in the capacity of a merchant who, in departure from his Scotsman twin’s profession, barters in rich stories. These t-shirts come in colors equivalent to the whiskey’s different labels: red, black, green and blue. True to form, the standard and price is also set in ascending order of color, with blue selling the highest.

In a recent interview Teffera said the trio design and sell products that capture the bilingual vernacular of the Ethiopian-American community. He said the three are united by their shared experiences as young adults who grew up in Ethiopia and Washington, D.C. while they completed higher education.

As a basis for the design, Yohannes Aramde was nurtured by the distinct ways that the Ethiopian diaspora has weaved its traditions and mannerisms so thoroughly into the social fabric of Washington, D.C. For Teffera in particular, he felt strongly that the environment that inspired the concept is the same demographic that they are trying to reach. For a few months after graduating in May 2011, he toyed with designs that his friend Dagmawit Mekonnen visualized while Ambaye and Zerabrook advised every step of the way.

The result was Yohannes Aramde whose persona for Ethiopians provokes comical food for thought. Here, he sets down his dula, picks up his buna or perhaps tela, to re-situate historical icons and cultural symbols into a compelling perspective that reflects the modern Ethiopian experience in the Diaspora. Yohannes Aramde seems as much learned in the kine (literary tradition of wax and gold) of Ethiopia’s forefathers as he is in the social media explosion of the 21st century through its vivid presence via t-shirts, tweets and Instagram pictures.

In one design, a solemn Emperor Menelik charges an Uncle Sam’esque forefinger in a would-be war recruitment poster for the Battle of Adwa. In another, the colors of the Ethiopian flag converge onto the American flag’s layout, at once a startling and clever meditation of the dual experiences of its client-base.

Below are photos from the collection courtesy the designers. As a fun twist, the owners say there is a 5PM to 9PM weekday ‘happy-hour’ when you shop on their website — you will get a $5 discount.

—
Learn more at www.yohannesaramde.com. You can follow updates on Twitter and Instagram.

About the Author:
Heran Abate is a creative non-fiction writer. Born and raised in Ethiopia, she recently graduated from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut where she studied Sociology and Hispanic Cultures and Literatures.

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Art, Events, Featured

Symposium In D.C. to Launch the Skunder Boghossian Fellowship Award

September 14, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Updated: Monday, September 16th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) – A few years ago the Fine Arts School at Addis Ababa University, which consists of the School of Music, the School of Theater Arts and the School of Fine Arts & Design, was renamed the Skunder Boghossian College of Performing and Visual Arts in honor of the institution’s most influential former professor of contemporary art and one of Ethiopia’s renown artists.

Since 2003 photographer Gediyon Kifle has been documenting Skunder’s paintings held in private collections around the world. Gediyon, who is scheduled to speak at a symposium in Washington, D.C. on September 22nd, 2013 marking the launch of the Skunder Boghossian Fellowship Award, said that he is also working on a documentary film and photo book highlighting the life and work of the legendary artist.

“I am probably the only person that has footage of a sit-down interview with Skunder done near the end his life,” Gediyon said. “The movie will focus on his years in Ethiopia, France and America.” He added: “I am lucky that I am collaborating with poet and screenwriter Solomon Deressa. There is no one in the world who knows Skunder as well as Solomon did from childhood onward.”

Skunder, who lived most of his life in the United States, briefly taught at Addis Ababa University in the late sixties (1966 – 1969) after returning home from an 11-year stay in Europe. Sponsored by the Ethiopian government, Skunder had attended Saint Martin’s School of Art in the U.K. in 1955 at the age of 18. He also studied at Slade School of Fine Art while in London. Two years later he moved to France continuing his studies for nine more years at Academie de la Grande Chaumiere in Paris.

He arrived in the U.S. in 1970 and accepted a teaching position at Howard University in 1972 that lasted until 2001, two years before he passed away at age 65.

Skunder became the first contemporary African artist to have his work acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1966 when MOMA purchased his 1964 painting entitled Juju’s Wedding. His last commissioned work was in 2001, a team project in collaboration with U.S.-based Ethiopian painter and art professor, Kebedech Tekleab, on the Nexus for the Wall of Representation at the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

According to the event announcement, the D.C. tribute attendees at the upcoming symposium will have the opportunity “to listen to speakers from the United States and abroad and ask questions following each panel, as well as view video clips of Skunder’s works, listen to jazz compositions that inspired him, and have informal conversations with the guest scholars and artists during the reception.”

Skunder’s work has been represented by the Contemporary African Art Gallery in Manhattan, New York since the late 1990s. “I have a small room in the gallery that is completely dedicated to Skunder’s painting where I keep a collection,” said gallery owner Bill Karg, in a recent phone conversation. “He has done a total of three solo exhibition here,” Bill recalled. “But his first show at the gallery was in 1997.” Since then, Bill has kept the relationship through Skunder’s daughter Aida Boghossian, and opens his collection for customers periodically and by appointment.

Regarding Skunder’s collaborative art work featured at the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington D.C., the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African Art notes “this work highlights the intergenerational links among the diaspora community. The aluminum relief sculpture incorporates decorative motifs, patterns and symbols adapted from diverse Ethiopian religious traditions including Christianity, Judaism, Islam and other indigenous spiritual practices. The symbolic scrolls suggest major forms associated with the historic kingdoms of Axum, Gondar and Lalibela. Other forms represent musical instruments, utilitarian tools, and regional flora and fauna. Together, these designs compose a sense of Ethiopian identity and are intended as a balanced juxtaposition of traditional and contemporary Ethiopian aesthetics.”
—
If You Go:
SKUNDER TRIBUTE — Celebration of Art & Culture
September 22, 2013
Symposium: 12-7pm | Reception: 7-10pm
Corcoran Gallery of Art
500 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
Entrance: $35 & $25
Tickets must be purchased in advance
skundertribute.eventbrite.com

Video: South African musician Hugh Masekela on Skunder Boghossian

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Events, Featured

Jano Band To Hold Final U.S. Debut Concert On September 28th in D.C.

September 12, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
Events News

Updated: Friday, September 13th, 2013

Washington, D.C. (TADIAS) — The Ethiopian rock group Jano Band will conclude their well-received first American tour later this month in Washington, D.C.

Jano is set to perform at Ibiza Nightclub on Saturday, September 28th, for what organizers say will be the band’s final U.S. debut concert.

The ten-member rock band began their 2013 tour on July 4th at the historic Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C., and subsequently at S.O.B’s and at Harlem’s Ginny’s Supper Club in New York City in August. Jano also made an appearance in Atlanta (September 1st), Los Angeles (September 7th), Las Vegas (September 10th), and is scheduled to play in the Bay Area (September 14th).
—
If You Go
Jano Band’s Last Debut Show in America
Saturday, September 28th, 2013
Ibiza Nightclub DC
1222 First Street, NE Washington, DC 20002
For more info, please call:
202.440.4301 or 201.220.3442
www.facebook.com/JanoBand

Photos: Jano Band at Ginny’s Supper Club in Harlem on August 28th, 2013 (Tadias Magazine)

Video: Jano’s first U.S. concert on July 4th at Howard Theatre in D.C. (Tadias Interview)

—
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Events, Featured

Happy New Year: Photos From California “Enkutatash” Celebration

September 11, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
Events News

Published: Wednesday, September 11, 2013

New York (TADIAS) – Ethiopians around the world are celebrating New Year Enkutatash today. In the United States the festivities began this past weekend with the annual California outdoor cultural festivals in Los Angeles and the Bay Area.

The Mercury News reported that hundreds of people gathered at Guadalupe River Park in downtown San Jose on Sunday to “share coffee, culture and community.”

The crowd also enjoyed a performance by the local group “Young Ethio Jazz Band” as well as a ceremony honoring Dr. Birku Melese, the first executive director of the Ethiopian Community, who was recognized for his dedicated service to the city. The “Enkutatash” new year celebration was attended, among others, by the San Jose City Councilman Sam Liccardo and Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Ken Yeager.

Click here to view the photos at Mercury News.
—
Related:
Ethiopia: President Girma Conveys His Best Wishes to the Nation (All Africa)
It’s Already Happy New Year Time At Mesob Restaurant in New Jersey

Stay tuned for more coverage.

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Featured, News

Hana Alemu’s Adopted Parents Convicted Of Homicide By Abuse

September 10, 2013 Tadias Magazine

The Associated Press

MOUNT VERNON, WASHINGTON — A couple were convicted on Monday in the malnutrition-and-hypothermia death of a teenage girl they had adopted from Ethiopia.

A jury found Carri Williams guilty of homicide by abuse as well as manslaughter. Larry Williams was found guilty of first-degree manslaughter. The jury also convicted them both of assault of a child. The jury couldn’t reach a decision on the homicide by abuse charge for Larry Williams, and the judge declared a mistrial on that count. Larry and Carri Williams face a maximum life sentence, the Skagit Valley Herald reports.

Read more at The Seattle Times.
—
Hana’s Adopted Mother Guilty On 3 Counts, Father On 2 (The Skagit Valley Herald)

Carri Williams reacts after she was found guilty of abusing to death her adopted Ethiopian daughter.

By Gina Cole

MOUNT VERNON — A jury has found Carri Williams guilty of all charges in the homicide and abuse trial involving the death of a young teenage girl she and her husband adopted and assault of their adopted son.

Her husband, Larry Williams, was found guilty of manslaughter and assault of a child. The jury was unable to agree on whether Larry was guilty of homicide by abuse.

The jury started deliberating this past Thursday after the seven-week trial of Larry and Carri Williams, whose parenting practices were called into question after Hana Williams died in May 2011 after collapsing in the family’s backyard home in the Sedro-Woolley area.
An autopsy showed she died of hypothermia hastened by malnutrition and a stomach condition.

The Williamses were charged with homicide by abuse and first-degree manslaughter in the death of Hana and first-degree assault of the younger boy they adopted at the same time as Hana. Both were adopted from Ethiopia.

Muslims of Multicultural Ethiopia

September 9, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Published: Monday, September 9, 2013

New York (TADIAS) – Recently, according to the Ethiopian government, there is a real concern about the rise of a small, imported and militant sect that is spreading a foreign brand of radical Islam in the country. The new phenomenon of “religious extremism” has become a rally-poster issue in Ethiopia. State-sponsored media has also attempted to link the two-year old Friday protests demanding the release of jailed religious leaders as efforts supported by these same sects.

What seems to be missing from the public view, however, are independent voices that can add to the state sponsored interfaith council that is pushing only a one-size-fits-all slogan rather than seeking long term solutions.

It begs the question: How about the majority of Ethiopian Muslims? What do they want? There is a need for the government to open up the space for an all inclusive dialogue without political bias. In fact, Article 27 of Ethiopia’s constitution bars the state from meddling in religious affairs. If anything the recent show of force by police against demonstrators would not bring permanent closure to this festering crisis. So far the interfaith committee has produced no viable solutions either, except to repeat and amplify selected speeches of minority religious fanatics that authorities say are becoming a major threat. Straightforward answers are hard to come by; queries by journalists remain without response.

Ethiopian religious history is an intricate recording of Christian, Jewish and Muslim citizens who have lived side by side enjoying relative freedom to worship freely. To the west of the country, the gated city of Harar is considered the 4th holiest city for Muslims and is listed as a World Heritage site. While the Kebre Negest book cites the introduction of Judaism to ancient Ethiopia through the line of King Solomon, it is an Ethiopian Christian king who saw it fit to grant asylum to the relatives of the Muslim prophet Mohammed who were fleeing religious persecution. The prophet is recorded to have said “Abyssinia is a land of justice in which no one is oppressed,” and forbidding “holy war” against Ethiopia. Today the Al Nejashi mosque in the northern region of Tigray still stands as one of Islam’s oldest mosques.

Given the current heated politicization of religion in the country, it may seem almost an afterthought that Ethiopia’s heritage actually includes the beginning of the world’s three major Abrahamic faiths. A quick scan of the last millennium by itself reveals that many empires and leaders have come and gone, but the spiritual and multicultural fabric of the Ethiopian people have remained intact.

Additional highlights are included in the following timeline, which we hope will serve as an independent and interactive historical data visualization, and as a starting point for the development of a more well-rounded backdrop to the current issue of religious freedom and its implications.

—
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Featured, News

UPDATE: Ethiopia Faces Nigeria For World Cup Qualifying Play-offs

September 6, 2013 Tadias Magazine

AFP

JOHANNESBURG — Giantkillers Ethiopia were drawn against Nigeria Monday in the 2014 World Cup Africa zone play-offs.

Ivory Coast face Senegal, Tunisia meet Cameroon, Ghana tackle Egypt and Burkina Faso play Algeria in the other ties created by a draw in Cairo.

The two-leg showdowns are set for October and November and the winners qualify for the World Cup in Brazil next June and July.
Ethiopia were the only side to upset the seeding in the mini-league previous stage, finishing two points ahead of top-ranked South Africa.

But they will face much tougher opponents in Nigeria, who beat Ethiopia 2-0 en route to winning the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa last February.

While the ‘Super Eagles’ use a mix of local and Europe-based stars, the bulk of the ‘Walias Antelopes’ squad is home based.

Read more at AFP.
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Ethiopia Secures Place in African play-offs for the 2014 World Cup

BBC Sports

By Nick Cavell

Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Ghana secured themselves places in African play-offs for the 2014 World Cup.

Ethiopia were one of several sides during Africa’s World Cup qualifying campaign who had results overturned by Fifa for using ineligible players.

There was a touch of irony in the fact that Ethiopia’s winning goal in a their 2-1 victory over Central African Republic in Group A was scored by Minyahil Teshome Beyene.

He was the man who lead to his side being docked points in July.
There was also drama in Group E as Burkina Faso claimed top spot ahead of Congo Brazzaville.

Congo were held to a 2-2 draw in Niger which allowed Burkina Faso to move ahead of them thanks to a 1-0 win over visiting Gabon.

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Featured

Who Will Be Crowned Miss Universe Ethiopia 2013?

September 2, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Published: Monday, September 2nd, 2013

New York (TADIAS) – The countdown to announce the next Miss Universe Ethiopia is underway in Addis Ababa, where the final contest is scheduled to be held on September 20th at the Radisson Blu hotel. The finalist will represent Ethiopia at the global Miss Universe competition in Moscow, Russia on November 9th, 2013.

Organizers of the event in Ethiopia selected 15 participants who qualified at the initial audition process and runway exhibition held at Panorama Hotel last month. “We’ve tried hard to scout the best candidates through massive media campaigns that included advertisements in cinemas, outdoor screens, newspapers, radio, and social media,” Henok Yifru, head coordinator of Miss Universe Ethiopia, told Tadias Magazine. “We are proud to run the Miss Universe Ethiopia program for the second year in a row.”

Last year 22-year-old Helen Getachew represented the country at the 2012 Miss Universe competition held at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, becoming the first beauty queen from Ethiopia to grace the stage in more than five years.

Henok said they are eyeing some improvements for the final ceremony in 2013 compared to the previous year that he says will include a fashion show and live entertainment, with judges and guests hailing from the diplomatic community, press, and fashion industries. “An extension might be a possibility due to the overwhelming request we have received,” Henok added, referring to preliminary tryouts staged at Panorama Hotel in August.

“Just like last year we will be hosting the final event on September 20th at the Radison Blu hotel with some changes in the formation,” Henok said, “which includes making the event semi-open for the public by allowing ticketed seating, coverage of the show internationally by using our partnership with DSTV, and also working with different artists to make the event more exciting.” He added: “We would like our audience to know that it is our highest priority to bring qualified local and international judges to help us select the finalist for the Ethiopian Miss Universe. This must be done in order to leverage all of our efforts to provide more opportunities for our contestants who work hard to participate in our program.”

Henok emphasized that the winner will also be tasked to advocate on behalf of topics that are of universal concerns in the region. Organizers hope that this year’s crown holder will focus on the problem of human trafficking. “Every year the winner of the Miss Universe Ethiopia pageant will be taking on a social cause to give back to the community and empower social change,” he noted. “Last year Miss Universe Ethiopia 2012, Helen Getachew, took on the challenge of promoting awareness about children and education, but we are still not happy with our efforts and we believe it’s an important area of improvement for us.” In 2013 “the winner of Miss Universe Ethiopia will be working in close partnership with NGOs to promote awareness on human trafficking and act as an ambassador,” Henok stated.

So far only four African countries have won the international title — South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Angola. The current Miss Universe is Miss USA Olivia Culpo, a 20-year-old beauty queen from Rhode Island and the first American to claim the coveted title since 1997. Olivia was crowned Miss Universe 2012 by Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes of Angola who passed on the crown last December in front of nearly one billion TV viewers from 190 countries worldwide.
—
You can follow updates at Miss Universe Ethiopia’s Facebook page. Below is slideshow of images from last year’s coverage and photos of Miss Universe Ethiopia 2012 & Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes of Angola.

—
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Featured, News

More Than 100 Blue Party Leaders Arrested Ahead of Ethiopia Rally

August 31, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Dagnachew Teklu

Updated: Monday, September 2nd, 2013

Washington D.C. (TADIAS) – Federal police in Ethiopia have taken control of the headquarters of the Semayawi (Blue) party in Addis Ababa after they stormed the building late on Saturday. Party officials confirmed that more than 100 Semayawi party leaders have been arrested.

Head of the Semayawi party, Yilkal Getnet, a former engineer, told Tadias Magazine that police broke into the party’s offices located around Arat Kilo and confiscated all property at the site.

“Our members were taken to various police stations around the city late on Saturday,” Said Yilkal who spoke by phone. He said he had just returned from visiting his imprisoned colleagues at Gulele police station. He said a number of them are women. “Some were savagely beaten,” he added.

The dispute with authorities began when the Semayawi (Blue) party made an announcement last week to hold a simultaneous rally along with the government’s planned public gathering on Sunday to counter the two-year-old Mosque sit-ins that turned violent last month attracting international condemnation. Semayawi party leaders say they wanted to use the occasion to bring up the related subjects of “jailed religious and political leaders” as well as journalists, activist and an end to “government interference” in mosque and church affairs. Addis Ababa city administration, however, declared the Blue party’s plans “illegal.”

Police state that they will take all measures if the party insists on holding any protest without permission. Asked about the party’s plans on Sunday the Semayawi President said it’s up in the air. “I told you our office is under control and members and officials are under police custody,” Yilkal said. “It is midnight and I have no other information on what’s going on around here,” he said.

The police commission had contacted representatives of the Blue party for a meeting on Friday to discuss “security issues.” Sources said that police met with opposition leaders Saturday morning to convince them to postpone their protest, but the discussion ended without coming to an agreement. Yilkal indicated that the Blue party was finalizing preparations to stage a march on Sunday.

Hana Walelegne, one of the members who were arrested at the party’s office, said she was taken to Gulele police station. She said she was sitting at the party’s office working on Sunday’s demonstration when she was arrested.

“They released me along with a few other women,” Hana said, claiming that she received a beating with a rubber stick. She said she also saw others being hit with metal objects.

“We just took a contract taxi and are now in a friend’s house,” she said. “I cannot tell you what will happen next.”

In an earlier interview Yilkal had described the government’s decision to bar the Blue party from holding its own demonstration as lacking sound legal basis.

“There is no such thing as legal and illegal protest” Yilkal argued. “What we are required to do by law is to inform the concerned office about the planned demonstration.” He said: “Our party did that a month ago.”

The government-backed demonstration was held as expected on Sunday at the Addis Ababa Meskel square to “denounce extremism in Ethiopia,” which the government says is becoming a major threat.
—
Related:
Ethiopia denies crackdown on Semayawi opposition (BBC News)
Ethiopia Police Block Opposition Rally, Beat Some (AP/ABC News)
Political Rallies Set for Sunday Over Religious Issue (TADIAS)

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Art, Featured

Taitu Cultural Center Opens Amharic Library

August 31, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Dagnachew Teklu

Updated: Sunday, September 1st, 2013

Washington D.C. (TADIAS) – Taitu Cultural Center, an independent artists organization based in Washington, D.C, has opened a library and research center dedicated exclusively to Amharic publications — the first of its kind in the U.S. The opening collection features more than 900 Ethiopian books and rare periodicals, including newspapers, biographies, children’s books, fiction, political journals, comedy and poetry publications.

In an interview with Tadias Magazine the center’s founder, Alemtsehay Wedajo, said the library is supported by members as well as private donations and it aims to provide a space for research and study of Ethiopian culture and history.

“Visitors to the library can borrow books and take scanned copies of some 80-year old newspapers from Ethiopia,” Alemtsehay said. “We used to blame the public for lack of reading culture, but we didn’t create such a facility in the past.”

Theater productions and other stage activities organized by the Taitu Cultural Center in the last decade has become a magnet for established and aspiring artists and authors residing in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, which is home to one of the largest population of Ethiopians in the United States. Regulars at the cultural center include students, artists, writers, and poets.

“It was one of my dreams to establish such a center here in America” Alemtsehay told Tadias. “I hope it will serve to narrow the gap among the various Ethiopian communities around the country.”

Hiywot Kifle, who is a member of Taitu Cultural Center, said he often borrows books to support the center.

“I can’t tell you how helpful this center has been,” Hiywot said. “There are many youngsters who spend much of their time on the Internet because they don’t have such a center around.” he added: “There are plenty of parents who want such service for their U.S.-born children if its available for them.”

The library, which is located at 4408 Georgia avenue, is open seven days a week. Alemtsehay said the center is able to accommodate up to 50 people at a time. She said Taitu is currently negotiating with Ethiopian airlines to bring 500 additional books from Ethiopia.

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Featured

Ethiopia: Rallies Set for Sunday Over Religious Issue

August 30, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Dagnachew Teklu

Updated: Friday, August 30th, 2013

Washington DC (TADIAS) – Two rallies to counter the ongoing Muslim protests in Ethiopia are being organized this weekend in Addis Ababa. The public gatherings — one sponsored by the government and the other by the opposition Semayawi (Blue) party — are scheduled to take place at the same time at Meskel Square on Sunday, albeit with differing views on the controversial matter.

The government is urging Addis Ababa residents to show up in big numbers on Sunday to denounce what it calls the “growing Muslim extremism” in the country, while Semayawi party leaders say they want to use the occasion to bring up the related subjects of “jailed religious and political leaders” as well as an end to “government interference” in mosque and church affairs.

The state sponsored demonstration is organized by a national faith council that, in comparison to the opposition, enjoys unlimited media access via TV and radio stations. Addis Ababa city administration has declared the Blue party’s plans “illegal.” But Yilkal Getnet, head of Semayawi, said the decision to bar the party from holding its own demonstration is without sound legal basis.

Tadias has learned that the police commission has contacted representatives of the Blue party for a meeting on Friday to discuss “security issues.” Sources state that police met with opposition leaders this morning to convince them to postpone their public gathering, but the discussion ended without coming to an agreement. Yilkal indicated that the Blue party is “fully prepared” to hold the protest.
—
Related:
Update: More Than 100 Blue Party Leaders Arrested Ahead of Ethiopia Sunday Rally

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Featured, News, Reviews

Meseret Defar Defeats Tirunesh Dibaba at Diamond 5000 in Zurich (Video)

August 29, 2013 Tadias Magazine

LetsRun.com

August 29, 2013

In the first clash of the year between the two Ethiopian giants of women’s distance running at the Weltklasse Zürich meet tonight, the final 100 meters belonged firmly to the 2012 Olympic and 2013 World 5000 champion Meseret Defar. Defar emphatically kicked away from Tirunesh Dibaba to win the women’s 5000 as well as the Diamond League crown in 14:32.83 after a 58 low last 400 (58.48 leader to leader but Defar was in second at the bell).

Dibaba was second in 14:34.82 as those two were leaps and bounds better than everyone else over the final 600. 2013 5000 silver medallist Mercy Cherono was third in 14:40.33 – the only other woman in the race within 10 seconds of Defar.

Meseret Defar and Tirunesh Dibaba Face Each Other in Zurich on Thursday

August 28, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Sabrina Yohannes

Published: Wednesday, August 28th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) – The world 10,000m and 5000m champions Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar will race for the first time in over a year at the IAAF Diamond League 5000 in Zurich on Thursday. A rare and much-anticipated clash between the two Olympic champions over both distances — and an opportunity for both to medal twice – failed to take place at the Moscow world championships this month due to the Ethiopian athletic federation’s preference that they each contest one event.

“If we had both raced twice, Ethiopia could have collected better medals,” said Meseret in an interview at the Moscow Ethiopian embassy some days after she and newcomer Almaz Ayana took gold and bronze in the 5000 there, and Tirunesh and teammate Belaynesh Oljira earned the same medals in the 10,000. “I complied with the request made of me, but my original intention was to contest both distances, and it’s the reason I ran a qualifying 10,000 in which I led for 20 laps.”

The 2004 and 2012 Olympic 5000 champion Meseret ran the year’s fastest 10,000m in June when seeking to make the world championships team.

In the Russian capital, the 2007 world champion Tirunesh regained the title ahead of Kenya’s Gladys Cherono, while the silver medal in the 5000 also went to a Kenyan, Mercy Cherono. Ahead of the championships when the 2008 double Olympic champion Tirunesh and Meseret were provisionally entered in both Moscow races, some athletics experts had speculated that Ethiopia could sweep the medals in the two distances.

“Yes, if we’d both run in the two events, I think we could have taken all the medals,” said Meseret. “Although the Kenyans could have come in between us, and perhaps they might have finished third and taken the bronze, but Ethiopia could definitely have taken gold and silver, I think.”

Ethiopia did sweep all six medals at the Helsinki world championships in 2005, where Tirunesh won both events and Meseret took 5000 silver.

“That could have happened, especially in the 5000 where all three of us are very strong,” said Meseret of the hypothetical Moscow 5000 team in which she would have been joined by Tirunesh and Almaz, who had run the year’s two fastest times. “We could have taken first through third.”

Both Tirunesh and Meseret said they were moved to consent to the federation’s request that they put aside their double medal hopes. “I pulled out of the [5000] race because the federation asked that both of us race one event each so that emerging athletes could gain experience, and Meseret and I agreed,” said Tirunesh after her victory.

“The younger athletes got the opportunity, and they ran very well and I’m so happy about this,” said Meseret.

The federation was content with the four medals earned in the two events and with its strategy to guarantee the most important objectives in each race. “It’s not so much a matter of medals, but a matter of golds,” said the organization’s technical director Dube Jillo in an interview in Moscow after the conclusion of the championships. “If we get the golds and these bronze medals, it’s sufficient. But our goal is developing athletes. The athletes who will tomorrow replace Tirunesh [and Meseret] have run here now, and it’s a matter of achieving that.”

“The maximum number of golds available in each race is one,” he continued. “What would be the purpose of having both do double duty? So we let each one concentrate on one event and run. Secondly, we have young athletes who are capable of medaling and we know this from their training and their competitions. And even if they don’t medal and we get just two golds, … we need to provide them with global championships experience.”

Of the young athletes who made the teams as a result, Ababel Yeshaneh was ninth in the 10,000m and Buze Diriba placed an impressive fifth in the 5000. Buze and Tirunesh’s world indoor 1500m champion sister Genzebe join Meseret and Tirunesh in the Weltklasse race in Zurich on Thursday. The stacked field includes three Kenyan silver medalists — both of the Cheronos who medaled in Moscow and the 2009 and 2011 runner-up in the world championships 5000, Sylvia Kibet – as well as their compatriot Viola Kibiwot who was fourth in Moscow.

The title match-up however is between Meseret and Tirunesh, who are one another’s fierce rivals on the track and last raced regularly in the 2006 IAAF Golden League which preceded the current Diamond league series of competitions. Sparks flew on the track as the pair traded victories and most notably, Meseret won the last race in the series where Tirunesh was headed for a jackpot prize for multiple victories and had to settle for a lesser award as a result.

They last met in the 2012 London Olympic 5000, where Meseret snatched victory in the final lap from Tirunesh, who was attempting the golden distance double, but had to settle for a 5000 bronze to go with her 10,000 gold. Prior to that, the two raced at the New York Diamond League meet where Meseret was a late entrant and lost to her rival in a moderately-paced 5000, in which both were seeking to make the Olympic team.

“I’ve raced many times with Meseret,” said Tirunesh when a reporter at the press conference following the Moscow 10,000 questioned hers and Meseret’s not doubling up there, and he also asked if she feared Meseret over 5000. “She’s beaten me and I’ve beaten her. But this is the world championships and we are competing against the world.”

“There’s nothing for me to fear,” she added.

“I like to run with her,” said Meseret when asked at her Moscow post-race press conference about racing her rival in future. “She is the strongest athlete and my biggest competitor.”

The next such contest takes place at 8:13pm Zurich time and 2:13pm Eastern United States time on Thursday and decides the winner of the 2013 race for points in the Diamond League women’s 5000. Tirunesh enters the Zurich race slightly fresher than Meseret as her last race was the 25-lap run in Moscow on August 11. Meseret has since run two rounds of the Moscow 5000 and won a 3000 in Stockholm last Thursday in a world-leading time, and she currently leads the race for points by a small margin.

The two women are also scheduled to meet over the half-marathon distance at the Great North Run in England on September 15.
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Events, Featured

Jano Band to Perform at Ginny’s Supper Club in Harlem

August 27, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
Events News

Published: Tuesday, August 27, 2013

New York (TADIAS) – Following their rocking NYC debut concert at S.O.B.’s earlier this month, Jano band is scheduled to take the stage on Wednesday, August 28th at Ginny’s Supper Club – an uptown venue located inside Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster Harlem.

In a review featured on the website Rock NYC, Jano’s well-received appearance at S.O.B.’s on Friday, August 16th, got two thumbs up from Brooklyn-based musician Tomas Doncker who wrote: “Jano lived up to the title of their debut release (produced by the legendary Bill Laswell): Ertale (The most continuously active/erupting volcano in Ethiopia, and one of the hottest spots on earth) when they almost literally set S.O.B.’S on fire with their unique blend of traditional Ethiopian melodies and bone shaking, ass kicking rock and roll.”

Jano is currently on their first American tour promoting the band’s new album and they are set to perform in Atlanta, Georgia (September 1st), Oakland, California (September 7th), as well as Las Vegas, Nevada (September 10th), and Los Angeles, California (September 14th).

As Tomas noted: “This potent fusion is the brainchild of former Ziggy Marley manager Addis Gessese who hand-picked each of the 10 members. The ensemble drips with talent. Guitarist Michael Hailu supplies the force with huge metal riffs and a detailed harmonic sense. The dual vocals of Debekulu Tafesse and Hailu Amerga (with exciting backing vocals and dancing by Haleluya T and Fifi) are in complete contrast with each other. Back and forth, one after another, creating a completely unexpected dynamic that never let’s up. Their stage show is in word…Relentless. Well, such are the gifts of youth, but that is not to say that JANO is without musicality. To the contrary, the band features spectacular musicianship (centered around the killer riffs of young Ethio-rock guitarist Michael Hailu) and powerful songwriting that transcends any genre or language barrier.”

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If You Go
Jano Band at Ginny’s Supper Club
Wednesday, August 28th, 2013
Tickets: $10
Show Time: 9PM
310 Lenox Avenue
New York, NY 10027
For Reservations call: 212.421.3821
www.ginnyssupperclub.com

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Events, Featured

The History of Ethiopian Music: Book Event in Falls Church, Virginia

August 22, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Charlie Sutton

Updated: Monday, August 26th, 2013

Washington, D.C. (TADIAS) – The first-ever comprehensive history of Ethiopian music, Ye Itiyopia Muziqa Tarik by Tesfaye Lemma, has finally been published. It is a book well worth waiting for.

Ye Itiyopia Muziqa Tarik, which initially went on sale at the ESFNA Soccer Tournament at the beginning of July, will again be made available for purchase at a special event to be held at Meaza Ethiopian Restaurant, 5700 Columbia Pike, Falls Church, VA, on Tuesday August 27th, at 7pm.

Tesfaye Lemma, an iconic figure in Ethiopian music, died last February after enduring more than a decade of ill health. He devoted the last five years of his life to preparing this detailed and wonderful history, a distillation of the experience and wide-ranging knowledge he acquired during his long and distinguished career as a composer, lyricist, orchestra director, impresario, music presenter, and teacher.

Ato Tesfaye places Ethiopia’s unique musical heritage within the context of her ancient and distinctive culture while also drawing telling comparisons between Ethiopian and other musical traditions. In a writing style that is elegant at the same time as it is engagingly informal, he lovingly traces and illuminates the growth and development of Ethiopian music in all its amazing variety and richness, from its ancient roots right up to its flowering in the modern world, interspersing the saga with anecdotes drawn from his own personal and professional experience.

The fascinating story of Ethiopia’s music and musicians is enhanced by a wealth of beautiful illustrations — magnificent color photographs as well as evocative sketches drawn by a skilled artist under the supervision of the author — that appear on nearly every one of the book’s 340 pages. Chapters are devoted to important musical groups; insightful biographies of major individual musicians are also included.

These are just a few of many highlights. It is impossible adequately to describe in this short space a work of the magnitude and importance of Ye Itiyopiya Muziqa Tarik. Don’t miss the opportunity to purchase a copy of your own, and perhaps to buy some more as gifts for your music-loving friends, at Meaza Restaurant on the evening of August 27th.

This event promises to be great. The editor of Ye Itiyopia Muziqa Tarik, Alemayehu Gebrehiwot, and others close to Ato Tesfaye and who were involved in the making of the book, will share their experiences. The author’s famous protégé Shambel Belayneh will be among the musical performers. Mesenko player Charles Sutton will be on hand to reminisce about his lifelong friend Tesfaye, and perhaps to sing one of his songs.

For further information, please call Alemayehu Gebrehiwot (301) 681-1201; Mekuria Negia (202) 253-4414; Girma Zegaye (773) 746-9513, or Matt Andrea (202) 255-2909.

—
If You Go:
Tuesday, August 27 @ 7pm
Meaza Ethiopian Restaurant
5700 Columbia Pike
Falls Church, VA 22941
(703) 820-2870
www.meazaethiopiancuisine.com
—
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Featured

Ethiopia Celebrates Highest Ever World Championships Medal Haul in Moscow

August 20, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Sabrina Yohannes

Published: Tuesday, August 20th, 2013

MOSCOW (TADIAS) – Ethiopia collected its highest medal count ever at the 2013 Moscow world championships in athletics, earning ten medals, three of them gold. The next highest was nine medals, three gold, earned in 2005 in Helsinki, when Tirunesh Dibaba won the 10,000 and 5000m, with Meseret Defar taking 5000m silver. In Moscow, Tirunesh won the 10,000, while Meseret took the 5000, and Mohammed Aman’s 800m gold was Ethiopia’s first medal over the distance at any global championships.

“This year’s world championships was great,” said Meseret Sunday evening at a reception in the team’s honor at the Ethiopian embassy in Moscow, where local residents and Ethiopians who had come to the championships from abroad feted the athletes and spent an evening mingling and dancing to traditional music with them. “This is my second time coming to Russia,” added Meseret. “I was here for the world indoor championships. There was the same kind of reception at the embassy and we had a wonderful time, and they’ve held a great feast for us again today and we are grateful.”

Meseret will compete over 3000m on Thursday in Sweden. “I’m leaving tomorrow for Stockholm,” she said as she departed ahead of her teammates, many of whom remained dancing the evening away. “It’ll be my third Diamond League race [of the year], and I’m going to try to obtain good results.” She is scheduled to be challenged by Moscow 5000 and 10,000m silver medalists Mercy Cherono and Gladys Cherono of Kenya as well as Tirunesh’s sister Genzebe. After beating Meseret over 5000 in Shanghai this season, Genzebe had hoped to contest the 5000 in Moscow but was entered in the 1500 and placed eighth in the final.

Belaynesh Oljira and Almaz Ayana took bronze behind Tirunesh and Meseret, and the London Olympic women’s steeplechase bronze medalist Sofia Assefa earned the same medal in Moscow. Ethiopia took silver in the men’s 10,000 and 5000m via the 2011 champion in the 10,000m Ibrahim Jeilan and the reigning world junior world cross country champion Hagos Gebrhiwet. Lelisa Desisa and Tadese Tola took the minor medals in the men’s marathon.

Athletes who had competed in the first few days of the championships had already left for Ethiopia, but of those present at the embassy affair, Meseret, Mohammed and the marathoners were a huge hit, signing autographs, posing for pictures and chatting with well-wishers in a hall decorated with images from around Ethiopia as well as posters put up on the day, commemorating the achievements attained in Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium in the preceding eight days. “It feels like you are in Ethiopia,” said the world indoor champion Mohammed, who did his fair share of dancing. “It’s wonderful that they’ve invited and honored us this way.”

“At these championships, we’ve performed at a higher level than in the past,” said the national federation’s technical director Dube Jillo. “As you know, nothing can be achieved without effort. The Ethiopian athletic federation laid out extensive objectives and has been preparing extensively, including in the arena of discovering new athletes. In addition, the federation has concentrated on the development of athletes.”

Belaynesh, Almaz, Lelisa and Tadese are first-time medalists at a senior global championships, although Almaz is a former junior world medalist in the steeplechase and Tadese has placed in the top ten at cross country and road world championships.

The titles of the three-time Olympic champion Tirunesh and two-time Olympic champion Meseret’s titles, however, were considered a done deal before the team even landed in Russia.

A poem presented at the embassy reception reflected those expectations and the many emotions the community shared, invoking the name of the legendary 1980 Moscow Olympic double gold medalist Miruts Yifter as a hero who introduced Muscovites to the sight of Ethiopians crossing the line victorious, and Tirunesh as the “10,000m queen” who demonstrated her inclusion in the same rare company. The would-be poet, Moscow sales and marketing executive Sisay Kifle, continued by describing Mohammed “taking flight and leaving all behind, and delivering unaccustomed victory” and the 2006 Moscow world indoor champion Meseret as someone of whom “all of the nation of Russia” knows “the 5000m belongs to her alone.”
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Featured

Ethiopian Reggae Singer Eyob Mekonnen Dies at 37

August 19, 2013 Tadias Magazine

BBC

Fans of the 37-year-old singer helped raise money for his treatment after he had a stroke last Tuesday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

He was flown to Kenya on Saturday, but he died in hospital on Sunday.

“He has made such a mark on the Ethiopian music scene, bringing a unique and poetic voice with thoughtful lyrics and a beautiful reggae vibe,” a posting on his Facebook fan site said.

Its postings kept fans up-to-date on his condition and appealed for financial help to organise his transfer from hospital in Addis Ababa to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

“He was one of a kind… humble and extremely loyal,” his close friend and manager Eyob Alemayehu, from the music promoter Yisakal Entertainment, told BBC Africa.

Los Angeles’ Little Ethiopia Prepares for 2013 Cultural Street Festival

August 19, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Aida Solomon

Published: Monday, August 19, 2013

Los Angeles (TADIAS) – It was 11 years ago this month on August 7, 2002 that the city of Los Angeles designated through a unanimous council vote that the neighborhood on Fairfax Avenue, between Olympic and Pico Boulevard, be recognized as Little Ethiopia, making it the first street in the United States to be named after an African nation.

For the last 12 years the Little Ethiopia Business Association has been hosting a popular cultural street festival that attracts a diverse crowd from L.A. and beyond to the area. Organizers say this year’s celebration is scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 8th, 2013 between Olympic and Whitworth Avenue with events including live music, vendors, fashion show, comedy, and much more.

The 2013 festival will also feature Alemtsehay Wodajo, an accomplished actress, poet and songwriter, as well as city and state officials. According to Berhanu Asfaw, President of the Little Ethiopia Business Association, students from a local elementary school will also perform the Ethiopian National Anthem. The keynote speaker is Dr. Menbere Aklilu, owner of Salute e Vite Ristorante in Richmond California.

Below are photos from past events.

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Art, Featured

Emahoy Tsegue-Mariam Guebru: Jersualem’s Best Kept Musical Secret

August 18, 2013 Tadias Magazine

The Guardian

By Harriet Sherwood

Jerusalem – From a small, spartan room in the courtyard of the Ethiopian church off a narrow street in Jerusalem, a 90-year-old musical genius is emerging into the spotlight.

For almost three decades, Emahoy Tsegué-Mariam Guebrù has been closeted at the church, devoting herself to her life’s twin themes – faith and music. The Ethiopian nun, whose piano compositions have enthralled those who have stumbled across a handful of recordings in existence, has lived a simple life, rarely venturing beyond the monastery’s gates.

But this month the nonagenarian’s scribbled musical scores have been published as a book, ensuring the long-term survival of her music. And on Tuesday, the composer will hear her work played in concert for the first time, at three performances in Jerusalem. Guebrù may even play a little.

Her music has been acclaimed by critics and devotees. Maya Dunietz, a young Israeli musician who worked with Guebrù on the publication of her scores, says in her introduction to the book that the composer has “developed her own musical language”.

“It is classical music, with a very special sense of time, space, scenery,” Dunietz told the Guardian. “It’s not grand; it’s intimate, natural, honest and very feminine. She has a magical touch on the piano. It’s delicate but deep. And all her compositions tell stories of time and place.”

Meseret Defar: “It’s A Big Achievement For Me” After 5000m Gold in Moscow

August 16, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Sabrina Yohannes

Updated: Saturday, August 17, 2013

MOSCOW (TADIAS) – After missing out on the 5000m gold at the last two world championships, Ethiopia’s two-time Olympic champion Meseret Defar reclaimed the title in Moscow on Saturday night.

“It’s my sixth world championships and I won my second gold medal of the world championships,” said Meseret who last won the event six years ago in Osaka, Japan. “It’s a big achievement for me.”

“The race today was very tactical, the first kilometer was slow, then the pace started to increase,” said Meseret, who kicked for home with 200m remaining and won in 14:50.19 ahead of Kenya’s Mercy Cherono, while Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana earned bronze in 14:51.33.

“I am happy with my medal,” said Almaz, who led for many laps. “We did a good team race.”

“The Kenyan president was watching from the stands,” said Cherono, who caught Almaz on the homestretch. “He told me yesterday that he would look for me, so I had to struggle to make him proud.”

Meseret took 5000m bronze at the 2009 and 2011 world championships in which she had contested that event as well as the 10,000m. She and her compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba, who took gold over both distances in 2005, had wanted to make the same double attempt in Moscow, until Ethiopia’s athletic federation intervened.

“I thought of contesting both because I’m in very good shape,” said Meseret who ran the year’s fastest 10,000m time of 30:08.06 in Sollentuna, Sweden in June to make the Ethiopian Moscow team in the event. “In the 10,000m race with which I qualified for the championships, I ran 20 laps alone, leading the field. When I saw that, I knew I could run well and perform well, and I was personally convinced.”

Meseret’s personal best for the distance is 29:59.20.

“In the end, based on the federation’s request that we both run one event each to allow upcoming athletes to participate, both of us agreed and gave the opportunity to the youngsters,” she said.

The two-time Olympic 10,000m champion Tirunesh won the Moscow world championship race on Sunday, leading her teammate Belaynesh Oljira to bronze.

“Giving the younger athletes the opportunity has made me feel good, and Tirunesh got the gold as you saw, and I’m very pleased,” said Meseret, who was keen to uphold national pride along with her less-established teammates in the 5000m.

The two star athletes have shared the long distance titles at global championships on prior occasions, with Tirunesh winning the 10,000m and Meseret the 5000m at the 2007 world championships and 2012 Olympics.

Meseret suffered just one loss this outdoor season, to Tirunesh’s sister, the world indoor 1500m champion Genzebe Dibaba, in Shanghai in June. “One week before that race, I was ill,” said Meseret.”I was coughing and had a bad cold.”

“After that, after I recovered from my illness, I was back to my best when I performed well and ran a fast time in Oslo,” added Meseret, who in Norway ran the third-fastest 5000 of the year, 14:26.90, winning ahead of Viola Kibiwot of Kenya, who will be in Saturday’s final, and Genzebe.

The year’s fastest 5000m runner, Tirunesh, clocked 14:23.68 in July in Paris, where her surprise runner-up was the 2013 Ethiopian steeplechase champion Almaz Ayana in 14:25.84.

“She’s a very strong and good young athlete,” said Meseret of the relative newcomer Almaz. “As you have seen, she recorded a remarkable performance in Paris and she’s very strong now too.”

The Athens 2004 Olympic champion Meseret regained that title in London last year after taking bronze in Beijing in 2008, and she has now succeeded in staging a similar comeback at the world championships, trading up her Berlin 2009 and Daegu 2011 bronzes.
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Related:
Steeplechaser Sofia Assefa Follows in Olympian Eshetu Tura’s Footsteps
Tirunesh Dibaba Wins Women’s 10,000, Mohammed Aman Wins Gold in 800

Video: Meseret Defar qualifies for – 5000m Women – (10 AUG 2013)

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Featured, Profiles

Steeplechaser Sofia Assefa Follows in Olympian Eshetu Tura’s Footsteps

August 14, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Sabrina Yohannes

Updated: Thursday, August 15, 2013

MOSCOW (TADIAS) – History was made in Russia’s Luzhniki Stadium as an Ethiopian made the podium in the steeplechase at a global championships for the first time ever on July 31, 1980, when Eshetu Tura took the bronze medal at the Moscow Olympic Games. Thirty-three years later, history repeated itself when one of his athletes, Sofia Assefa, also took steeplechase bronze in the same stadium at the 2013 athletics world championships on Tuesday night, becoming the first Ethiopian — male or female — to medal in that race at the biennial event.

“Repeating Eshetu Tura’s achievement places me in the history books,” said Sofia, who also followed in his footsteps last year in London, when she became the first female steeplechaser from her nation to medal at the Olympics, earning bronze. “I’m very happy, praise God.”

Sofia’s accomplishment in Moscow was made all the more dramatic after she fell at a jump during the race and recovered to finish in 9:12.84 behind Kenya’s African champion Milcah Chemos and national champion Lydia Chepkurui, who ran 9:11.65 and 9:12.84.

With two laps to go, Sofia was comfortably tucked in the lead pack, in fifth place behind the two Kenyans and Ethiopia’s All Africa Games runner-up Hiwot Ayalew and Etenesh Diro. “The race was tough … but I was doing well,” said Sofia. “I took a running leap and crashed into the hurdle. When I fell, I was very worried, because it’s very difficult to fall and get up again. I only had 700m left. The effort you make to catch up costs you a lot of energy.”

Sofia was quickly dropped by the leading four runners and overtaken by Kenya’s Hyvin Jepkemoi, leaving her adrift in sixth place. “But I just kept going, thinking that I’ll leave with whatever God gives me, whatever I get,” she said.

She gradually regained contact and resumed her fifth place position at the bell and coming into the final turn, she overtook Hiwot and chased the Kenyan pair down the homestretch, gaining ground but unable to reel in either. “If I hadn’t fallen, I think that even if I didn’t win, we would at least have finished closer together,” she said. “I don’t know, maybe I might have been second.”

She didn’t think she would have beaten Chemos. “She’s strong and she always beats me,” said Sofia, who has beaten Chemos in one steeplechase race each season since 2009 compared to the nearly two dozen times the Kenyan has bested Sofia. “But I would have stayed with them and fought hard til the very end, and if I had been beaten, I would have been beaten,” added Sofia. “But God be praised, this for me is sufficient.”

She was still in a slight daze over her fall and eventual outcome when she encountered Ethiopia’s newly-crowned 800 meter champion Mohammed Aman in the mixed zone for athletes and media, and he embraced and congratulated her. She started talking to him about her fall and her voice trailed off. “Ayzosh,” he comforted her in Amharic. (“It’s OK.”)

She had just come from the track where she had been handed an Ethiopian flag and congratulated by members of the team who had been on hand to see her medal, including Eshetu Tura and the head national steeple coach Bizuneh Yaye, though neither she nor they had brought up Eshetu’s Moscow bronze. “I didn’t think of it at the time,” she said. “But both of them were there, and they’re very happy.” Upon being reminded of the decades-old historic achievement she’d emulated in the same city and stadium, she added, “Even though it’s with another bronze, it’s great that it was repeated.”

Eshetu also earned a steeplechase silver medal representing Africa at the 1977 International Association of Athletics Federations’ (IAAF) World Cup, a continental team competition that was a predecessor to the current IAAF Continental Cup, in which both Sofia and Ethiopian men’s steeplechaser Roba Gari medaled for Africa in 2010, he with a silver and she with another bronze. (The competition is not, however, seen as a global championship in the same sense as the Olympics or world championships.)

In the season leading up to her Moscow bronze, Sofia had five podium finishes in the IAAF Diamond League series of one-day competitions. Prior to emulating Eshetu’s Olympic feat in London last year, she had four. “I had high expectations because I had run well in the Diamond League,” said Sofia, who had run her personal best and Ethiopia’s national record 9:09.00 in the Oslo Diamond League meet on June 7, 2012 behind Chemos’ 9:07.14 African record. “The whole time I was running [at the London Olympics], I was thinking about medaling,” said Sofia. “I may not have had the confidence to be first, but I thought I might place second or third.”

After the Olympics, she arrived in Ethiopia without fanfare. “I didn’t return with the team,” she said. “I had races scheduled and I went straight to the site of a race from London. I saw the team’s homecoming reception in Addis Ababa on the internet and it was nice. As I didn’t even [finish my race] in Stockholm, I wished I had gone back with them.”

She received plenty of praise from Ethiopia’s only other Olympic medalist in her event , Eshetu, and her other coaches, including former steepler and 1980 Moscow 5000m runner Yohannes Mohammed. “The coaches are great,” she said. “They were very happy. They always encourage me, telling me I can run even better.”

A year after London, Sofia has indeed increased her global medal tally, and made her mentors proud. Coming into Moscow, she had hoped to reach a higher step on the podium, and that future hope remains. “I have bronze,” she said. “I believe I have to put in my effort to, God willing, achieve something better — be it silver or gold.”
—
Related:
Ethiopia Celebrates Highest Ever World Championships Medal Haul in Moscow

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Featured

UPDATE: Mohammed Aman Wins Gold in 800 Meters at World Championships (Video)

August 11, 2013 Tadias Magazine

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MOSCOW — Mohammed Aman of Ethiopia won the men’s 800-meter gold medal Tuesday at the world championships.

The 19-year-old indoor world champion surged ahead in the home stretch to beat Nick Symmonds of the United States. Aman had his best time of the season — 1 minute, 43.31 seconds.

Symmonds finished in 1:43.55 and Ayanleh Souleiman of Djibouti took the bronze in 1:43.76.

David Rudisha, the Olympic gold medalist and defending world champion, has been out injured for most of the season.

Aman won his last half dozen races and has beaten Rudisha twice.

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Tirunesh Dibaba Wins Women’s 10,000 at World Championships (Video)

Tirunesh Dibaba won the women’s 10,000 meters Sunday at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow. Stay tuned for Tadias Magazine’s complete coverage of the Ethiopian team. (Photo credit: Reuters)

IAAF

Updated: Monday, August 12, 2013

Tirunesh Dibaba regained her IAAF World Championships 10,000m title after a six year hiatus with a blistering 59.96 last lap to shake off all challengers and win her third title in 30:43.35.

The victory in the Russian capital also maintained Dibaba’s unbeaten streak over 25 laps of the track: 11 races started, 11 races won, a record that also includes two Olympic titles in 2008 and 2012.

As the race developed, it became ever-more apparent that there could be only one winner, in the absence of her team mate Meseret Defar, who has decided to concentrate on the 5000m.

Ethiopia Hosts 2013 African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum

August 11, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
Events News

Published: Sunday, July 11, 2013

Addis Ababa (TADIAS) – Ethiopia is hosting the 12th annual African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum this weekend in Addis Ababa featuring business leaders and government officials representing the United States and several African countries. The Forum that alternates between Washington, D.C. and an eligible country from the continent every other year, is being held in Ethiopia for the first time.

The AGOA forum, that was singed into law by President Bill Clinton in 2000, is designed to increase business to business relations between the U.S. and African countries through duty-free export of certain African products to the United States. Last year, 39 AGOA-eligible sub-Saharan African countries “exported nearly $35 billion in products to the United States,” a spokesperson for U.S. State Department said. “AGOA provides incentives for African countries to improve their investment climates, reduce corruption, respect human and labor rights and the rule of law, improve infrastructure and harmonize trade standards to help them become more competitive in the global marketplace.” Previous gatherings of the Forum had been organized in Mauritius, Senegal, Ghana, Kenya and Zambia.

The press release added: “The 2013 AGOA Forum will highlight the progress achieved since the Act’s inception in 2000 and launch a dialogue on the future of United States-sub-Saharan Africa trade and economic cooperation. These discussions will pave the way for the Obama Administration to work with Congress and other stakeholders on AGOA’s extension after September 30, 2015, when the current Act is due to expire.”

This year’s forum opened in Ethiopia on Friday, August 9th under the theme “Sustainable Transformation through Trade and Technology,” in conjunction with a business conference spearheaded by the Corporate Council on Africa that concludes on Sunday, June 11th. The event will be followed by the Ministerial Forum scheduled to take place on Monday August 12th and Tuesday, August 13th.
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You can learn more about the forum at www.agoa2013ethiopia.org.

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Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar to Contest One Event Each at 2013 World Championships in Moscow

August 8, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Sabrina Yohannes

Updated: Friday, August 9, 2013

Moscow (TADIAS) – Ethiopia’s London Olympic champions Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar will contest just one event each at the 2013 athletics world championships in Moscow, with Tirunesh running only the 10,000-meter final on Sunday August 11, team officials confirmed on Wednesday. Meseret will run the 5000-meter elimination round next Wednesday morning before the final takes place three days later, on the evening of Saturday, August 17.

The two women had been entered in both of those events and were considered favorites to medal twice, while the double gold medal feat that Tirunesh achieved at the 2005 world championships and 2008 Beijing Olympics has served as a tantalizing prospect.

“It’s very difficult for athletes to run three races in one week,” said the Ethiopian athletic federation’s head coach Dr. Yilma Berta in Moscow on Wednesday. “It’s better for them to contest one event each, and take one event each.” The team believes the strategy would set up two golds for the nation.

For the 2004 and 2012 Olympic 5000 champion Meseret, who has medaled repeatedly over that distance, but never yet over 10,000, running the longer event first could jeopardize her chances for the shorter event. It appears to have done so in the 2009 and 2011 world championships, where she ran both events but took just one bronze medal in the 5000m. In 2009, as in 2013, she had run one of the year’s two fastest 10,000m in the world before the championships, but that did not guarantee a medal.

Tirunesh, though, would have already contested her main event, the 10,000, by the time the Moscow 5000 begins. However, even if she were to win the 10,000 and still wish to start in the 5000, she would not be able to do so, said Dr. Yilma. “It’s already been decided,” he said. “Everyone is running one race each. There are also other younger athletes who deserve the opportunity.”

Meseret will be joined in the 5000 by Almaz Ayana, who in July ran the second-fastest time any woman has run this year. That race, in Paris, was won by Tirunesh, who at the time was looking forward to racing over the distance in Moscow in addition to the 10,000.

“She wanted to run both and she had been preparing for both,” said her sister Genzebe Dibaba on Wednesday in Moscow, where she arrived ahead of her sibling. “She’s in better shape than she was last year,” added Genzebe.

The 5000 world record-holder Tirunesh did run both events in London last year, and finished the 5000 in third place after losing a final sprint to her track arch-rival Meseret, who was coming into the race with fresh legs and a fierce determination to regain the Olympic 5000 crown.

No such double attempt is in the federation’s plans for 2013, and Ethiopia’s only Moscow 10,000 and 5000 double gold that will be in the history books when these championships are over will be the legendary Miruts Yifter’s from the 1980 Olympics.

Genzebe also qualified for two events in Moscow, the 5000 and the 1500, in which she is the fastest Ethiopian of the year and the only one to have run under four minutes. “The federation wants me to contest the 1500, since there’s a shortage of athletes in it,” said Genzebe, who will run the event’s first round on Sunday morning, August 11.

The overwhelming favorite to win that event’s final is Ethiopian-born Abeba Aregawi, who represented the nation at last year’s Olympics, but had established ties with Sweden previously and now represents the Scandinavian nation.

Ethiopia does have a favored athlete in the Moscow middle distance events, as Mohammed Aman runs the men’s 800m, which starts its first round of races this Saturday morning in the absence of Olympic champion and world record-holder David Rudisha of Kenya.

Olympic champion Tiki Gelana and former world track and cross country medalist and 2012 Frankfurt marathon champion Meselech Melkamu run the Moscow women’s marathon Saturday afternoon, after which London women’s steeplechase bronze medalist Sofia Assefa competes in the first round of that event.

The 2008 Olympic and 2009 world championship double gold medalist in the 10,000 and 5000, Kenenisa Bekele, is entered as a reserve in the men’s 10,000 final, which takes place Saturday evening. Kenenisa was the fourth-fastest Ethiopian this year in both of his events, after winning the 10,000m in Eugene, Oregon in May.

That race was initially scheduled to serve as a trials race for the Moscow 10,000m, where the first three Ethiopians would automatically make the team, but that plan was abandoned before the Eugene Prefontaine Classic meeting, and Moscow selections were made based on athletes’ fastest times for the season.

“There was a plan to hold a trials race there, and then there was another plan to hold it somewhere else, but neither plan worked out,” said Dr. Yilma. Ethiopia ordinarily selects athletes for track championships based primarily on fastest times, and Kenenisa, who is gradually coming back from injury-plagued years, ran several races this season in search of fast times.

The fastest man in the world over 10,000 this year is the London Olympic 5000m silver medalist Dejen Gebremeskel, who won his first race ever over the distance in Sweden in June, leading his compatriots Abera Kuma and the 2011 world 10,000m bronze-medalist Imane Merga to similarly fast times. The three men will be joined in Moscow by the surprise 2011 world champion, Ibrahim Jeilan, whose role as defending champion allows him automatic entry into the event.

Ibrahim beat Britain’s Mo Farah in 2011, but the Somali-born Farah enters the 2013 race as the reigning 10,000 and 5000 Olympic champion, and is even more heavily favored this season – not that that will stop the 5000m bronze medalist from 2011, Dejen, and his teammates from aiming for another upset victory.

Ethiopian team members receive a warm welcome at Moscow airport

Most of the Ethiopian athletes running in the first few days of the championships arrived in Moscow on Wednesday along with team coaches and officials. They were greeted by Ethiopia’s ambassador to Russia, Kasahun Dender Melese, who met the delegation inside the arrival area at Domodedovo airport.

Members of Moscow’s Ethiopian community gathered in the waiting area of the terminal holding Ethiopian flags and wearing wrist bands and scarves in the flag’s green, yellow and red colors, while some women were decked in traditional outfits from head to toe. Ululations and cheers arose when the delegation appeared, and later, flowers were presented to the London Olympic medalists in the squad.

“We want to support them all,” said Moscow businessman Gezu Gebru. “But to tell you the truth, we also wanted to meet them up close. We always watch them race on television, but this was an opportunity to see them in person.” Gezu and others in his community will also get to see the star athletes racing live in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium and on the streets of the city during the marathons, starting Saturday morning. The championships end on August 18.
—
Related:
Meseret Defar and Tirunesh Dibaba Face Each Other in Zurich (TADIAS)
Steeplechaser Sofia Assefa Follows in Olympian Eshetu Tura’s Footsteps (TADIAS)
Meseret Defar Hoping to Take Back 5000m Gold in Moscow on Saturday Night (TADIAS)

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Featured, History

Google Honores Abebe Bikila

August 7, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Updated: Thursday, August 8, 2013

New York (TADIAS) – Athletic legend Abebe Bikila was honored on Wednesday with an artistic version of the Google logo. The double Olympic marathon champion who is most remembered for winning a gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics while running barefoot was featured with the Google Doodle on August 7th, 2013 on what would have been his 81st birthday.

“I wanted the whole world to know that my country, Ethiopia, has always won with determination and heroism,” Abebe is famously quoted as saying shortly following his memorable victory in Rome.

Abebe Bikila died on October 25, 1973 at the age of 41. He remains a national Ethiopian hero and an international sports legend.
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Featured, Interviews

Tesfaye Girma’s Friends Seek Closure

August 6, 2013 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Updated: Tuesday, August 6, 2013

New York (TADIAS) – 27-year-old Tesfaye Girma Deboch is remembered by his family and friends as a humorous, friendly, focused and sharp student who was slated to earn his PhD in Economics next year from Washington State University. Instead he was found dead on June 30th, 2013 at the bottom of an indoor swimming pool at the Quality Inn & Suites hotel in Seattle. Tesfaye and 14 of his classmates from WSU’s graduate School of Economic Sciences were in the city attending the Western Economics Association International Conference.

Authorities say the investigation is still ongoing, and Tesfaye’s friends say many questions remain unanswered in this case, including why it took the Seattle Fire Department three hours and two visits to properly search for the drowning victim. The swimming pool’s history of chlorine level violations that caused inspectors to shut down the location on multiple occasions in the past, according to The Seattle Times, should also be investigated.

“The water was so murky no one could see the bottom of the indoor pool,” the newspaper reported at the time. “Firefighters used a rescue hook and thermal imaging to search the water, but eventually left, certain that Deboch had left the pool area…even though his shoes, shirt, wallet and phone were still near the pool.”

Tesfaye, who was reported missing around at 5:30 that afternoon, was eventually discovered after his friends and a retired firefighter sitting nearby decided to take a second look inside the pool. The fire department was called back again at 8:12 PM, but it was too late to save the victim. In an article published on July 12th The Seattle Times reported: “The King County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Deboch drowned.”

For family and friends, Tesfaye’s sudden death is a very sad and painful episode. For the community at large, it’s another tragic story of a promising young life cut short too early.

“I have known Tesfaye since elementary school,” said his childhood friend Saba Fassil. “Tesfish and I were often slightly competitive in a friendly way when it came to academics but he always managed to beat me,” She added: “He was extremely brilliant and very humble about it.”

Saba said her friend was a person with an “outstanding” character. “So many of us who have had a chance to cross path with Tesfaye’s life had a great expectation for his future,” she said. “Please don’t take it as an exaggeration, when I say that I saw in him a future Ethiopian leader — not necessarily in the political sense but in terms of doing something revolutionary in Ethiopia and beyond.”

What she misses most about her friend, Saba said, is his infectious personality. “Gentle yet funny, smart and goofy, and his love for life was evident to every soul he has touched in his short stay on this earth.”

Another friend, Egla-Duni Y. Negussie, shared that for her Tesfaye is one of a kind. “I say this because I have known him since 3rd grade,” she said. “We even finished college together abroad. I vouch for Tesfish’s extraordinary personality.”

Saba recalled that a week prior to Tesfaye’s death, the two were talking about possibly meeting up in Ethiopia as both had upcoming trips planned there later this summer. But she said, “On July 7, 2013, I faced the saddest reality of welcoming my friend’s body to Ethiopia gathered at Bole airport among his friends and family members. I dread that day because it made this far away bad news from Seattle an unfathomable reality.” She added: “It was gut-wrenching to see his family and loved ones deal with the unexplained. Truly gone too soon.”

Egla-Duni agreed: “Like every one of his loved ones, I just can’t seem to comprehend the way he passed.”

We send our condolences to Tesfaye’s family and friends, and make a call for a more complete investigation of the drowning incident.

Below are additional photographs of Tesfaye Girma Deboch.

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Ethiopian Business and Lifestyle