Selome kifle

Ethiopia loses yet another personality

On his way to work on his new program for the Ethiopian Television (ETV), Alebachew Tekka, the popular Ethiopian talk show host of the “Alebe Show” and comedian, died tragically in a car accident late afternoon of Sunday, January 16.

The late Alebachew, who died on his way to Jimma, is one of five personalities Ethiopia has lost in the space of just two months: Assefa Gosaye, Assefa Medhine, Zewdu Getachew and Alem Techale, the fiancée of Kenenisa Bekele.

According to information, Alebachew, who was on the wheels, was with his cameraman, Yelma Kilemwork, and his show editor, Ephraim Dessta, when the accident happened as their car skid over the Bulbula Bridge into a ditch. Both Alebachew and his cameraman died on the spot while Ephraim was rushed to the Jimma Specialized Hospital with severe injuries.

Known for his show that raises money for the destitute and the old, people could not hold back the tears at his funeral that took place at the St. Joseph Church where more than 2,000 attended.

“He has done a lot in helping and raising money for those who are in need and it was also on his show we saw artists who have been forgotten for years. We will never forget him and his works,” lamented a fan, who was shocked of the sudden passing away of the comedian.

The late Alebachew was born in 1961 at Worgesha - Wollo province. He attended elementary school in his hometown before completing his secondary education in Addis Ababa from where he began his career as a performer with the Higher music troop, which was the turning point in his life.

He had toured Europe, the US and Middle East and performed for Ethiopians in the Diaspora. One of his greatest achievements was forming a women’s football team comprised of young girls some of whom have represented Ethiopia at international competitions.

He received certificates and recognition for his participation in sports and art. He was on his way to work on his new show, which should have been aired on ETV, after recently ending the Alebe Show.

The late Alebachew is survived by a wife, two daughters and a son.

Engdaget displays works on return from Germany

After a year in Germany on scholarship, Engdaget Legesse, a prominent painter returned to Addis Ababa to display his paintings at the Alem Gallery under the title of “Breath” on Tuesday, January 18.

Using abstract technique, the painter put on display 13 works done within three weeks after he came back from his study in Germany. In all his paintings, Engdaget used colors that are appealing to the eyes in trying to capture his imagination and bring it to life.

Engdaget graduated from the Addis Ababa Fine Art & Design in 1993 in Mural Art, and has participated in a number of exhibitions in Ethiopia as well as abroad including London, Italy, France and Germany. He was one of the founders of the Zion Art Center, an art gallery, three years ago that lasted only few months before eventually being closed.

EthioFilm screens new movie

A new film titled Hermela based on a true story and produced by EthioFilm P.L.C, a private film production company, was screened for journalist on Saturday, January 15 at Vision Cinema.

The film’s director, Yonas Birhane, told journalists that the aim of screening the movie in this cinema was to show the audience the different and advanced film lighting techniques such as pictorial and naturalism.

“Elements like lighting, setting, prop, color coordination and selection and costume design, this elements of filmmaking in Hollywood films have purpose, style and uniqueness in highlight of these we tried to bring those elements to our cinema and introduced to our audience,” added the director.

He disclosed also that besides the few internal locations in the film, most of them were built with their own desired colors, designs and composition. For example, the scenes in the hospital rooms, corridors, prison, café, and bedrooms are good examples.

Apart from that Yonas suggested that film directors should have their own identities in their cinema that makes their works different from others. “I decided to come up with something unique that the audience is not familiar with,” said Yonas. “We tried to create harmony, beauty and character using colors in different scenes and the film as whole, for example, the color on the costume, prop and setting must coordinate and express the mood of the scene.”

Finally he added that they used new actors because they at the EthioFilm P.L.C believe in giving opportunity to those who do not have the chance to show their talents often. “If we use only popular artists we will not be able to discover new faces and talents,” declared the director.

And he believes that the film industry is a growing industry that enriches the culture and behavior of the society and its educational promotion effect is remarkably high. But according to him, the industry in the country has not yet developed and subsequently the community and the country at large have not benefited from it.

“Though our nation’s culture and tourism potential is large, the field has not yet contributed in documenting and promoting them,” he said.

Before working on Hermela, the company was involved in other activities such as a film newsletter called Yabugede Girgir, which is distributed free of charge.

The company has plans to open a second cinema within a month’s time and a training center in the near future. The owners of EthioFilm also have a vision of establishing EthioFilm soccer team.