Selome kifle

Alem gallery hosts art exhibition for Bob Marley

As part of the 60th birthday celebration of Bob Marley, the Bob Marley and Rita Marley foundations will hold an art exhibition under the theme “African Unite” at the Alem gallery for 28 days beginning February 1.

The owner of the gallery, Tirsit Mengesha, told Capital that attendance on the opening day of the exhibition is only by invitation, but from then onward it is open for the public, adding that 56 young and prominent Ethiopian artists will display around 100 works of art including paintings, sculptures, crafts and musical instruments.

“My first plan was to exhibit works of several African artists as the theme revolves around the unity of Africa, but somehow it was very difficult,” she said.

Tirsit further disclosed that each week, within the 28 days, different art works with different titles will be held and one of such displays will feature only female artists on the theme “No woman no cry” from February 15 to 28. “The aim of ‘No woman no cry’ exhibition is to show how women artists express their impress in their own thoughts and essence using different media,” she added.

The owner of the gallery further said that on the opening ceremony of the “No women no cry” exhibition, two books titled “No Women no cry” and “My life in Bob Marley” by Rita Marley, the wife of the late reggae icon, will be launched at the gallery, which will be followed by a display of other books by different authors and writers.

Tirsit finally said that it took her four months to organize the exhibition and she believes that the theme “African Unite” will create a common ground of a working spirit among the artists.

Angelique Kidjo to join “Africa Unite” celebrations

West African singer, songwriter and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Angelique Kidjo, will be in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for ‘Africa Unite’, a month-long celebration in February commemorating the 60th birthday of legendary Reggae superstar, Bob Marley.

Kidjo describes the music of Bob Marley as powerful on many levels and credits Marley with having opened her eyes to global issues. “Being born in an African city, it was difficult for me to have a clear understanding of the entire world. Bob Marley, with lyrics that everyone can understand, gives you many tales of injustice, discrimination and slavery. Of equal importance were Bob Marley’s melodies, harmonies and arrangements. His songs were masterpieces. Every song has a little something that makes it unique”.

Kidjo, herself one of the most electrifying performers in the world today, is participating in what has been hailed as ‘an international historical event.’

Kidjo will take part in discussions with young people on the third day on the three-day ‘Africa Unite Symposium’ (February 2- 4). The symposium will bring together artists, intellectuals and youth for deliberations on Africa’s past, present and future through the prism of Bob Marley’s songs including, ‘Africa Unite’, ‘No Woman No Cry’ and ‘Redemption Song’.

On Friday, February 4, Kidjo will perform at a UNICEF Benefit for the Bob Marley Youth Development Centre.  She will also perform on Sunday, February 6, at the Africa Unite Concert at Meskel Square.

Angelique Kidjo, who became a UNICEF Goodwill ambassador on July 25, 2002, is one of the music world’s most forward thinkers, with a deep commitment to children and young people.  In her lyrics, Kidjo has explored the topics of race, environment, homelessness and the need to integrate. (UNICEF Press Release)

“Min Neber?” @ Italian Cultural Institute

The Italian Cultural Institute in collaboration with Zoma Contemporary Art Center (ZCAC) on Thursday, January 27, opened a 17-day anthropological art exhibition titled “Min Neber?” at the auditorium of the institute.

The exhibition, which literally means “What was it?” in English, was produced by ZCAC with Elias Sime, a young Ethiopian artist, and Meskerem Assegued, an anthropologist and owner of Zoma Contemporary Art Center.

The two since December 2002, traveled around Ethiopia documenting indigenous religious practices hidden away in small villages and during these trips, Meskerem conducted interviews on the people’s lives, rituals and mythologies, while Elias made sketches of the landscapes, the people and their cultures.

Prior to the opening of the exhibition, a 20 minutes photographic video with the same title photographed, directed and curated by Meskerem was screened to show the past to be a document for the future. “The exhibition is dedicated to the future generation who may ask about their past in search of their future,” she said.

Elias used different media including plastic, yarn, button, and fabric on canvas to make all the art pieces in this exhibition.

Upon entrance of the auditorium, two huge wooden pieces like doors with engravings of various structures are displayed uniquely having candle glimmers hanging at each of their corners. A local artist, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, and amazed by the imagination and creativity of the exhibitors, told Capital that this artistic work sparks a light in his thought making him wonder how Elias could express his observations from his journeys in such a way.

“Apart from this [wooden pieces], Elias’s other pieces done with various materials such as fabrics, yarns and plastics on canvas are amazing,” he said.  “Each artist used different media to express their imaginations especially Elias, who sewed yarn, fabric and plastic on canvas as well as different color mixtures showing the artist’s patience.”

According to Meskerem, “Min Neber?” exhibition is a small attempt to show the dignity, wisdom and depth of the ancient indigenous cultures that are rapidly disappearing from Ethiopia. She further added that after globalization has taken its total place in the lives of the indigenous people and all their practices replaced there will be those who will be asking, “Min Neber?”

Capital asked Dr Emiliano Longhi, director, cultural and scientific attaché of the Embassy of Italy, on what he thought about the art pieces, he responded, “The works are original in a sense and the artist used very simple but unique materials including plastic and yarn.”

Born and raised in Cherkos in Addis Ababa, Elias graduated from the Addis Ababa Fine Art & Design School in 1990, and he has a number of art pieces about the activities around his neighborhood.

Over the last 14 years he has been documenting the lives and portraits of the Cherkos Gebeya, Legaehar and Chide Terra areas, where he finds most of his working materials. After seven years of working with this media, in November 2002, Elias exhibited over 100 of his works at the Zoma Contemporary Art Center.

He has also participated in a number of solo and group exhibitions at the Alliance Ethio-française, African Union, Economic Commission for Africa, Addis Ababa University, National Museum, Goshu Gallery, and the Italian Cultural Institute. Last year Elias was among 28 African artists who took part in the Dak’art Biennale 2004 (the 6th International Contemporary African Art, in Dakar, Senegal).