Frankly musical
Zeritu is one of the most promising female vocalists to appear recently. Following upon the success of her first album, she is about to release a DVD of her nationwide tour. Capital's Mina Yirga spent some interesting moments with the new diva of Ethiopian pop music.
Can you up date us on what you have been doing since the release of your first album?
Well, after about four months of rehearsals and preparations, I toured 10 towns in Ethiopia ( Addis Ababa , Nazareth , Awassa, Bahirdar, Gondor, Mekelle, Dessie, Jimma, Harar and Diredawa.). Though the plan was to stage the continuation of the local 'Guzo Zeritu' for Ethiopians living abroad, it was unsuccessful since what the promoters offered and what I requested didn't match. I am not going to make a fool of myself, performing with a single keyboard or with one or two instruments, so that they can make twice as much money as they would if they had let me take a full band. And for the last eight months, I have been working on my tour DVD with Octopus Pictures which is expected to be released in the next few weeks.
How successful was your tour?
I cannot say things have gone the way I planned them to. Because at the beginning I didn't have a clue about the difficulties. The best part of it all is that it was a great learning experience, which I could not have had if I had let situations and short sighted individuals interfere in my strong desire to please my self and my fans no matter what the cost. I really want to thank my family and my fiancé Lakachew, for supporting me in every way they could, being the only ones who understood me and stood by me until the end. I honestly could not have done it without them.
My shows were presented equally to all audiences at all the venues. And I am so glad that 'Guzo Zeritu' delighted Ethiopians all over the country.
People say that you are heavily influenced and some times even directly translate foreign songs. How do you see that?
For every road we take, there are things that inspire us though the level varies. No one lives without being influenced or inspired by some one or some thing. There is no doubt I am influenced by foreign music, but I don't agree that they are direct translations. I as an artist have my own life, my own experiences and my own way of seeing things, and the things that have inspired me will be my ideas for my lyrics.
People say you have your own style whenever you appear on stage. Who designs your clothes?
Well, depending on my mood, I'd wear any thing I could come up with. But for the opening and closing shows of my tour, Osman Mohammed of Ras Africa designed my outfits.
Do you think that you have gained the acknowledgment you expected?
I don't do what I do for acknowledgment or appreciation. I do it for the love of it and for my pleasure. It is sad that most people won't understand you for who you really are. However, I am grateful for the few hearts that I know I have touched and continue to be myself.
Do you have any plans for the new millennium? What are you doing currently?
I always have plans in my mind all the time and I abide with that. I don't have specific plans for the new millennium. As I mentioned earlier, I am about to release the 'GUZO ZERITU' tour DVD. I have started working on my second album and I am involved in a film project, which is still in development stage.
How did you come up with the tour DVD initiative?
It is only the people who were actually there during the live performance who witnessed it. Therefore, for those who missed it and for fans who want to have a recollection, bringing the DVD to the market creates a good opportunity. I have exerted my own efforts, it has been my first step and the tour idea was a new one.
How did you meet your manager? And what works have you done so far?
I met Abye while preparing for my tour. At the time, I was self managed and did every thing on my own. It was very tiresome for me to do the art and take the hassles at the same time. So when his proposal to manage my career came I had to accept it. So far under his management, I took part in the WORLD PEACE DAY concert held in Gambella and more is coming, including the tour DVD. It is important for artists to have managers so that they could assist them in turning their visions into reality.
Palette and Piano - the beauty of colors
By Endale Assefa
Some years ago, there was an auction on ETV. It was not a painting that had sold for millions of dollars. Instead was a well-known artist's overcoat which he used to wear throughout his career.
He used to clean his brushes on the coat for many years creating a mix of magnificent colors unintentionally but seems as if it was done deliberately. The cloth as his palette, became as historical as his works.
Last week's exhibition at the National Theatre's gallery room was all about the palette and palette shaped musical instrument-the Piano. Palettes are indispensable to. Made of wood, the artist blends his hues on it and to 'creats' countless kinds of colors.
"Colors are beautiful; especially when the various mixtures are obtained unintentionally," says artist Seyfu Abebe. "Palette is a board which painters use to mix color. It is of various shapes. It can be oval, circular or some times rectangular. It has a hole for the thumb to hold it up and move it from place to place."
Some of the most famous world class paintings like Mona Lisa, The Last Supper and Adam and Eve were first mixed on palette "I adapted this artist's tool into an art itself," says Seyfu.
The piano has the shape of a palette. It is a three dimensional instrument like a statue. According to the artist, it is like a sculpture on a piece of installation art.
Seifu has apparently turned the piano into a palette to create a four dimensional image.
"Art need not have a meaning. All it requires is a feeling like music. For example, I like Spanish music though I don't know the language. This doesn't, however, mean that it could be done without a purpose. Like my palette, you should have a back ground," explains Seyfu.
He says artists these days are too addicted sticking to style. It is up to them, but style is boring and is a barrier to unique and creative works.
Seifu, even though he has 12 successful exhibitions in the past, he mentions only four of them for originality. Digital art where he displayed computer images and Mirror art (where you see part of your self in a mirror placed in the paintings and become a part of it) are among them.
Seyfu Abebe is preparing for a more serious and persuasive art work, which is aimed to raise awareness of traffic accidents, as part of his social service contribution for the community. He calls on all interested parties to sponor him. We wish him luck.
Wim on wheels
By Endale Assefa
Sixty year old Dutch entrepreneur Wimh Woundenberg is abandoning his catering business Wim's Holland House, which is located around Bole Medhanealem church, and is about to start a new catering service provider on wheels, the first of its kind in Ethiopia.
Mr. Woundenberg decided to change his business strategy after learning that the place he rented from a landlord is being sold to the neighborhood.
Holland House was not just a restaurant and a liquor store. Many people from various embassies come to share ideas, conduct business and other arrangements since a sustainable and conducive atmosphere always prevailed in the house, says Mr. Woundenberg.
In my more than 10 years in Ethiopia , I have been through a lot of unpleasant situations. First, I lost my wife, Lemlem, then a bad ending in the Dutch Milk House and now Wim's Holland House. Yet, life continues. So, I came up with a new idea of service on wheels where my customers don't come to me any more; I go to them so that they could have their drinks in their gardens, says Mr Woundenberg
Despite his age, he has plans ahead for ten years and says, "I will make this Wim on wheels business in to an organization that could serve millions of people all over the country. I could also have small Wim's in, Kenya and other East African countries just like McDonalds."
He has concluded a deal with BGI Ethiopia for the supply of beer and draught and at present, he is busy working on the license. Within two weeks a truck with ten people serving in the back will cruise the streets of Addis and go door to door with food and liquors.
Capital wishes all the best of success to this senior citizen, who could serve as an inspiring model for retired people.
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