‘Memory Book’: life stories of orphaned children launched

By Mina Yirga

In order to witness the daily reality behind the statistics, a "memory project" consisting of narratives of children affected by HIV/AIDS was undertaken in Addis Ababa by Handicap National and Save the Children Sweden. The project was carried out in a deprived area of the city involving twenty four children from which the life stories of eighteen were documented in a book entitled "Memory Book: memory, grief and identity: life stories from orphaned children".
Thus, Save the Children Sweden launched the Memory Book publication at Global Hotel in the presence of the children who were involved in the project, policy makers and others working on children's issues.
The Memory Book includes extraordinary testimonies of children, showing their strength and resilience with which they confront such dramatic loss and change in their lives and also because
the devastating experiences these children have had are not at all unusual but indeed, increasingly common place.
According to the press release statement, the stories told by these children illustrate the need in Ethiopia to build and strengthen governmental, family and community capacities to provide a more supportive environment for children affected by HIV/AIDS. In addition, it was evident that providing children who are affected by HIV/AIDS with space and time to grieve for their loss will help hasten recovery from emotional trauma.
“We do hope that children here as well as other children in the same situation will feel next time we meet, that these stories have led to changes in their situation.” Hans Lind, Country Director, Save the Children, Sweden added.
This publication adds that the holistic rights based approach required to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Of Child (ACRWC) is the most effective tool available to address the broader range of issues that relate to prevention, treatment and care efforts.

Instinctive art takes on “African Art”

By Tsion Aklilu

Hassen Opio, a friendly and easy going artist, has just opened his exhibition at the Hilton Hotel entitled 'African Art' where he presented about 29 of his paintings. "It is about nation's nationalities and people of Ethiopia and nature of Africa," says the artist of his work.
Hassen -who has been in the business for 27 years -is an enigma in the art world, refusing to conform and insisting upon his own path. The full time artist did not attend art school, or study art. He calls himself an 'instinctive artist', and if you ask, where he studied, he will simply reply, "I study with Michel Angelo." Seeing the look of curiosity on your face, he will gently explain that he teaches himself.
Among Hassen's pieces are Farmer on his way to work and Peace on Earth, which show Hassen's different perspectives on life.
He dares to use diverse colors rather than limiting himself to the selected palette. Call it bright, dark, cold or hot he has used them all on the different canvases with no fear.
Hassen has presented his works of art in Japan, Djibouti, and Greek. 'African Art' lasts from April 2nd to 8th, at the Hilton Hotel Addis Ababa.

Brothers in vibe

By Mina Yirga

Everyone is talking about the Holla entertainment event -you are going to rock the town. Could you please tell us about that?
The event is organized by Holla entertainment and will be the first of four millennium events being held at the Eden Garden (Wollo Sefer). The concert will take place on the first week of Easter (dagema tensae), a Saturday. The concert will bring international and local artists together to create an international vibe. We will be working with international artists like Kalyn of the Harlem jazz playing old school tunes, Sydney Salmon with The Imperial Majestic band and locally Abinet Agonafer will perform for the first time in concert with Johnny Ragga , Yosef Gebrae and other artists like Natty, Eyob Bob, Betty and more. We expect a big crowd from here, the Diaspora and the international community.
Your father was a saxophonist and your mother a traditional dancer. Did their professional influence your decision to be in a band?
It was our vision from the beginning. Our father was in the music world for quite some time. After he retired, he founded a music library which is the first of its kind. He used to collect old CDs and photographs of famous artists of that time. He used to record cultural clothes. We started visiting his music library and that was constructive for us to see recordings, music, pictures and documents. As a child we used to draw pictures of bands and musical instruments until our father used to teach us about each instrument. We used to talk about music a lot with our father. He made an effort to teach us about music. We really had zero activity in high school. We used to go to church and play some songs. Somehow me ( Hencok) and Robel joined the Yared Music School. That was a good opportunity for the band because we made a lot of contacts. This is how the thought came to us. But it was just a thought for a very long time because we had to organize ourselves. The Mehari Brothers officially became a band a year and 3 months ago.
You've toured to ten cites in Ethiopia with one of our hottest artists: Zeritu. How did you come to know her?
Zeritu was an elementary student at Lazraitst Catholic School when we first met her. Somehow there was an opportunity so we started practicing a few lines with Zeritu and we knew that she was the most talented artist from day one. We have a strong wish to work on something big with her. ..and so does she. Me ( Henock) and Zeritu used to work for Express band. After leaving Express band, she focused on working on her album and we were organizing our band. After the album was released, the opportunity we were waiting for came and we went on a successful tour with Zeritu. What we did with Zeritu is very professional.
Tell us ahout 'Ewnetega Fikir' and your second alhum?
When I (Henock) was in church, people used to appreciate my voice and used to encourage me. 'Ewentaga Fiker' is the title of the song and the album. There was a huge challenge back then when I wrote it. The message of the song was more spiritual, love for our country, brotherhood...at that age I didn't have the exposure to romantic relationships.
The other thing is that the album was released at the same time as Henock Abebe. Since we have the same name, people became confused. My next album is a secret. Lets try to keep it that way and just say I am working on it.
These days we see lots of music being made with computer, but you are working as a band. Do you think this separates you from other artists? How would you describe the music industry?
Nowadays the young has turned to music
and its development. We admire Teddy
Afro, Natty, Johnny Ragga... Abegaz Shiota once said to us 'I was always wondering where the young were.' He wanted to see young musical talent.
If we have to compare what we have with the international level, we are at zero. Every musician abroad has his own studio, music arranger and the musician himself is a professional. When we come to Ethiopia, we don't have much of an option, we only have one music school, one national TV station... but still there is hope, new talents are coming. The other big problem is we don't have the sound engineers or professional managers for guidance.
We met Mulatu Astatke at the 11 th Chamber trade fair. That was a great experience because it will help us to grow.
What kind of music do you play? Do you play any Amharic songs?
We try to follow the interests of our audience as much as possible, music that we think has universal taste like the light rock of Santana and jazz fusion.
Playing Amharic song is a must. But we like to do it with special arrangements and sound. For instance, 'Tize alege Yetentu' many have been played like Maria Makeba. We have arranged it in a different way so as to fit the listeners.
What has kept you together as a band?
We like to share knowledge, talent and everything we have amongst ourselves.
Me ( Henock) and Roble are classical music students, Zerubable is good in Jazz. We are at different age groups, the youngest 19 and the oldest 29, with different insights but we have the same vision. In most cases, people are not visionary. We were not eminent. We do it for the love of the music, not only for money. Our aim is to upgrade our talent in any way we can because we want to make that change and we want to get the track we want.

Africa 2000

Burkina Faso

Africa 2000 is a special section that will appear regularly up to the Ethiopian new millennium festival and through out the millennial year. Africa 2000 features a brief arts and culture profile of each AU member state. Capital believes that an enhanced awareness of the rich diversity of Africa will help in making the New Ethiopian Millennium a truly African celebration. We hope that Africa 2000 will educate, inform, update and help promote intra-Africa relations as envisioned by the 8th Ordinary Summit of AU Heads of State.

Burkina Faso –Land of the people of integrity
The Volta is one of West Africa’s great rivers. Its headwaters are in northern Burkina Faso, where it begins of the journey through the south, down across Ghana and intoLake Volta, before it rushes to join the Atlantic. The Volta, is Burkina Faso longest t river and had once been the name of this somewhat reclusive African nation.
The Mossi are the largest single ethnic group and trace their history as far back as between the 11th and 13th centuries. They founded various kingdoms and thrived until a combination of intra-tribal wars, slave raiders and the more Songhai powerful mali and empires ended their dominance.
By 1896, the area fell under French control under the vague description of Haute Volta or Upper Volta, until it was renamed Burkina Faso in 1984. Burkina was among the newly sovereign African countries that emerges in the independence year of 1960. The capital is Ouagadougou, a city of almost one million and a mosaic of all the diverse peoples of Burkina. It is also a truly African city as it has its share of contrasts such as a donkey cart full of peanuts crossing a four lane highway.
Ouagadougou is also the economic and administrative nerve center of a country that has blissfully escaped the instability that swept across the region in the last two decades. A few largely bloodless coups have occurred with the last one in 1987, in which the current regime come to power but wisely and to much international expreciation, declared multi-party democracy in the early 90s.
Burkina has a large migrant labor force which seasonally travels to a once prosperous and peaceful Cote d’Ivoire and to always stable Ghana. Burkina has send home a considerable amount of much needed remittances to one of Africa’s poorest countries.
Burkina Faso is a member of major international and regional organizations including the UN, AU and ECOWAS.
Ouagadougou and second city Bobo Dialousou hosted a successful African cup of Nations finals in 1990. The event helped to introduce Burkina faso on the world stage.
Arts and Culture
Burkina Faso may be viewed as a relatively inconspicuous country and one which has not received much publicity. This cannot be further from the truth as far as its lively arts and culture scene is concerned. The country is the proud home of FESPACO (Pan African Films and Television Festival of Ouagadougou). Africa’s most prestigious film festivals and the launch pad of dozens of cinematic careers. The annual event has been a huge success ever since its launching in 1969. The festival has performed a vital role in putting Burkina Faso and Ouagadougou on the international film circuit. The Golden Stallion is African’s answers to the Oscar and a much coveted award. Fespaco is credited with being a vital Afro-Caribbean forum of film, television, and media production and for blazing a trail for other newer festivals around the continent.

Graphic Arts and Music

Burkina Faso has an ancient tradition of artwork featuring wood as a medium. Intricate carvings show a fascinating array of delicate designs that attest to the craftsman ship handed down through the generations. Among the most prized objects are the ceremonial masks used in traditional and religious rites.
Intrerstingly, FESPACO itself has spurred a mini- movement in modern art as Ouagadougou’s cinema emporiums are festooned with some of the most imaginative film posters and matinee boards. This pop art is a standing feature of the city during festival season.
Burkinabe music is influenced by West African high life, traditional rhythm, Afro-Caribbean melodies and a noticeable lilt of Sahel overtones. As ever in Africa the Kora and the talking drums are a fixture of traditional Burkinabe music, although there are plenty of regionally and world famous groups that blend western instruments such electric guitar and keyboards.

Vital Facts
Location –West Africa, South of the Sahara, Mali on NW; Niger on NE; Togo, Ghana, Cote d’Ivore on S
Area - 274,200 sq km
Topography –Landlocked, vast savanna region, North is hot, arid and sparsely populated
Population-13,491,736
Distribution-17% Urban
Principal Ethnic Graups–Mossi 40%, Gorunsi, Senufo, Labi, Bobo, Munde ,Fulani
Principal Languages – French (official), Sudanic Langages
Principal Religions – Muslim -50%, indigenous religions 40%, Christian 10%
Government Type -Republic
Head of State -President Blaise Compaore, since 1987
Head of government – Prime Minister Paramange Ernest Yonli, since 2000
Capital City - Ouagadougou , 821,000
Major Cities –Babo-Dioulasso
Economy –agriculture, cotton, beverages, agro-processing, soap, Textiles, gold
GDP Growth -4.8%
Per capital GDP-1,200.00USD
Currency –CFA Franc, (XOF), 525.28=1USD
Literacy-26.6%
Life Expectancy -47.0 male, 50.0 female
AIDS Ratios -4.2%
Daily News paper Circulation -1.3 per 1000
TV Sets-11 per1000
Radios -34 per 1000
Internet-48,000 users
Facts and figures are the latest available at time of publication and may not necessarily be the most accurate .