‘Casually’ forgotten
By Tsion Aklilu
His past two works and his very current pieces of art have interconnections. In 2006, he presented ‘Light and Shadow’, to reflect the contradiction between them and after a while, came up with his ‘Reconciliation with Nature’ works that he tried to convey nature and its inevitable compromises.
Abyalew Assefa has presented his latest works at the Hilton Hotel on May, 16 2007. ‘Casually’ the name for the three day exhibition, explains the theme of the pieces presented on the occasion “We lose several precious things…I have tried to use the power of my brush and paint to point out the necessity of giving due attention to things we see and yet casually ignore in every day to day living.”
One of his realistic illustrations ‘Essat Wey Ababa,’ is named after one of the late writer and poet laureate Tsegaye Gebremedhin’s renowned works. The combination of the scintillating orange, the cool and shady tones give the painting a high level of appeal. Tsegaye appears a bit sad and tired in the illustration; Abyalew has his reasons.
‘Casually’ is the story of our life, of things we do notice well about things we consider them useless but which in reality are our beauty and source of survival. A beautiful young girl staring at the painter with a dazzling smile on in a sunny morning took away the breath of the most young audience. The girl is in white silk and in a stiletto ;The early sun gives her that fresh morning face that is irresistable.
Abyalew uses the hot and cold colors and gives the audience the freedom of choice. Looking for a get away? You have the ‘Greenish Landscape’ or the ‘Unlimited Gift’. Or you can have the ‘Hope’ or ‘Essat Way Ababa’, to make you sense the gap between life, light, pain and death.
Abyalew presented about 36 of his works.
Foursome at Makush II
By Mina Yirga
Makush Art Gallery is known for promoting the works of young and established artists. Five years as a deluxe restaurant and picture frame workshop, over 120 art works of more than 30 artists have been accumulated.
For almost two years, the gallery has had its own spotlight in the US Embassy compound (the displays change every two months) and had graced the conference hall of the UNDP with more than 20 paintings a month ago. Starting form May 1st the gallery launched a month long exhibition of paintings by varied group of different artist.
Accordingly, each artist is obliged to submit at least 20 paintings each. For this month, Luel Gaberial, Samuel Cheru, Tekelemariam Zewdu and Shebeshi Tsegaselasi works have filled Makush Gallery Two. Though there is not given theme, the artists seem to agree on one common scheme. Most of the paintings on display depict Ethiopia way of life.
The visitors’ attention shifts from one painting to the other without getting satisfied with what he has seen at first go round wondering on the artists gift in expressing reality within that restricted canvas and the power of art in aspiring ones feeling and emotions.
Peace and Harmony Charity concert
By Tsion Aklilu
International peace promoter Anthony Brown and pianist Girma Yifrashewa performed for a charity concert on May 15, 2007 at Addis Ababa University -Yared School of Music.
Money raised from the concert goes directly to Timret le Hiwot Association, an organization working to ensure and support the needs of women and children who live with HIV/AIDS.
The choir of Nazareth Emanuel Shibsheba opened the concert night with spiritual songs. The Choir presented four of their piece to great crowd acclaim. Following the choir performance, Girma took over with his piano. He performed three works called Sememen, Chewata and Elelta combining different Ethiopian styles with jazz. Before every piece play, he was giving an extended explanation or the meanings and cultural values of his performance for the Ethiopian and foreign audience.
Anthony Brown came to Ethiopia with the sponsorship of the US Department of State. He made the night an exclusive one with his ‘songs of peace’ with 1850s folk songs of the Africa Americans, spirituals and Broadway show tunes. British pianist player Brian Wilson accompanied Brown; “…we are trying to create a harmony. I am an American and he an English man, you are Ethiopians and I do not know what else is there…”
Anthony has toured Bosnia, Northern Ireland and China to promote peace as a good will ambassador. So far he has three albums ‘Spiritual’, Embracing America’ and ‘Toil and Triumph’. Side by side to his music career, he is also a part time professor in sociology and history at Hesston College, Kansas.
At the end of the concert, Anthony performed an Amharic with Girma. Silent Heart, it tells about a pain of loneliness. Even though he is not familiar with the language, he displayed passion in playing the song. He has dedicated one of his songs, written in collaboration with a 25 year old Palestinian woman, for the night.
Africa 2000
Capital’s special page devoted to lending the third new Ethiopian millennium an African perspective.
The Comoros
Tenayestelen!
Wow! We are flattered by the volume of Africa 2000 Readership Survey responses that have been pouring in. 2000 thanks to all! Although we published the survey results in last week’s issue as promised, Capital will study the responses, recommendations and suggestions that have been arriving after May 13, 2007.
Following is part of an e-mail by Oje Kumbana, who happened to read the May 6, 2007 edition of Africa 2000 while in Addis on transit to Nairobi, Kenya.
Dear Africa 2000,
I was struck with an observation as I read through the Africa 2000 page If only more African newspapers, magazines and other media would focus on introducing and informing their audiences about other African countries. I appreciate the efforts of your newspaper. Although I don’t live here I am going to suggest my idea to media workers in my country. I will also spread the word about the Ethiopian Third Millennium celebrations and wish all Africans love, peace prosperity and continental unity.
Oje Kumbana
The Comoros is one of the five island member-states of the A.U. Located smack in the middle of the Mozambique Channel, the islands of Grand Comoro, Anjouan and Moheli: seem like lunch stopovers between southeast Africa and giant Madagascar.
It is ironic how two countries can be linked by tragedy. Mention the Comoros and an Ethiopian is likely to cluck sympathetically and sadly remember the hijacked Ethiopian 767 that crashed near Moroni 10 years ago with the loss of 123 passengers and crew. Not only has this tragedy forever linked the two peoples, but it is also recorded as among the most significant events in recent Comoro history. At this point, mention should be made of and appreciation retold of the great cooperation and commiseration of the government and people of the Comoros displayed in that sad period.
The Comoros were under the control of Muslim sultans from Arabia until they fell under French control by acquisition from 1841 to 1909. The islands attained French Overseas Territory status in 1947 and remained so until 1974 A referendum was held in 1975.Three of the four islands voted for independence while the Christian isle of Mayotte rejected it. Some Africa watchers attribute this surprising outcome to the allegedly divisive policy of the French who allowed each island to decide its own fate instead of an archipelago wide referendum.
The Comoros are not as prosperous as island neighbors. The Seychelles, which has a more developed economy based on robust tourism and the garments sector. Sadly, the garment industry in the region has fallen under the threat of extinction due to unbeatable competition from China.
The most stable island in the Comoros archipelago is not part of the union. Mayotte, famously anti-independence, enjoys one of the highest per capita GDPs in the region and has been the destination of hopeful migrants not only from the other islands but also mainland Africa.
Voice of the Comoros Islands
Nawal originally comes from the Comoros Islands, also known as the “Islands of the Moon,” located in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of Africa. From a young age, Nawal bathed in a musical world, including both popular and religiousmusic.
While still young, Nawal moved away from the islands and grew into an adult in her new home in France. In 1985, Nawal returned to the Comoros Islands rediscovering her cultural legacy, and decided to bring it to light. Exploring deeper into her mixed cultural roots, she created a her own sound, a reflection of the diverse character of life in her native islands. Indo-Arabian-Persian music meets Bantu polyphonies, Sufi chants and the syncopated rhythms of the Indian Ocean. While combining the sounds of the islands, she also does not forget the global influences present living in modern-day Europe.
Known as “The Voice of Comoros,” Nawal is also the first Comorian woman singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist to give performances to international audiences. As a Muslim-born African woman, often breaking socio-religious barriers, Nawal has faced many obstacles throughout her career. Despite these challenges, Nawal stays strong in her message and philosophy. Also as a descendant ofthe grand Sufi marabout of Comoros, El-Maarouf (1852-1904), Nawal invariably stays with the light of Islam. In her music, Nawal gives lessons in global values based on love, respect, and peace. She sings in favor of all humans, for education and for union.
Facts and Figures
Location = 3 islands Grande Comoro, Anjouan and Moheli, between south east Africa and Madagascar
Area = 2,170 sq km
Topography = Volcanic geography, active volcano on Grande Comoro
Population = 690,760
Distribution - 35 % urban
Major Ethnic Groups= Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatshaha, Sakalava.
Principal Languages –Arabic, French- (Both official), Shikormoro
Main Religions – Muslim 98%, others 2%
Capital City – Moroni, pop, 44,000
Government Type – Republic
Head of State – President Ahmed Abdellah Mohamed Sambi
Economy- Tourism, perfume distillation, vanilla, spices, coconuts, bananas
Currency –Franc (kmf) = 384.22= 1USD
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) -441 mln USD
Per Capita GDP - 600 USD
Electricity Production -20 mln kwh
Literacy – 56.5%
Life Expectancy – 60.0 male, 67.7 female
Aids Rate – less than 0.1%
TV sets – 4 per 1,000
Radios – 141 per 1000
Airports – 4
Telephones – 16,900 lines
Internet – 8,000 users
Facts and figures are the latest available at time of publication and may not necessarily be the most accurate.
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