Africa Unite

By Tesfu Telahoun

Africa is the most diverse continent and contains with its 29,805,695, sq kilometers virtually all of the major religions in the world, not to mention hundreds of indigenous faiths and belief systems.
Christianity and Islam account for the overwhelming majority of believers among Africa’s population of a little over 935 million. There are 369 million Muslims and about 436 million Christians on the continent. The latter are today (as in Ethiopia and Egypt) celebrating Easter, the most important date in Christianity. It is a hugely significant day which can be referred as the establishment date of a global faith that today counts over 2.2 billion adherents.
Christianity first entered Africa by way of Alexandria (Egypt) in the north and Ethiopia, in the east. Whether this was sequential or concurrent is open to debate.
Christianity arrived in Ethiopia as early as AD 300- within the era of the Apostles. The new faith was gradually embraced by the people and by AD 600, was well established in Ethiopia as a state religion.
Egyptian Christians (there are about 7.8 million) are known as Coptic and Ethiopian are called, Tewahedo Orthodox. Both the Alexandria and Axum Holy Sees belong to the Eastern Branch of Christianity which developed an identity distinct from Catholicism and other so called Western churches.
This accounts for the fact that Eastern Orthodox Easter is celebrated on April 27 instead of April 8.
Easter in Ethiopia is rightly considered as the mother of all holidays and it can be said that preparations begin nearly two months before Easter Sunday with the national observance of Lent. This being Ethiopia, Lent is not limited to the proscribed 40 days but adds another 2 weeks of a special fast known as ‘The kings fast’. This is a time of prayer for the rulers of the day –so that God may give them wisdom and compassion.
Why a different dates?
After the break up at the Council of Chalcedon in 451, the Alexandrian (Egypt) and Ethiopian Churches continued using the Julian calendar. The years consist of 12 months of 30 days each with an extra 13 month of five, or in leap years 6 days. There are however, a few differences between the Coptic (Egyptian) and Ethiopic calendars as they start from varying epochs. The Coptic began to count the years as per the Era of martyrs (Era of Diocletian, which launches from August 29, 284 (Julian) whereas Ethiopia’s epoch is August 29, 0007. The fundamental doctrinal difference between Western Christianity and Eastern Christianity, especially as practiced in Coptic Egypt and Orthodox Tewahedo (union) Ethiopia; is the belief by the latter’s conviction in the concept of faith known as monophysitism.
This concept or view states that human and divine constitute only one nature in the person of Jesus Christ.
Disagreements on monophysitism caused the separation of the two branches of Christianity. The divide was sealed at the Council of Chalcedon in AD 451, on which the Roman Church insisted and had instated the doctrine in the existence of two natures in Christ. Happy Easter, Africa!

Six hands on a single piano

By MulukenYewondwossen

The amaizing six hands piano concert was performed by three Italian women at the Russian Embassy auditorium on April 16, 2008.
The Trio “Pianiste all ‘Opera “ consists of the pianists Michela De Amicis, Rosella Masciarelli,Angela Petaccia combining the artistic experience of the three musicians.
The concert was facilitated by the Russian Embassy in collaboration with the Italian cultural institute.
The peculiarity of the trio (three pianists on a single piano) and their repertoire (original for six hands) unite with the technical virtuosity and subtle tones that give a typical orchestral texture.
The repertoire includes original music for piano six hands, dating back to the mid 800s, composed by Angelo Panzini e Giusto Dacci.
It includes themes from Giuseppe Verdi’s best works and also by G.Rossini, G.Bizet, G.Puccini, F.Liszt, JStauss and others, all rearranged by the trio themselves.
The three artist’s perfect balance, excellent awareness and musicianship have brought them universal approval. As well as concert performances, the Trio does educational work too: Rosella Masciarelli and Wichela De Amicis are piano teachers at the “L.D ‘Annunzio “Conservatory in Pescara, and Angela Petaccia directs the “Yamaha School of Music” in
Chieti.
Some of the audience who participated on the concert said that this kind of concert is highly unusual. “This is incredible,” they added. High ranked government officials, ambassadors and other guests attended the performance.

'Maninet'

By Groum Abate

‘Maninet’ a feature film based on a true story is to be released shortly. Habtamu Mebratu, director of the film, told Capital that the film is based on the story of his father’s tragic death.
According to Habtamu, his father was murdered by a colleague who used to be very close to him.
The film also depicts linkages behind the secrets of the murder, his father’s love, and hatred.
The story unveils how the father’s dedication helps the son’s career.
The drama genre film with a duration of over 90 minutes is produced by Inspire Pictures Advertising.
Habtamu, who has a BSC in Computer Engineering from Addis Ababa University, started his career by working on animation for advertisements and films.
According to the director, he has been researching his father’s background for over three years. The director is best known for his work on music clips and commercials has been involved in the animation work for the last five years and claims that he is one of the best animators in the country.
The production of the movie cost the producers close to 500,000 birr and seven months to make. The director has also focused on the graphics and sound effect of the film to be of international standards.
Habtamu hopes to participate in international film festivals with this film.

Neway Debebe back after 16 years

By Groum Abate

Neway Debebe, a prominent Ethiopian singer, has returned to his native country after 16 years in the United States.
Regarded as a favorite among all age groups, he is a protégé of poet Tilahoun Gessesse Debebe first attracted attention as the lead vocalist of Roha Band, a tradition-rooted Ethiopian group that has supplied accompaniment on more than two hundred and fifty recordings by such top-ranked Ethiopian vocalists as Aster Aweke, Tilahoun Gessesse and Mahmoud Ahmed. Debebe has also performed with Three Flowers, a group he shares with Tsegaye Eshetu and Areghagn Wersash.
Neway is especially famous for singing patriotically sentimental songs about Ethiopia.
Taking a modern approach to Ethiopia’s traditional music, the Roha Band was the country’s most influential group.
Ethiopian singers are famous for singing patriotically sentimental songs about Ethiopia and Neway Debebe is among those who do so very frequently. He is known to have started his singing career more than three decades ago as the leading vocalist of the then very popular Ras Theatre Band. Besides his ability to write and produce all of his songs, his charm and genuine love of his fellow Ethiopians – which are still intact – are what make him everyone’s favorite.
His albums are superb examples of Neway’s vocal versatility, his voice ranging up and down the scales with effortless ease, almost his trademark.

Photograph exhibition featuring Borena

By Addis Mulugeta

A collection of 25 photographs featuring Borena opened here in Addis Ababa on April 23, 2008, at the Norwegian People’s Aid by Lasse Berre, who is a profiled photographer educated in the United States. In January 2008, he spent two weeks on a voluntary basis capturing Norwegian People’s Aid support projects in Borena.
The photo exhibition documents work done by two NPA partner organizations in Borena, SOS Sahel and Action for Development.
Mr. Berre says “Normally, I am in a very commercial environment. But I also wish to give something back to the communities by working for free with non-profit organizations. In Norway I worked with Amnesty International and the Norwegian Cancer Society. This is the first time I am involved in projects outside Norway”
The photograph of Mr. Berre has defies the starvation and hardship of the country because he shows people who are not only victims but also who are competent and energetic.
Mr. Berre has captured photographs of young women in Eyantu, Borena landscape, Dermi, and elder in Jijidu, farmer in Dubluk, young boys, groups of children, land cleared bush, old farmer with axe, the village of Dokole, Borena Juniperious tree, Godana, and others. The photographs are available for sale for 5 thousand birr each.

Afewerk in seclusion focusing on his contribution to the second Ethiopian millennium

By Addis Mulugeta

The Most Hon. Maitre Artist World Laureate Afewerk Tekle has secluded himself from public appearances, and does not travel abroad for either congresses or to receive awards, for the last eighteen months.
Laureate Afewerk told Capital exclusive that there are four reasons for having seclude himself from public and official functions.
I felt greatly honored when my country, in recognition of my stature in national international and Africa art, asked me to contribute to the celebrating of Ethiopian unique new millennium.
I therefore decided to seclude myself from the humdrum of everyday life so as to concentrate and kindle the creative instincts that such a prestigious demand.
I actually have three important works which I will present for this unique Ethiopian millennium. They all have to be finished within eighteen months. These works are designs of two public squares; one in Addis Ababa and the other between Axum and the Semen mountains,” World Laureate said.
The public squares are intended to be used for important cultural shows and concert as well public spaces a combination of sculptures and mosaic in the latest technique.
According to Laureate Afewerk the square will symbolize the image of the city as a whole.
“Ideally, it indicates what was in the past and when one comes from the country side to face the city. Six sculptural monuments will stand representing Ethiopia’s rich history and at the same time, the ambitious youth, the family-like a mother and child, the contemporary Ethiopian and a symbol of the lion, in terms of empowerment.
“When you enter the great gate, it is to the city and when you go out it is to the country; to show the past in the aspiration of the future. On top of this gate there is a flame that it is on special occasions, and on the opening of third millennium when you look at it the flame, it has a sculptural metal system which revolves representing the future enlightened generation. The square will also represent my work in mosaic, steel glass window and, sculpture, The material from which it is going to be built will employ with the most modern techniques as possible,’’ he explained.
The second work, a big square to be constructed outside Addis Ababa either in Adwa or Axum, has been studied and the necessary pre work steps have been finalized. It will be built to represent the great battle of Adwa, fought for the continued independence of Ethiopia and Africa as a whole.
“It is untouched in terms of archeological discoveries. As you enter to Axum you will be aware of our past history. To your left or right, though it turned out victoriously for us, you see the Adwa Mountain where so many lives were lost and countless others suffered. There, I want to show another gate which will having the form of a human figure but the head is that of Axum’s obelisks. This gate metal and faces either the sunset or sun rise. That spot was when the Axum obelisk was taken from Ethiopia and also the gate through which it came back. This monument, as it has a human figure on the left holds, to show the dance of life creativity of the people of that time. On the right there will be the letter “M” in Sabean, to indicate where our alphabet came from.
“The figure’s one hand is on his whist and his head is up but one hand is cut off to show the sacrifices that have been made. It is supposed to indicate the contemporary man and woman of our time. On the other side you see a kind of clay but broken to pieces, standing as a piece of monument with sabean script on. We don’t yet know what it means so it will symbolize all the great things that are still un excavated and waiting to be discovered in Axum. The floor, where the audiences can be entertained a look towards that gate where musical performance will take place is done by mosaic like the foundation of queen of Sheba palace which is already discovered.
“The third one is called the inter relation ship of African culture in the past, present and injection to the future. The inter relationships between writings from Sabina to the Gaize to the Arabic writing and we have alpha omega in Ethiopian and Alha Akiber in Arabic and the gradual foundation from upper Egypt, Alexandria passing the pyramids to South Africa to the Cape of Good hope and from east to west Gold cost, Kenya etc. The important glimpses of the cultural heritages of Africa naturally Lucy is represented and many other forms from the African continent and then the symbol of hand holding a diamond piercing to heaven. This work can be done in mosaic for a bigger meeting hall hopefully the United Nation or African Union create and this can be done in a huge stain glass window or in a tapestry, and if it is possible, it can also be made in to a square. It has taken me a year and half and I will sign in some times in August. I hope to present these works in my house at a studio where people come and see all my works 15 days before the end of the millennium.
Finally, he said that we just leave these as our ancestors left us the Axumite obelisks and so forth.