Africa Unite

LIBERATION ARTIST III

Back To the Roots

The slave trade, an established industry from the early 16th to the close
of the 19th century, had abducted and sold into Caribbean, Brazilian
and American bondage, over 10 million Africans.
Due to its relative proximity to Europe - the westernmost shores of the African continent were among the first areas to fall victim to European slave traders - abundantly supplied with raw material by Arab slavers and their African henchmen. Coastal areas of present day Senegal, Gambia, and the Guineas, were systematically denuded of their youngest, fittest and brightest. Many hundreds of thousands perished while crossing the Atlantic - shipwrecked, from starvation and disease or after drunken sailors threw them overboard to amuse themselves as escorting sharks (by force of learned habit) tore into the still living black flesh…
Millions also lost their lives in the New World, worked to death, hunted for sport and beaten for the slightest perceived misdemeanor. Today in the New World there are 65 million plus people classified as African American nearly all of whom could conceivably trace their origin to an enslaved African man or women. However, it was not until 1977 that this burning desire to trace that past swept across the African diaspora, thanks to the zeal and tenacity of one Alex Haley.
Haley was born in 1921 over half a century before the Civil Rights Movement really took hold. His era's America was still Jim Crow south and a barely civil north. The young Alex developed a yearning to know where exactly he descended from and towards this end he eagerly digested old 'stories' he would plead his great aunts to tell and retell him, until those far off events became imprinted both figuratively on his mind and literally, in the form of 'Roots'…
This 1976 novel is based on Alex Haley's recollections of bits and pieces of stories passed down from one Haley to the next, recounting the circumstances of the enslavement of Kunta Kinte, the Haley clan's original link to Africa. In 1977 'Roots" was developed into a TV mini-series with hundreds of Hollywood's best actors and actresses freely pending their craft and time for a collaborative effort that has conclusively set 'Roots' apart from any other cinematic production.
Thesaga, besides its breathtaking cinematography the many, heart wrenching scenes and dialog to illicit an entire range of emotions, 'Roots' served to enlighten African Americans about their individual and collective past. Additionally, Roots helped to bridge not a few gaps among non-black populations awareness of slavery and its brutality; dispelling numerous misconceptions and errant opinions of and about racial stereotyping. With a storyline spanning over 200 years. 'Roots' opens and ends in the tiny West African nation of Gambia although most of the film is set in various southern states of the U.S.A.
Even by the modest standards of Gambia, a sliver of a nation with just 1.7 million inhabitants, Juffreh had been a seemingly insignificant hamlet trying to pass off as a bona-fide village. That is, until the global success of the 'Roots' - novel and television mini series - put it firmly on the map. For it was from this dusty no-frills village that Alex Haley's African ancestor, Kunta Kinte, hailed before being captured and enslaved. To this day, the Kinte clan still live in Juffreh, headed now by matriarch, Mrs. Binta Kinte. (continues next week)

ETHIOPIAN MILLENIUM:
AN EVENTFUL YEAR OF ARTS, CULTURE

By Abiy Demilew

“Gize Lekulu”, Tedros Kasahun’s (a.k.a. Tedi Afro) smashing hit, released only three days before the long-awaited new Ethiopian millennium, ignited the festive mood that took over the nation which was counting down for the enlightening torch of the beginning of the third millennium.
A huge smash, “Gize Lekulu”, not only has overshadowed previous releases, including the then popular piece of Teddy-Mac, “The Millennium”; but also had a power to shuttle across the nation at lightning speed, wheeling the vibrations of the vigorously lined-up grand millennium bashes and awaiting extravaganzas.
Addis Ababa, the shiniest it had ever been, and met by a flood of returnees, experienced heavy traffic jams of fully packed and overcrowded streets, even one month before the big day. Meanwhile, the government was not only forced to tighten-up security to ‘High Alert’, but also had to cancel some of the major due to security concerns.
Addis Park, a subsidiary of MIDROC, finalizing the construction of the specially built Grand Millennium Hall, introduced three concerts, in which it lined-up internationally acclaimed hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas, along with local celebrities including Tedros Tadesse, Aster Awoee and Tsehaye Yohannes; to boost the vibrations. Finally, in a televised live concert at the millennium hall, the clock ticking towards midnight, with a historically high cheering crowd flooding the streets of Addis, the new millennium was ushered in.
Major highlights of the year
The millennium extravaganza boosted with three major concerts in and out. While the Black Eyed Peas and the locals jammed from the millennium hall, the same evening the Addis Ababa Stadium and Jan-Meda hosted two live concerts.
Tedi Afro, Jimma
Organized and hosted by Tedi Studio, September 12 2007, Jimma also held a grand concert by Tedi Afro, in which thousands from Addis marched to Jimma by bus. This concert gained huge momentum as one of the major events of the new Ethiopian millennium.
Beyoncé and Ludacris
Traveling in a private jet with 71 members in her entourage and landed in Addis October 19, the queen of hip-hop and R&B Beyoncé Knowles and big name in the hip-hop world, Ludacris, gave out one of the grand live concerts aligned by Addis Park, MIDROC.
Not only Beyoncé herself, but also most observers of the art industry, still see that concert as one of the major concerts of the year. “Even in my musical life, the concert in Addis is the best concerts I ever had,” Beyoncé told local and international media, describing her performance which overshadowed the rapper Ludacris and other local artists.
Rocking the giant concert that stormed at EId Alfatir, the seven-time Grammy award winner Beyoncé met with surprise to see how she was welcomed and accepted in Ethiopia, including the coffee ceremony up-on her arrival, a meeting with President Girma Wolde Goirgis, Abune Paulos, the patriarch of Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
Luciano, Mickey General in reggae vibrations
Organised by HIM International Promotion in cooperation with Lucy 2000 and the Addis Abeba Millennium Secretariat, ‘One love Africa’ reggae concert at Maskel Square, featured more than 15 international reggae superstars including Luciano, Micky General, Ragga Lox, the Living Truth and African Simba. Local sensations Jonny Raga, Haile Roots and the Mehari Brothers also have flooded the stage.
“One Love Africa aims to promote the reggae message of unity, peace and love and respect of humanity; to promote Ethiopian musicians; and to provide a platform to bring world class musicians to Ethiopia to encourage further collaboration and professional development,” Ras Kesh, organiser and managing director of HIM, told Capital.
The musicians have selected uplifting messages to provide positive role models for the youth of Ethiopia according Ras Kesh.
The idea of the 4 days open concert at Maskel Square was born immediately after the grand reggae concert which marked the 60th birthday of the king of reggae, Robert Nesta Marley, the heavy drums and bass of the reggae beats at Meskel Square were heard by more than an estimated 100,000 spectators the whole day and night.
Tilahun Gessesse, Akon and Rihanna
Ethiopian veteran singer Tilahun Gessese and Hibest Tiruneh Along side Akon and Rihanna, have performed December 31, 2007, which was lined-up to be the last concert of the series organized by Addis Park at Millennium Hall.
Akon, the 24 year old hip hop and R&B singer, songwriter, occasional rapper and record producer rose to fame in 2004 following the release of his single “Locked Up” from his debut album “Trouble”. His second album, Konvicted, earned him a Grammy Award nomination for the single “Smack that”. He is well known for singing hooks and has over 21 Billboard Hot 100 songs to his credit. He is the only artist to ever accomplish the feat of holding both the number one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice.
Teddy Afro, live at Ghion
November 18, 2007Addis Ababa and its surroundings, with a massive number marched towards the Ghion Hotel as Teddy Afro played for about 1/2 an hour and tuned the crowd in to a living cheers.
Teddy in the concert, almost shaking the ground floor of the hotel, performed his ultra-accessible mix of reggae, funk, and Ethopian/Amharic music. “It’s no wonder he’s so popular. Even though I didn’t understand a word of it, the beat had us dancing to every song. (My legs are sore this morning, from that or the gym, one),” Said an attendee at the moment.
At Teddy’s second break it was waaaaay past my bedtime and we decided to head out. So I don’t know how long Teddy played. Anyway, it was good music, a fun and welcoming crowd, and warm enough if you kept dancing, said the same attendee.
“Wegenen Alresam”, Neway Debebe
Neway Debebe, who was back after 16 years in the US, has performed a concert entitled “Wegenen Alresam” at the Ghion Hotel on Saturday, May 24, 2008 from 6:00pm to 2:00am. The concert also included some other cultural functions including a fashion show.
Neway’s concert embraced the appearances of other artists Tewodros Mosisa, Mikaya Behailu, Tadele Roba (La Fontaine), Shewandagne Hailu and Jossy. 
This concert was named as one of the grand concerts given out live by Ethiopian performers next to the Teddy’s.
Ethiopian Music Festival, EMF 7
Dedicated for one of the living icons of the golden age of Ethiopian music, Girma Beyene, pianist, composer and arranger, of the golden age, the 7th edition of the Ethiopian Music Festival, boosted in Addis 7th - 17 May 2008, embracing various concerts.
Alliance Ethio-Francaise, which has been engaged in organizing Ethiopian Music Festivals for the last many years, and which is still celebrating its centenary, has dedicated the 7th EMF in tribute for the Ethiopian Girma Beyene.
Girma, who left precious few recordings behind him as a vocalist: it was above all as a pianist, organist, composer and arranger that made his mark on what is today agreed to be the golden age of Ethiopian music. Throughout the heyday of vinyl record production (1969-1978), the figure of Girma Beyene dominated the recording sessions.
The then-privileged partner of Alemayehu Eshete, Girma innovated, through his simple and to-the-point playing, melding the lightness of pop into the ethos of a changing Ethiopia. Admired for his musical elegance, Girma none the less met one of the saddest fates in Ethiopian music. Though his countrymen still remember his charming voice and his knack for pop, they have totally forgotten his role and importance as an innovator.
Going into exile in the USA in 1981, Girma departed the Ethiopian music scene, sinking into the anonymous “Little Ethiopia’ of America’s East Coast.
According to the Alliance booklet, there has been a renewed interest of late in the work and personality of Girma Beyene.
Ethiopian music festival in its 7 editions has attributed numbers of legendary musicians of the golden age of Ethiopian music including Mahmoud Ahmed, Asnaketch Worku, Tilahun Gessesse and many others.
Acoustic Renaissance, comprised of Addis Ababa’s greatest acoustic musicians, the Addis Acoustic Renaissance project brought forth Addis’s favourite pop and jazz tunes from the 50’s and 60’s in a new light.  Directed and arranged by exceptional guitarist Girum Mezmur, the project intends to combine the past with the present and paving the way to more exciting music coming to both local and international venues. The group is flavoured with, Girum Mezmur (guitar), Henock Temesgen (double bass), Dawit Ferew (clarinet), Natnael Tessema (Drum), Mesale Legesse (kebero), Ayele Mamo (mandolin) and Melaku Tegegn (shaleka) Accordion.
Just the two of us, Munit Mesfin
Accompanied only by the guitar and applause from the audience, she warmed the evening of the festival singing special flavors of the legendary Girma Beyene, for whom the festival was dedicated. Girma Beyene was surprised by the duo performance, and also couldn’t limit himself from telling her how much he liked her presentation.
Born here in Addis and having lived most of her life in India and Namibia,  Munit is now based in the United States. Even though she and her brother, Jorga Mesfin, known for his jazz band in the US, Wudasse have studied music together many years ago, Munit had made a sudden shift towards economics and government.
Moving back and forth, since eight months now, she has observed herself inclining towards music, which she had left years ago. “Serious business.” But even then, she used to grab every opportunity she got, to chant, sing and skylark free.
In her visit last year in December, she was able to grab the microphone and exercise her songs in the jam-sessions of the Coffee House, best known for its live-jazz performance of big-named Ethiopian musicians including Girum Mezmur, Abegasu Shiota, Henok Temesgen and many others. Almost six months, she released her first duo album, Jorg and Munit, ...just the two of us..., at a ceremony organized at the Sheraton Addis’s Gas Light Club.
“The CD is a live recording which was made ... at the Coffee House and we mixed different songs of different styles all together,” she said in Capital’s exclusive. “In the songs, you can hear cell phones ringing, crowds cheering with whistles and claps. I think this is a unique presentation of different style,” she says.
“I gave-out this piece as the ABC of my future musical life, and I can’t really wait to hear comments from the audience,” as she believes this is how she can grow in the business.