Yihunilign Adane led the top two under the previous men’s course record, while Meseret Gebre also ran the fastest ever women’s race at the Zurich Barcelona Marathon. Another Ethiopian Tsehay Gemechu outkicked Brigid Kosgei to retain her title in Lisbon Half Marathon.
Achieving an Ethiopian double, Yihunilign ran 2:05:53 to finish ahead of his compatriots Gebru Redahgne (2:05:58) and Kabede Wami, who matched the course record from last year with 2:06:03, while Dekebo also topped an Ethiopian 1-2-3, running 2:23:11 to beat Ayantu Kumela (2:25:00) and Zenebu Fikadu (2:25:11).
Yihunilign, who finished third at last year’s Lisbon Marathon, took half a minute off his PB to win a close race and beat the course record set by Kenya’s Samuel Kosgei last year.
In another super event in Lisbon Ethiopia’s world 5000m fourth place finisher Tsehay Gemechu ran 1:06:44 to win by two seconds ahead of Kenya’s world marathon record holder Kosgei, while Kosgei’s compatriot Ranju ran solo to a time of 1:00:13, 47 seconds ahead of Ethiopia’s Mohamed Esa.
Tsehay, Kosgei and Goytom G/Selassie had remained together until the closing kilometers, passing 10KM in 31:37 and 15KM in 47:25. Before they reached 20KM in 1:03:27, Tsehay and Kosgei had managed to drop Goytom and the leading pair was seven seconds ahead at that point. The advantage only grew and as they kicked in battle, it was Tsehay who had the best closing strength, winning in a sprint finish. The race happened a couple of months after Kosgei’s Tokyo Marathon victory in 2:16:02, with Goytom third on that occasion.
Yehunelegn and Meseret break Marathon records while Tsehay retains Lisbon title
U.S Embassy, UNESCO visit Lalibela
Tracey Ann Jacobson, Chargé d’Affaires of the United States to Ethiopia, and leaders from other international missions visited Lalibela, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site in Ethiopia.
Ambassador Jacobson was joined by Dr. Catherine Sozi, UN Resident Coordinator; Dr. Yumiko Yokozeki, Director, UNESCO Office, Ethiopia; Stuart Campbell, Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy; Michael Upton, New Zealand’s Ambassador; Sileshi Girma, State Minister of Tourism; and Professor Abebaw Ayalew, Director General, ARCCH (Authority for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage). The delegation members, each representing organizations which have contributed significantly to cultural preservation in Lalibela, visited sites, assessed the impact of the conflict, met with local church and town officials, and spoke with local tourism operators.
Ambassador Jacobson and the delegation met with local community representatives, who explained how the local economy has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict that raged across the Amhara region. They heard firsthand about the challenges the Lalibela community is facing and what support they need to move forward.
MOA ANBESSA ART STUDIO GALLERY PRESENTS PRINCE MERID TAFESSE
Prince Merid Tafesse, self-titled mixed media exhibition opens on Friday May 20th at the artist’s owned Moa Anbessa Art Studio Gallery in Kazanches. Called the King of Charcoal in Ethiopia, for his masterful use of the medium, the Ethiopian contemporary fine artist shares powerful and provocative subjects and themes through countless shades of grey executed through swift and sinuous lines. The soft-spoken committed dread-lock genius says, “My passion for charcoal allows me to catch the thoughts passing through my mind before they drift away.” His visual narratives are equally expressed through fresh free brush strokes, testament to talent and expertise derived from his education at Addis Ababa University Alle School of Fine Art & Design where he specialized in painting, graduating in 1998. Prince Merid’s photographic memory facilitates the creation of impeccable model-less portraits, figures -spaces and places, an affront to stereotypical notions of art from Africa.
A 5th generation descendant of the Imperial Ethiopian Family, his mother was direct descendant of King Sahle Selassie; and an artist in her own right. His father, a well-travelled banker, introduced their only son to a wide array of literature and art collected during his journeys abroad. ”Identity and heritage matters, especially in light of the negative stories about Ethiopia and Africa in general…my history is not a myth and neither am I. ”laughs Prince Merid. Influenced heavily by H.I.M.Emperor Haile Selassie I’s works and speeches, Bob Marley’s music, Kahlil Gibran and Oscar Wilde’s prose, his artistic vocabulary and well-known style has landed him numerous exhibitions, residencies and commissions. Jerusalem, 1999; Three Generations, Sheraton Addis, 2002; Selected Drawings, Group Show, Paris, ‘04; Johannesburg’s Greatmore Art Residency, ’08; Dubai’s Al Bastakiya Art Fair, 2010; 11/4/08 Group Show, Damon Dash DD172, NYC; 2010; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Center, Atlanta, 2011; and Art of Black during Art Basel, 2011 are just a few. His public commissions include the Coca Cola street art project and monumental paintings at the Red Terror Martyr’s Museum. His self-titled show features works exhibited in 2021 at University of Florida Harn Museum of Art’s Museum Nights as well as new pieces created after returning home to Addis, following 6 months residency and exhibitions. He quotes the old saying, “To whom much is given much is required.” As owner of his home and studio, realizing the lack of space for artists, he decided to open his studio, dubbed Moa Anbessa, to exhibit other artists in the unique space in the center of the city. He says, “I draw inspiration from Ethiopia, Africa the entire universe, where ever I may be, then I create…art opens eyes and heals.” For more info google Moa Anbessa Art Studio Gallery.
Donkey skins for sale
The size and scale of the illegal online donkey skin trade has been revealed for the first time, with thousands of skins currently for sale on unregulated B2B websites, as well as well-known social media platforms.
These findings form part of The Global Trade in Donkey Skins: A Ticking Time Bomb report from The Donkey Sanctuary, which has uncovered how organised crime is facilitating the trafficking of donkey skins to satisfy demand for ejiao, a traditional Chinese remedy. It’s estimated that over 4.8 million donkeys are trafficked and slaughtered for their skins each year, which is used in the production of ejiao. The donkeys suffer at every point of this process, from source to slaughter, due to the brutal and inhumane conditions that are a hallmark of this industry. Even the most vulnerable donkeys, including pregnant mares, young foals, and the sick and injured are taken and traded without consideration for their welfare or their pain.
The Donkey Sanctuary’s report cites the findings of a research paper by an interdisciplinary team from Oxford University’s Saïd Business School and Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU). The research – which the charity funded – was able to identify a clear scientific link between the illegal wildlife trade and donkey skin trade.
