Is the train coming soon?

The breakdown of the Ethiopian rail transportation system, for both passengers and freight, has been awfully bad for the country’s economy. A top priority reconstruction and overhauling of the rail system is urgent.The government is now seeking investors to help develop a new rail network in the country, according to Mesfin Wubeshet, adviser to the minister of industry. Wubeshet told ‘This is Africa’, a magazine published by the Financial Times Limited, that the government is seeking international partners to help develop 2,000km of new train routes. The government is looking for international companies on the basis of a design, build and transfer turnkey arrangement provided they can mobilize the foreign portion of the investment required for any selected route.

Mulatu honored by Berklee

Ethiopian jazz giant Mulatu Astatke has been honored by the world-renowned Berklee College of Music. Mulatu, often dubbed as the father of Ethiopian jazz, was presented honorary doctor of music degree yesterday from the university’s president Roger H. Brown at 2012 commencement. Mulatu told Ethiopica Link over the phone that he was gratified to have received this honor and this was a magical moment in his long career. Speaking hours after ceremony, the jazz legend emphasized the accolade was more than an individual achievement.”It is a recognition of not only my own achievement but also my country’s rich and diverse musical heritage,”he said.

She’s a woman (Photo Journal)

Here are random pictures of women that I have taken in different parts of Ethiopia. The portraits reveal the beauty and diversity of the women and their fabulous clothes. The pictures have never been published before and I’m sure you will find them of interest.

A traffic policewoman stands in the street of Konso Karat.
Though traditionally considered as unsuitable job for a woman, females are increasingly gaining admittance into police force. Young traffic policewomen are a common sight in many towns of Ethiopia.

A young lady in full-sleeved hand-woven fabrics photographed on Easter Day in Lal Hotel, Woldia.Her dress is embroidered with the cross motif typical of the Christian highlands.The waitress is gorgeous with her intricate braids.

New home for ancient manuscripts

Where do you find the world’s oldest Christian manuscripts? Specialists say that they are in Ethiopia.Two illustrated gospels that date to fifth-century found in the Abba Gerima monastic complex, seven kilometers away from the northern town of Adwa, are possibly the earliest surviving illustrated Christian manuscripts, according to experts.The rare treasures that represent a unique survival of an early Christian text in Ethiopia, predating all others by more than 500 years, are hoped to make the Abba Gerima monastery one of the country’s main touristic attractions. A museum is now under construction on the site to preserve the treasures and scheduled to open June 2012.

Major Tibebe Terffa exhibition to open in Addis

A major new exhibition showcasing one of Ethiopia’s most exciting contemporary artists is to open at Lela Art Gallery, Addis Ababa on Saturday May 5th. Curated by Leo Lefort and supported by Castel Beer, the exhibition includes a collection of works by the prominent professional studio artist living and working in Addis Ababa.
Over the years, Tibebe has exhibited at various galleries and institutes in Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa and Harar. His work has also been exhibited internationally in Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and the U.S.A. In Canada, he gained popularity during many residency programs he participated in at St Norbert’s Art Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Eskinder honored by PEN

Eskinder Nega, an Ethiopian journalist and dissident blogger, was honored Tuesday with PEN America’s “Freedom to Write” award, the Associated Press reported.
Eskinder was arrested on September 14, 2011 shortly after publishing an online column calling for an end to torture in Ethiopian prisons, a halt to the imprisonment of dissidents, and respect for freedom of expression. A judge in Addis Ababa found him guilty Jan. 23 on terror charges. He could face the death penalty at sentencing.
AP reported that Eskinder was honored at PEN/America’s annual gala dinner Tuesday at the American Museum of Natural History, with some 500 PEN members and supporters in attendance.PEN/America granted him the year’s PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award.
Accepting the award was his wife, Serkalem Fasil, a free expression advocate in her own right, who served 17 months in prison for treason starting in 2005 and gave birth to their child behind bars. She won the International Women’s Media Foundation Courage in Journalism Award in 2007.

A modern resort with eco-friendly design

Lake Langano has always been an alluring place. It is less than three hour’s drive south of Addis, and is completely safe for swimming. The alkaline reddish brown water is free from bilharzias, which makes it distinctive from other Ethiopian rift valley lakes. The possibility of swimming in the lake without this danger is perhaps the reason why beginning from Emperor Haile Selassie’s time, the lake has attracted members of the foreign community and local picnickers for their weekend cottages. The sandy beaches along the western shore, water sports, the volcanic landscape, hot springs and an interesting bird life have drawn people to it.

Holy Week in Aksum -Photos

For Christians Holy Week, the Week of Pains (Himamat) is the week which precedes the Resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday. The week starts on Palm Sunday or Hosanna, when devotees celebrate Christ’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. It is celebrated with the proper ceremonies with palms, processions and special services. For some, from Thursday afternoon until Easter morning no morsel of food nor a drop of water enters the mouth and the three days are known as ”Qanona”.Men and women go to church to prostrate themselves, remaining there from early morning till 3 P.M the hour of Jesus Christ. Believers confess their greater and lesser offenses to the confessor or sit reading their Psalter.
In Aksum’s Church of Our Virgin Mary of Zion, celebrations for Holy Week are often spectacular. Here are some random photos taken from the occasions.

Two artists, one exhibition

An eventful exhibition, “Transitory”, showing experimental developments of two young Ethiopian artists, Ermias Mazengia and Eyob Kitaba, is on display at Lela Gallery. The exhibition, handsomely installed by the Addis-based French curator Leo Lefort, displays technically accomplished and dazzlingly colorful works. The title of this show, proposed by Eyob refers to the forms of the two artist’s transitory visions and exchange of thoughts, ideas, and concepts. Close friends for about twenty years, the artists say their relationship has been nurtured by continuous dialogues, interactions and fighting with ideas. Both grew up in the same area in Addis Ababa and studied at the Fine Arts of Addis Ababa University.

The desire to experiment and evolve is manifested in the works of the two artists. Both had shown their determination to experiment and not slavishly follow the tyranny of tight forms and exact lines. The combination of rich colors, deep tones and the occasional glitter add to the playful allure of their works. The show’s curator Leo says that in a very subtle alchemy, the works infuse a sense of poetry with the kaleidoscopes palettes, vivid stoke and refined textures. Conceptually, the paintings are intricate and there are no given narratives in their works.

Israel’s New Ambassador to Ethiopia, an anti-racism alibi?

(Taken from the Africa Report)
By appointing an ambassador of Ethiopian descent to Addis-Ababa, Israel has sent a strong message to its black community. Falashas, or the Ethiopian Jewish community, has since its move to Israel in the 90s been victim to widespread discrimination.
Forty three year-old Belaynesh Zevadia’s appointment can be conveniently called a return to her roots, 27 years after having left for the Promised Land. She is the first woman of Ethiopian descent to hold a high public office.
“It is a great honour for me and my family” said the diplomat. “This is proof that in Israel, opportunities are available to everyone – native Israelis and new immigrants alike”. Zevadia, who has become synonymous with Israel’s so-called successful model of integration, is also very much dedicated to her community.
In 1985, shortly after her arrival in a small village in the province of Gondar, she offered her services to the Jewish Agency to help new Ethiopian immigrants. At the time, Operation Moses, a covert evacuation of some 8000 Falasha’s or Ethiopian Jews into Israel from Sudan, where most of them had risked their lives traveling to by foot was in full swing.