Art and the Artist: Sibhat Gebre-Egziabher

Back in 2010, a friend asked if I would like to contribute a question for his upcoming interview with  Gash Sibhat Gebre-Egziabher. I had tons of questions in mind. But he said 'a question'; so, as gullible as this may sound, I sent in a marriage proposal. Despite knowing he was happily married at the time and was three times older, I figured I would take my chance so that way I can have him around to answer my endless questions. What girl would pass such opportunity, right? 

Style: SoleRebels by Betelehem Tilahun Alemu

There is something about hand crafted shoes that just makes you feel uber chic. Few months ago, I was introduced to ShoeRebels, a really awesome shoe line by none other than the super talented and multi award recipient Ms. Betelehem Tilahun Alemu. I've been hooked ever since.  All shoes by SoleRebels are handmade in Ethiopia from recycled and eco-friendly materials. 

The shoes are well crafted and extremely comfortable. They also come in various styles and colors to cater to your liking. Visit  http://www.solerebelsfootwear.co/  to learn more about the founder, the products and the mission of the business. 

While you are there, don't forget to support this incredible line by purchasing a pair. :-)

Social Commentary: The Importance of Having a National Language

A couple of days ago, I had an interesting chitchat with a colleague as of why small countries in Africa have so much conflict whereas this huge continent we call the North America stays relatively peaceful. I haven't done a research on the topic so please don't quote me. This is strictly a personal opinion based on a conversation between two minds who are fascinated by the world and human interactions.

I don't recall how the whole conversation started but somehow ideas were bouncing back and forth and somewhere in there felt like we came across the core reason behind conflicts around the world. And that would be, ladies and gentleman....*drum roll* ....lack of communication. Now that we know the issue, UN and AU officials can take a vacation :-) I know some of you are going.. 'duuuuhhhhh'... pretty obvious.

 Think about it, what was one trick God used when He wasn't too pleased with Babylonians building the tower of Babel? He confused their language so they couldn't function together. And what do two year olds who, by the way, know exactly what they want to say but don't know the words to express it do? Scream, bite and cry :-(

There are over 90 different languages ( not dialects... LANGUAGES) in Ethiopia and at the moment no national language. Every region has its own official working language. You must get your documents translated to the region's official language if you want something done in that region's branch office. Don't get me wrong. I am all for a cultural development and preservation. But how can one work together if we can't even understand each other? Can we be a little realistic here? It is clear that the more barrier we create, the more drifted apart we become. Egos aside... a nation needs ONE working language across to grow stronger as one. Otherwise we are creating 90 little future countries in already torn up nation. I am just saying...

5 Websites for Job Vacancy Listings in Ethiopia

Happy Monday Everyone. 2012 is shaping up to be such a fantastic year on this part of the globe. Let's work on keeping that positive energy flowing.

 If you are looking into working for few years or move to Ethiopia for good, here are five websites to check out for jobs.

1. http://www.ezega.com/Jobs/

2. http://unjobs.org/duty_stations/ethiopia

3. http://federalgovernmentjobs.us/job-location/ethiopia.html

4. http://www.ethiojobs.net/vacancylist.asp

5. http://www.ifesh.org/where-we-work/ethiopia-2/  (For educators - directly contact IFESH for volunteer+employment opportunities.)

Delicious Friday: Buticha - A simple yet delicious vegan delicacy

When I decided to give up on any kind of meat except fish, the question on everyone's mind was "how is she going to survive without eating kitfo or dorowot?" as beef and chicken are obviously the biggest part of Ethiopian cuisine. My Pescitarian life style has been a challenge for my family and friends to wrap their mind around. I still have some family members who think that something is seriously wrong with me and try to force feed me kitfo. :-)

It has been almost two years since I abruptly became a Pescitarian. The most adventurous part of my life style change actually has been watching everyone eventually come to accepting it. What it used to be our casual Friday night Tire siga (that is raw beef chunks dipped in a hot spices for those of you who don't know)  fiesta with the family, now includes a baked Salmon or some seafood meal, and even better, a delicious Shiro  or some sort of vegetarian dish.

Last week, I flew up north to welcome 2012 with my dearest friends and it warmed my heart when my best friend made a special effort in selecting dishes that me as well as the rest of our friends would enjoy together. That is when the name BuTicha first came as part of the variety dishes we were preparing for the night. I honestly had no clue what she was talking about  neither did she know how to prepare it. Nonetheless,the name, BuTicha, was  not strange to my ears. I remember being so fascinated with the name after having it as a kid. It had been so long since then I forgot the taste. I also remember seeing it listed on the menus of some Ethiopian restaurants. I never come around to ordering it ... something in the name turned me off.

We were standing in the kitchen clueless with a bag of chickpea flour in hand when another friend came to the rescue. After our friend finished preparing it and I took the first bite, I was beating myself up for missing this yumminess in my life for all these years. I figured you might enjoy it as much as I did so here are the ingredients and what goes into making BuTicha:

Style: Designer Fikirte Addis at African Fashion Week New York

The talented young designer and psychologist Fikirte Addis won the Origin Africa Fiber to Fashion Designer Showcase in Mauritius.The win opened doors to Fikirte to bring her designs to African Fashion Week in New York where the big names in African fashion scene showcased their creations. Her designs are all traditional pieces with a modern flair to them. 

Glad to see a fellow Ethiopian representing at AFW and hope to see her work in more bigger stages. To learn more about Fikirte and her work check out her site yefikir design

Social Commentary: Intellectual Disability (Down Syndrome) in Ethiopia

Intellectual Disability as wiki defines it is a broad concept encompassing various intellectual deficits, including mental retardation (MR), deficits too mild to properly qualify as MR, various specific conditions, and problems acquired later in life through acquired brain injuries and neurodegenerative diseases like dementia. Intellectual disabilities may appear at any age.

I hardly saw a person with a mental disability growing up in Ethiopia so the issue never appeared to me that significant. The superstitious gossips I heard about the causes of the condition has even made discussing the topic among each other a taboo. The gossips ranged from 'he/she is possessed by an evil spirit' to 'the mother was cursed' or the most common, 'she laughed at a mentally disabled person while she was pregnant with her now disabled child'. 

           One spring break, I had a privilege of visiting an aunt whom I have never met in person before. I had heard some family members sucking their teeth (a gesture used by most Ethiopians to show sympathy) and talk about her 'sick one and only child'. No one further  discussed the extent of his illness. When I met her son, I was in for quite a shock. I really didn't not expect to be confronted by what I walked in to. I didn't know what to do or say at that moment. This handsome thirteen year old boy right in front of me can't utter a single word, couldn't stand up on his own or walk properly. My ignorance took over for a second and I kept on staring at him then his mom trying to figure out if  a 'devil' or  any sort of 'curse' had anything to do with it.
             My aunt had Ebeneezer when she was in her forties. At that age, the probability of a first time mother having a child with a Down syndrome or any intellectual disability is astronomical. Ebeneezer, not only was born with down syndrome, but he was also autistic.

Spot Light - Awassa (aka Hawassa)

Surrounded by the absolutely stunning Lake Awassa (aka "Lovers' Lake" - a perfectly fitting name for the purpose it serves most) with Tabor and Alamura mountains as its backdrop, the town is nothing like any other city that you come across in Ethiopia. Undeniably, Awassa is the most beautiful city in Ethiopia.. Period!

The Beautiful Lake Awassa

Awassa serves as a capital of SNNP region and is a home to nearly 300,000 residents. The city officials have been doing an amazing job at maintaining the beauty of the town as the number of population rises. It is among  the top tourist destinations with fabulous resorts and hotels always ready to give you an excellent service. Come Friday afternoon, tourists flock to the town from all over the country for some Awassa Experience. In addition to the natural attractions, the city is also well known for its night life.

P.S- If you haven't had a fresh  fried fish sitting on the fallen branches at Amora Gedel by Lake Awassa yet, you don't know what you are missing out on.... BIG TIME! Proud to call this city my home.

Style: Traditional Kids Attire

        The Ethiopian New Year brought lots and lots of excitement to this part of the world. We are still in celebratory mode and it will  go on till Saturday. Bringing the halt to the week long celebration with a big community fiesta then we should be good till 2005 rolls in.

       My love for traditional attires have gone over the roof in recent years. I usually get hyped up when I see people with traditional clothes on. But what has truly melted my heart was seeing  kids decked out in their Abesha outfits for the holiday this past weekend. It was such a precious sight. They looked like little angels running around. Their parents would cut me into pieces like a giant roll of injera if I post their kids pictures here so I did a little online search instead to share my excitement with you all.

Doesn't she look like a little princess?

Happy 2004!! መልካም አዲስ ዓመት!!

One thing I really love about being an Ethiopian living in diaspora is that I get to celebrate most of the major holidays twice. Of all the holidays though, New Year is by far my most favorite one. It is like you are given a second chance to correct whatever regrets you have or mistakes you have done in the Gregorian calendar :-) The excitement, the memories of fields filled with yellow flowers aka Adey Abeba just in time for New years, young girls going door to door singing Abebayeh woy, young boys giving out drawings of flowers with happy wishes and the smell of doro wot and freshly baked diffo dabo.... ahhh major nostalgia kicking in.

I hope you have enjoyed your weekend as I did wherever you are. And I wish you all a Blissful year. May the new year brings you lots and lots of happiness and health. God bless Ethiopia and the rest of the world.

እንቁጣጣሽ!!

Art and the Artist: Sileshi Demisse aka Gash Abera Molla

Artist Sileshi Demisse, also affectionately known as Gash Abera Molla after his popular song of the same title, is an Artistic genius and a well known Ethiopian environmental activist. It is hard to box Sileshi's musical style in a single genre or to explain the work he does in few simple words. To say the least, his completely unique style is a blend of all things beautiful. 

Lack of understanding their craft ranks at the top of the long list of shortcomings with Ethiopian artists these days. Everyone started labeling themselves 'musician' just because they could mimic the last singer. It got to the point where you can't tell them apart. It certainly fills you with nostalgia for the era you probably know nothing about but heard from your parents... You know, those good old cassette tape days when everyone has a distinctive sound and style. *sigh* 

Beauty: A Vibrant Hair Color Straight from Mother nature

My sincere apologies go out to all for being MIA for the last ummmm days. Lately, my life has been quite hectic I barely had time for doing the things I love. Well, now that we are back in action, what do you say if we start by talking about hair? Yes?

Henna has been my best friend for quite sometime now. Growing up, it was the main hair color I've seen the ladies in the family use. I loved their shinny hair after they wash and set their henna processed hair.  The subtlety in the color change (especially if you have a thick dark hair) that it helps to acquire is actually what makes henna more appealing to me. Sometimes, you might not even notice the change in color if you see a henna treated hair in a not so bright room. But as soon as that same lady steps out in the sun, you will definitely notice the glow in her hair. Summer is here... so get your henna and let your hair glooowwww (bad joke!)

 Applying Henna is by no means your everyday easy and clean two step process. It can be quite messy so I recommend doing this over the weekend. Personally, I take the opportunity to deep condition and add a little moisture to my hair. I only use Henna brands labeled for body art (Jamila is my favorite brand). You might try different brands. By the way, if you don't know this already, the black and neutral Henna are not actual Henna. They are derived from either indigo or some other plant and chemical. The actual Henna gives you only burgundy color.

Here are some steps you may follow in preparing and applying henna to your hair:

Weekend Read: Beneath the LION'S GAZE by Maaza Mengiste

Does Ethiopia even have authors? It sounds so offensive when you hear those words uttered by non-Ethiopians, right? But at the same time you can't blame them for their ignorance. The names of the prolific authors in Ethiopia such as Abba Enbaqom, Haddis Alemayehu, Sibehat GebreEgziabher, Abe Gubegnaw, Bealu Girma so on and so forth don't mean that much outside of the Ethiopian borders. Their amazing contributions to the world of literature has sadly gone unnoticed. I wonder how many Ethiopian authors the younger generation can name if asked to name a few.

Story telling is a huge part of Ethiopian culture. But why are only very few Ethiopian authors attempting to represent their country in the worldwide stage? Something to ponder on...

Spot Light- The City of Adama (aka Nazaret)

The beautiful city of Adama (formerly known as Nazaret) is  located in central Ethiopia and ranks as one of the top among the list of cities that has shown progress in the last couple of decades. The city served as the capital of the Oromia region and is a home to over 225,000 people.

* Spot light is a section featuring beautiful pictures highlighting parts of Ethiopia. Just letting the pictures speak for themselves and inspire you to go out and discover more.

Style: Casual wear with a traditional flair

     Ever had the urge to wear your traditional outfit to work or school but the fact that none of those you own are work or school "appropriate" (whatever that means) had you holding onto them for that special occasion only? I share your pain. Thank goodness for a certain social media called facebook, recently I have been noticing several family and friends rediscovering the old trend of wearing traditional attire as an everyday look. I was inspired to say the least.

BeTam Chic... Z via facebook

Traditional clothing is the hottest business in Ethiopia. There are several boutiques around the country catering for the ever growing demand. In comparison, there are only few designers that everybody counts on to spice up the monotonic market.

       When it comes to designing traditional cloths, no one does it like Designer Genet Kebede. Her high fasion line, Paradise fashion, is undeniably the most successful and popular line in Ethiopia. Genet has a degree in design and high fashion couture and is a creative mind behind most of the elegant traditional evening wears and bridal cloths we see around today. She knows her craft very well and provides one of a kind custom pieces paying extra attention to quality which has garnered her a huge client base despite the high end price tags. Although she is best known for her elegant party dresses,  Paradise Fashion carries casual pieces as well as swim wears.

Check out some of her casual designs:

Delicious Friday: Weekend Breakfast - Genfo or Kinche?

I don't want to post any wot (stew/sauce) recipe before I cover how to make injera (which I will be doing soon) first. So I am sticking with some of the simplest and quickest recipes that don't involve injera.

Thank God weekend is already here. You know what would be awesome? To wake up Saturday morning and have that awesome genfo (Porridge) or kinche (cracked wheat) breakfast to just start your day right!

1. Genfo (Porridge)

Genfo with all its glory

All you need is about 2 cups of all purpose flour (or any flour substitute that you want to use instead), 2 tbsp of Kibe (clarified butter) or 1/4 a cup of Oil, 1 tsp berbere,  salt and water . Preparing genfo is so easy and all it requires is strong arms to stir and mash the lumps.

How to prepare:
- Add about 3 cups of water in a pot and a teaspoon of salt and let it boil on a medium hot heat.
- Once the water boils, slowly add the flour onto the water while stirring with a wooden spoon. After adding a significant amount of flour, the mixture starts to get extremely thick making it hard to stir. When it gets to that point, stir very hard so there won't be any lumps. Add a little bit of water to the side and continue stirring so it won't stick at the bottom and burn. When the water gets absorbed, add a little bit more water to the side and continue with your stirring for another 4 or 5 minute until the water gets absorbed.
- Remove the genfo from the heat. Add an oil or melted butter into a bowl and scoop the genfo into the bowl. Use your spoon or move the bowl side to side to form a nice ball. Right at the center of the genfo ball, make a well using the back of your spoon. Then add your melted butter or Oil in the well followed by the berbere while the genfo is still hot. Mix the berebere and oil/melted butter well and serve to eat!

2. Kinche (cracked wheat)

Kinche with honey

This is one of the most simple breakfasts you can possible make. You can get the cracked wheat from any of your local grocery stores.

Here is what you need:
-a cup of cracked wheat
-3 cups of water (or a mixture of milk and water which I prefer)
-about 2 table spoon of Kibe (clarified spicy butter) or Oil of your choice
- Salt

How to prepare:
Bring the water and milk mixture to boil in a medium high heat. Add the cracked wheat, cover the pot and let it cook. I prefer not to stir it until it is almost cooked ( I figure that way the bottom doesn't burn as much). It will take about 20 to 25 minutes for all the water to get absorbed. Once it is fully cooked, turn off the heat, add the butter and salt to taste while it is still hot and mix them well. Serve the kinche with small plates or bowls and enjoy it with hot teat!

P.S - I feel like all this measuring cup talk makes the whole preparing 'traditional' food experience so westernized. I've never seen the women (as well as the men) in my family using measuring cup while cooking. I guess through time we all developed a sense to tell you  the berebere you added or that salt you thought was just pinch is waaayyy too much without even tasting it. I understand how the measuring cup talk can make life so much easier especially for those who wouldn't dare to stir with out a map (aka most abesha men ). But honestly, I encourage you to just experiment. Your last trip to bathroom after you ate that fiery hot shiro should be a lesson to not to put that much berebere next time.

So you want to intern/work in Ethiopia?

STOP telling yourself it is impossible to get an internship or a job in Ethiopia. You will never know until you try. And at the end of the day just like everything in life, all it takes is your persistence and patience... a LOOOT of it.

My office during my summer '09 internship

Here are five simple tips to help you secure that job or internship back home. 

1. Know What You Want to Do

  As much as it makes sense in your head, missing your family back home or needing a paid vacation is not a valid reason to look for an internship or a job in Ethiopia. The job/internship vacancies back home require as much; sometimes even more experience and/or adequate knowledge in the required field as any other country. Along with the required skill, be sure to have a goal to accomplish. Trust me, it is soooo hard to be disciplined once you land back home. Fighting a temptation to spend time with your family or to sneak out and head to Sabana lodge instead of sitting in the office would be the hardest battle of your life unless you have a clearly defined mission. 

Always remember Companies/Organizations are spending a lot of money to accommodate you and the last thing you want to do is leave a bad taste in their mouth and block what could have been a great opportunity for the younger generation to come after you. 

A little positivity: Dendinam!! (Yes We Can) - Dr. Bogaletch Gebre and KMG, Ethiopia

Dr. Bogaletch Gebre, a woman on a mission

President Obama wasn't the only one shouting those powerful three words. Somewhere across the globe, a sensational woman is echoing 'Dendinam' while leading, inspiring and challenging other women to better themselves and their community.

Dr. Bogaletch Gebre is what I call the epitome of a chic woman. A true example of never forgetting where you came from despite how far you moved up on the ladder and never underestimating your power to make a difference. Having earned a PhD from UCLA in Epidemiology, she could have lived comfortably working in US; but instead, she chose the high road.  Her story is a tale of pure determination and strength which inspires many.

Born to peasant parents in a small village near Durame (the capital of Kembatta region) in southern Ethiopia, Dr. Gebre has developed  tenacity to overcome challenges and achieve the unthinkable early on in life. In a society where parents are acknowledged by the name of their first born son as a sign of respect, women's needs and basic rights were never given any attention. The majority didn't believe in the significance of educating a woman. They even say it will reduce her chance of finding a man to marry her. Girls, until they reach to puberty and given off to arranged marriage, remain home helping their mothers while boys go to school . That was a norm no one has dared to question. Thus, Bogaletch's fate was not far from the other girls in her neighborhood.

Style: Traditional home decor

I am pretty sure it is not just me who fantasizes about having a house or an appartment decked with everrrryyything traditional... from the window treatments to the table cloths, from your bed cloth to your Queen Sheba ceramic collection and to those small bowls aka Taba made from clay... to your pots and spoons. My heart melts with envy whenever I walk in to someone's house or a restaurant decorated with traditional pieces.

source

Spot Light - Alongside the Omo river

[source ]

The beautiful Omo river and its surrounding  in southern most region of Ethiopia is not only a home for what is believed to be over forty five different tribes such as Mursi, Hammar, Suri, Karo,Bodi, Niangatom, Dizi and Me'en to mention a few but also a huge attraction to tourists from all around the world.

* Spot light is a section featuring beautiful pictures highlighting parts of Ethiopia. Just letting the pictures speak for themselves and inspire you to go out and discover more.