April 2019
ADDIS ABABA
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Closeup: An interview with the Vintage Addis team. A team that has empowered ordinary people tell their extraordinary stories EatUp: The Oriental Where Two Worlds Meet Effortlessly Page 14
What’sUp: Abbaba’s Villa As the Family Grows, the Energy Flows Page 21
04 05 08 09 14 12 Editor’s Letter
Headsup
Thumbsup
April Events Calendar
Followup
Event Review OULALA!
Eatup
Catchup
17 Closeup
Interview With Founders of Vintage Addis
Restaurant Review The Oriental
International Event Blanket and Wine Nairobi
21 24 What’sup
Reelup
Cinema Review
Abbaba's Villa
As we surge into April, the diversity month, let’s reflect on how we are contributing to and embracing diversity within our community. Diversity is the source of power. Throughout history, the single most important secret of nations and empires that were able to amass incredible wealth and might has been their ability not to just tolerate but to celebrate the diversity with them. LinkUp Addis firmly believes in the blending of cultures, and we are deeply proud to be at the center of an industry which does just that. We call out to all event organizers to find ways to spread this message through their events.
Eyob Workineh Editor-in-Chief
Editor in chief: Eyob Workineh eyob@linkupaddis.com Marketing Director: Eyasu Abdella eyasu@linkupaddis.com Project and Social Media Manager: Fikreab Dagne fikrabdagne@gmail.com Creative Director: Benny Yoseph benny@linkupaddis.com
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Cover photo: courtesy of Vintage Addis
01-16 APRIL2019 • The Talked about Game Night ‘Quizzards Ramada Addis Hotel, 08:30pm
• Lecture in collaboration with the Italian school L’arte di Leonardo by Prof. Maurizio Bottacin. Auditorium of the Italian Institute Italian language Italian cultural Institute, 10:00am
• Movie Nights VillaVerde, 07:30pm
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• Afterword Jazz sessions VillaVerde, 07:00pm
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• Poetic Saturday- 3rd Year Anniversary Fendika Cultural Center , 02:00pm
• The Talked about Game Night ‘Quizzards Ramada Addis Hotel, 08:30pm
• Heritage watch- general meeting Bake & Brew, 03:00pm • Millionaire Minds Exclusive Wealth & Business Conference Intercontinental hotel , 07:00pm • Night Run Ethiopia Meskel Square , 07:00pm • Zoya 0.4 Electronic Music Party Greek Club, 10:00pm
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• Italian school VideoClub Rimetti a noi i nostri debiti by Antonio Morabito, 2018 104 min, English subtitles Italian cultural Institute, 03:30pm
• Art talk- Discovering Leonardo da Vinci VinciOpen Lecture on Leonardo’s work by Eshetu Teruneh Italian cultural Institute, 02:00pm • Documentary screening & Debate: “Ethiopia, the mystery of the phallic stones” (English) Alliance Francaise, 06:30pm
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• The Luxury Wedding Exhibition Sheraton Addis , 10:00am
• opening of “Visual Diary” a solo Exhibition by Dariwos Hailemichael Alliance Ethio-Française, 06:30pm
• Italian school VideoClub Quanto basta by Francesco Falaschi, 2018 92 min Italian cultural Institute, 03:30pm
• The Talked about Game Night ‘Quizzards Ramada Addis Hotel, 08:30pm
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17-30 APRIL2019 • Documentary screening & Debate: “Slavery routes” (English) Alliance Francaise, 06:30pm
• Concert of KRISTEL, Indie electrifying pop-rock made in Madagascar Alliance Francaise, 08:00pm • Contemporary documentary Photo exhibition by our artist in residence Alessia Rollo Italian cultural Institute, 06:00pm
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• The Talked about Game Night ‘Quizzards Ramada Addis Hotel, 08:30pm
• Screening of short animation film "The Water Will Carry Us Home" Q&A with director Gabrielle Tesfaye Alliance Francaise, 06:30pm
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• The Talked about Game Night ‘Quizzards Ramada Addis Hotel, 08:30pm
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Thumbsup Eyasu A. Ashenafi
Art and Culture Name: Makush Art Gallery
Restaurant Name: Chefs-Plate
Since opening their doors in 2002, Makush Art Gallery has provided a venue for artists to display their talent. They currently have more than 70 artists and over 750 paintings on display in their gallery. The gallery has earned the reputation of being the premier gallery for art lovers in Addis. The Lonely Planet guide book generously describes, Makush Art Gallery as one that has “an excellent, carefully selected collection of highquality furniture and paintings from various Ethiopian artists.” Besides their business dealings, Makush also supports humanitarian causes. In collaboration with embassies and NGOs, they strive to help those in need.
Led by Chef Mekbeb who brings years of experience to the business, this place grabs your senses with its calm and relaxing atmosphere. Unlike many other places in Addis, every detail is well-attended to including the background music which never makes you scream in people’s ear to be heard. Well, the food is great. International Standard. This is a place that offers a great value for money, with large portions, classic cocktails and creative cuisine. You should try it this month.
Facebook: /Makush-Art-Gallery Tel: +215(0) 091 189 0637 Location: Bole 1st floor of Mega Building On Google maps? Yes
Facebook: /Chefs-Plate-Restaurant Tel: + 251 (0) 91 194 8108 Location: On the road from Bole to Megenagna around Beza international church On Google maps? Yes Networking Event Name: Mella
GoFigure is shaking up the fitness landscape in Addis Ababa. With a belief that exercise should be accessible, impactful and fun, they have built a state-of-the-art gym facility that offers a complete schedule of dynamic drop-in fitness classes from yoga and kickboxing to strength training and Zumba. If you want something more personal, you can meet one of their certified personal trainers for a customized plan that can cater to your personalized fitness schedule, mindset needs.
The meaning of Amharic term “Mella” implies a solution that is figured out mostly in collaboration. And this is exactly what Mella is doing. The monthly event which is organized at Bake and Brew, one of the coziest and most successful café-workspaces in Addis, brings experienced entrepreneurs to a platform in which they share their experiences and wisdom to young and aspiring entrepreneurs. Whether you are a startup trying to make it through or just a curious soul who loves to be inspired, this event is one that never leaves you with regrets. You can view videos of past events on their website, and they also have a vibrant social media presence.
Facebook: /gofigureaddis Tel: +251 (0) 97 778 5016 Location: Sarbet-Michael, behind Union Hotel/Four Seasons Restaurant On Google maps? Yes
Website: mellaethiopia.org Facebook: /mellaethiopia Location: Sar bet, opposite IEC Tel: +215(0) 94 473 6234 On Google maps? Yes
Fitness Name: GoFigure
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Oulala! FollowUp
Kidus Assefa
f talking about Addis’s cultural and creative scene, Alliance is a name you should now by heart. As opposed tothe highly commercialized, artificial order of many events in town, Alliance has for long served as an oasis for those craving for real, original art and cultural creativity, bringing what’s best in cultures. This time it was Oulala!’s turn. Held on 16 March 2019, Oulala! was tasked with bringing about cultural integration via the celebration and harmonization of artistic cultures. As a music genre with little exposure here, desert rock, which was on the agenda, seemed like a gamble. And the card being played was Imrahan. The Algerian Touareg desert rock quintet, "Imarhan", reined the evening. Originally
from a place in southern Algeria called ‘Tamanrassat’, members of the band agree the Targui culture, of the Touaregue people, was their biggest influence. “The music we play has its roots in traditional “Targui” music and commonly uses vocal singing and traditional instruments. What we are trying to do differently is adding on new types of percussion instruments and electric string instruments to give the music a rock-like feeling,” explains Iyad Moussa Ben Abderahmane, the lead guitarist and singer of the band. Aside from the contemporary, western elements, the music still owes the tempo and language use to the traditional form from which it also gets its unique rhythm & style. Imrahan played selected tracks from their previously released studio albums. Their performance was filled with an extremely infectious passion and energy. From coordinated dances
"Imrahan’s performance was filled with an extremely infectious passion and energy.”
"Growing up in Algeria we had exposure to Ethiopian music, and we were practically raised listening to Ethio-Jazz in particular…”
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Photo By: Mekbib Tadesse
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one couldn't really ask for more. Ykaalohiwot, Haftamu and Yonas Haregot, a group who attended the event remark, “We were previously aware that institutions like Alliance Ethio-Francaise and a few embassies organize events like these, but it is unfortunate that only a small number of people are actually aware of this and manage to attend. These kinds of events are great opportunities for people to interact and experience new things. We really had a great time and look forward to more memorable experiences like this.” Members of Imrahan also had a note to make. “Growing up in Algeria we had exposure to Ethiopian music, and we were practically raised listening to Ethio-Jazz in particular. The two have rather similar techniques and percussions. To the point that someone that that has mastered our type of music can adapt to Ethiopian music and transition to it with ease. The people are very responsive and open to listening to and appreciating the art. We loved the reception. Our expectations were surpassed to be honest,” they say. March was a fiesta of art, culture and creativity at Alliance. An average of 2 events were happening every week of the month celebrating and promoting diversity, cultural exchange, gender equality and art.
"From coordinated dances to freestyles and some ‘Eskista’, the crowd was ecstatic with the entire spectacle”
Photo: www..lomography.com
Photo By: Mekbib Tadesse
to freestyles and some ‘Eskista’, the crowd was ecstatic with the entire spectacle. After nearly a couple of hours of non-stop performance, the band unsuccessfully attempted to wrap things up for the night only to be cheered on by the audience to perform one more song of theirs. Then came one of the highlights of the night when an Ethiopian 'Masinko' player was introduced on to the stage to play alongside the band. It was such a musical experiment one could only see once in a while. From the first note played to the last beat of the drum, the concert was a testament of the power of music over people from all backgrounds, with contagious spirit of joy and harmony. It was an electric night. People of multiple nationalities were there to enjoy the occasion and ended up giving it the color and variety it was looking to promote. One turn and you could see French couples lounging, another turn and Ethiopians in a heated dance off with Algerians would catch your attention. Wherever you looked you were bound to see everyone enjoying themselves, across age and cultural boundaries. With the bar offering a nice selection of drinks and snacks and with the well-designed lighting and sound system was simply flawless and
CatchUp
Blanket and Wine Ruth Bogale
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Nairobi, Kenya
Photo: Instagram_blanketsandwine
lanket and Wine is a monthly the stage name ‘Muthoni the Drummer entertainment event held in Nairobi, Queen’, decided to host Sunday picnicKenya. Described in Lonely Planet as styled events to promote local artistic a monthly picnic-concert talent. Everyone attending is that is one of the best-loved supposed to bring a bottle of “it has evolved wine, a picnic basket and a features on Nairobi's liveinto one of the blanket. music circuit, Blanket and biggest events in Wine celebrates art in its Describing how the event variety of forms. “Musicians started, Ndonga explains, “The East Africa” vary, but the underlying intention was to promote music principle is to support local created by a band I was working and other East African acts, from acoustic with. We wanted our work on a visible and singer-songwriter to rock and roots,” platform. …. [we] turned this event from adds Lonely Planet. night to daytime, where people could bring their own food and beverages and simply Held every first Sunday of the month, sit back and enjoy the music offered.” Blankets & Wine is one of the most popular According to Ndonga, the event has events in Nairobi. It started in 2008 when established itself through the years, and musician Muthoni Ndonga, who goes by it has evolved into one of the biggest
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“Everyone attending is supposed to bring a bottle of wine, a picnic basket and a blanket.”
[It] is one of the best-loved features on Nairobi's live-music circuit [and] celebrates art in its variety of forms.
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Aloe Blacc performes at the 59th edition 2016
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Photo: visiterlafrique.com-blanket-wine
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events in East Africa serving as a creative platform exposing a variety of talents from the creative industry to open-minded, interesting and creative individuals. Besides its growing popularty in Nairobi among expatriates and the middle class, attracting top performers in music, art, literature and fashion across Africa, it has expanded to Kampala, Uganda. Building such an outstanding event portfolio over the last decade has not been possible without its fair share of challenges. Just as many other industries in Africa, social and logistical connectivity issues make up majority of the challenges. The search for new talents, especially outside of Nairobi and exposing them to the market is one of the challenges, according to the organizers, due to limitations in time and due to the fact that not many reach out to the event. The organizers hope to make Blankets and Wines an international platform. They aspire for a tour across Europe to establish the event in other African countries and thereby promote independent African acts internationally.
EatUp
The Oriental Where Two Worlds Meet Effortlessly Surafel Solomon
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he Oriental, the Hyatt Regency’s newly opened restaurant, is an all round fusion of east and west. From cuisine to design and even mixology, the Oriental has blended these seemingly polar worlds perfectly. A one of a kind restaurant, The Oriental is fast becoming the coveted dining location for the city’s inhabitants. The Oriental is located on the first floor of The Hyatt Regency Hotel at the Meskel Square, probably the most accessible place in Addis. The restaurant is characterized by its sleek and understated yet edgy and bold design evident in the choice of furniture and fixtures. This combination gives the place an air of sophistication while maintaining a relaxed atmosphere. To the left of the entrance is a VIP section that hosts a dozen people in an elegantly designed dining quarter detached, but not far, from the rest of the restaurant. The main hall, with views of the aforementioned Meskel Square, has an intimate force field at every table that can be attributed to the clever lighting.
Photo by: Abenezer Geleta (Ras Studio)
" After ordering our drinks we ordered starters with the recommendations of our excellent hostess Wagaye."
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After being escorted to our seats, our hostess for the evening introduced herself and presented us with two menus, one for food and another for refreshments. There is an extraordinary choice of wines, both local and imported. The cocktail section of the drinks menu is divided into East and West, which are further subdivided into Earth, Water, Fire and Air. Each element represents the strength and intensity of the cocktails. Blazing Sun, which is served in a flamboyant cup and embers, has earned its place in the fire section as a clear stand out. I suggest reading the descriptions and going with your gut, but I recommend trying the more reserved Patience and the edgier Black Gold. After ordering our drinks we ordered starters with the recommendations of our excellent hostess Wagaye. We had beef tartare, Thai calamari, roast bone marrow and yum nua, a Thai beef salad. The tartare is an acquired taste for most Ethiopian pallets but nonetheless expertly made. The roast bone marrow has a sweet nutty flavor and a light, delicate texture that melts
Location: Bole, Meskel Square Service /label: Restaurant Opening Hours: 05:30 PM - 11:30 PM Website: https://www.hyatt. com/en-US/hotel/ ethiopia/hyattregency-addis-ababa/ addra Phone Number: +251 11 517 1234
We are stuffed to the brim and the chitchat that promptly stopped when our main course arrived had resumed along with another round of drinks. And then followed dessert. We had homemade ice cream, which had a scoop of chocolate, vanilla and lemon flavors. With that was a seasonal fruit platter all diced and ready to devour. The star of the desert section, in my humble opinion, was the honey-grilled pineapple with coconut ice cream. It had the perfect combination of acidity from the pineapple with the mildness of the coconut, the warmth of the pineapple with the coolness of the coconut. I could go on and on, but simply put it is the perfect match, if such a thing exists. At The Oriental, the service was top notch and felt disarming. The drinks are unique and intriguing into trying new things every round. The food, from preparation to presentation to taste, is effortlessly excellent. The design of the restaurant is the ribbon tying this whole experience into one harmonious experience of dining delight.
"Shifta embodies the spirit of modern art while maintaining a retro feel in a way no other place does" Linkup Addis Ababa April, 2019 I 15
Photo by: Abenezer Geleta (Ras Studio)
in your mouth. The Thai calamari, which was my first experience, was the best introduction to a new food I could have asked for. But the refreshing and light yum nua was my favorite. Our table was cleared and a new round of drinks came before our main course arrived. Each dish is a stellar reminder of the talent of the kitchen staff led by head chef Ivo Simek and Thai chef Thanasson Suwanledlum'. Their vast experience in Asian cuisine is evident when you taste the pad Thai, a Thai stir-fry rice noodle accompanied with tofu, eggs and dried prawns. To tie all this together, it is mixed with tamarind sauce that gives the dish a beautiful sweet and sour flavor. The beef shank massaman is a simple yet not so simple Thai curry. Meltingly tender braised shank and perfectly cooked potatoes are served up in a pot filled with curry heaven, thick and mildly sweet. This dish has instantly inserted itself in my list of go to comfort foods. It fills you up with warmth and great flavors straightaway to which your only reaction can be a sigh of pure fulfillment. Whether you are a fan of Asian food or this is your first time trying it out, it is easy for this to become a dish you will order every visit. The black pepper beef, tender and succulent beef strips covered with black pepper sauce could be considered the Chinese version of pepper steak. While the meat takes the center stage, sometimes even the entire stage, in the pepper steak dish it is not so with the black pepper beef. What I love about this dish is that the black pepper and other seasonings elevate the beef rather than merely accompanying it, packing every bite with loads of flavor. The tenderloin with a side of fried potatoes and bacon is an old but gold combination. This dish looks simple, and compared to all the dishes I’ve described above, it’s going to look empty. But don’t let that stop you from having this dish. I say this because the tenderloin is the focus of this dish; it is where your attention should be focused. The degree to which it is cooked, the juiciness of the meat, how tender it is – it’s all about the meat and that is why we find it at the top of the barbecue section. The slow grilled lamb leg is easily shredded under knife and fork and soft to the tongue. In terms of focus, as the previous dish, the lamb leg is the main attraction circled with some herbs and a side dish of your choosing. I suggest going with the creamy spinach for the side dish and homemade barbecue sauce to compliment these impeccable barbecue dishes.
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The restaurant is characterized by its sleek and understated yet edgy and bold design evident in the choice of furniture and fixtures.
Photo by: Abenezer Geleta (Ras Studio)
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CloseUp
Vintage Addis Selam Tarekegn
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p from just another social media platform to a household name in relation to photo archiving in Ethiopia, the story of Vintage Addis has been one of the most remarkable journeys we have seen in recent times. After a wide acclaim to the wonderful platform they built on social media, particularly Facebook, the team has just recently published Ethiopia’s first ever book of vintage, old photographs. The book has received an excited reception and has been one of the most sought-after books in the market. LinkUp Addis has sat with the founders to discuss their journey and experience. Who is behind Vintage Addis? VA: The team who worked on Vintage Addis Ababa are Philipp Schütz, Nafkot Gebeyehu and Wongel Abebe. How did you come with the idea to start Vintage Addis? Was there a plan to publish a book from the start or did it come as you go? VA: Initially, we were inspired by a project undertaken in Uganda called ‘History in Progress’. Our aim from the beginning was
to publish a book, but as our approach to collect the photos was to crowdsource, we decided to first launch it on social media. It remained as a digital archive and campaign for over a year before the book was released. The concept of Vintage Addis has come a long way from one among a few people, to an ideal that unites thousands of people, what is behind your success? VA: Our content is people-friendly – it is real, honest and candid. Most of all, it is sourced from the people themselves. Vintage Addis Ababa is not only a project that shares stories, but an opportunity for others to be involved in preserving history as well. Its participatory nature has enabled the project to bring many families together. What were/are the challenges you face when managing Vintage Addis?
“Ranging from the 1940s to the 80s, it gives a comprehensive look of what life was like back in the day.”
VA: Content creation is the most challenging part of doing Vintage Addis Ababa, as we are completely dependent on outside contributors. Sourcing the photos, scanning them and writing the stories behind them are all time-consuming.
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Photo: courtesy of Vintage Addis
Arat Kilo 1974: Students of Menelik II, one of Ethiopia’s first High Schools, lined up for a photograph to be used in the year book.
Although many have supported the project through their contributions, it was tough to follow up with several people to collect their stories.
stories with one another as a result of Vintage Addis Ababa. It was great for us to witness families coming together and growing closer because of it.
How did you manage to collect all these great old photos?
As emerging opinion leaders in photography, what are your thoughts about the role of photography in society??
VA: Over the past two and a half years working on the project, we intentionally went out to areas elderly people spend their time. We’d introduce the project and ourselves. They often warm up to the idea quickly and share their photos with us. Social media has also been key in collecting old photos. Hundreds of people have reached out to us on Facebook, Instagram and email with their contributions. Who decides what is collectable, what is valued? VA: The criteria we used when collecting were simple: • Photos aged 30 years and more (from the mid 80s) • Photos that have never been published before (only from unseen archives) • Taken in Addis Ababa or strongly tied to the city Tell us about the Vintage Addis Book? VA: Released in November 2018, it is a photo book that visually tells stories of Addis Ababa’s residents previous decades. It presents an intimate cross-section of life in the capital through 242 images and their accompanying stories. Ranging from the 1940s to the 80s, it gives a comprehensive look of what life was like back in the day. Aesthetically, it is a hardcover book with a layout designed to bring the best out of the images. All the text was hand-typed on a typewriter and scanned into the book to give the audience an authentic experience of the vintage feel. It is available at 40USD in Book World in Addis and available on Amazon for international orders. How would you describe the audience response you have received? VA: We were pleasantly surprised by the love and positive feedback we received for the project. We were humbled to see so many people smile and share intimate
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VA: A photograph is powerful in that it enables a memory to outlast a lifetime. Although one photograph can’t describe a moment fully, as it may not reveal context, it is an important form of documentation. We should be intentional about photographing our surroundings and our loved ones. Change is a constant phenomenon and photographs enable us to keep our memories intact. Archiving is just as important as photographing. Unfortunately, much of our history and historical artifacts aren’t properly documented in Ethiopia, or Africa at large. Archiving is important in being able to write and tell our stories. And this is the responsibility of the whole society. When do you think it’s important to tell the story of a photograph? VA: The context in which it was made, the photographer’s relationship to the subject and his or her perspective How do you respond to harsh criticisms? Was there a time you had one? VA: We take all comments positively. The project has evolved so much since it started, much of it attributed to conversations and interactions we had with others. We are always open to growing and have applied changes to the extent that we can. Although we appreciate comments and criticisms, we also know that this project will not cater to everyone’s liking. We’ve been privileged to have many supporters. However, we understand that it is impossible to please everyone. Where have you shown your works? Which one stands out for you? VA: Our book launch has to be the best show we’ve put on. It took place at Alliance Ethio-Française and the turnout was great.
“We were pleasantly surprised by the love and positive feedback we received for the project.”
“so many people smile and share intimate stories with one another as a result of Vintage Addis Ababa”
It stands out for us because that was a dedicated Vintage Addis Ababa event, as we had never done that before at this scale.
and internationally. We hope to give workshops to inspire other young people to do similar projects in their cities.
Any big plans coming up for Vintage Addis?
Are there any stakeholders you would like to acknowledge?
VA: We hope to begin to democratize the narrative of Ethiopia’s past by bringing to light diverse perspectives; stories told from the viewpoint of everyday people. We believe that it is important to show that they lived lives worth remembering, even in the hardest of times. We see that such content is crucial especially for the youth of Ethiopia today who could learn more about our culture, identity and values.
VA: First, our biggest gratitude goes to all our contributors who opened their homes and shared their photos and personal stories with us. None of this would be possible if it wasn’t for their willingness. Second, we would like to thank our backers, the Embassy of Switzerland, European Union, Embassy of France, French Institute, Desta’s Coffee and those who backed our fundraising campaign on Kickstarter. If it wasn’t for their support, we wouldn’t have been able to produce their project - and definitely not at this quality.
Circa 1965:
Pictured is Adanech Hagos with her children. Her husband, Bitweded WoldeGebriel (who’s not in the photo) was minister of the palace for Emperor Menilik.
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Photo: courtesy of Vintage Addis
We are planning to take Vintage Addis Ababa exhibitions to different cities locally
“We were pleasantly surprised by the love and positive feedback we received for the project.”
What'sUp
Abbaba’s Villa As the Family Grows, the Energy Flows Joanne King here’s something about Abbaba’s Villa that feels like coming home. And it’s not something obvious that you can easily put your finger on. Is it the warm welcome that Eyerusalem extends to all who come through the front door, reminiscent of the open house that her grandparents had throughout her childhood, with cousins running through the gardens, and priests and churchgoers being fed and welcomed on many a feast day? Or is it the warmth of the decor that holds a multitude of memories and envelopes you in them as you run your hand over a polished wood Jimma stool as your eye lingers on the collection of photographs, traditional kaba and horn drinking vessels that inhabit every corner of this beautifully eclectic setting? At once a guest house and a traditional family home, Abbaba’s Villa opened its doors to the public in 2004 in honor of Eyerusalem’s grandparents and in her search for a meaningful, purposeful life. It has since attracted artists, musicians
and well-known chefs including Marcus Samuelsson and Anthony Bourdain, provided refuge to those seeking a road less travelled. It’s the feeling of coming home, returning to hidden roots and rediscovering yourself that often draws people to this unique venue. Whether it’s a restful refuge you are seeking, or a place to recharge and rejuvenate, the villa offers both. Historically a place that received many blessings, Abbaba’s Villa is carrying on that tradition of blessing others. The large open plan living rooms lend themselves to both corporate gatherings and creativity and have hosted yoga retreats, children’s art workshops and educational events among many others. The expansive gardens are filled with the beautiful mixture of bridsongs and sounds from traditional and contemporary instruments. It was most recently hosting a group of Danish musicians who performed on the large outdoor stage as well as jamming with local musicians. With DJ Mitmita in the house, the gardens are
Location: Omedla Street, Addis Ababa Service /label: Guest House Facebook: /Abbabas Villa Guest House Website: abbabasvilla.com Reservation: reservations@ abbabasvilla.com Phone Number: + 251 11 114 0035 + 251 911 43 06 41
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Photo: courtesy of Eyerusalem Gedlu
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Photo: courtesy of Eyerusalem Gedlu
transformed into a magical grotto of lights and sound, and the Villa is a popular venue for both wedding and performance events alike. Guests in any of the 6 bedrooms are treated to homecooked breakfasts that draw on the rich heritage of Ethiopia as well as a fusion of international cuisines. Dinner is served family style at the main dining table, and the garden opens its arms for a beautiful alfresco buffet lunch or brunch. Abbaba’s Villa is a must visit stop if you’re looking for a melting pot of people from across the world in a beauitifully verdant place in Addis Ababa. The search for a purposeful life is what drew Eyerusalem back to her childhood playground, and it is this sense of creating your own narrative and rewriting important stories that will infuse your own experience at Abbaba’s Villa. Travelers and locals share stories, creating a link between different backgrounds and perspectives, building new relationships. People share crafts and skills gained along the road and passion drives creativity and common understanding.
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It’s the feeling of coming home, returning to hidden roots and rediscovering yourself that often draws people to this unique venue.
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ReelUp
Cinema
Kidus Tamiru
Balè Kèmis Directed By: Fistum Kibret Runtime: 90 min Starring: Dereje Haile, Selam Tesfaye, Michael Yonas Sorry, I could not figure out a way to summarize the “plot” of this movie for a synopsis. I would recommend you watch it and find out for yourself but that would be ill-advised. As I saw this film in a nearly packed cinema, oscillating between fatal boredom and moments of anger, I was also confused as to the appeal of this film. Was it the “star” power of actors? Or are people so desperate for anything with romantic comedy in the description that they’d cough up their hard-earned cash to see any drivel with attractive people on the poster? This film took the “no-plot” problem of most movies a step further. This doesn’t even have a central character. It’s just following a bunch of random, boring characters around with no development or surprises. The main problem of this movie is definitely the writing. The dialog is long, unnatural and constantly shifts between forced pseudo-wisdom and tasteless, juvenile “jokes”. The cringe is strong on this one. It comes off as a feminist film made by people who have no idea what the word means but wanted to cash in on the movement anyway. The acting, coupled with the bad dialog, comes off as genuinely unwatchable. The lead characters practically choke on their own sanctimonious B.S as they constantly spout some profound nonsense. So, unless cringing for two hours straight is your favorite pastime, I do not recommend this. Or maybe you might enjoy it, what do I know? 3/10
Atifred Directed By: Fitsum Asfaw Runtime: 100 min Starring: Alemayehu Tadesse, Tsedey Fantahun, Alemseged Asefa Atifred is a mystery/crime film about a young man who witnesses a murder he can’t seem to prove happened and sets out to find evidence as everybody starts questioning his sanity. Let me start off by saying this, I had really missed giving a good rating for an Ethiopian film and finally here it is. This movie is great. It has a good plot, it’s well paced, fantastically acted and sticks to its genre (In case you’ve never seen an Ethiopian film, sticking to its genre is a genuine feat to be commended). This is a full on, Agatha Christie/whodunit style of murder mystery. The tension is mostly psychological with an unreliable narrator and a menacing villain, who might not be a villain at all. And the acting in this film is surprisingly good. Not just from the veteran Alemaheyu Tadese, but the young cast also hold their own very well, and I hope to see them in more roles in the future. The directing and pacing are also good. The extreme fish eye they use in the hotel scenes give the film a very eerie, claustrophobic feel from the get go. But I hope it was an intentional stylistic choice and not a happy cinematographic accident. But speaking of cinematography, I think it could have been better. It wasn’t bad but it was the weakest link and had room for improvement. And another issue I found is the sudden attempts at humor. They feel out of place sometimes but at least they’re rare enough to keep the tone of the film consistent. So overall, unless you’re in the mood for some romantic comedy (don’t be), I definitely recommend this film and you should check it out. 8/10
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Us Directed By: Jordan Peele Runtime: 116 min Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Elizabeth Moss Us is a horror/thriller film that tells the story of a family who, while vacationing at the mother’s childhood home, encounter and get attacked by a family that look exactly like them. If you’ve seen Jordan Peele’s other film, Get Out, you’ll know what to expect from this one. He seems to have created his own brand of horror, one that’s more the twilight zone than the Texas chainsaw massacre, creepier and more atmospheric than gory or bloody. If you like your horror films with jump-scares and exorcisms, then you’ll be massively disappointed with this. But if you loved, and I mean loved, Get Out, then you’ll like this. This is not as good in my opinion, but it’s definitely bigger in scope, imagination and creepiness. It has great acting, especially Nyong’o in her dual, contrasting roles, a gripping soundtrack and masterful directing. But my main issue with this film is that it leaves most questions completely unanswered. It doesn’t even attempt to answer the how’s and why’s and leaves most elements as mere unexplained plot devices. But then again, it’s a horror film, it’s just meant to scare the hell out of you. So overall, if you know what to expect, namely slow paced, atmospheric unease rather than full-on horror, you’d enjoy this film. 7/10
Captain Marvel Directed By: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck Runtime: 123 min Starring: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn Captain Marvel is a superhero origin story introducing Carol Danvers, AKA Captain Marvel, into the marvel cinematic storyline in the 1990’s as she discovers her powers and becomes, by far, the most powerful avenger in the MCU. Captain marvel is a great addition to the marvel universe in that it, among other reasons, gives us a glimpse to how it all started. It realigns, but only slightly, how you see the earlier marvel movies and characters. We get to see a younger Nick Fury, far less cynical and hard-boiled, as he becomes the Nick Fury we know. But as entertaining as Samuel L Jackson is to watch, Brie Larson pretty much steals the show. She comes into this already very established universe and takes command as the formidable Captain Marvel. The chemistry and respect between Danvers and Fury is also quite fun to watch. Another thing I loved about this is that, very much like Black Panther, it subverts your usual movie stereotypes and expectations for who can be what. What black panther did for Black and African stereotypes, this does for women superheroes, even better than Wonder Woman in my opinion. But, the only issue I had with it is that it’s more or less a typical Marvel origins movie in terms of plot. The whole movie is just here to introduce the character as fast as possible and pave the way for Endgame. But I’m not complaining, it’s a definitely a film worth watching. 8/10
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Google Design Sprint
Addis Ababa Google and iceaddis collaborated to run the Google Design Sprint Addis Ababa 2019. Google Design Sprint (GDS) is a 5-phase framework that helps answer critical business questions through rapid prototyping and user testing. “Working together in a sprint, you can shortcut the endless-debate cycle and compress months of time into a single week. Instead of waiting to launch a minimal product to understand if an idea is any good, you’ll get clear data from a realistic prototype. The sprint gives you a superpower: You can fast-forward into the future to see your finished product and customer reactions, before making any expensive commitments.”
Photo: courtesy of IceAddis
The topic GDS-Addis worked on
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was focusing on the topic “HOW CAN TECHNOLOGY HELP TO FIGHT AGAINST SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ABUSE?”. During the workshop the selected participants learned about the Google Design Sprint methodology and get insights on the harassment and abuse issues from an expert. The workshop followed the 5-phase framework to search for solutions in groups, create ideas of specific tech projects and make prototypes. Four teams composed of Gender activists, Developers, Designers, Product Managers & Business experts participated in the workshop. UNWOMEN also provided expert input and capacity building. The workshop led by Emilia Maj, GoogleSprint Master and Google Developer Expert, Founder of Husky Design Agency.
“helps answer critical business questions through rapid prototyping and user testing.”
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Bruh.Club Why Bruh.club? The Ethiopian creatives are versatile, eloquent and produce uniquely Ethiopian pieces which come out of their own Ethiopian experience. However, only a very small amount of people actually get to see these works in Ethiopia and less so internationally. Even more disturbing to us is the fact that others come to Ethiopia, become the expert in all things Ethiopian when they return home as there are a very limited numbers of Ethiopian creatives who are visible and loud enough on the interna-tional market. Thus, it is imperative that the Ethiopian creative industry accesses and forges a place for itself both nationally and internationally as well as reclaim its voices by showcasing, representing and leading the conversation on Ethiopian creative outputs. And so Bruh.club was established to inform, con-nect and showcase the Ethiopian creative industry.
What is Bruh.club and the Arts Mailing List Newsletter? In order to achieve the above, we need to close the gap in the information that each Ethiopian cre-ative practitioner has access to. There are many calls for artists practicing all forms of arts, but our Ethiopian creative sector and in particular, up & coming artists do not know about them. Therefore, we produce, compile and share by e-mail, Facebook and Telegram every week our Arts Mailing List newsletter which provides information of open calls, job opportunities & conferences for the creative sector. Moreover, we also use these newsletters to showcase and feature different pieces produced by Ethiopian creatives. The aim is that once Ethiopian creative practitioners see these opportunities and apply to as many opportunities as they can, then we will see more Ethiopian creatives showcasing their work on the many world platforms.
What can the creative do? If you are a practicing creative in the following areas: Accessories design - App development Architecture - Arts Management - Crafts - Creative Blogs & Vlogs - Creative training - Curation - Circus - Dance - Digital arts Events management - Fash-ion design - Festival management - Film - Games development - Graphics design - Interior design - Light design - Music management - Music - Photography - Poetry - Radio - Sculpture - Stage de-sign - Storytelling Textile - Theatre - TV - Video production - Visual arts - Writing - Website de-sign
• Then simply start by joining us on Telegram channel or Facebook page • Open the link to this week’s Arts Mailing List newsletters • Read the content • Select the link of the open call that you are interested in • Go to their website • Read the application requirements • Apply • And keep applying to as many calls that you feel fits your arts practice • Once you have applied, make sure your social media platforms i.e.: Facebook page and/or Instagram page etc…. are showcasing your work • Remember, the world wants to hear from you, so you do not always need to a huge portfolio to apply to some of these calls Facebook: www.facebook.com/Bruh.club Telegram: t.me/artsmailinglist
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