Issuu

October 2019

16 CloseUp: It's all about Mindset. An inspiring interview with Dr. Mehret Debebe, a man striving for social transformation What'sUp Cascara: Hyatt Regency - Where Coffee and Cocktails Merge Page 20 ReelUp Why Kidus thinks this Ethiopian movie deserves an Oscar Page 22

04 05 08 09 14 12 Editor’s Letter

Headsup

Thumbsup

October Events' Calendar

Followup

The Diva Collection Fashion Show

Eatup

Catchup

16 Closeup

Interview with Dr. Mehret Debebe

Restaurant Review BaBi's Bistro

International Events THE YEAR OF RETURN

20 22 What’sup

Reelup

Cinema Review

Cascara Coffee & Cocktails Hyatt Regency

It is October, already! October is a month of hope for us, Ethiopians. Done with the stressful September, October is the month when many start seeing shape and meaning to the year ahead. After two months of seasonal depression, October is also a month when events flourish. If you are planning to host the next best event ever or are just thinking of joining the industry, this month might be the best shot. Plan early, and execute. We're here to help. What's more, Zoya will be back this month. After almost 4 months of break, the electronic music party, known for its great selection of performers, and relaxing, beautiful venue, will host the first episode of its year-long series around the end of this month. Expect something big.

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 Social Media Associates: Venture Addis

4 I Linkup Addis Ababa October, 2019

Cover photo: Courtesy of Dr. Mehret Debebe

01-16 OCTOBER 2019 • Webtalk Invite Day Lion Park, 12:00pm

• Meseret Dance Group Show: Mayet Alliance Ethio Francaise, 08:00pm

• The Cookout (Every Thursday) Escobar, 04:00pm

• Conference: Cartooning for peace & Democracy Alliance Ethio-française, 06:30pm

• MindSet- Consult Season 03 Eliana Hotel, 05:30pm

• CINE-CLUB (Every Wednesday) Louvre hotel , 08:00pm

• Jazz-Dining- Afterwork Jazz Sessions Villa Verde, 07:00pm

• Love N’Black 70’s (Every Friday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 09:00pm

• QUIZ NIGHT (Every Tuesday) Ramada Hotel, Oak Bar, 08:30pm

• Young Stars Live Music (Every Wednesday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 09:00pm

• Couch surfing meetup (Every Thursday) Mad vervet Hostel, 07:00pm • Karaoke and open mic (Every Thursday) Viking Bar & Restaurant, 09:00pm

• Hidden Gems Live Music (Every Tuesday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 08:30pm

• Sonic Ethiopia Live music (Every Thursday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 09:00pm

1 • Traditional Coffee Brewing and Gebeta Tournament Sabegn, 01:00pm • Acoustic Night with Ebony J & Kenny Allen Babi's Bistro, 06:30pm

2 • Addis Jazz Festival Swedish Embassy, 02:00pm

• Africa Forum on Visual Impairment Elilly International , 09:00am

• Ethio-Reggae live band (Every Sunday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 08:00pm

• Africa Health Business Symposium (AHBS) (4th edition) Skylight Hotel, 09:00am

• Nile Melodies in Ethio-Jazz (Every Monday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 08:00pm

• Movie Night (Every Tuesday) Villa Verde, 07:00pm

• Baz-unch (Every Sunday) Villa Verde, 10:00pm

• Ethio Futurism live band (Every Saturday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 09:30pm

• QUIZ NIGHT (Every Tuesday) Ramada Hotel, Oak Bar, 08:30pm • Hidden Gems Live Music (Every Tuesday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 08:30pm

• Africa Forum on Visual Impairment Elilly International , 09:00am

• Organic Farmers’ Market Natani Cafe, 08:30am

• Africa Health Business Symposium (AHBS) (4th edition) Skylight Hotel, 09:00am

• International Electricity and Power Trade Addis Ababa exhibition center, 09:00am

• AddisBuild & Addis Power (APW) Millennium Hall, 10:00am

• Hub of Africa Addis Fashion Week Hyatt Regency, 12:00pm

• The Cookout (Every Thursday) Escobar, 04:00pm

• Love N’Black 70’s (Every Friday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 09:00pm

• Zodiac Series - LIBRA Face of Addis, 02:00pm

• International Electricity and Power Trade Addis Ababa exhibition center, 09:00am • AddisBuild & Addis Power (APW) Millennium Hall, 10:00am • Hub of Africa Addis Fashion Week Hyatt Regency, 12:00pm

• Jazz-Dining- Afterwork Jazz Sessions Villa Verde, 07:00pm

• CINE-CLUB (Every Wednesday) Louvre hotel , 08:00pm • Young Stars Live Music (Every Wednesday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 09:00pm

• Ethio Futurism live band (Every Saturday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 09:30pm

• Couch surfing meetup (Every Thursday) Mad vervet Hostel , 07:00pm • Karaoke and open mic (Every Thursday) Viking Bar & Restaurant, 09:00pm

• Sonic Ethiopia Live music (Every Thursday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 09:00pm

• Ethio-Reggae live band (Every Sunday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 08:00pm

• "Movement mean more" and Adey #2 Ethiopian National Theatre, 02:00pm

• Baz-unch (Every Sunday) Villa Verde, 10:00pm

• Nile Melodies in Ethio-Jazz (Every Monday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 08:00pm

• Africa Conference on Children Affected by Armed Conflicts - 2019 UNECA Conference Centere, 08:30am

• Movie Night (Every Tuesday) Villa Verde, 07:00pm

• CINE-CLUB (Every Wednesday) Louvre hotel , 08:00pm

• Michisanti Horn Trio - Jazz Concert Italian Cultural Institute, 07:00pm

• Young Stars Live Music (Every Wednesday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 09:00pm

• QUIZ NIGHT (Every Tuesday) Ramada Hotel, Oak Bar, 08:30pm • Hidden Gems Live Music (Every Tuesday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 08:30pm

Linkup Addis Ababa October, 2019 I 5

17-31 OCTOBER 2019 • Africa Conference on Children Affected by Armed Conflicts - 2019 UNECA Conference Centere, 08:30am • Ethio Poultry Expo Millennium Hall, 10:00am • African Livestock Exhibition and Congress Millennium Hall, 11:00am • The Cookout (Every Thursday) Escobar, 04:00pm

• Ethio Poultry Expo Millennium Hall, 10:00am

• Ethio-Reggae live band (Every Sunday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 08:00pm

• African Livestock Exhibition and Congress Millennium Hall, 11:00am

• Octoberfest Hilton Hotel, 04:00pm

• MEEDO African PARTY Vamdas Entertainment, 01:00pm

• Octoberfest Hilton Hotel, 07:00pm

• Baz-unch (Every Sunday) Villa Verde, 10:00pm

• Octoberfest Hilton Hotel, 07:00pm

• Ethio Futurism live band (Every Saturday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 09:30pm

• Love N’Black 70’s (Every Friday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 09:00pm

• Jazz-Dining- Afterwork Jazz Sessions Villa Verde, 07:00pm • Couch surfing meetup (Every Thursday) Mad vervet Hostel , 07:00pm • Karaoke and open mic (Every Thursday) Viking Bar & Restaurant, 09:00pm • Sonic Ethiopia Live music (Every Thursday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 09:00pm

• The Atse Tewodros Project National Theatre, 07:00pm

• QUIZ NIGHT (Every Tuesday) Ramada Hotel, Oak Bar, 08:30pm

• Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) British Council, 09:00am

• Nile Melodies in Ethio-Jazz (Every Monday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 08:00pm

• Hidden Gems Live Music (Every Tuesday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 08:30pm

• CINE-CLUB (Every Wednesday) Louvre hotel , 08:00pm

• The Cookout (Every Thursday) Escobar, 04:00pm

• Young Stars Live Music (Every Wednesday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 09:00pm

• Couch surfing meetup (Every Thursday) Mad vervet Hostel , 07:00pm • Karaoke and open mic (Every Thursday) Viking Bar & Restaurant, 09:00pm • Sonic Ethiopia Live music (Every Thursday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 09:00pm

• Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) British Council, 09:00am

• Organic Farmers’ Market Natani Cafe, 08:30am

• Ethio-Reggae live band (Every Sunday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 08:00pm

• Il Bel Paese - Italian language between Comedy and Tragedy Italian Cultural Institute, 07:00pm

• Ethio Futurism live band (Every Saturday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 09:30pm

• Baz-unch (Every Sunday) Villa Verde, 10:00pm

24 • Nile Melodies in Ethio-Jazz (Every Monday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 08:00pm

• Love N’Black 70’s (Every Friday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 09:00pm

• QUIZ NIGHT (Every Tuesday) Ramada Hotel, Oak Bar, 08:30pm

• CINE-CLUB (Every Wednesday) Louvre hotel , 08:00pm

• Hidden Gems Live Music (Every Tuesday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 08:30pm

• Young Stars Live Music (Every Wednesday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 09:00pm

27 • Addis Chamber International Manufacturing & Technology Trade Fair Addis Ababa Exhibition Center, 09:00am • The Cookout (Every Thursday) Escobar, 04:00pm • Couch surfing meetup (Every Thursday) Mad vervet Hostel , 07:00pm • Karaoke and open mic (Every Thursday) Viking Bar & Restaurant, 09:00pm • Sonic Ethiopia Live music (Every Thursday) Metro club Hyatt regency hotel, 09:00pm

29 6 I Linkup Addis Ababa October, 2019

Thumbsup Kidus Assefa

Restaurant Name: Chez Mara

Dance class Name: Caliente Dance club

Sitting gracefully at the center of the Bole airport area, yet still offering precious peace and tranquility, Chez Mara is a place worth trying. Known for its authentic Italian pizza, the place has a wide selection of pastries and baked goods, most of which are recipes developed in-house. Besides great food, the place offers an ambiance like no other in one of the busiest and most bustling parts of the town. With the green area and peaceful silence, Chez Mara is a laid-back place suitable for groups and loners alike.

Dancing, in general, is known to have many benefits ranging from physical and emotional release to psychological boosts and improvements in social skills. Caliente Dance Club is there to give it all. The dance classes at Caliente are open to anyone from any age group or profession and social background, creating a mix of diverse and interesting groups. The courses mainly include Salsa, Bachata, Merengue and various group dances offered on Friday and Saturday afternoons at Kaleb Hotel's 1st-floor wedding hall. While the classes last 3 months, there is also a special dance package upon request for brides and grooms along with their bridesmaids and best men.

Facebook: Chez Mara Addis Tel: +251 (0) 90 241 3443 Location: Bole, behind TK building & Millennium hall On Google maps? Yes Art gallery Name: Sheba art gallery Among the hidden gems in Addis is a gallery that offers a variety of pleasant treats for your eyes. Located around Piassa and welcoming art lovers with open doors, Sheba's art gallery has it all, from contemporary paintings to modern paintings to mosaics and subtle antique decorations. Sheba's art gallery gives a chance for different artists to showcase their works and has allowed upcoming artists to share their works with art admirers in Addis. Facebook: Sheba's Art Gallery Tel: + 251 (0)93 000 0138 Location: Piazza, Arogey Qera, behind Total on the road to Enrico On Google maps? Yes

8 I Linkup Addis Ababa October, 2019

Facebook: calientedanceclub Tel: +251 (0) 91 163 9332 Location: On the road going from Edna mall to Bole road, next to Harmony hotel On Google maps? Yes (Kaleb Hotel)

FollowUp

The Diva Collection

Fashion Show Aisha Jemila Daniels

ne of the emerging names in the fashion scene in Addis Ababa, Mis.T.Cal hosted a fashion show at Eros Addis on 31 August 2019. LinkUp Addis’s Aisha was at the event, and here is her take. On Friday, 31 August 2019, emerging designer Tsion Bahru, founder of Miss.T.Cal, landed with the first launch of her new Diva Collection and showcased her work at “Art All Night” at Eros Addis. Tsion showcased classic, sultry, and seductive garments, interesting fusion between European dresses of the 1930s and Ethiopian tradition. Her design included a variety of cotton-based, lingerie-like contemporary suits with oversized single-breasted suit jackets, pin-up blazers,

bras and corsets, high-waist shorts, pencil skirts, wide-leg pants, and boho pants. With broad-shouldered, single-breasted and straight-legged suiting, Tsion’s designs embrace the boldness and grace of womanhood underlining the trend towards empowering women through fashion. The entire show was a runway of ethereal femininity brought to life with elaborate accents and embroidery of black lace, golden floral motifs. It was apparent that her intent for the clothing was regality and luxury with black, maroon, gold, blue, and pearls used for their symbolic character: black’s mystery, maroon’s passion; gold’s wealth and extravagance; blue’s intelligence; and pearls’ good fortune. What’s more, “Art All Night” featured live paintings and artworks by upcoming painters Gelila Mesfin, who provides the opportunity to explore black women and femininity; King Haileab, who does explosive street-style graffiti; Kalab Ashenafi, who explores the

“We speak fashion, design, and art… empowering women…a diva is fierce, embraces her curves, and all her beauty,”

Linkup Addis Ababa October, 2019 I 9

Photo by: Anteneh Girma, Abyissinia Photographers Hub

10 I Linkup Addis Ababa October, 2019

new niches in Ethiopia’s fashion industry. Full of rich and vibrant inspiration, Miss.T.Cal is a premium women’s clothing brand founded in January 2019 in Addis Ababa. The name Miss.T.Cal, according to Tsion, is derived from the word mystical, as “Miss T” connoting Miss Tsion and “Cal” an abbreviation to the word calculated. Inspired by the lack of availability of simple and appealing women’s wear, Tsion began her career with a unique swimsuit line the "MISS.T.CAL Mermaid" Collection. The pieces were intricately hand-knitted swimsuits, including crochet bikinis, monokinis, chiffon kimonos and cover-ups. The designs and colors give the essence of earth, air and fire, along with allure and youth. “We speak fashion, design, and art… empowering women…a diva is fierce, embraces her curves, and all her beauty,” Tsion underlines. Acknowledging that female power lies in a woman’s hips, her heart and her womb, she explains studied the complex geometry of the female body with her collection that showcases short, long and lean silhouettes, playing on the volumes that make the woman look and feel feminine, sexy and classy all at once.

“This multifaceted interplay between femininity, multicultural appeal, and creative design from Miss.T.Cal has certainly contributed to the growing African fashion movement in Addis.”

Photo: www..lomography.com

Photo by: Anteneh Girma, Abyissinia Photographers Hub

empowerment of women and feminism; and Mahlet Birhanu, who uses her work as a platform to discuss social issues and African ethnic identity and beauty. Also, featured was a contemporary dance performance by choreographer Sabii. A cocktail reception, whiskey and cigar experience, and electronic rhythms that took the crowd on a journey through sound and space by Armaghedion rounded out the evening. An invitation-only event, Art All Night was attended by a diverse crowd of all ages and ethnicities whose response was receptive as the models, wearing black lace masks that gave them a fierce and formidable look, worked the runway in a consummately. This multifaceted interplay between femininity, multi-cultural appeal, and creative design from Miss.T.Cal has certainly contributed to the growing African fashion movement in Addis. The brand will certainly figure prominently as all wait to see how her creative vision fills the voids and carves

CatchUp

THE YEAR OF RETURN Tsadenna G. Assefa

Photo : www.yearofreturn.com

t has been 400 years since the first will commemorate the sacrifices and enslaved Africans arrived on the existence of the Africans in the diaspora shores of James town, Virginia. When and encouraged resettlement and reunion Europeans were shipping off Africans to of the African diaspora with their African the Americas and Europe, they had set brothers and sisters. This was done in an up 32 slave forts and castles attempt at the realization of the along the shores which had first Ghanaian Prime Minister “It celebrates dungeons where they kept Kwame Nkrumah’s dream of the resilience their ‘human commodity’, welcoming back Africans from and strength of all over the world. until the ships that would Africans and take them across the ocean The year-long celebration encourages the has already hosted many arrived. When the ships arrived, the slaves that African diaspora homecoming events and survived the indescribably to return to the cultural festivals. These include inhumane treatments would Wax Print Festival; Jamaican Motherland.” be led through a small door Homecoming Festival and the called the ‘door of no return’. infamous Chale Wote. Those doors have since The biennial Pan African been changed to the ‘door of return’, in Historical Theatre Festival (Panafest), celebration of the Year of Return that which is held in Cape Coast, also coincided attempts to welcome people of African with the Year of Return celebrations and descent to Ghana. ran from July 24th to August 2nd. Panafest was founded on the grounds that theatre The Year of Return was launched by and arts, in general, are powerful tools President Nana Akufo-Addo at an event of communication and healing. And in Washington, DC on September 2018. this will aid in creating new expressions, The president said that the year of return commemorations and platforms for

12 I Linkup Addis Ababa October, 2019

“The year-long celebration has already hosted many homecoming events and cultural festivals."

is the Roots Reggae Festival which will celebrate the unity and strength in bridging the diaspora divide. By far the most anticipated event of the year is the Afrochella Festival. Afrochella which debuted in 2017 will be held in Accra on the 28 December this year, and it will be one of the last events of the Year of Return. The festival which will showcase some great artists from across the continent will also showcase Ghanaian food and urban culture. The Year of Return was organized by The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) under the Patronages of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture in collaboration with many private and government initiatives. The authority organized this event motivated to make Ghana the hub for millions of Africans in the diaspora that are looking for a safe haven and a sense of belongingness in reaction to their social exclusion based on their race. The year of return is organized to assert power over African history and attempts to promote the narrative that slavery is a tragic event that changed the trajectory of African history, and African descendants in the diaspora should not be defined by it. It also celebrates the resilience and strength of Africans and encourages the African diaspora to return to the Motherland.

"Kwame Nkrumah’s dream of welcoming back Africans from all over the world."

The Year of Return’s events are not limited to the events listed in this article. For more information, visit https://www. yearofreturn.com

Linkup Addis Ababa October, 2019 I 13

Photo: www.visitghana.com

dialogue that will aid the continent in reaching greater heights. But the Year of Return celebrations will continue until the end of the year. September will see a series of events such as the Nkrumah memorial series which started in 2010 commemorating the deaths and celebrates the achievements of many African activists. It is also a platform where many pan African issues are discussed. Another event is Taste of Afrika, a musical event that will welcome many African musicians across a dozen or more African countries. The month of October will host a major share of events by hosting Ghana: Remember the Times Exhibition which will run from 04 October to 06 November focusing on the global reach of Ghanaian culture. There will also be the Youth in Tourism Festival between the 10 and 12 October where youth in the tourism sector will be able to network and share experiences under the slogan ‘My Culture, My Pride’. And there will also be the Global Year of Return Kumasi Festival that will focus on the Ghanaian influence on Caribbean culture, and it will run from 29 October until 02 November. The celebrations resume and the Ghana Carnival will take over the streets of Accra on 02 November showcasing Ghanaian culture through flamboyant attire, music and dance. The other November event

EatUp

BaBi's Bistro Mistre Tekaligne

rom the ritzy part of Addis originates a place for everyone – Babi’s Bistro. Located at the heart of Bisrate Gabriel, west of Addis Ababa, Babi’s offers a wide selection of food and drinks in its cozy setting.

Photo By: Nebiyu Sultan

Walking in, the first thing you find is the bar on the right, with its beautiful wooden display. In front of the bar is the restaurant’s outdoor-turned-indoor main serving area. This whole area has a warm earthy feel to it with wooden booths, upholstered stools, low hanging light fixtures and yellow string lights on the far left. The indoor portion of the bistro, in contrast, is not as thoughtfully designed, but still had a comfortable and homey atmosphere that defined the outdoor and set the tone. We started our dining journey with a round of cocktails. We sampled their Cosmopolitan, Mojito, Strawberry Mojito and a limey twist of a Screwdriver that they ironically named “High IQ”. The cocktails were almost exclusively vodka-based, and although they tasted satisfactory,

14 I Linkup Addis Ababa October, 2019

the lack of variety and authenticity would garner scrutiny from seasoned cocktail aficionados. Recognizing this, the restaurant is recreating the cocktail menu for a better variety, going as far as adding a local touch with a Tej based cocktail. The food menu offered a wide selection of Mexican, American, Italian and Ethiopian food. The main sections of the menu often include a house special option that contains a bit of everything in the section. We placed our orders for beef nachos, beef enchiladas, Babi’s mixed grill, Babi’s special burger, and Babi’s special snack, and proceeded to help ourselves to the starter salad buffet which had an assortment of especially fresh vegetables, mustard vinaigrette, and hummus. The food was served with great attention paid to the presentation and if it tasted as good as it smelled, we all knew we were in for a delectable evening. The Beef nachos were made with corn tortillas, minced beef, onions and tomatoes, and home-made provolone cheese-sauce.

Location: Bisrate Gabriel, across from Azmera Shiro On Google Maps? Yes Service /label: Restaurant & Bar Opening Hours: 9:00 AM - 10:30 PM Facebook: @Babis-Bistro Instagram: @BabisBistro Phone Number: +251 94 427 3762

It is this emotional intelligence, coupled with impeccable service, a disarming atmosphere and amazing food that makes you fall in love with this place.

“Although we were getting close to a food coma, we put our faith in the old saying, 'there is always room for dessert' ”

Linkup Addis Ababa October, 2019 I 15

Photo By: Nebiyu Sultan

Although it tasted delicious and made for a great snack, the lack of certain ingredients like refried beans and taco seasoning, made the dish taste different than authentic Mexican nachos. The Beef Enchilada was served in two pieces with a home-made mayonnaise dip and ketchup. It tasted brilliant with a fusion of herbs, a savory tomato sauce, cheese, and flavorful minced beef. Babi’s mixed grill was served on a large plate and had grilled beef, grilled chicken, grilled fish with a side of lightly grilled vegetables, mashed potatoes and fries along with gravy and a tomato-based dipping sauce. The entire dish came together rather scrumptiously – with tender beef, Smokey chicken, garlicky fish, lightly charred fresh vegetables and crispy, salty fries. The only thing not up to par was the mashed potatoes, which lacked the seasoning and was a bit bland to the taste. Babi’s special burger was an absolute delight. The dining experience is only complete if you begin by cutting the burger in half and watching the juicy goodness spread out. Each bite had a perfect combination of the well-seasoned and juicy patty, provolone cheese, pickles, fresh tomatoes and lettuce. The star dish of the evening was the special snack, which comprised buffalo chicken wings, garlic-lime chicken wings with onion rings and cheesy fries for sides. Every item on the plate was finger-licking good. The buffalo wings were slightly sweet yet spicy, the garlic lime chicken was crisp, the deep-fried onion rings were thick and tasty, and the cheesy fries complimented the spiciness of the chicken. Although we were getting close to a food coma, we put our faith in the old saying, “there is always room for dessert,” and ordered ourselves warm chocolate cake, served in a soup bowl with a side of home-made caramel for added sweetness. The cake was moist and smooth, which was the cherry on top we needed to wrap up our great feast. Babi’s is a comfortable environment all sorts of customers can enjoy. Offering fast Wi-fi, Babi’s is a quiet place to get a bit of work done. The lighting and warm atmosphere make it a great choice for a date. The free, laid-back and chilled out vibe makes it great to hang out with friends over some beer or a few cocktails. The cutest thing about the bistro, however, is that they attach motivational and inspiring quotes with your receipt to spread a joyful spirit. Ours read, “One kind word can change someone’s entire day.”

CloseUp

Dr.

Mehret Debebe Eyob Workineh

leading promoter of change, motivational speaker and author of best-selling books, Dr. Mehret Debebe has been a household figure in Ethiopia the last few years. His inspirational event, the Mindset Series, has been one of the most influential events in Addis Ababa attracting people from all courses of life. LinkUp Addis sat with Dr. Mehret Debebe for a chat about his life, his experience and his projects. As an introduction, tell us a bit about yourself. To put it short, my name is Mehret. I was born in a town named Mojjo. I grew up in a big family. Though I wanted to be a mathematics teacher early on, I ended up studying medicine, specializing in Psychiatry. Until recently, I moved between Ethiopia and the USA serving as a psychiatric doctor. Currently, I am focusing on social development. For the past few years, you have had a very active presence in various social activities in Ethiopia. What is the mission?

Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Mehret Debebe

What I have been doing is all about Mindset Change and Personal Development. I think our society has not yet given the individual its rightful position. As a society, we think and live as a group. While many societies around the world focus too much on the individual and are challenged by a broken

16 I Linkup Addis Ababa October, 2019

social element, in our society, individuals are hidden behind society. So, the first core mission is working on empowering individuals and bring about a mindset change and personal development. This is not about creating an individualistic society, it is about creating a society where individuals are valued and given the right position they deserve. The other core mission is promoting ideas. Our society focuses too much on material elements and few value ideas. Thus, we work to bring about individuals transformed through ideas, and ultimately a society that builds sustainable institutions based on ideas. Your event, The Mindset Series, has been one of the most important event-led inspirational, social movements in Addis if not in the entire country. How did you come up with the event? Well, I love ideas, and I am active in my faith too. For a long time, the social activities in our country have been mostly entertainment, information or education driven. The only motivational/ inspirational drive came from people’s occasional

“What I have been doing is all about Mindset Change and Personal Development”

As discussed earlier, you strive to bring about a mindset change in multiple ways. In your opinion, what are the key indicators of mindset change in society? The results of what we do are not very easy to measure. The only way to measure the result is by looking at the impact of what we do. The impact might be in terms of direction or paradigm shift, and psychological and social awakening, etc. One shift I am observing these days, for instance, is that we have started recognizing that our biggest problem is our negative mindset. You hear this in many media and discussion platforms. I think this is a very important shift because we have now identified the problem which is 50% towards the solution. The other 50% which might be even more painful

is working to change the problematic mindset. If we consciously work hard on ourselves constructively, I think we will see a major shift within the next decade. However, changes often happen between generations, and we might not be there to see the ultimate change.

“If we consciously work hard on ourselves constructively, I think we will see a major shift within the next decade.”

You have written a couple of books Yetekolefebet Qulf and Lela Sew. Both books were best sellers in the Ethiopian market. Do you consider yourself as a career writer? I do many things. For instance, I work as a psychiatric doctor, but I do not consider myself a doctor. I just take medicine as one of the ways I express myself. It is the same with writing. When I have an idea, I try to find the best way to express it. That’s how the two books were written as fictitious stories. If they were written as self-help books, I don’t think they would have been as wildly accepted as they did. Shortly, I don’t consider myself as a career writer, but if that is the requirement to write, well, I am. Both of my books incline more towards motivational elements rather than artistic elements. That is because I believe art is a vehicle to the message the artist intends to transfer. It is the container of the content.

“I think our society has not yet given the individual its rightful position.”

Several readers claim that there is a common trend in your book the major characters are only from a specific social and educational background. Do you agree?

Linkup Addis Ababa October, 2019 I 17

Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Mehret Debebe

attendance to religious gatherings, and the ethical/moral teachings may not be practiced in the day-to-day life of individuals. When I was in the USA, I have seen many events, books, and projects focusing on personal development. As compared to the amount of effort the western world put into this, one can easily see there has been almost nothing done in our country in this area. Inspirational events, naturally, combine the entertaining, informative and educational elements, and as opposed to many other types of events, may result in an overall social movement and transformation. It is with this thought that we started the Mindset Series.

In a way, yes. When I wrote both my books, I started from the story and developed the characters. While some characters can transmit the message of the story, other characters did not have that capacity. To have a realistic story, I needed characters with the capacity to say what the books intended to say. Do you plan to write a new book? Yes, there is a new book coming up. It focuses on conscience. I hope it will come out soon. You have had two seasons of the Mindset series. How successful has the event been? Our main success is trendsetting. We are attempting to set a trend where people pay to come into an event and buy ideas. A lot of people were quite confused when they first heard that this is a paid event. We do not have much of that confusion anymore. People are learning to buy ideas. Our first season was titled New Idea, New Mindset. The second was New Self, New Society focusing on emphasizing individual blocks to build a society. The current season is title Noble Character, Noble Culture focusing on creating and nurturing noble character to bring back our Noble culture. What’s new this season is that we will start debate sessions once a month.

Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Mehret Debebe

Coming to your observations of society, what strikes you as the biggest difference between the society you grew up in and the society we live in now?

18 I Linkup Addis Ababa October, 2019

One significant difference I see is much weaker social cohesion. We used to have a highly interrelated and interdependent society where people had a sense of belongingness and ownership to one another. I don’t see much of that these days with the society fractured because of several social, political and economic factors. On a positive note, there is much better openness to connect with the outer world, there is more interest in being informed as opposed to the society I grew up in. Still on your observations, what is your frustration? One of the biggest frustrations for me is negativity. People prefer telling you “No” or “Impossible”. They usually need someone to show them things are possible. Another observation I have is that there are too many unfinished projects in town. It’s as if we have stopped finishing anything. Finally, if you have anyone to say thank you, you can say. I would like to thank all the people giving all their time and energy for the Mindset Series. I would also like to thank Fana TV for covering our event. I would like to thank the management at Eliana Hotel where the current mindset season is taking place and managements at Intercontinental Hotel and the National Theatre Hall.

“I think our society has not yet given the individual its rightful position.”

Cascara

What'sUp

Ephratha Kibru

Coffee & Cocktails

osting a rich diversity of cocktails with cascara at the core, Cascara is a unique place attracting coffee lovers and cocktail enthusiasts alike. LinkUp Addis’s Ephratha Kibru was at Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa’s Cascara Coffee and Cocktails to find out what is so special about this place.

Photo: Courtesy of Hyatt Regency

For a nation renowned for its coffee, few are familiar with the term “Cascara” - the dried skins of coffee cherries. As the main bar at Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa, Cascara Coffee and Cocktails draws customers with its unique theme yet does not disregard typical orders. From gin and tonics to cognacs to simple beers, everything is available. But, as best exemplified by the interesting logo, it is primarily aimed at uniting coffee and alcohol. There is nothing quite like it anywhere in Addis or the world. Everything is coffee-inspired, with each drink infused with cascara. Of the cocktails we tried, only one (The Espresso Martini) was distinct with the taste of coffee. This is because cascara does not dominate a drink the way coffee does. It only brings a subtle hint that keeps you intrigued. There is a certain eloquence detected

20 I Linkup Addis Ababa October, 2019

when one walks into Cascara, a sense of both simplicity and sophistication in the beautiful interior design, scenic outdoors and amicable mood. Melketsedek Mitiku (aka Melke), the Bar Manager, showed me around as he familiarized me with what makes Cascara, well… Cascara. The first thing I was made aware of is Cascara’s accommodating nature toward coffee lovers. “We get our beans from three main sources,” Melke says, “they all have differing qualities.” From the varied and complex nature of ‘Galani’ to the highly acidic taste of ‘Tarara’, there is something for everyone. One of the most endearing aspects of Cascara is its service. The place is always busy. “We turn away about 50 people on average per night during the summer,” Melke tells me. But, when you read this, you must not imagine a tightly confined bar. “We believe in giving the customers we are already serving the best possible service with enough breathing room, instead of jam-packing the place and making everyone uncomfortable.” Besides the fantastic hospitality, it is also worth noting that everyone is a trained mixologist. “If you ask your server about any drink, he or she can confidently answer, as he or she

Location: Mesqel Square, across the street from Red Terror Martyrs’ Memorial Museum On Google Maps? Yes Service /label: Coffee & Cocktails Opening Hours: 12:00 PM – 01:00 AM Facebook: @HyattRegency AddisAbabaHotel Instagram: @hyattregency addisababa Phone Number: + 251 11 517 1234

slightly more evident as the level of the drink’s sweetness increased proportionally. I loved it. It went especially well with the soft and similarly spicy chicken skewer. Next, I went with the Mother Root. As a dry gin-based cocktail, the taste of juniper was not lost on me. The zest of lemon that accompanied it made it a predictably sour drink and I enjoyed it alongside the wrap. Something about sautéed chicken wrapped in pita bread enhanced the taste. The third drink I made way for was the House Espresso Martini, the only cocktail with a dominant coffee flavor. It was a refined and sophisticated concoction with a few complementary coffee beans garnishing the drink, solidifying the tang. Yet there was something I could not quite place with this drink. Something a little extra about this martini excited the buds. Maybe it was the vanilla essence, maybe it was the coffee liquor. Either way, this was a hard drink to put down. Before I had my last cocktail, the Panacea, I wolfed down the mini beef burger. A condensed creation marked with irrefutably good cheese, it adequately satisfied my hungering belly. Coming to the end, the Panacea closed the show. Its name refers to a hypothetical remedy for every trouble or difficulty. A cure-all. Although no such solution to anything really exists, this earthy drink tries its best to come close. It was inevitable that I nurse this layered little Scotch brew for as long as I could. Shifting from ashy to sweet to woody in one biting creation, this was my favorite. With everything said and done, we were ready to leave. This was easily one of the most fun reviews I have done. If you are a coffee enthusiast, a lover of cocktails or just someone who wants to have a good time, Cascara Coffee & Cocktails is the place for you.

“when one walks into Cascara, a sense of both simplicity and sophistication in the beautiful interior design, scenic outdoors and amicable mood. ”

Linkup Addis Ababa October, 2019 I 21

Photo: Courtesy of Hyatt Regency

can go right back behind the counter and make it themselves,” says Melke. “This lack of clear role designation also helps whenever we might be short on staff. Since everyone is competent, things will continue running smoothly.” Melke informs me, “Every cocktail here has never been made before. We designed the menu alongside some consultants.” Besides this astonishing fact, every liquor is house-made, disregarding factory constituents, of course. All of the tequilas, whiskies and gins are infused with different bases and marinated right here. You can stay assured of your drinks’ originality. An interesting policy came up as Melke and I were chatting. “We do not allow people to use laptops after 5:00 PM,” he tells me. “This is because we want Cascara to be a social place. It is very important for us to maintain a light ambience.” Finishing the tour, I settled back down at my table to start the review. I was to have four cocktails: The House Espresso Martini, Mother Root, Panacea and Continental Cooler. A few bar snacks (their mini beef burger, doro tibs wrap, and berbere grilled chicken skewer) accompanied my drinks as well. I could not wait to check out how everything played together. I first tried the Continental Cooler - a favorite amongst Cascara regulars. It was a tequila-based drink with a spicy start due to the wild black pepper lining the rim of the glass, giving a much-appreciated oomph. As the glass slowly emptied, the influence of the cascara infusion became

ReelUp simple religious ceremony at home.

Kidus Tamiru YeNifasu Filmya is a story about two brothers who end up on very different paths in life as they chase their dreams. This movie is the official Ethiopian submission to the 92nd Academy awards for the best international film category. Even though it's the fourth Ethiopian film to be submitted to the Oscars, this is the first one that actually has the backing of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. So, onto the review…in a nutshell, even though it is only the first month of the Ethiopian year, I already think this is the must-see film of the year. The cinematography is spectacular, and it'll grab your attention right from the start. A few minutes in, I realized this is an Ethiopian film you can enjoy, or criticize, without having to apply the lower standards we instinctively adapt as we walk in to see an Ethiopian film. It offers us a glimpse into what Ethiopian cinema can look like, especially when more interesting ideas or stories can be explored by local filmmakers in the future. But one advantage a foreign filmmaker offers is that they have an appreciation for beautiful and filmic elements that locals wouldn't otherwise notice, such as filming the interior of CBE HQ in all its glory or a

22 I Linkup Addis Ababa October, 2019

Thematically and storywise, this film explores many different topics about life in Ethiopia. It touches or even lingers on some of them but doesn't dwell too long on any. Contrast between rural and urban life, the beauty and comradery of street life, the bond of friendship and brotherhood are some of the major topics. This film can be summed up as Slumdog Millionaire meets City of god, but much more of the former. This film also has a level of realism I've never seen in Ethiopian cinema, with great stunts (they actually crashed a car), cameos from celebrities like Halie G/Selassie and Gash Abera Molla playing themselves, first on-screen kiss in an Ethiopian film (I was wondering when somebody will finally get the balls to do that), and so on. But, the next best thing after the cinematography is the amazing soundtrack. I really admired the original music, not just as filmgoer but as a musician as well. The all-new cast was also superb. And they even look like their childhood counterparts. You can tell a lot of work and effort went into this movie at every step. But that being said, this film still has a few issues. The first problem with this film is that you can tell it was made for awards. With its weak and sappy story about a runner (a dead give-away for films made for a foreign audience), This film doesn't have much substance left when you strip it down to its bare bones. It also suffers from severe white savior syndrome, with the characters being helped and saved by a saintly white dude not one but two separate occasions while all the black characters come off as judgmental or dangerous. But at least it increases its chance at the Oscar by ticking that box. However, all in all, I loved the film. And I especially recommend it to people who have given up on Ethiopian films and vowed never to see another one. If you're going to see one Ethiopian film this year, let it be this one.

Directed By: Jan Philipp Weyl Runtime: 1hrs 56m Starring: Mikias Wolde, Ashenafi Nigusu, Joseph Reta Belay 8.5/10

IT: Chapter Two Directed By: Andy Muschietti Runtime: 2hr 49m Starring: Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader

IT 2 follows the losers club after they come back to their hometown of Derry after 27 years to kill Pennywise the clown once and for all. If you saw the first IT, I'm pretty sure you couldn't wait to see this one. That film was a masterpiece and one of the best Stephen King book adaptations ever (probably third after Shawshank and Shining). But the thing with great films is that they set an unreasonable expectation for the sequels. Obviously, this does not pack the surprise punch of the original, which was a major part of the film's appeal. Another unique thing about the first one was the juxtaposition of the hilarious children versus a creepy murderous clown. That is also absent from this movie. So, go into this with considerably lower expectations, and you might enjoy the film. First of all, this one leans towards more comedy than horror. And that's almost solely because of Bill Hader in a show-stealing performance. His mere presence on screen diffuses any dread and instantly makes it a comic scene. The other cast are also great, especially Bill Skarsgård, who is still terrifying as the eponymous IT. James McAvoy's character is a famous writer who can't come up with a good ending for his novels. That's a bit of meta-humor for everybody's disappointment with Stephen King for the novel's ending. But if the filmmakers knew everybody hates the original ending, why did they stick with it for this film? Overall, it's not worth watching in the cinema, but if you're a fan of the original, it's not bad entertainment if there's nothing else on. . 6.5/10

Ad Astra Directed By: James Gray Runtime:2hr 00m Starring: Brad Pitt, Donald Sutherland, Ruth Negga

Ad Astra is sci-fi drama about an astronaut that goes across the solar system in search of his father who was believed to have died on a mission 30 years ago. To cut right to it, this is one boring, brooding piece of space family drama. Forget Space operas, this film is a space soap opera. It's like a Frankenstein's monster that was created with scraps of other much more superior films, and it's just ugly in the end. It feels and looks like A Space Odyssey and the story is reminiscent of Apocalypse Now, but it's just pointless in the end. It's more of a space porn (not the good kind) where we're just supposed to marvel at the beautiful visuals of space and planets and rocks floating around and go home amazed. The whole thing is made worse by completely unnecessary narration and the fact that most of the characters are wearing large helmets for most of the movie, so you can't really connect or relate. But the huge surprise of this film, the one redeeming factor is that for some reason, Brad Pitt decided to show off his acting chops. I think it's the best performance I've ever seen of his. Normally, he's at his best when he works off other good actors. But here he's alone, literally alone for 80% of the movie, and he does an amazing job. Too bad it was wasted on a stupidass movie. 3/10

Linkup Addis Ababa October, 2019 I 23

Connect: Towards an Integrated Innovation Ecosystem Addis Ababa is hosting Afrilabs Annual Gathering 2019 The AfriLabs Annual Gathering provides a unique opportunity for tech hubs in the AfriLabs network and other stakeholders in the African tech ecosystem like local innovators (entrepreneurs), corporates, investors, academia and developmental agencies to convene, network and share knowledge. The 4th edition of the AfriLabs Annual Gathering will be hosted by The African Union Commission from 28th – 30th October, 2019 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The 3-day Gathering will feature panel discussions, keynote addresses, presentation sessions, multiple parallel workshops, local ecosystem tour, networking sessions, and open floor exhibitions. Thematic Sessions to include; • Driving Investment for African Startups and Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship. • Research to Innovation: Bridging the Gap between Research Institutions, Universities and Hubs.

24 I Linkup Addis Ababa October, 2019

• Strengthening National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystems. • Integrating the Corporate and Innovation Ecosystem: A Collaborative Approach. • A Dialogue: Creative and Technology Spaces. • The Role of the Media in Promoting the African Innovation Ecosystem and Working with Hubs for Insight. • Other sessions facilitated by AfriLabs hub members and partners. The event themed ‘Connect: Towards an Integrated Innovation Ecosystem’ and hosted by Tech Village and xHubAddis hubs, and iceaddis as support hub.

" AfriLabs is a network organization of 158 innovation centers across 45 African countries."