The Simpsons‘ car breaks down in Little Ethiopia so Bart, Marge, and Lisa opt to (cautiously) experiment with “ethnic” food. It’s a good play on the sheltered-suburb-meets-diverse-city stereotype. Particularly the exoticization of Ethiopian and Korean food by the “foodies” that show up. The clip is a great commentary on the fact that much of America chooses to identify non-white culture as “ethnic” and “exotic,” ignoring white-European ethnicities all together. Lisa: “exotic… vegetarian.. I can mention it in a college essay… this is amazing!”
We recently wrote about MERKATO, the amazing documentary project about one of the largest and oldest open-air markets in Africa. The film focuses on the differing lives of a selected group of locals with ties to the market and the ominous threat of modernization. Now’s your chance to meet the filmmaker, Sosena Solomon, Thursday night at JoJo’s (1518 U st NW) in Washington, DC. Solomon will be sharing a clip from the film as well as a photography installation at the event which is focused on raising funds for the completion of the project.
Brooklyn boutique label Electric Cowbellis set to release a brand new batch of eclectic 45s. This week, they’re highlighting Boston-area Ethiopian group Debo Band‘s cover of “Gedawo,” a 1970s Ethio-funk classic from singer Ayalew Mesfin. While Debo Band’s version sounds like a spastic afro-rock power tune (a 15-piece band layed down the live backing tracks), Kiddid‘s remix takes things into dub-territory — deep bass, synth upstrokes, et al. Grab both on 7″ vinyl and stream/download Kiddid’s remix below.
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MERKATO is a documentary on Addis Ababa’s open air market, one of the largest and oldest in all of Africa. The film focuses on the differing lives of a selected group of locals with ties to the market and the ominous threat of modernization. In filmmaker Sosena Solomon‘s own words:
From the perspective of five personal stories a reflection emerges of a fascinating place that is a true microcosm of the human condition. The culture and way of life for many of Merkato’s merchants is under threat by modern development. MERKATO is the final portrait of the people who LIVE, WORK and DREAM within this rapidly transforming reality… The modern development in Ethiopia and its overall impact on the people and culture of this unique community is threatening the survival of MERKATO. I knew this moment had to be documented to share the unheard voices of the people affected the most.
For the next month, Sosena is campaigning for funds to support the film and have it seen around the globe. Head to her Kickstarter to learn more and donate few bucks to an amazing project!
Plus, check out a preview clip of the vibrant life and characters featured in MERKATO above.
Celebrities are using their fame to raise awareness and funds for the famine that has recently hit the horn of Africa, devastating the region, especially Somalia. One of the most severe droughts of the past 60 years, the disaster has already killed 29,000 children and deprived 12 million people of food, water and basic sanitation. Bob Marley’s family has joined forces with Save the Children charity and Oscar-winning director Kevin MacDonald to create a music video for Marley’s 1973 hit, “High Tide or Low Tide.” It’s hard not to be moved by the short (check it out above), which features victims of the famine. Celebrities – including Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, Eminem, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Madonna, and Lady Gaga, just to name just a few of the 150 involved in the worldwide celebrity campaign entitled I’m Gonna Be Your Friend (a line from “High Tide or Low Tide”) – are supporting the initiative and spreading awareness by posting the vid to their Facebooks and Twitters. So far, they have collected over 700 million fans and followers.
Other celebrity-driven campaigns include U2’s Bono’s ONE petition, which asks governments to provide the funding deemed necessary to aid the region, and presses governments to keep promises that if kept, would prevent future devastation. Check out this video of superstar/philanthropist Bono and Somali singer/poet K’naan speaking with CNN correspondent Anderson Cooper about the famine as they try to raise awareness and discuss short and long-term solutions. The short-term solution, Bono explains, has two components: funding and security. Obviously, aid-workers need money to provide food, water and shelter to those in need, but they also need safe channels through which these supplies can be transported to victims. In the long-term, affected countries need programs to develop richer seeds and fertilizers. Both Bono and K’naan emphasize the urgency of the situation – we have the responsibility to act and must make immediate aide a priority. It’s easy to numb ourselves to the hardships of those hundreds of miles away (especially Somalis who have been degraded in the media — defined by stories of piracy and movies like Black Hawk Down), but these times — today and tomorrow – are defining moments in which we can show humanity and compassion. Check out the videos the learn more, click here to donate, and here to sign Bono’s ONE petition.
Hailing from Boston, Debo Band pays tribute to the vintage sounds of 1970′s Ethiopian pop but in a style all their own. The group, founded by Ethiopian-American musican Danny Mekonnen, presents electrifying live shows full of crooning vocals, blazing horns, and funk grooves – introducing Ethiopian music to new audiences in the West. Check out the above video for a taste of their energetic live show. Debo and Fedinka (an Ethiopian dance troupe) are currently on tour in the U.S. now – see after the jump for tour dates. NYC, make sure to head to Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park tomorrow to catch Debo Band live.
It’s a big weekend for African documentaries, Sublime Frequencies style, at the DIY theater, “Spectacle” in Williamsburg (think secret, underground movie theater). First off, Olivia Wyatt will be in person to present her latest film, Staring Into the Sun in which she brought her camera to 13 different Ethiopian tribes, capturing Zar spirit possession, Hamer tribal wedding ceremonies, Borena water well polyphonic singing and… you get the point. Stick around for festivities to celebrate photographer/filmmaker Wyatt’s book/cd/film release party.
Saturday the sublime continues with the latest documentary from Hisham Mayet, Land of the Songhai: Among the Wodaabe, Wogo,& Zarma of SouthWestern Niger and explores the music and landscape of the Songhai around the Niger River in Western Niger. Check out the previews for a taste of Africa and go to Spectacle Theater for show times.
Quantic is an umbrella name for UK-born, Will Holland: acclaimed producer, musician, and DJ for over 15 years, who’s projects incorporate various influences, from funk & jazz to electronic & folk music, to Latin, reggae, dub and cumbia. He recently put together this mix of rare 45s he found in Ethiopia, calling it ”a mix of folkloric and outer-regional music of Ethiopia, all 45s and some records that I think need to be heard. Less of breaks & wah wah and this time more of krar, claps, howling sounds and organ melodies. For fans of previous mixes Axum to Addis and AddisSheckla Explosion.” Listen to and download the whole mix by clicking on the link below, and let’s he hope he continues the crate digging!
Ethiopian American pop singer and producer Kenna, best known for his ’07 hit “Say Goodbye To Love,” is back with the first of a three-part EP series entitled The Land To Air Chronicles. The first of this series, Land 2 Air I : Chaos and The Darkness, out today, is said to be the darkest of the three EPs, revealing Kenna’s personal struggles against the constraints that prevent us from fully realizing our dreams. All three EPs will lead up to his next studio album Songs For Flight, due out in 2012. Apparently much of the inspiration for this album came from Kenna’s experience climbing to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2010 as part of Summit on the Summit, his philanthropic project to raise awareness about the clean water global crisis. Check out the first single from Chaos and The Darkness below, “Chains,” featuing Shimmy Hoffa (better known as Chad Hugo from The Neptunes) and co-written by Paul Banks of Interpol.
Last summer Nigerian-American artstar Kehinde Wiley (who you may remember from the Puma Africa campaign) traveled to Israel to photograph a cross section of young men from the region including a focus on Ethiopian Jews, who call themselves “Beta Israel.” The photographs were then used as the basis for his extraordinary paintings now on view from April 9th till May 28th at the Roberts and Tilton Gallery in LA.
Photographer/filmmaker Dwayne R. Rodgers accompanied Kehinde on his trip, creating a poignant inside view of the work which includes talented young rappers, party-goers, and street scenes from Jerusalem, Lod, and Tel Aviv.
“For me the film is about the way in which Kehinde is not just a painter, but there’s a performance element to his work as well. This piece captures that facet of his work ,” Dwayne told Okayafrica, “there’s a moment when the art segues into the performance aspect which then segues into Kehinde’s reality. The paintings are the product of someone being alive. It’s not an abstract process – there’s a lot of social engagement.”
The Simpsons Eat Injera
The Simpsons‘ car breaks down in Little Ethiopia so Bart, Marge, and Lisa opt to (cautiously) experiment with “ethnic” food. It’s a good play on the sheltered-suburb-meets-diverse-city stereotype. Particularly the exoticization of Ethiopian and Korean food by the “foodies” that show up. The clip is a great commentary on the fact that much of America chooses to identify non-white culture as “ethnic” and “exotic,” ignoring white-European ethnicities all together. Lisa: “exotic… vegetarian.. I can mention it in a college essay… this is amazing!”