Abeba and Tigest

Andargé Asfaw

By Hohete Arefeaine

I am pleased to announce that Washington area professional photographer, and my friend, Andargé Asfaw, will be bringing his traveling gallery exhibition Ethiopia From the Heart, to the Rouse Foundation Gallery at Howard Community College in Columbia, Maryland.
The exhibition reception, artist talk and book signing will take place March 19 from 6-8pm. The exhibition itself will run from March 5 - April 18. 2009.

In Ethiopia From the Heart, Andarge has captured Ethiopia’s quiet splendor and highlighted the country’s deep and abiding link to faith and culture. Deeply concerned that the Ethiopia resplendent in his photographs is rapidly disappearing, Andarge has committed to doing his share in working towards raising awareness of the degradation of
the environment, placing at risk the traditional livelihoods and cultures of his homeland, Ethiopia.

The belief that no-one person can do everything, but that each and every one of us has the power to do something characterizes Andarge’s work. Not only is his book, Ethiopia From the Heart, produced using post consumer materials where possible.

In addition, proceeds from each copy of Ethiopia from the Heart funds tree planting projects in Ethiopia. Through partnerships with Trees for the Future, Greener Ethiopia, Mission Green Earth and Ethiopian Airlines, Andarge is embarking on an exciting project that he will be sharing with us during his artist talk.

His goal for the coming year of planting up to 100,000 trees through this partnership, beginning with his mother’s village in Ethiopia, and of how each one of us can be a part of this legacy is one of the highlights of the evening.

I invite you to share an evening celebrating the works of Andarge Ethiopia from the Heart, and the ongoing mission of this powerful new partnership.

To find out about Andargé Asfaw visit www.ethiopiafromtheheart.com.

Earth Hour: Turn off lights

The District of Columbia will participate in Earth Hour 2009, a global event in which tens of millions of citizens, businesses and government leaders will turn off their lights to make a statement about the urgent need for action on climate change.

Beginning at 8:30 pm on March 28th, the District will turn off non-essential lighting on many buildings and landmarks, including four facilities owned by the District government. Emergency lighting will remain on as required by law and regulation.

More than 850 cities in 80 countries have committed to turning out for Earth Hour.

You should also turn off your home and office lights to preserve our beautiful earth for the future generation. By turning off lights around you, you will also get a brake form the daily light pollution.

Source: DC Government

Color photo of Earth from NASA

Teza: The best film

The Ethiopian film "Teza" won three special prizes during the 21st pan-African Cinema and Television Festival (FESPACO), the brightest of African scenarios, according to information monitored here.

The Ethiopian film "Teza" by director Haile Gerima took the Golden Stallion of Yennenga on Saturday for best film at the Pan-African Film and Television Festival.
It deals with big themes -- emigration, return, dictatorship, racism, war and the position of women -- without getting preachy.

Gerima was not present in Ouagadougou to collect the award, so his sister Selome Gerima, who co-produced the film, accepted it on his behalf.

Speaking to AFP on Friday, she said she and her brother had worked 14 years to bring the epic story to the screen.

"When Haile does a film he is very serious. He does very broad research. Then, after the shoot, he edits himself and creates his own soundtrack," she explained.

The film premiered in Ethiopia on January 3 to sold-out audiences and is still drawing in the crowds. There has been an emotional response to the story, she explained.

"It is a very sensitive film and it makes you remember what it was like (under Megistu). Many people have forgotten but when they see the film they remember. When we show the film people come up to us afterwards to tell us, 'I've lost my brother' and so on," Gerima said.

The awards ceremony marked the official closing of the 21st edition of Africa's biggest film festival also known as FESPACO.

The second-place Silver Stallion went to South-Africa's John Kani for "Nothing but the Truth". Adapted from a play, it explores a librarian's experiences with racism in South Africa during and after the apartheid era.

The Bronze Stallion went to audience favourite "Mascarades" (Masquerades), an Algerian comedy about a boy who invents an imaginary rich suitor for his narcoleptic sister.

Source: unknown

Museum of African Art

Ms. Johnnetta Cole, 72, is the new director of the National Museum of African Art in Washington, DC. She is an anthropologist and the former college president.

Teza in Ouagadougou

Ouagadougou prepares for Africa's Oscars

The jury of the bi-annual Pan-African Film and Television Festival in Ouagadougou, will announce on Saturday which film gets the coveted African Oscar, The Golden Stallion of Yennenga.

In all there are 19 films from Africa vying for FESPACO's top honour. Here is an overview of some of the movies tipped to win.

"Teza," Ethiopia 2008, directed by Haile Gerima - A frontrunner according to many, having already won a jury prize and a prize for best screenplay at the 2008 Venice Film Festival, Teza revolves around an idealistic scientist who returns to Ethiopia during the brutal 1970s-1980s regime of Haile Mariam Mengistu.

Beautifully filmed, "Teza" switches between present and past in a series of flashbacks between protagonists time studying in Germany in the 1970s, Ethiopia in the 1980s, and the present.

It deals with big themes: emigration, return, dictatorship, racism, war and the position of women without getting preachy.

Source: Ouagadougou