“Mesay understands we are working for Ethiopia, not our egos. If he believes in something, he gives it his life.” Melaku has implicit trust in Mesay, “We can communicate without speaking, just with our eyes. I love his honesty and his patience. He’s not about competition, and he’s always willing to give space to others.”
Read MoreActually, “we was havin’ church!” I mean this was constant, non-stop, wave after wave of song and dance and just when you thought it couldn’t get any better than this, it did! Funky, “ancient” venue, distinctly Ethiopian, but it all had much in common with a show at the Apollo in New York City or Chicago’s Regal Theater in “the old days” from the 30’s to the 60’s. … The audience and performers were one…no separation. I was far from “home”, but I was very much “at home”.
Read MoreEmebet Woldetsadik plays many roles for Fendika and its visitors. She is the bright smile that lights up the dim courtyard when you order a drink. She is the steady hand that keeps the paperwork in place and makes sure tips are fairly distributed among the performers. She is the dancer who takes your breath away with her swift Guragegna turns, and crisp Gondar eskista.
Read MoreI was lonely, I was hungry, I was homeless, but I was never afraid, because my mother’s spirit was with me.
Read MoreA challenge often presents new opportunities. COVID_19 has forced many people to stay inside; it has also allowed us to go inward for meditation and for new solutions. Fendika’s new solution is to ramp up the building of our digital community.
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