Fendika 2020: Year in Review

Dear friends,

Thank you for supporting us through a very challenging year! 2020 is the first year of no touring for Melaku since 2005. And, Fendika was closed for 7 months due to COVID-19. We do not suffer alone; we feel all of your pains and losses, anywhere in the world, for any reason.

But 2020 was also a testament to the importance of art, to Fendika’s resilience, and to the strength of our global support. We share some of our accomplishments here with you, because you’re the reason we do our work of building community, unity, and peace through music, dance and art.

From May to October, we streamed 18 concerts on Fendika’s YouTube channel. We also offered an online concert for Celebrate Africa Festival in DC, Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis, and a special event for Vermont Oxford Network. With income/donations from these online activities, we employed 50+ artists and supported 32 workers through the shutdown. We also streamed 3 virtual art opening featuring 6 artists.

Fendika came out of COVID-19 with a stronger online presence. We added a blog “Fendika Stories” on our website. In September, Fendika’s YouTube qualified for the YouTube Partners program and our subscription is growing (we still need your help – please subscribe!).

Fendika’s innovative adaptation to COVID-19 received global attention. Melaku was an invited panelist, virtually, for Visa for Music, Global Toronto, International Dance Conference in Uzbekistan, African Studies conference in China, and International Music Festival in Sau Paulo, Brazil. Melaku also spoke virtually at African Day in Italy, Ethiopian Arts Society in North America, and Festival Mumes in Spain.

In September, 1000 books arrived from Books for Africa (USA) to fill the shelves of Fendika Library (see story here), the first community library in Kazanchis. Since we re-opened in October, the library space is also used for outdoor Kayn Lab Jazz concerts on Monday nights, and for pop-up events. We’re returning to our routine of daily Azmari programs, Ethiocolor on Fridays and monthly visual art exhibitions. We opened our door during the day, offering food, coffee and juices as well as wifi access.

A heart-felt thank-you to the 200+ friends who contributed to our global fundraising efforts. Your support sustained our workers’ livelihood and made our online activities possible during the 7-month shutdown. We also thank the organizations that provided vital resources for our survival/success this year and into the future: Vermont Oxford Network, Multiflora Productions, African Culture Fund, and Roskilde African Express Fund.

As this difficult year is closing, we are grateful to celebrate our award from Prince Claus Fund (see story here), and to represent Ethiopia among the 7 global laureates!

We cannot do our work without you; your support is especially important and affirming because we do not receive any government support, and as artists of indigenous music and dance, we often have to fight for our dignity in Ethiopia. We believe that the lack of respect and support for arts and artists is a lack of justice: as food and water give energy to our bodies, music, dance, and art do so for our souls.

A couple of years ago, a group of young people in Addis Ababa asked me, “What is your wish for the New Year?” I would repeat what I said to them, “I wish all the soldiers would put down their guns and pick up a masinqo.” May you all have peace, love, health, and happiness in the New Year!

Yours,

Melaku and Fendika Cultural Center