Melaku Belay Selected as a 2022 TED Fellow
Director of Fendika Cultural Center, Dancer, and Choreographer to present at TED2022, joining the newest class of 20 global visionaries.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, FEBRUARY 22, 2022—Direct of Fendika Cultural Center, Dancer and Choreographer Melaku Belay has been selected as a TED Fellow, joining a class of 20 change-makers from around the world to deliver a talk on the TED stage this April in Vancouver. Melaku was selected for his work that has brought global attention to the dynamic cultural development of Ethiopia, including music, dance, and visual art.
Melaku reflects on becoming the first TED Fellow out of Ethiopia: “I am very honored to be among this amazing class of TED Fellows. TED is a prestigious global forum; it means a lot that they recognize my work and understand my dream to show the richness of Ethiopian culture to the world. Through TED, I will learn from change-makers from around the world, build more bridges between peoples and cultures, and promote societal healing through arts and creativity.”
About TED Fellows 2022: TED Fellows are an incredibly diverse group but they all have at least one thing in common: they are tackling extremely important problems in a unique and brilliant way. This year’s class is no exception. We are so excited to support them and their important work - and can’t wait for them to share their ideas at TED this year.
Founded in 2009, the TED Fellows program now has 532 Fellows from more than 100 countries. In its thirteen-year history, the TED Fellows program has created a powerful, far-reaching network made up of scientists, doctors, activists, artists, entrepreneurs, inventors, journalists and beyond.
About Fendika Cultural Center: Under Melaku’s leadership since 2008, Fendika Cultural Center is the first music venue in Addis Ababa that pays regular salary to traditional musicians and dancers. It is a home to artists of many disciplines and cultural backgrounds, offering a weekly multidisciplinary program including music, dance, visual art, and poetry. To learn more about Fendika’s work including concert programs, visual art exhibitions, and the library, please find fendika_live on Facebook, fendika.org, subscribe to youtube.com/c/fendikaculturalcenter1, or contact us at fendikazmari@gmail.com.
About the TED Fellows program
The TED Fellows program brings together young innovators from around the world and across disciplines, who display both outstanding achievement and exemplary character, to raise international awareness of their work and maximize their impact. The program offers Fellows the possibility of participation in a TED Conference, ongoing professional coaching and mentoring, dedicated PR coaching and active participation in the TED community, including the global TED Fellows network.
Applications for the 2023 TED Fellows class will be open later this year. Interested applicants should visit the TED Fellows program website for information and updates about the fellowship: http://www.ted.com/participate/ted-fellows-program/apply-to-be-a-ted-fellow.
Learn more:
Complete list of all new 2020 TED Fellows and TED Senior Fellows: ted.com/fellows Playlist: Top 10 talks by TED Fellows
Website: ted.com/fellows
Connect:
Email: fellows@ted.com
Twitter: @TEDFellow
Instagram: TED Fellows (@tedfellow)
Facebook: TED Fellows - Public Page