support Us to Rebuild Fendika!
Dear friends of Fendika,
By now, many of you know that the beloved building of Fendika Cultural Center was demolished on October 23, 2024, about a month after the systematic clearing of Kazanchis began as part of the urban development plan. The government is set to build only high rises in the area.
An essential cultural institution, a beloved community space, Fendika is also my life’s work. A homeless youth in 1997, I started dancing in the small Fendika Azmari Bet, making tips only. The owner then allowed me to sleep under Fendika’s bar, taking me off of the street. When I started managing Fendika in 2008, I broke away from the tips-only custom and started paying Azmari musicians regular salaries. In 2016, I founded Fendika Cultural Center to include an art gallery and Jazz concerts. In 2020, a community library was added, and through livestreaming concerts, Fendika lit up the dark, lonely COVID-19 lockdown for many people around the globe. With just 43 employees, we proudly presented 600 events annually. While Fendika grew into an internationally known hub for culture and creativity, we honed our vision of building peace through valuing arts. We will never give up on that vision, even now, without an artistic home yet again.
We are grateful that the government recognizes Fendika’s cultural, social and economic significance and has promised that we can stay in our original location in Kazanchis. This is good news, as a revived Fendika in this central location will anchor and stimulate the creative economy of the developing Addis Ababa. Fendika will continue to be an accessible home to all the artists in the city. And we will keep introducing local and international audiences to the quintessential Ethiopian art of Azmari and other traditional music and arts.
Before we can celebrate, however, we have a monumental task in front of us. The standard for building in the new Kazanchis is 20 floors and above. We’re working with the government to obtain a building permit. To succeed, we need to show 150,000,000 ETB ($1,245,000) in Fendika’s account.
Building a 20-story building is not our first choice; but it is the government’s mandate if we are to keep Fendika’s location. This mandate does inspire bigger dreams for Ethiopian cultural development. Our vision is to build a multi-level cultural center to house performance spaces (a traditional Azmari bet and a hall for concert performances), rehearsal studios, a recording studio, an art gallery, a library, meeting spaces, and guest rooms for artists-in-residency. It will be a vibrant center for Ethiopian culture and arts, and for intercultural exchanges.
Fendika has been a social enterprise with a focus on the well-being of the creative sector of Ethiopia, and on weaving the social fabric essential for peace building. The new 20-story building, however, will be a hybrid operation that incorporates market-rate commercial activities (a travel agency, and apartments and office space to rent at commercial rates). It’s likely a joint venture generating income that will fund the mission-based arts activities and facilitate paying back investors.
If you share our vision, please consider the following options of financially supporting Fendika:
Option 1: Become an angel investor.
We’re looking for angel investors who will invest together in not only Fendika’s future, but also peace, love and humanity. Given the international and local reputation of Fendika and given the capacity for commercial activities in the new building, we are confident that we can pay back the loans once Fendika is rebuilt in our current location. We are happy to talk with you personally about the terms of investment. 125 angel investors are needed, with each lending $10,000, or 62 angels each investing $20,000. Of course we also welcome larger loans.
In addition to paying you back, I will personally welcome you to Fendika whenever you’re in Addis Ababa. You will have free access to all future events at Fendika, including concerts and music/dance workshops. My team will also organize annual meetings of Fendika angels, honoring your loving contribution to Ethiopian culture. During these meetings, you will meet other angels, who are as extraordinary as you are. Together we will discuss Fendika’s future directions and projects. We intend to function as a co-op of many community-minded investors who love Fendika and what we stand for. Contact us if you are interested in becoming an angel investor for Fendika.
Option 2: Help us find investors/developers who share Fendika’s vision of building peace and community through valuing arts.
Option 3: Donate whatever amount you can, to grow the fund for rebuilding Fendika in our current location and to support the difficult transition.
Fendika’s global family has been essential in keeping Fendika alive through our past crises. I hope we can do this together again. I am so grateful for all of you. Each day we can make music, dance, and art happen, it is a miracle. The miraculous Fendika will be with us again, because you – Fendika’s family members – are miracles yourselves. I thank God for the community that we have built in the last three decades through Fendika. May God keep us safe and at peace!
Yours,
Melaku Belay
Other Ways to Support Fendika
While we fundraise for the rebuilding project, we are currently without a home base. We seek expanded opportunities for performances and workshops in order to keep the artists employed and fulfil our cultural mission. 30% of all performance and workshop fees will be invested in the building fund. In particular, we are planning to tour the US in fall 2025.
Financial Support
Help rebuild Fendika and sustain Fendika through this challenging time by giving a financial gift today.
Performance OpportunitIES
Fendika Ensemble and Ethiocolor performances run from 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes, depending on the venue requirements. Their show builds in sonic and dance intensity, often culminating in an exciting interaction as Fendika members invite the audience to join the dance.
Workshop
Fendika offers workshops to share their movements, sounds, rhythms, instruments, and the history and background of Ethiopian traditional music and dance. Fendika members are skilled at participating in panel discussions on topics such as the role of tradition in contemporary culture, also inviting questions and observations from the audience.