Brown Condor
Essence of DOPE
Art Continues to Flourish in Addis
Sep 3rd
Around 40 established and young artists displayed works of paintings, sculptures, installations, bronze castings and wood carvings.
Posted: Friday, August 3, 2010
It has been an important week for Addis’s cultural life as the city has come to declare its emerging artistic identity. The third edition of Art of Ethiopia exhibition took place from the 21st to the 24th of August at Sheraton’s Addis Lalibela Grand Ballroom. One of the largest exhibitions ever held, Art of Ethiopia showcased more than 400 new works created specifically for the occasion. Around 40 established and young artists displayed works of paintings, sculptures, installations, bronze castings and wood carvings.
The exhibition has attracted thousands of visitors and the hotel has seen more than 16,000 visitors during the four-day event. Stylish young women flashing designer bags mingled with bearded artists and men wearing conservative business suits. Organizers say they are very pleased with the number of people attracted to the venue.
One of the artists who participated in the exhibition, Abyalew Assefa told Addis Journal that use of booth space in this year’s edition has been much better than last year’s. “It allowed for the display of larger and small scale works. The space and light have has More >
BC Radio Interview with Goddess Magazine’s Love Weah
Sep 2nd
Tune in this evening, Thursday, September 2nd, at 8:30 PM EST to hear a live interview with Love Weah of Goddess Magazine. BC Radio can be heard by clicking on the Ustream screen on the top right hand side of this website.
Goddess Magazine was created to celebrate the diversity, beauty, and accomplishments of women from the African Diaspora. Created summer of 2009 with the sole purpose of unifying the diverse beauty of African woman living worldwide. Goddess is dedicated to uplifting and promoting the beauty of African women, through our chic one of a kind magazine. Goddess magazine focuses on three issues that African women encounter daily; beauty, fashion and relationships.
Within Goddess Magazine, Women will be given beauty secrets, relationship tips and fashion must haves. Throughout the period of a year, there will be three issues of Goddess published and distributed across the United States and worldwide. Goddess magazine will consist of a summer issue, winter issue, and spring/ fall issue.
Be on the lookout for Goddess Magazine, one of the keys to progress in the 21st century for Africa and her people is to shape the message about our community. The media has a powerful impact on the way More >
Between Privilege and Blessing
Sep 2nd
We must balance our expectations of ourselves with the responsibility we have to our fellow man in order to recognize, name and attain our true blessings.
by Liya Endale. Posted: Thursday, September 2, 2010
Author: Liya Endale
I am a spoiled and ignorant woman of great privilege not just globally, but throughout the known history of mankind. Not only do I not have to worry about where my next meal comes from, but I can also control the temperature of the air around me, the amount and temperature of water I want/need in any given moment, and I wear a freshly laundered and different outfit every day of the week, maybe even month. Now that that has been said, let us dissect the meaning of privilege in different contexts and how we privileged individuals can best carry this privilege with the guilt and responsibility which trails after it like cosmic dust after a comet. Then, let us further disabuse the notion that privilege is synonymous with blessing; though these two constructs may have overlapping meanings at times.
As I mentioned in my last article, I have always had my basic needs taken care of. I have always managed to pay my rent and car More >
Ethiopia Devaluates its Currency by 20 Percent
Sep 2nd
The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) announced today that it has devaluated the national currency of the country (birr) against major international currencies by about 20 percent.
Posted: Thursday, September 2, 2010
One US dollar which was equivalent to 13.62 birr will be exchanged at 16.35 Ethiopian birr as of today (September 1, 2010). The measure taken by NBE is expected to make import expensive and result in increasing prices of imported goods.
The announcement followed Ethiopia’s government Growth and transformation plan, which attempts to make the industrial sector lead the economy after five years by substituting imported goods.
In a meeting Prime Minister Meles Zenawi held with major business community on Saturday (August 28, 2010) indicated his government’s plan to support investors who are willing to be engaged in producing imported goods locally.
Value of One Ethiopian Birr: Applicable as of September 1, 2010
Currency Buying Selling US DOLLAR(USD) 16.3514 16.6784 POUND STERLING(GBP) 25.2040 25.7081 EURO(EUR) 20.7450 21.1599 SWISS FRANK(CHF) 16.0276 16.3482 SWEDISH KRONER(SEK) 2.2123 2.2565 NORWEGIAN KRONER(NOK) 2.5880 2.6398 DANISH KRONER(DKK) 2.7864 2.8421
Legendary Mahmoud Ahmed in NYC
Sep 1st
Legendary singer and all around phenomenal talent, the reigning king of Ethiopian music Mahmoud Ahmed will be performing live on Saturday, September 18th, 2010 in New York City. Massinko Entertainment will be hosting this amazing performance, tickets are $30 in advance and seating is limited. The 11th person to send this article via email to 20 people and cc info@browncondor.com will get two free tickets to the show as well as a chance to meet Mahmoud Amhed live at the show. Include in the email the link to this article and that you are forwarding the emails in order to win 2 free tickets sponsored by Browncondor.com and Massinko Entertainment to the Mahmoud Ahmed concert to be eligible for the two free tickets. Last time, we gave away two free tickets to the Teddy Afro concert in New York and the winner had the time of her life, this time, the winner could be you.
A Separate but Equal School For Ethiopians?
Aug 31st
Petah Tikvah city hall won’t let Ethiopian kids transfer out of elementary school.
By Or Kashti. Posted: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 Dozens of parents of Ethiopian origin have been blocked by the Petah Tikva municipality from moving their children from the majority-Ethiopian religious Ner Etzion elementary school to other schools in the city. school – Nir Keidar – August 31 2010
Students at the Ner Etzion religious school in Petah Tikva on Sunday. Photo by: Nir Keidar
Most of the requests were based on the parents’ desire not to have their children studying in a school whose student population was nearly exclusively Ethiopian. The municipality, backed by the Education Ministry, rejected most of the requests, saying that it could not force the other religious schools, private and public, to accept a large group of Ethiopian students.
“The arrangement with the schools is based on the assumption that each religious school takes only a small group of Ethiopian students. Taking several dozen such children is out of the question,” a source with close knowledge of the Petah Tikva education system told Haaretz.
Of the 290 students expected to attend Ner Etzion this year, only one, first-grader Ran Keinan, is not of Ethiopian origin. The process by More >
The Limitations of Genzeb
Aug 31st
Money can be too funny at times. We need it like it’s a natural resource. However, those who have the most have some of the craziest issues keeping them up late at night.
by Liya Endale. Posted: Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Money doesn’t cry. And money doesn’t bleed. Money doesn’t fulfill our intangible needs.
Let me share with you what I have learned through the process of not having too much money in my life. I’ve learned to rely on my family for emotional support to carve my own path and identity in this life. I’ve learned that a dollar saved is a dollar earned, so really I’m working time and a half plus some when I put my money away. I’ve learned that this world does not and will not act like it owes me jack. I’ve learned to prioritize the things I want. I’ve learned that the feeling you get when you finally get that thing you’ve had to sacrifice and save and work for. That feeling is a million times better than being given everything you could possible want. I’ve learned that less is more. I’ve learned to say “I love you” instead of “Give me…” I’ve learned how to More >
Enkutatash Celebration at Berkeley
Aug 31st
Enkutatash means the “gift of jewels”, and is an important festival in the lives of Ethiopians.
Posted: Tuesday, August 31, 2010
On Sunday, September 5th, the public is invited to take a walk on the cultural side at Enkutatash, the 7th Annual Ethiopian New Year Festival at Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park, 2151 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in downtown Berkeley, from 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
The goal of this Festival is to commemorate Ethiopian traditions, art, and culture. This celebration will include: delicious traditional dishes, national costumes, poetry, music, children’s programs, Reggae Band Selamta, West African Highlife Band, Ethiopian Musicians Haileye Tadesse, Neway Afardew, and much more. This family friendly event is free of charge and open to all.
Enkutatash means the “gift of jewels”, and is an important festival in the lives of Ethiopians. Its celebration dates back to the days of the Queen of Sheba. After three months of heavy rain, spring comes creating a beautiful clear fresh atmosphere in Ethiopia. The highlands turn to gold as the daisies burst into flower, gifts from nature to Ethiopia. Enkutatash is traditionally celebrated in a big way in Ethiopia; just as Americans celebrate the New Year.
ECCC, the sponsor of More >
Quote of the Week
Aug 30th
What is more important than the label of one’s religion is how one chooses to live by the creed and spirit of that religion.
Once a week, quotes from different contributors will be posted. If you want to contribute a quote which will be cited accordingly, please submit it via email at info@browncondor.com with a subject header that reads “Quote of the Week”.
Martin Luther King’s Dream from an Ethiopian perspective
Aug 30th
Dr. King’s closing remarks should serve as cautionary words to a world that chose to focus on differences than the fundamental similarities of the human race.
by Tewodros Abebe. Posted: Monday, August 30, 2010
Although I was familiar with the name Martin Luther King, Jr. during my teenage years in Ethiopia, I never had a full understanding of either the man’s fascinating story or the level of his greatness. That understanding came to me during my undergraduate years at an American college.
As a young student who had always been interested in the art of writing, I decided to take as many literature courses as I possibly could. One such course, among many, focused on styles of composition. The textbook designated for that particular course contained several pieces to illustrate different writing styles and genres. I enjoyed reading every single essay in that book, but one piece stood out: Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK). My Dear Fellow Clergymen . . . that fascinating document began. I still remember the stunning effect Dr. King’s 1963 letter had on me as I read it for the first time. It was an eye-opening document that put before More >