Essence of DOPE
teddyfikre
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Meaningless Days
3121 days
by teddyfikre
in Uncategorized
This is truly some Matrix shit and I am here trying to figure out if I am Neo, Morpheus, or Agent Smith beckoning you to return back into the Matrix.
by Teddy Fikre written: Thursday, January 19th, 2012
Time to wax poetic again about the bygone days and the times where anniversaries and birthdays were more than random days that we were reminded of by Droids and iPhones. I know, I am an old soul caught up in the winds of change, and I have to admit, I find it harder and harder to pop my collars in the 21st century hurricane. I look back with sadness and melancholy when my birthday was an occasion celebrated by real friends instead of lauded by untethered friends through the ether. I miss the days when my birthday cake was a lot more than a 100 x 200 pixel post it on my Facebook wall and I received real signed birthday cards instead of hallmark.com emails wishing me a “happy born day”.
I know, those days have long gone, they appear smaller and smaller in my rear view mirror as I drive head long into 2012 and beyond. It seems that the older I get, the more memories of old fashioned birthdays recede into my mind along with my hair. I am a foot soldier who refuses to bend to the new ways, yet it seems that the new ways are bending my vertebra with or without my consent. I should wave good bye to the birthdays I remember in Bole, where my birthdays and that of my sisters were celebrated by friends and family. These birthdays were magical moments in my life, Injera and gursha for days and days, Coca Cola bottles instead of cans, shenkora, and all the eskista and musika one could handle. These were the times I cherish, now it seems that time has enshrined these memories in a tomb of meaningless days.
I know, you ask what has me on this whimsical tip, am I swooning for fore gone days once again? You probably think it is the winter blues again aydel? Nah, trust me it none of that. You see, today—me being up to my mischievous ways once again—decided to change my birthday from October 27th, 1974 to January 19th, 1974. At first, I was just doing it for kicks and giggles; a year ago, when I decided to go all Dave Chappelle, I had made my Facebook profile private to the world. Thus today, I decided to make it public again, and seeing that one of my friends was actually celebrating her birthday and the copious amounts of birthday wishes she was receiving from friends on Facebook—well I decided to change my birthday and see what would happen. I figured that maybe one or two friends would fall for my tom foolery and then I would go on to write an article about some taboo situation in the Ethiopian community.
Funny how the smallest of seeds can grow into the tallest oaks at times! Sure enough, that little Facebook globe started lighting up with notifications one at a time. One after the other, the well wishes started flowing onto my Facebook wall. Below is a sample of some of the well wishes from well meaning friends:
· happy b-day teddy!!!
· Happy Birthday Theo!
· Happy Birthday Bruh!!
· Happy birthday from Ethiopian Classifieds.
· Hey ole cube mate! Happy birthday! Holla at me sometime.
· Happy Birthday. Thanks for all your energetic output.
· Happy bday Que!!! Make it a blessed one! God knows your name. Make it a blessed one. Stay thirsty my good friend..
· Melkam lidet Teddy and many many more!
· Long time, talak sew. Happy Birthday to you!!!
· Best wishes for a great birthday, Theo!
To be honest, I felt like a cad for playing my well meaning friends for fools on Facebook. They were unwitting accomplices in my quest to prove a point that we have all somehow become less human in this interconnected world. We have turned ourselves into machines; prodded and poked by Facebook and twitter, we have become nothing more than appendages to the appendix of Google. This is truly some Matrix shit and I am here trying to figure out if I am Neo, Morpheus, or Agent Smith beckoning you to return back into the Matrix. I mean, who am I to discuss being interlocked on Facebook when I have over 2,000 “friends” on Facebook and 180 followers on twitter—90% of whom I never met.
So here I am, having collected over 40 birthday wishes on my FAKE Facebook birthday, 10 messages in my inbox doing the same, 8 tweets wishing me a happy birthday, and #HappyFakeFBBdayTeddiye which would have been a Trending Topic by now if I had as many followers as that jigaboo SouljaBoy on twitter. This is where we have come—progress into the 21st century—not one call thus far wishing me a happy birthday but posts and posts galore doing just that. This is the way it is though, I don’t blame anyone, we are too busy and our minds cluttered with too much information to pay attention anymore. I lost my Android phone this weekend and when I tried to call friends and family, I realized that I only had 4 phone numbers memorized. I am screwed without my phone, I feel lost and lonely unable to make calls or receive any.
It is with that I want to thank all the well wishers from well intending friends for your birthday shout outs. Don’t be too upset at me for playing this trick on you today, it was just a way of showing how much we have disappeared into the ether. We have gone from remembering days to needing remembrances to remember the days we should remember. Just remember friends, my real birthday is October 27th, 1974, please do try to remember that next year eshi? When the time comes for your birthdays—and I trust that Facebook will remind me—I shall copy and paste the same messages you sent me back onto your walls and replace Teddiye with your names instead. What, you expect me to send you a card or call you, Android please, I have too much mundane other non-important things to think of. Now you see what I mean by Meaningless Days—may we all find more meaning to our days ahead!
“The Matrix is a system, Neo. That system is our enemy. But when you’re inside, you look around, what do you see? Businessmen, teachers, lawyers, carpenters. The very minds of the people we are trying to save. But until we do, these people are still a part of that system and that makes them our enemy. You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured, so hopelessly dependent on the system, that they will fight to protect it.”~Morpheus
PS: Fell free to wish me a Happy Bday on Twitter by using #HappyFakeFBBdayTeddiye
Author
Teddy Fikre
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[click pic to follow us on twitter or follow us @browncondor]
We would love to hear your comments/feedback. Also, share this on Facebook, tweet it on twitter, or print it and give it to your grandmother. If you would like to follow us on Twitter, you can do so @browncondor
To get in touch with us, send email to info@browncondor.com
Shit that Habesha Girls Say
6122 days
by teddyfikre
in Uncategorized
Want to poke a little fun at funny things that Ethiopian and Eritrean women say in response to various situations? This is your chance to sak be sake at ourselves.
by Teddy Fikre written: Wednesday, January 18th, 2012
My friend Beshou is working on a video compilation of “Shit that Abesha Girls Say”. It is an ironic look into various things that Ethiopian and Eritrean girls say in different settings. It is a riff off a youtube clip that is titled “Shit that White Girls Say”. This is bound to be a hilarious project as Beshou will be taping this weekend the first of many takes and then compiling it onto a full feature video on youtube.
Now, this is not for the faint of heart. This is sure to contain some explicit statements along with the occasional innocent quips. So this is a call to arms for you to submit various sayings that Ethiopian and Eritrean girls say. Submit them to info@browncondor.com or submit them in the comment section below and I will forward the most creative and funny ones to Beshou for review. So go ahead, put on your thinking caps and see what you can come up with sewoch. Below are a couple of takes that I’ve compiled from twitter under #ShitthatAbeshaGirlsSay
Compilation of Submitted quotes:
- “I only smoke when I’m drunk”
- “I’m going to have over 1000 people at my Big Fat Ethiopian Wedding”
- “I’m 25″
- “I don’t date Habesha guys”
- “I don’t date black guys”
- “I’ve never done this before”
- “Is my forehead big?
- “Are you dating me for a greencard??”
- “I’m having Mohamed Ahemed perform “Mushiraye” at my wedding!!”
- “My dad and uncle drive Taxis”
- “Can you please pick up injera and gingerale on your way”
- “I can’t do that, I am on tsome”
“My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return.”~Maya Angelou
Inspired by:
center
[click to see premier of Shit that Habesha girls say]
[click pic to see Bernos and Beshou]
Author
Teddy Fikre
[click to view profile]
[click pic to follow us on twitter or follow us @browncondor]
We would love to hear your comments/feedback. Also, share this on Facebook, tweet it on twitter, or print it and give it to your grandmother. If you would like to follow us on Twitter, you can do so @browncondor
To get in touch with us, send email to info@browncondor.com
See BLEN
2122 days
by teddyfikre
in Uncategorized
The chance for us as a people—for Ethiopia to become the Japan of Africa–resides deep in her iris and through her brown eyes you will see a vision of wealth.
by Teddy Fikre written: Wednesday, January 18th, 2012
I find myself hanging out at BLEN Corp today as I am sipping buna and writing this article about this DOPE a communication strategy and software development company in the middle of DC that is spreading knowledge all the way to Addis. I sit in the midst of my friends Mike Endale and Hanna Tadesse (how appropriately named, their last names mean As He Says Happiness). But I digress, back to the topic at hand, BLEN is the quintessential essence of audacity of hope. Started in 2004 by Ephrem Girma and Mike Endale, BLEN is company premised on the idea that there is a wealth of knowledge within the Ethiopian community. By leveraging this wealth of knowledge, BLEN Corp has managed to soar beyond escape velocity.
BLEN Corp is a 100% Ethiopian owned company based in Washington DC. The work that BLEN has compiled throughout the years is amazing beyond recognition. Ephrem and Mike started off small, they initially worked with local Ethiopian restaurants on 9th St and U St. Before websites were popular, Mike and Ephrem were leveraging their collective talents to bring Ethiopian restaurants into the 21st century. From small beginnings, they went on to reach higher and started working with the World Bank and Easy Money transfer where they customized an APP that enabled Ethiopians in the Diaspora to quickly and efficiently transfer money back to Ethiopia to their family and friends.
But this is only the beginning of BLEN, their story precedes and surpasses the small beginnings they ventured into in 2004. Before 2004, Mike and Ephrem were the driving forces that put their will and their creative talents in putting together an art show that strove to highlight the culture of Ethiopia to a wider audience in DC. This art show was a resounding success by any definition; through sheer determination and grit, Ephrem and Mike managed to showcase the Ethiopian essence on an annual basis. This is the essence of entrepreneurs, at least the ones I admire, they give first to the community before they take the gursha for self. This is why I respect them so, they are the kindest folks—in their BLEN I see the meaning of Hebret and the spirit of proper respect.
Having given enough of gurshas for free, Ephrem, Mike, and Hanna are determined to succeed in this corporate culture called America. As anyone in the Ethiopian community would tell you, it is hard to find success in our community. We are in the infant stages of understanding that we could fly higher than we ever imagined if we worked together instead of working against one another. So it is with this headwind in BLEN’s iris—with open eyes unflinching—is out to make all see BLEN. I see BLEN for what she is, in her I see the possibility of our people and the chance for entrepreneurial redemption. I promise you, look into her eyes and you will see the same thing. The chance for us as a people—for Ethiopia to become the Japan of Africa—resides deep in her iris and through her brown eyes you will see a vision of wealth for our people.
So, as I sit here sipping buna, I continuously am amazed by Mike, Hanna, Ephrem and the rest of the BLEN crew. Keep pushing family, never give up on your quest to deliver change from Alexandria to Addis. One day soon, we will all see BLEN; when we do, we shall see in her—and in your collective eyes—a day where my children will be rich beyond recognition and for the children in Bole, Wollo, Gonder, and Eritrea to nourish themselves instead of waiting for rice from helicopters from the sky. This is what I see in BLEN, what do you see?
“On every front there are clear answers out there that can make this country stronger, but we’re going to break through the fear and the frustration people are feeling. Our job is to make sure that even as we make progress, that we are also giving people a sense of hope and vision for the future.” ~Barack Obama
[click to see BLEN]
See BLEN Family Below
Ephrem Girma
Ephrem Girma is a US Army veteran with over 8 years of military and civilian services. Mr. Girma earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Graphics Design from University of Maryland and has performed a wide variety of roles as creative director, information technology officer and different managerial duties. His experience includes end-to-end graphics design product with the cutting edge graphics design software suites, full cycle web design process, project management, database design, networking design, quality assurance, and network configuration.
Mike Endale
Mike Endale has more than 8 years of broad-based and progressive experience in software engineering, network engineering, including hands-on management, leadership, and operations experience. He has significant expertise in administration, strategic planning, software process improvement, program development, and project management. Mr. Endale is skilled in analyzing organizational requirements, interpreting management desires and needs, and implementing solutions.
Hanna Tadesse
Hanna, a Seth Godin fanatic 
, is our Business Developer and Marketing Manager. With a passion for social media and social innovation, she brings a fresh marketing perspective to our team of technologists. Hanna is responsible for developing client relationships. When she’s not managing our marketing needs, she’s organizing tweetups, reading anything by Seth Godin and volunteering at a local non-profit, Artists for Charity.
Bezu Woldesemiat (Bezalel)
Bezu Woldesemiat has a BSc degree in Management Information Systems (MIS) and Master’s degree in Computer Science. He has more than 8 years working experience in system and software designing and development under his belt. Mr. Woldesemiat is a very motivated, innovative and ambitious entrepreneur with a verity and broad vision with solid understanding of business modeling, strategy designing and operation management.
Henok Mekre
Henok is our application developer. He’s a seven year veteran of web/app development. He has worked on many different interesting projects in the past years, one of which is close to my heart: the ESAI website. Henok is a big history buff he loves to read books about 17th century Russia and The French Revolution. When he’s not reenacting scenes from “Peter the Great” he’s playing tennis, competitively, or so he likes to think
Author
Teddy Fikre
[click pic to view profile]
[click pic to follow us on twitter or follow us @browncondor]
We would love to hear your comments/feedback. Also, share this on Facebook, tweet it on twitter, or print it and give it to your grandmother. If you would like to follow us on Twitter, you can do so @browncondor
To get in touch with us, send email to info@browncondor.com
Guraginya Eskista
2123 days
by teddyfikre
in Uncategorized
I pray that friends like Tigist and Hiwot keep dancing and through them my future daughter can learn what it means to be African.
by: Teddy Fikre written: Tuesday, January 17th, 2012
Do you hear that sound? The sound of a hundred collective feet jumping and celebrating Ethiopia? Do you hear the laughter or men and women throughout the Diaspora in unison shouting out for Enat Ethiopia? That would be the sound of Guraginya musika, and the feet stomping you hear is the collective expression of humble innocence. No, you won’t find women grinding on the dance floor nor will you discover men sexually harassing these same women. Within the confines of four walls and entranced by the melody of Ethiopia, men and women feel out the rhythm of Ethiopia while being massaged through and through with the enchanted song of Bole and Addis.
There, look in the middle of the dance floor, you see her, the one with the beautiful smile and a chin worthy of praise? Her name is Tigist Menamen, she is a DOPE Ethiopian and Eritrean sister who can’t contain the joy that she expresses though eskista. Next to her, yes the one with the golden shoes, that would be her friend Hiwot, skin bright as burtukan and soul equally radiant. They compete in a circle of hope while I am clapping next to them while Abiti blasts her lungs out with Guraginya musika. This scene is played out countless times throughout Addis and Alexandria, from every corner to restaurant this timeless tradition beats on for an eternity. I live and Addis life through friends like this, caught in between a circle of laughter and the embrace that can only be found by dancing our eskista.
It is my hope that we never stop dancing, that we do not assimilate so much that we forget the beauty of our culture. I pray that friends like Tigist and Hiwot keep dancing and through them my future daughter can learn what it means to be African. This is my hope for the Horn, that through our circles of dance we can learn to be one and through unity learn the essence of Hebret. Through our heated competition that we can learn to collaborate, through our endless eskista that we can shake off the germ of selfishness. I love many things about Ethiopia, our food, our gursha, our women, and most off all, our eskita. We have a spirit that cannot be broken, we grasp in our hands the spirits of a million jegna warriors and a trillion parts of liberty. May no man or woman come between us and put asunder the tradition and culture that took thousands of years to form
So keep on ehete Tigist, I know I tease you about you and your supposed Guraginya, but just know that my words are just words and my teasing that of a lost boy caught up in your shadows. Go ahead too boo boo Hiwot, keep shinning for an eternity, may you never lose your faith in friends and quite moments of love shared between all. I will keep on clapping for as long as you are dancing, and when the time comes when the music stops, may both of your hears beat on for a thousand years and through your heart may I discover the meaning of being Ethiopian again.
“There is a bit of insanity in dancing that does everybody a great deal of good.” ~Edwin Denby
Author
Teddy Fikre
[click to view profile]
[click to follow us on twitter or follow us @browncondor]
We would love to hear your comments/feedback. Also, share this on Facebook, tweet it on twitter, or print it and give it to your grandmother. If you would like to follow us on Twitter, you can do so @browncondor
To get in touch with us, send email to info@browncondor.com
Serendipity Rejoined
1123 days
by teddyfikre
in Uncategorized
She walked in a slow staccato rhythm and I walked with a rushed allegro beats. She tried to calm me down and beseeched to just enjoy the steps.
by Teddy Fikre written: Tuesday, January 17th, 2012
There, I found her again in the middle of DC right next to corner bakery. It seems that Serendipity had decided to rejoin my side for one more day at least. I am not sure what induced her to return; further more confused what made her leave in the first place. But I was not about to inundate her with questions, better to count my blessings and understand that Serendipity is always ephemeral. So when she decides to visit again, always just say a quiet prayer and don’t be selfish by trying to suffocate her with guilt. Just breath her in, enjoy her essence, so that when she departs at least you are left a piece of her pheromones in your nostrils and a touch of her hands in your breast.
Thus, at approximately 2:15, Serendipity returned my call. I asked her what she was doing, she said she just finished lunch and was on her way back to work. I sighed; she felt a pang of culpability rushing through her cranium for making me wait so. Thus, she invited me to join her for a walk back to her office and I kindly accepted her extended gesture of friendship. Time to put down the pen and pad and walk over to see this light skinned mocha chocolate waiting for me in chocolate city. I pranced in the air; I danced in between molecules at the thought of seeing Serendipity waiting for me in warm lit corners.
There, all the sudden she appeared. Her hair strewn by the wind but her beauty unfazed by the blue winds of winter. She glanced at me, I wave at her, she waved back at me. Thus, between a wave and a wink, Serendipity had rejoined with me. A hug, a warm hello we exchanged between foreign strangers. She said she did not have enough time but that she would invest time to walk with me for two blocks. I took her up on this offer and divested my sins in between concrete blocks. For 10 minutes we walked and talked, 10 minutes seemed like an eternity as I got lost in her eyes. The heavens shone a klieg light for each step she took, and I in her shadows somehow found God’s graces.
She walked in a slow staccato rhythm and I walked with a rushed allegro beats. I could hear her stilettos click clacking away as she glided on the street and I could do nothing more than listen to her feet. She tried to calm me down and beseeched to just enjoy the steps. I tried to slow down my breath and to relieve me of my anxiety of walking next to this brown skinned beauty. Eventually, my heart calmed down, my blood pressure receded like the Oceans of Africa and in time I found myself walking the same rhythm as HER. She talked about work and life, and I listened with bated breath. Teddiye—you see—is not one to listen; I spend too much time talking in order to fill voids of voices in my heart. But for this one moment, for 10 minutes, I found those voids filled by gentle voice of an angelic spirit. As we walked from 18th St to I St and back to 18th, I traveled the world with this genie.
Maybe Serendipity saved my life, when I was about to cross the street without looking, she extended her hand and held mine, and at that exact moment, she held in her hands the essence of me. She saved me from oncoming traffic and in the processes redeemed a helpless sinner like me. From that moment on, I refused to let go of that hand, clasped hand in hand with a stranger we discovered for a minute what peace in the city really means. The walk was over soon enough, shortly after she had just held my hand, Serendipity withdrew her hand and was walking back in her office. And there I stood, breathless and speechless, hoping that Serendipity would visit me again soon.
“A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.”~Ingrid Bergman
[Ode to Serendipity yene Geda]
Author
Teddy Fikre
[click to view profile]
[click to follow us on twitter or follow us @browncondor]
We would love to hear your comments/feedback. Also, share this on Facebook, tweet it on twitter, or print it and give it to your grandmother. If you would like to follow us on Twitter, you can do so @browncondor
To get in touch with us, send email to info@browncondor.com