Ethiopia's Manalemosh Dibo passes away

ADDIS ABABA

Manalemosh Dibo, the young talented singer who rose to stardom with traditional songs like Awda Amet, passed away on Saturday, November 21.

Manalemosh, who passed away from intestinal cancer, was receiving treatment at the Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Her condition deteriorated significantly and prompted doctors at Black Lion to recommend treatment abroad.

She traveled to South Africa with the financial assistance of Ethiopian tycoon Sheikh Mohammed Al-Amoudi. She passed away in a South African hospital after battling intestinal cancer for over a year.

Ethiopians once again discriminated in Israel

Ethiopians are being unfairly treated in Israeli schools. This article, by Ynetnews, is the latest in a growing trend of racism and discrimination against Ethiopian Jews in Israel. Ethiopian Jews in Israel have been denied services by the government and private sector quite frequently in the past few years. This is a disturbing development that should be addressed by the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The mistreatment of Ethiopian Jews in Israel should concern the Government of Ethiopia, even if the Jews have made their "Aliyah" to Israel. Ethiopian Jews actively contribute to the development of Ethiopia by sending money back home, frequently visiting and partaking in investment activities. Their well-being and growth in Israel should not only matter to Israel, as a matter of public interest, but also to Ethiopia.

Ethiopia and Agriculture

Why is Ethiopian food being sent to other countries when there are millions in Ethiopia on critical food aid?

"Using computerized irrigation systems, the farms will grow tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, melons and other fresh produce, the vast majority of it to be shipped to Saudi Arabia and Dubai. Over time, he says, he hopes to expand into growing other crops, like wheat and barley, the latter of which can be used to feed camels."

Read the full article here.

Updated Flickr Photo Page

I released a new, updated Flicker photo page that contains some public photos. View it here.

My 18th Birthday

I know, it's hard to believe but I'm just now turning 18 years old. My 18th birthday is tomorrow, Friday, November 20, 2009.

I was born to two Ethiopian parents in Khartoum, Sudan on November 20, 1991. At 40 days old I was baptized into the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church at the Medhane Alem (Savior of the World) Cathedral in Khartoum. At the age of 3.5 years, I immigrated to the United States.

For the love of Church!

Samuel Gebru

Waltham, Massachusetts

I’d have to say, one of the most important components in my world is religion. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is my life. I grew up in it. Its more than a Sunday gig, its an everyday culture, lifestyle. Its how you dress and act. What you do and how you eat.

Thanks to YouTube and the likes, we have been able to see the development and activities of Ethiopian Orthodox congregations all over the world. It is terrific to see the youngsters participating in the Church. It is amazing when little kids sing “Igzee’abiher Yemesgen” or when teenage boys are ordained and when elder women come to Church and clap to the roaring beats of the liturgical chants.

However in doing so, a culture has been lost and another gained. Many Ethiopian Churches have had to adapt to the realities of being outside of the motherland. If you’re in the Northeast United States, that means no outside services during Feast of the Epiphany (Timket)! Or perhaps you’re cutting down that hours-long Sunday Liturgy to a Matins service because your Church has yet to receive a Tabot.

The cultural creativity of Ethiopians in the diaspora is to be commended. Yet, to what extent are we washing down the centuries old traditions of the Ethiopian Church? Will it not be necessary to have Priests celebrate Eucharist? The next generation of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians will have a plateful of issues to face, both in Ethiopia and elsewhere. Issues ranging from improving evangelization to modern education for clergy will have to be faced head-on. What is imperative, however, is unity. How can we, together, meet the challenges of the 21st Century without modernizing the doctrine of a 3,000-year-old tradition?

The answer is quite simple, unity. “United we stand, divided we fall.”

Cheung rises as first Asian American in Cambridge City Council

Samuel Gebru

November 6, 2009

Waltham, Massachusetts

Earlier this year I was with some of my colleagues attending a national conference in Washington, D.C. We were representing the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts to about 3,000 other delegates from around the country, ranging from youth to adults and locally elected officials. We sparked a thought-provoking conversation, as we were in a taxicab, on the meager visibility of Asian Americans in local, state and national politics.

We considered the Nobel Prize-winning U.S. Secretary of Energy, Dr. Steven Chu, and the Governor of the State of Louisiana, Piyush “Bobby” Jindal, as two foremost names that came to mind. Beyond this, however, we couldn’t really mention anyone else. Little did I know that Cambridge would see an Asian American rise to its legislative body in the coming election. That was March 2009. This is November.

Municipal elections were held in Cambridge on Tuesday, November 3. The election saw the ascension of 31-year-old Leland Cheung to the 9-member Cambridge City Council. Mr. Cheung, a joint Harvard-MIT MBA student, is the first Asian American to be elected to the City Council. He has made a remarkable and historical achievement. Coming from humble beginnings, he is the son of two working-class immigrants who first settled in Harvard Square. In his own words, Mr. Cheung signifies the importance of economic stability for the family: “I am drawn towards public service because I believe nobody should have to work 18 hour days to provide for their family.”

Mr. Cheung’s inspiring “Letter to Cambridge,” featured on his campaign website shares the sentiment I have always held, that Cambridge is a resource rich-city that can be doing more for its citizens. Indeed we are living in challenging times and, “Cambridge needs to use everything it’s got to keep people above water.” His insistence on making his personal email and cell phone number public has particularly caught my attention. Most officials I know would never dare release their personal emails and cell phone numbers.

Leland Cheung is a representation of the new torrent of young and fresh people who are serving their communities through electoral politics. Most prominently, we see it with President Barack Obama, one of the youngest U.S. Presidents ever. Locally, we see it with people like Leland Cheung, whose advocacy for new leadership, environmental sustainability and sane government are all timely and warranted.

So much for the taxicab conversation we had! I hope to see good things from Leland Cheung’s victory. Although the newly elected City Council does not take effect until January, City Hall might be better off with him!

…A student’s voice, a change agent’s perspective, a city’s priorities…

Macroeconomics gone wrong?

Macroeconomics gone wrong? Have your say!

Birhan Woldu: "Band Aid saved me but 25 years later my country is still hungry"

Read it here

Back to blog!

After disappearing for almost two months I am back to blog! Shifting into college gear has certainly taken up my schedule but things are looking clearer now. So much, and yet so little, has happened in Ethiopian affairs since my last significant post on the ruling party's decision to keep the Prime Minister of Ethiopia for another term as Chairman and designee for Premiership. I will be blogging at least once a week, if not more.

The upcoming posts will be centered around the looming reality of a famine in Ethiopia, my views on the upcoming federal elections in Ethiopia and a post on the Ethiopian Orthodox Church's 50th Anniversary in the Western Hemisphere.

sg