Meskel

Meskel Drums during the Meskel Eve - Demera - celebrations 

(Link)

"Be still, and know that I am God" - Psalm 46"For the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted." - Psalm 47

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed,
and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,
though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,
the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved:
God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved:
he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
what desolations he hath made in the earth.
9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth;
he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder;
he burneth the chariot in the fire.

10 Be still, and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Portrait of Emperor Tewodros

Back of Addis Bus: Portrait of Emperor Tewodros

And - ስራህ ይከተልሀል: Your Work Will Follow You                         

[Photo By: KPA]

Robins Rule the World!

Ethiopian Robin

I keep seeing this little bird, and recognized it as some kind of robin.

Robins do rule the world!

Here is more information:

White-browed robin-chat

Meskerem Addis From the Balcony

Meskerem Addis From the Balcony

Flame Vine

Flame Vine 

(Pyrostegia venusta)

[Photo By: KPA]

Nectar-rich flower for the Tacazze Sunbird

"Look what he has, with his imagination, and his freedom!"

His Imagination, and His Freedom

[Photo By: KPA]

Here is a little boy, playing with a large banana leaf, which he probably got from his mother's bread oven, which she used to bake the New Year dabo (bread).

Nearby, there is a daycare center, carefully enclosed, where young, uniformed boys and girls, his age, are monitored closely by nannies. They have swings, slides, and merry-go-rounds which their diligent adult care-takers push for them. And they play games specially selected to keep them happy and active.

This little boy has just his imagination, and his freedom. He may be poor, but the whole world is his playground.

Sefita

Sefita: Addis Ababa Fashion Designer: 

Balancing modern and traditional

Instagram

Facebook

Youtube Interview

Sefita, a talented and creative designer, in Addis Ababa. Above are links to some of her works. 

The Youtube interview is in Amharic, but she simply goes through some of her works and it is mostly self-explanatory.

So.

Even Beyonce dies her hair blond. Why not Sefita?

I frequently re-designed a dress/garment or a fashion look in previous fashion postings.

Here is Sefita in her natural dark hair (with a little grey showing, which is probably why she started dying her hair in the first place).

How much more beautiful is she!

Adey Abeba - Gate-side Bloom

Adey Abeba - Gate-side Bloom

[Photo By: KPA]

Bird on Balcony: Another Iridescent

Tacazze Sunbird

More here, including sound.

[Photo By: KPA]

Adey Abeba - Gate-side Bloom

Adey Abeba - Gate-side Bloom

[Photo By: KPA]

Ye Meskel Wef - የመስቀል ወፍ

Ye Meskel Wef - የመስቀል ወፍ

[Photo By: KPA]

The Meskel Wef appears around mid-September. It's name is given in honor of the upcoming "Meskel" celebrations. The important Ethiopian Orthodox Holiday (this year occurring on September 27), commemorates the finding of the cross.

The details are interesting, and intriguing. Why did these Ethiopians decide to make this such an important, celebratory, Holy Day, with liturgical complexity, and bonfire festivities? I will venture to answer this, and other questions closer to the date, but part of the answer is they simply wanted to get closer to God, and to Christ, in this Island Nation, far from the center of Jesus' birth and life.

These birds, iridescent in the light, scurry around, often flying in large flocks. They seem to like these small lamp caps, which fit their perching feet perfectly. 

I will also write more details on them in the next post.

Rooftop Dawn in Addis

Rooftop Dawn in Addis

[Photo by KPA]

Raindrops in Addis

Raindrops on Railings [Photo by KPA]

There was rain, for the whole day yesterday, and the whole night. More than I've seen in the past few days. It looked like it would never stop. But early dawn, this morning, there was a reprieve.

I managed to get a shot of the railings on the balcony where we're staying, before things started to dry up. 

New Year's Yellow Dress

New Year's Yellow Dress

Photo by KPA (view from a balcony in downtown Addis Ababa)

A New Year's yellow dress, worn by women during this Enqutatash/Addis Amet New Year. The color reflects the yellow daisies - Adey Abeba, and there are often small adey abeba which make the border of the dress. The parasol is for the hot sun, and for the rain. The sun comes out now after several minutes (throughout the day) of at times torrential rain.

This traditional dress also has embroidery of the cross, usually along the length of the front, as well as on the borders of the shawl worn with it. Enqutatash, is after all, an Orthodox Christian Holiday.

መልካም፡አዲስ፡አመት።

New Year's smile from my Mom!

Addis Ababa

I asked my mother to smile for the photo, and she playfully obliged.

Melkam Addis Amet - መልካም፡አዲስ፡አመት። - Happy New Year - September 11

New Year's Flowers - Adey Abeba  

መልካም፡አዲስ፡አመት።

[Photo By: KPA]

Addis Ababa

 

Debre Enqu Lideta Mariam Church Bell

Debre Enqu Lideta Mariam Church Bell

Near Addis Ababa

[Photo By: KPA]