Recent Activities - Exhibitions and Presentations

I have updated my recent activities at the right side-bar, under "Events," with links to posts (videos and writings) under "Exhibitions and Presentations (Recent)" - also at the right side-bar.

An Ethiopian Sparrow

An Ethiopian Sparrow

Actually called: Brown-Rumped Seedeater (Crithagra tristriata)

[Photo By: KPA]

A plain seedeater of the Abyssinian highlands. Note the gray-brown back, the paler underparts, the white eyebrow, and the small white throat. Generally common in a variety of montane habitats including forest edge, woodland, scrub, and gardens. Similar in overall coloration to Reichard’s and Streaky Seedeaters, but easily separated by the plain unstreaked underparts. The simple song consists of repeated scratchy whistles. [Source] 

More here. 

This little bird was busy collecting small twigs and straw (dried grass) for a nest. It didn't seemed very alarmed by my presence, and is probably used to being around people.

 

My discussion notes on The Life of the Holy Lalibela from the recent Sandfordian Book Club discussion

Ethiopian Priest in Lalibela

My notes for commentary on: The Life of the Holy Lalibela, thirteenth century - from the Sandfordian Book Club zoom meeting, to discuss this and other chapters. I have posted these notes, the chapter selections, and other details in my previous post.

-------------------------------------------

My discussion notes (I made my notes in blue, of the bolded portions):

------------------------------

And now listen, dear friends [A story told orally], 
you who are seeking the benedictions of the grace of the righteous [Referring to God - the story starts immediately with religious/Christian references, with God as the center]

and who are burning with love for Lalibela [There is nothing meek about this love, it is burning - as in the high heat of the summer of the next section],

 
so that you will make your delights from the account of his good fight [The Good fight - fight for God, for morality, for Christ - a combative manner for acquiring goodness - as has been, and will be, the plight of these Ethiopians, who fought moral enemies, as well as geographical ones] 

which percolates as water into the entrails, as marrow into the bone. [Referring to the “account,” which satiates and soothes the body, as does water and food - and thus is nourishing]

For it is a shower of praises [The “benediction”/the praises these “dear friends” are seeking] 

not even absorbed [Lost] by the high heat of summer [Allusion to natural environment - the difficulties of the summer heat]. 

So open wide the ears of your hearts 
—[Listening with the heart = an Orthodox phrase “We must learn to stand before God with “the mind in the heart” 
— [Inside every human is the heart, the rudder of our ship. It is the center of our being. It is the place where we converse both with God and with ourselves]
— [Starting with our hearts to make them God-like] source: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Diocese - Rick Burns

— [From the Philokalia Prayer of the Heart] source: 
- Philokalia - Greek – Love of the Good, the Beautiful -  prose anthology of Greek Christian monastic texts that was part of a movement for spiritual renewal in Eastern monasticism and Orhtodox devotional life in general] source: Britannica.com

The Philokalia is an important collection of writings by Fathers of the Eastern Church dating from the fourth to the fourteenth century. - source: Writings from the Philokalia - G.E.H. Palmer (translator)

I begin, as much as the imperfections of my tongue and the shortcomings of my knowledge allow me, to speak of some of his numerous prodigies [Comparison - the greatness of Lalibela - the meekness/lowliness/imperfections of the speaker]. 

I cannot enumerate one by one the accomplishments of this blessed one, but only a small number amongst them, 

so that your hearts will rejoice in learning of them, for the sight of the righteous rejoices much more than a well laid table can satiate, than thirst is quenched by wine and mead [God’s presence, putting God close, setting the table with God as the main surpasses even the best of wine, or tej]

she possesses more smoothness than oil and fat, as the prophet says: His words are softer than butter [From psalms 55:21 - from David’s psalms during a time of rebellion - about a trusted friend (words softer than butter) but who is vindictive and destructive] 

As to you, it is good that you should wear his faith as you would clothes [once again, an exemplary, Godly, leader

that you fold yourself in it as you would in a veil - metaphor of faith as covering - clothes - a veil

and that you honour this man as you honour the angels, the prophets, the apostles, the righteous, martyrs, virgins and monks, for he is of one piece with them. And the honorable place this man has in God’s presence, that he ranks high

May his prayer and his intercession, his succour and the hope of his benediction remain with the servant of God, our Queen, Walatta Iyasus, with Walatta Hiruta Selase, with all you here who are present, and who have come from far and wide to seek shelter in the shade of his wings; may he not leave your side till the end of centuries. Amen. 

From The Life of the Holy Lalibela

Ethiopian Priest in Lalibela

This is the notice I got from the Addis Ababa (Sandford English School) Sandfordian Book Club.

[Below, I have posted the notes I prepared for the zoom discussion]

From the email I received:

Just a reminder, friends, that our next Sandfordian book club will be Saturday, October 22nd, 2022. We are currently reading the anthology Ethiopia: Through Writers' Eyes by Yves-Marie Stranger - September 2016.

We will be covering three VERY short chapters:

• Abyssinians and Oranges (1500-1700)
• from The Life of the Holy Lalibela,  Anonymous 
• Mapping the Journey, Alessandro Zorzi 

The group met by zoom (and meets monthly).

About the Book Club (from their web page):

The Sandfordian Book Club

The Sandfordian Book Club is a monthly virtual gathering. In this online community, alumni can connect with each other and enjoy books, from fiction to nonfiction, classics to new releases, reflecting Ethiopia and Eritrea.

How it Works

• The book club connects monthly online via Zoom.(link provided below)
• Each month we invite you to read a chapter of a book of the group's choosing, then join us for a discussion that provides context, offers the book club participant's reflections on the selection, and deepens understanding. 
• The group covers only a few chapters each session so you will have sufficient time to read.

We discussed several things, and Abyssinians and Oranges was one: about the Portuguese presence in Ethiopia, the search for the mythical (semi - like the story of the Queen of Sheba) Prester John, and... oranges(!) - the Ethiopians naming the oranges which these Portuguese, at first enemies, then accepted emissaries, brought with them.  Portugan translated to Birtukan (orange) in Amharic, which is also the color orange - birtukan.

Most of the Portuguese soldiers remained in the country, and this was the opening of a little-known chapter in the history of the Horn of Africa. For the next one hundred and fifty years, the descendants of those soldiers, the Burtukan (or Oranges as they became known – it is thought that the Portuguese first brought the fruit to Ethiopia, and it was given their name, with a B since the P of Portugan was difficult to pronounce), and Jesuit priests – often Portuguese it is true, but also Spanish, Indian, Catalan, Genovese – vied for the fortunes and the faith of Ethiopia. 

--------------------------------------

I presented: The Life of Lalibela, Thirteenth Century (Lalibela is the name of the 13th century Ethiopian emperor after whom the region with monolithic churches and other buildings is named).

I have posted the completed story The Life of Lalibela, Thirteenth Century, which is told by recounted an anonymous person, and below that, my commentary of the story/account. (There is a drier portion at the bottom of this account, which simply elaborates on Lalibela, his name, and the monolithic, under ground churches that he built.)

I cannot decide if the raconteur is male or female, who I believe is Ethiopian (and not a "foreign" traveler/visitor), who seems to have an intimate knowledge of the Emperor Lalibela, and his court.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

FROM The Life of the Holy Lalibela, thirteenth century 

And now listen, dear friends, you who are seeking the benedictions of the grace of the righteous and who are burning with love for Lalibela, so that you will make your delights from the account of his good fight, which percolates as water into the entrails, as marrow into the bone. For it is a shower of praises not even absorbed by the high heat of summer. So open wide the ears of your hearts. I begin, as much as the imperfections of my tongue and the shortcomings of my knowledge allow me, to speak of some of his numerous prodigies. I cannot enumerate one by one the accomplishments of this blessed one, but only a small number amongst them, so that your hearts will rejoice in learning of them, for the sight of the righteous rejoices much more than a well laid table can satiate, than thirst is quenched by wine and mead; she possesses more smoothness than oil and fat, as the prophet says: His words are softer than butter. As to you, it is good that you should wear his faith as you would clothes, that you fold yourself in it as you would in a veil, and that you honour this man as you honour the angels, the prophets, the apostles, the righteous, martyrs, virgins and monks, for he is of one piece with them. May his prayer and his intercession, his succour and the hope of his benediction remain with the servant of God, our Queen, Walatta Iyasus, with Walatta Hiruta Selase, with all you here who are present, and who have come from far and wide to seek shelter in the shade of his wings; may he not leave your side till the end of centuries. Amen.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

My notes for commentary on: The Life of the Holy Lalibela, thirteenth century 

(I made my notes in blue, of the bolded portions)

And now listen, dear friends [A story told orally], 
you who are seeking the benedictions of the grace of the righteous [Referring to God - the story starts immediately with religious/Christian references, with God as the center]

and who are burning with love for Lalibela [There is nothing meek about this love, it is burning - as in the high heat of the summer of the next section],

 
so that you will make your delights from the account of his good fight [The Good fight - fight for God, for morality, for Christ - a combative manner for acquiring goodness - as has been, and will be, the plight of these Ethiopians, who fought moral enemies, as well as geographical ones] 

which percolates as water into the entrails, as marrow into the bone. [Referring to the “account,” which satiates and soothes the body, as does water and food - and thus is nourishing]

For it is a shower of praises [The “benediction”/the praises these “dear friends” are seeking] 

not even absorbed [Lost] by the high heat of summer [Allusion to natural environment - the difficulties of the summer heat]. 

So open wide the ears of your hearts 
—[Listening with the heart = an Orthodox phrase “We must learn to stand before God with “the mind in the heart” 
— [Inside every human is the heart, the rudder of our ship. It is the center of our being. It is the place where we converse both with God and with ourselves]
— [Starting with our hearts to make them God-like] source: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Diocese - Rick Burns

— [From the Philokalia Prayer of the Heart] source: 
- Philokalia - Greek – Love of the Good, the Beautiful -  prose anthology of Greek Christian monastic texts that was part of a movement for spiritual renewal in Eastern monasticism and Orhtodox devotional life in general] source: Britannica.com

The Philokalia is an important collection of writings by Fathers of the Eastern Church dating from the fourth to the fourteenth century. - source: Writings from the Philokalia - G.E.H. Palmer (translator)

I begin, as much as the imperfections of my tongue and the shortcomings of my knowledge allow me, to speak of some of his numerous prodigies [Comparison - the greatness of Lalibela - the meekness/lowliness/imperfections of the speaker]. 

I cannot enumerate one by one the accomplishments of this blessed one, but only a small number amongst them, 

so that your hearts will rejoice in learning of them, for the sight of the righteous rejoices much more than a well laid table can satiate, than thirst is quenched by wine and mead [God’s presence, putting God close, setting the table with God as the main surpasses even the best of wine, or tej]

she possesses more smoothness than oil and fat, as the prophet says: His words are softer than butter [From psalms 55:21 - from David’s psalms during a time of rebellion - about a trusted friend (words softer than butter) but who is vindictive and destructive] 

As to you, it is good that you should wear his faith as you would clothes [once again, an exemplary, Godly, leader

that you fold yourself in it as you would in a veil - metaphor of faith as covering - clothes - a veil

and that you honour this man as you honour the angels, the prophets, the apostles, the righteous, martyrs, virgins and monks, for he is of one piece with them. And the honorable place this man has in God’s presence, that he ranks high

May his prayer and his intercession, his succour and the hope of his benediction remain with the servant of God, our Queen, Walatta Iyasus, with Walatta Hiruta Selase, with all you here who are present, and who have come from far and wide to seek shelter in the shade of his wings; may he not leave your side till the end of centuries. Amen. 

Excerpts from Zoom Meeting with the Sanford English School Alumni, Addis Ababa Introducing Myself - Parts 1- 3

[See below to listen for my taped introductions]

The Zoom meeting took place on October 16. Due to still lingering jet-lag (or altitude readjustments?), I made it only to the last 20 minutes or so of the two-hour meeting, and the group's organizer just asked me to introduce myself. 

There were over 50 participants, as far as I could count on the Sanford Facebook page.

And here is the website describing the group's background, and other introductions.

I've posted my introduction in two parts:

Part 1 talking about my Kidist Foods Project

Part 2 talking about my plans to research Ethiopian art, and specifically, Ethiopian Orthodox Christian art, which I say is the backbone of the Ethiopian culture and civilization.

I tried to transfer the full two-hour session onto Youtube, but couldn't do so with my limited Youtube subscription.

Note: Please excuse the movement. The Sanford Zoom file (a 2+ hours session) was too large for me to upload, so I used my iPhone to record these excerpts directly from my laptop. I'm sure there is a better technology (a recorder on my Chromebook, for example), but I had recently deleted many apps, and didn't want to waste too much time looking for it, and re-installing it.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Mountains Surrounding Addis

Entoto Mountain Surrounding Addis

[Photo By: KPA]

(View from my current residence)

Pink Jasmine

Pink Jasmine

[Photo By: KPA]

This lovely cluster of flowers caught my attention. As I always do, I pick one flower and study it, including smelling it (I rub the petals with my fingers to get the scent oils).

 

The white flowers are not particularly beautiful individually. But each flower grows from a dusty pink bud, giving the whole cluster a pinkish glow.

The flower had a familiar smell, and searching for "jasmine" I indeed found that it was.

Prized for its spectacular floral display, award winner Jasminum polyanthum (Pink Jasmine) is a strong-growing evergreen vine with masses of with masses of intensely fragrant, long-tubed, white flowers, 1 in. across (2cm), opening from pink buds...Pink jasmine is ideal if you're looking for a ground cover or a vine to cover a wall or fence. [Source]

A Welcome Visitor

A Welcome Visitor

[Photo By KPA]

This black cat is a regular visitor, and sat, contemplating my camera. It has other companions, a smaller black and white cat, and a ginger cat with a growling call that can be heard from a distance.

They are all welcome visitors.

Starting a Jacaranda Tree

Starting a Jacaranda Tree

[Photo By: KPA]

This tree was leaning against a wall. I think it was pruned, since jacaranda trees grow very tall. Or maybe it is just in the early stages.

How about a stop at the Jacaranda Cafe?

[Photo By: KPA]

A Happy Thanksgiving to Canadians!

Here, a message from an older post. 

New Year's

Speckled Mousebirds

Speckled Mousebird (Colius Striatus)

[Photo By: KPA]

I saw these funny-looking, tufted birds sitting in the fir tree, not particularity worried about my presence. They allowed me to take their picture.

A geographically-variable, dumpy-bodied, brownish-gray bird with a long, scruffy tail. Differentiated from other mousebrids by its blackish face and gray-brown crest. It is often found scrambling through bushes and tangles, creeping around in short legs. In flight, it flutters rapidly, and its tail seems to drag it down, as if it were too heavy to make it to the bush. Occurs in small, sociable groups in forest edge, savanna, thickets in grassland, and gardens, feeding on fruit, leaves, flowers, and nectar. After eating, birds may hang upside-down and expose the black sink on their bellies to absorb heat and aid digestion. [Source] 

Red and White

Of the Callistemon Genus - Red Bottlebrush 

- you could scrape the bottom of a bottle with it...

Melaleuca Salignus

Also known as a (White) Bottlebrush  

The flower had a faint, sweet, scent

[Photos By: KPA]

Sky Flower

Duranta erecta

Known as: pigeon berry, golden dewdrop or sky flower

[Photo By: KPA]

Earned its name "golden dewdrop" from the its golden-yellow berries. - Next photo session.

An interesting article: "Removal of Pathogens from Domestic Wastewater using Small-Scale Gradual Hydroponics Planted with Duranta erecta, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia."

With the conclusion:

Hence, the hydroponic treatment system planted with Duranta erecta had a promising potential in the removal of pathogens from domestic wastewater in developing countries including Ethiopia.

"Treasure Flowers"

Yellow Daisy Flowers - "Treasure Flowers"
A variation of Gazinia Linearis

[Photo By: KPA]

I'm not sure why they are white-tipped (if it is due to maturity) or if the curved flower also eventually becomes spiked.

More to investigate.