Views from Ethiopian film production

We are making local films using imported foreign material. This is the heading of an interview in Ethiopian Herald (2007-04-22) by Melese Telahoun with Artiste and young actress Sinafikish Tesfaye, famous in Ethiopia for 10 years of dramatical work on stage, radio, TV and film.

Sinafikish works with Ethiopian National Theatre and her recently played in Ethiopian film "Girdosh" (Eclipse) directed by Haimanot Alemu.

I think it is interesting to read about filmmaking in Ethiopia as it is one industry I'm engaged in. Below I summarize the interview which gives a good view of artistic film work in Ethiopia.

With the increasing popularity of cinema the number of theatre goers had sharply decreased. According to Sinafikish there was a curiousity about seeing new things which are different but also for Ethiopian film. In her own view feature film tend to be repetitive in its thematics and people now realise they are not getting anything new from film. Surprisingly the theatre audiences are growing by leaps and bounds.

She don't think that dramas and plays today reflects the cultural, historic aspects of Ethiopian society. Filmmakers are using foreign styles, but she doubts people would accept films which depicts cultural life of Ethiopia - it is already known. People want to see new things they do not know about. Most film goers are young and like to see action, love, revenge and adventure. They want war films, karate films - ideas and things from abroad.

Ethiopian theatre needs to create new stories that appeal to the taste of the public.

"At present we are making local films by using foreign material.
I think we should put a stop to this practice."

There is a lack of scripts and talented story writers. She thinks creative talent should give attention to broadly introduce Ethiopian cultures and nationalities in their work.

Senafikish is now studying Theatre management at Addis Adaba University with the ambition to engage in film making as a film director.

New Things attract audiences. Is it modernity as a glimpse of things to come also to Ethiopia? At home in "the western industrialised world" we get New Things everyday. Modernity has lost its luster. The future is over us and appears to invade our lives.

To look back in time and around us are also ways to get new perspectives. My father have thaught me one thing - and that is; dig where you stand. Inspiration and solutions to problems can always be unearthed where you are and you don't need to go out of your way.

Now I know my plan for next Saturday:
On 6th of May there will a screening of new interesting film at the Addis Adeba City Hall:
Today Daily Monitor reports from the premiere in Addis Adeba of the documentary film RASTA'S PARADISE.

The film is about the Ras Teferianism movement and its followers also known as Rastafaris. The movement started in Jamaica in the beginning of last century, when a man of African decent named Marcus Garvey prophesized that "there shall be a black King crowned" which then happened in Ethiopia in 1930 when Haile Selassie was crowned emporer. The emporer later offered a refuge for the Diaspora Africans on land where the Ras Tefari community of Shashamene was built.
Ras Tefari prophet Marcus Garvey
In Ahmaric "Ras" mean "King" which is how the movement got its name.

According to the belief of the Rastafaris they are the true Jews and aspire to find their way back to the "Promised Land" which is Ethiopia. The emporer wanted to support their aspiration in recognition of their support during the war against the Italians.

The film features interviews with Rastafari elders such as Bongo Rocky, Congo Rupert and Mama Baby 1; artist Teddy Dan; and activists like Ras Tagassa and Dr Desta Meghoo. The homes and tabernacles of the Rastafaris are visited and they share the stories on their trials and tribulations, as well as their views on current world events.

According to the filmmaker Parine Jaddo it was primarily the music of Bob Marley with legendary songs such as "Exodus", "One Love", "Get up Stand up", "War" that inspired here to learn more about the Rastafaris in Ethiopia and do the film about them.

Parine has worked with Ethiopian filmmaker Haile Gerima and was one of few filmmakers given access to document "Africa Unite" concert which took place in Addis Abeba to celebrate Bob Marley's 60th birthday. She wanted to go beyond the momentus celebration and choose to tell the inspiring story behind "Africa Unite".

As an Iraqi Parine Jaddo found a vehicle to help her own people stay strong under present terrible conditions. The Rastafari movement she thinks inspires a message of justice, peace and love.

The film contains rare footage of the Africa Unite concert and beautiful shots of Ethiopian country side.

The film was produced by Parines partner Isaac Diwan, who also happens to be the World Bank representative in Ethiopia.

I'm sure I'm going to have more posts about the World Bank activities in Ethiopia.

I haven't yet ventured outside Addis Adeba, but I think a visit to the Rastafari community could be interesting. It is only a few hours driving from Addis as I understand. Let's wait and see if the film motivates me to dare it...

I checked the MrFootage site for footage of Reggae and Rastafaris and only found one clip, so on this specific content we must improve. Maybe a search for Jamaica would uncover stuff failing to record this content.

I also did search for Ethiopia and what we have is 5 archival new reel clips from the Ethiopians war against the Italian from 1935 until the return of Emporer Haile Selassie 1941.
Only 3 show up in cliplist (to view them all search for Ethiopia). We must have a bug here which should be adressed....

Landing with Ethiopian Airlines in Addis Adeba together with Timbuktu!

I landed early morning on April 24th. It was a good flight, good seat, good food and a good movie. I had also the the pleasure of traveling with Swedish hip-hop star Timbuktu.

I think it is a promising start on my work here in Addis. I was here for the first time in January and did not spend any time digesting my impressions. This time I'll try to reflect on events here to share my experiences and views with all.

The reason for Timbuktus visit in Ethiopia is events produced by Selam and Swedish East African Music Network (SEAMN) sponsored by SIDA will have seminars, workshops, and concerts in Addis Ababa from April 25 to 29. There will be discussions on topics such as musical criticism, censorship, associations, education, and promotion. Workshops at the National Theatre will discuss the mobile studios, rap and DJskills and the new media.
Read more about Selam ...

The reason for my visit in Addis is to work on IT implementation projects and to research the possibilities to set up an offshore "factory" to do film conversion work.

In the Addis newspaper from the 22nd there was reports on the upcoming World Intellectual Property Day 26th of April which has been observed every year since the millenium shift 2000. In Addis Ababa it will be observed and celebrated with events over 5 days from april 23-27th. The theme set by the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office is "Encouraging Creativity".

Another case of serendipity: This was very timely as the violation of IP rights is one of my main concerns in doing film conversion work in Ethiopia.

Seminars will be held on the importance of IP policy and its contribution to socio-economic development, as well as adressing problems encountered, identifying key issues for future plans of action.

To bad I can't participate.

On my arrival I read in the The Daily Monitor (The paper that enlightens) about the unprecedented demonstration on Monday 23 of April in Addis Ababa by hundreds of artists, publishers and producers of Ethiopian music.
The 2-hour demonstration marched under the theme "Encouraging Creativity" against the ineffectiveness of copyright laws and for measures to stop fraudelent activities on their rights and privileges.

The heading for the article is Artists voice anger over "impracticality" of copy right law. The aim was to speak out their grief and concern over illegal copying of their works, demanding laws providing protection of intellectual properties. (I should have arrived one day earlier!)

A law was implemented one year ago but their works continue to be used and abused by selfish and unlawful individuals, leaving the artists "poor and hungry". Setting up of extraordinary courts was proposed to punish those behind illegal copying of works of art.

On wednesday evening I was able to do some illegal copying myself at Timbuktus concert at Sheraton Gas Light Disco-bar. Great show and I also got the opportunity to meet with the Swedish Ambassador who started the concert by presenting Timbuktu for the invited guests.

I'm still learning to blog - but I'll try to add edits from footage I managed to take with my mobile camera. When Timbuktu and his band played his hit song "alla vill till himmelen men ingen vill dö" he told us this was inspired by line from reggae artist Peter Tosh (something like; all want to go to heaven but no one wants to die). The reggae connection with Ethiopia is something I'll tell more about in my next post about Ethiopian film.