By Elias Kifle
This past weekend (July 1st – 3rd) the Ethiopian Heritage Society in North America (EHSNA) held a highly successful Ethiopian festival in Washington DC. During the same period, on July 2nd, members and friends of Ethiopian Review gathered to celebrate the journal’s 20th anniversary. I participated in both events and left with a feeling that {www:Ethiopiawinet} has been reborn in North America.
Two days before Ethiopian Review to hold its 20th anniversary event, the Woyanne junta held a televised press conference to falsely accuse me of organizing terrorist activities. It’s clear that Woyanne’s intention was to terrorize people not to attend Ethiopian Review’s event for fear of being accused of supporting a “terrorist.” The propaganda did in fact scared off a few individuals, but the event achieved its objectives, i.e., celebrate our past achievements and recommit ourselves to work harder in the future.
The highlight of Ethiopian Review’s event were the speeches by Artiste Tamagne Beyene and my father, Kifle Seifu. Watch the video below.
(I will post the video of Tamagne’s speech shortly.)
Guest speakers included Ato Neamin Zeleke from Timret; Dr Aklog Birara, a senior economist at the World Bank; Ato Masresha Tilahun from Ethiopian National Youth Movement; and Ato Abebe Belew from Addis Dimts Radio.
There was also an auction to raise funds for Ethiopian Review’s 2011 expansion plan.
The event was concluded at 6 PM and most of us went straight to the Ethiopian Festival that was underway at the Georgetown University in Washington DC.
When I arrived there, I could not believe my eyes. The stadium was filled with thousands of people of all ages — from small children to the elderly. I knew the festival would be a great success, but not to this extent in its first year.
As we all know, the Woyanne junta that is currently looting and plundering Ethiopia has been trying to destroy Ethiopiawinet in the Diaspora by infiltrating institutions and turning them into its own political tools. One of its victims was the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America (ESFNA) that had been hijacked by Woyanne businessman Sheik Al Amoudi. This past weekend, Woyanne’s Diaspora campaign, financed by an annual budget of $40 million, has finally been dealt a major blow. Ethiopiawinet is being revived once again thanks to a group of patriotic Ethiopians who came together to organize such a spectacular event.
At the stadium, I met several Ethiopians from as far as California and Calgary, Canada, who came with their families to participate in the festival. It was a great feeling to spend time with them.
The organizers, led by Dr Shakespeare Feyissa, Ato Tekle Abebe, and Wzr. Meron Ahadu, did a magnificent job that has exceeded every one’s expectation.
63 thoughts on “Ethiopiawinet in North America is reborn”
EWENETU…Listen!!!
You really have a problem of reading between lines.
I did not say that Gojjames and people of Begemder cooperated with Graziani. I said he tried to rally those people against the Shewan Amharas but failed. I can proudly mention the names of glorious patriots from Gojjam and Begemder who fought the Fascist occupiers until the enemy was defeated. Names such as Ayalew Mekonen, Mengesha Jambere, Negash Bezabeh, Hailu Belew, Belay Zeleke, Tadesse Yimam, Yohannes Iyasu, and many others who left an indelible heroic deed behind for all us to be proud of. And don’t you dare call me Woyanne. You seem to like that word and you must be one.
In regards to the people of Menz who took to the mountains to fight the Derg does not mean that they were assisting the goons who descended upon them from some joint up north. What this midget from Adwa did was something dubious and crafty. He used his smooth talking Amharas from other areas who mastered the language of the locality and deceived these freedom loving patriots. What happened after this goon entered Addis was a different story.
I still call upon honest and qualified historians to put their pen to work and do justice to these wrongfully prejudiced people of Menz(AKA Shewan Amharas). For you EWENETU…I will not spend my valuable time to answer to your senselessly moving mouth. Get lost!!!!
What a speech your father gave, and the part he said “I am pure menze” will actually seal the fact that you are Ethiopian not Eritrean, its good to see your father tell the hypocrites that you are Ethiopian from an Ethnic group very far away from both Tigray and Eritrea. I really liked the part he said “I didn’t work 12 hours and slept 12 hours” Our generation, specially in Ethiopia and now these days here in the US, people work hard and then chew “kat” and smoke shisha with the rest of the hours. And on top of that, he has the guts to say “I will raise arms and fight”. And at last the most touching part was “He gave you “Adera” to fight for your country”. I used to think these kind of attitude is non-existant but now I know we still have patriotic father with an iron will and love for the benefit of their country. I advice Tigre fathers to tell your children to stop pillaging our country, if you can’t stand for your country, atleast do something but saying “you have enough now, leave Ethiopia alone”. Your fathers died for Ethiopia, why can’t you have the same dedication and love for your own country which holds the bones of your own fathers.
Elias, God Bless you and your parents and God bless Ethiopia
Anonymous #44,
I want you too get it straight that your twisted and convoluted logic of trying to divide Amaras is not going to work. TPLF has tried and didn’t succeed, and will not work for it…EVER. So, your attempt to spread and sow your venom against the great Amara people of Gonder, Gojam, Wello, and Shewa is not going to work… PERIOD. Amaras have always been free of narrow tribalism like some of you insecure Tigreans. It is understandable, if your insecurities are based solely on the fact that you are minorities. However, Tigreans are not the only minorities in Ethiopia. Therefore, you have to live with that fact as a reality you can never and ever change. What you should be striving for is a democratic governance without any regard to ethnicity and tribalism. So, I advise you to cleanse yourself from this cancerous backward culture.
Dear anon:
Thank you for your valuable input. Please rest assured that I am in no position to go out on a limb in wrongful conviction of the entire people of those two regions as collaborators. But it was a documented fact that many youths from those regions were duped by Tamrat Layne’s and his cohorts to join them in the beginning and the late 80’s. If not for him and thousands who joined his sham ‘APDM’ house of cards, this rat face scum of the earth would not have been able to stick his nose in Sar Midir and Mehal Meda. It would not be possible. He would have stayed where he belongs chowing down a variety of cactus fruits for life. Look at him now. He even has built a protruding beer gut. And he and his ‘socialite’ consort have become millionaires, possibly billionaires before you and I die. Just watch.
Again, no offence intended in my original comment. I hope you understand me very well.
Amen!!!!
Derbabaw #48,
Is Gondar the only place where Amharas live? Do all Amharas have the same views as you think they do? Have I said I represent the Amhara tribe? Yes, I can say anything I want about the Amharas since I know them better than any body else. You may have been born in Gondar, but you may have never left one of those old castles like one of those doves who dwell in them and moan day and night for their daily food or love.
First of all, no one asked you to read my comments and store them in your murky brains, and if they have already burnet 98% of your body, you better seek a doctor, or if your burning is caused by spontaneous human combustion, no one is going to help you. The forum is not your mother’s forum; it is a forum for everybody who wants to express his/her view about any thing, politics, religion, education, sex, terrorism, peace, hate, love, Church, Mosque, Synagogue, the royal palace, and the White House. This forum is not just for an issue that is not controversial. If you are scared of discussing issues such as Christianity and Islam, shut your big mouth and be satisfied with your Pente. As far as I have energy, time, and will, I will discuss about any controversial issues you are afraid of to mention. I don’t want to leave my fellow Ethiopian Christians in dark, and I want everybody to know the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church is the true Church of the living God. If you want to disprove me, let me hear it; other wise, don’t cry like a small baby. Come out and present your views, and don’t ever try to disparage those who want to comment and explain their opinions, and their opinions may be much better than yours.
Yes, if any one wants to be a king, there are only two ways to achieve it or to come to that higher level: 1. By fighting hard, destroying one’s opponents, and then declaring oneself as the king of Ethiopia; example, King Tewodros. 2. By being born from a royal family – hereditary; example, King Haile Selassie and others before him. It was used to be that way in the old Ethiopian history. Today, one can be a prime minister either by the consent of the people or by the barrel of a bullet. However, ወረተኛ people like you will achieve none of the above. Their main duties are to saw malicious thoughts in the pure hearts of the Ethiopian people. The Ethiopian people always want someone to defend their history, their tradition, their culture, their religion, and their way of life. Because of many lukewarm persons of your types, I am afraid, Ethiopia may lose her religious values. But I tell you exactly in your face I will follow the advice of the Apostle Paul: “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11). Serving my country, defending my country is serving my Lord, Jesus Christ.
On this forum, I will say ቅድስት ድንግል ማርያም ታማልደን አለች. If you are one of those who object to the intercession of the Virgin Mary between God and the people we live here, let me hear you say something about her.
The most bizarre statement by Derbabaw, a bewildered person, is: “It is better you are persuaded to keep your highly inflammatory comments…for yourself.” How can a person go down in his childish thinking more than this? If one keeps his comments and his views only to himself, what is the purpose of commenting? The purpose of commenting is not just to please everybody, but to please some and to disappoint others, depending on the merit of the issue on the forum. My friend, write your comment and sleep on it; don’t ever post it if you are not going to take the heat that comes because of it. One of the most educated Church Fathers Abba Heriakos once said: “ወሶበ ዘንጋእኩ ገባእኩ ሀበ እሙር ጥኢናየ (After I worked hard, searched hard, I forgot many things, then I entered my peaceful ignorance). He calls ignorance “peaceful!” I think he is right in a sense that most of the time those who are highly educated are in trouble. Dictators like Meles Seitanawi (Zenawi) hunt them down, pick them up from the street, send them to jail or to exile, and even worst of all, they will execute them. Then the only choice left for the highly educated people is to admit that ignorance is the world of peace, and live in that type of world.
Whomever, writes, spoken, acts and entertained about the greatness and respectful of my beloved Great Ethiopia, will have a joyful life.
Remember, even though nowadays the time has been given temporarily to DEVIL/SATAN the occupier, Great Ethiopia has a blessed promises from Almighty God, as it’s written many times in Abyssinian original Bible. Praised the Lord!!!
For those of you, who would like to divided Great Ethiopia and Ethiopians, I guaranteed you, you will be totally crushed by your own friends, even before you will be attacked by Almighty God.
God loves Great Ethiopia and Ethiopians.
Praised the Lord!!!
Assta B. Gettu #30
“it’s true…they want to be seen as civilized as the Amhara”
I think what ato Gettu stated makes sense especially when it comes to Tgray comparing w/the theAmharas who usually rands for unity. Just to mention one point, most tgrean elites would rather prefer speaking in Amharic or mixed of it than tgrigna even if they exclusively raised in Tgray. In fact, some people say that if it was not for
Eritreans the tgrigna language would have extinct by now like the fate of dainasours so do their coming to power in Ethiopia. Ofcourse, I do not mean to disrespect my Trean cousins across the border & I’m not certain whether this sentiment still holds true upto now, but in the old days @ least pre-1991, for some reason, it was a fact all Eritreans were familiar with and this may not be necessary anyway for the purpose of language is communication. However, it’s human nature people to enhance thier status using what ever help they can atain though it should not be on the expese of other rights.
Abona ato Wel/Wel #57, u 4rgot 2 mention WRITING, too. As u said in the old days, it was a common practice speaking/writing in Amharic which is nothing is wrong by the way when factoring the time & place is rite. After all, it’s all Ethiopian languages. For example, @ that time it was fashionable lets say a tgrean student mailing out letters 2 his/her beloved illiterate peasant parents in Amharic even if the poor souls do not read let alone understand it though thethe intention of the student was harmless other than impressing them how civilized their doughter/son is getting. Thier other words, selling these godamn goats & chicken is worth it! In such desperate double penalty station, their only pregorative is 2 hunt someone ‘civilized’ enough who can translate 4 them.
The sad thing is the tgrean tgrigna sounding funny as the British accent is origina @ least than the foreign infested Etitrean tgrigna inspite some times the feeling of getting ‘Lost In Translation’ just attempting 2 grap it’s tasteful meaning paceintly 4 someone not familiar w/it. Therefore, it’s a language 2 b proud of. Isn’t it strange to say the least for people who never has been colonized in contrast to the Eritreans to have such mental tendency? Moreover, isn’t it fair 2 say also ur so-called social studies entelectual experts 2 revise thier textbooks so ur students may have an accurate understanding of the screwed up world w’re living; b/c it has been rightly said that the one who loves him/herself unconditionally loves ur green planet home & it’s living/nonliving creatures as well.
As far I’m concerned, now I admit totally got lost myself in translation. I have nothing further to add on this hopeless subject. I gave up, out of here.
dear elias,
i heard in the past many woyanes and hodams calling you names as if you are eritrean etc..Now i witnessed your father from Menz talking to ethiopia. It is a major blow to woyane stooges and so called greedy investory. We know almost all of them have dupe dof their money and returned to diaspora. Many of them are ashamed to tell their story.
Meles will die hiding inside his bullet proof box.
Your father is Hero to say i will have to go to fight. You should be proud of him.
Fano, this message is for you. You are dedeb woyane!! I have no doubt you are another Hodam. How you dare you speak to elias, a person sentenced to death by TPLF Junta??
if you dont like ethiopian review, why you visit it? go to hell!! elias can post anything he pleases because it is his own. Please dont come again. if you like TPLF, go back to your own killil and work for woyanes!!
Are you ashamed of being from Gondar? Gondar is a region where the Glorious Emperor Fasil hailed from. What is wrong with being a Gonderie? They are pure, ‘puro’ Amharas!!!!! Come’on!! Admit it!!!!
እውነተኛ ኢትዮጵያዊነትን አሣይተውናል
ብዙዎች ምድሪቱን የምንሞላ አለን በወያኔ መሰሪ አሠራሮች አንዘናጋ እርስ በርስ በመሰባሰብና በመመካከር
ገንዘባችንን እውቀታችንን ሃሳባችንንና በአካልም ወደምድሪቱ በመግባት ታጥቀው በመታገል ላይ ካሉት ህዝብና
ሃገራቸውን ከሚወዱ ጋር አበረን እንቁም
እስከመቸም የአለምን ህዝብና መንግሰታትን በማጭበርበር ወያኔ መቀጠል አይችልም የዛገ ተንኮሉ ሁሉ ተጋልጦአል
የትግራይን ሕዝብ ለማምታታት ከእንግዲህ ጊዜው አበቃ እኛም የትግራይን ሕዝብ እናከብራለን ትግላቸውንም እንደግፋለን
የኢትዮጵያ አንድነት ለዘላለም ጸንቶ ይኖራል
ኦሮሞ ኢትዮጵያዊ
ትግራይ ኢትዮጵያዊ
መላይታ ኢትዮጵያዊ
ኤርትራ ኢትዮጵያዊ
አፋር ኢትዮጵያዊ
ቤነሻንጉል ኢትዮጵያዊ
አማራ ኢትዮጵያዊ
ሃረሬ ኢትዮጵያዊ ወዘተ እንደሆነ ሁሉም ያውቀዋል ወደተግባር እንሰማራ ከወሬ ያለፈ ነገርን እንስራ
አመሠግናለሁ
i hope bro Elias, it’s not too late to add some brief comment regarding on ato Gettu’s piece. As the wise tgrigna adage that goes “tsemam, felitu dequasi/the person who sleeps intentionally acts deaf” and likewise for those who r willing to loose thier identities. However, having saying that it’s always necessary knowing any languages for that matter even adapting other cultures that can help you putting full of lyu lyu mgb(combination food) on the dinning room.