Month: December 2015

Favorite Songs of 2015!

Posted on by Meron Begashaw

As the resident HabeshaLA music writer, I was pleased to have so many gems to choose from when ranking my favorite Ethiopian songs of the year (Eritreans, please let me in on your favorites in the comment section below!) We live in blessed times where music is more accessible than ever before–platforms like YouTube, DireTube, ArifZefen, EBS, and ETV present modern and classic Ethiopian tracks in (mostly) HD fashion. Very exciting stuff! I’ve always been an aficionado of cultural and contemporary music from Ethiopia and I’ve pressed myself to formally rank my favorites this year (I’ve been ranking ~Western~ music for years here) Again, these are my favorites… sorry, Fikiraddis Nekatibeb and Tamrat Desta!

It was no easy task but cry/eskista/laugh here:

Continue reading “Favorite Songs of 2015!” →

The Mother Tongue is Comforting

Posted on by Henok Elias

By: Henok Elias

Do you know why your brethren and sistren Oromo speakers are protesting? Do you care? What can you do, besides reading about your homeland on the internet, and informing others? Why don’t you build community with the Oromo speakers closest to you by learning their language? If the Lover of Languages Dr. Richard Benton can devote time to learning the Somali and Oromo tongues in order to make their speakers more comfortable in Minnesota, how much more should Habesha peoples do?*

*The term Habesha, like any term of identity, is mazelike, and interpreted in sundry ways. I have met self-identified Somalis and Oromos who identify as Habesha, and those who distance themselves from the term..

Bethlehem Awate presents: Whisper Challenge

Posted on by Aida Solomon

It’s video Friday!! This week our resident vlogger takes it back to her week in LA, and her first ever
whisper challenge! The result of this challenge will leave you laughing! Perfect for Friday! Thank you for your continued support, and as always don’t forget to like, comment, share, and SUBSCRIBE!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVxNPFgMTiw.

Bethlehem Awate presents: LA Diaries Day #1

Posted on by Aida Solomon

Habesha LA vlogger, Bethlehem Awate, is back in the city of Angeles to cover an event. Subscribe to her and follow along as she takes you around the city, and gives you a behind the scenes glimpse into the work of PR. See day 1 of her trip below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phaE4nhiNo8.