Habeshas in NHPC
Many Habeshas grow up with the notion that being Habesha and being black are not mutually inclusive. It is the dichotomy of being raised as an Habesha at home but living in a country where one’s phenotype forces them to check Black. Nathan Abebe and Daniel Kifle are two Habeshas who recognize that one can retain their cultural heritage while simultaneously embracing one’s blackness. They are both a part of the National PanHellenic Council or NPHC, a collaborative organization of nine historically African American, international Greek lettered fraternities and sororities often times referred to as “The divine nine”. Nathan Abebe is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. and Daniel Kifle is a member of Omega Phi Psi Fraternity Inc. Habesha LA sits down with these two young men to discuss the role their fraternities have played in outlining their identities and the ever-‐lasting impact their fraternities have had on their lives.
Nathan Abebe:
Tell me about your background. Where did you grow up? Who were your role models?
“I’m from West Covina; I have one older brother; he just graduated from Pepperdine last year. I look up to both of my parents. They’re just good role models. My dad works really hard; my mom worked really hard to raise us. My parents definitely raised me in an Ethiopian household. Obviously Ethiopian food was served and we went to all the Ethiopian church events and I call everyone my cousin, everyone my aunt and uncle.
What was your family’s standpoint on joining an NPHC fraternity?
When it came to joining the black fraternity they [my parents] were a little hesitant about that, they were like “Oh you know, the world’s not all Black. Are you sure you want to separate yourself by joining a Black frat?” and I was like yeah because I feel this could better prepare me for the world and as far as giving me a network of people I can work with, they just happen to all be black. Because it’s not really like I joined it for the black aspect it was more because of what they stand for and they just happened to be black people.
Who were your influences for joining a fraternity?
I would say my influences for just joining a fraternity overall were really my brother and my cousin. They’re both in fraternities; they joined their freshman year, I was a senior in High School at the time. I thought that was pretty cool. [I discovered the Kappas when I went to LMU for TLC (The Learning Community), which is a bridge program for students of color. It happens 3 weeks before school starts, and they take 30 black students and have them live on campus for about 3 weeks before schools starts. That was my first exposure to black Greeks. I had never met anyone in divine nine before that. We came across Kappas, alphas and omegas and I conversed with each group and I just clicked with the Kappas more. That’s when my interest first sparked.
Were you raised to think of being Ethiopian and being black as mutually exclusive?
My parents raised me as an Ethiopian but there was never any distinction in terms of telling me “you’re not black.”
I never felt like I wasn’t black, I always knew I was black.
Within the fraternity do you feel a distinction between yourself and your fraternity brothers because you are Ethiopian?
At times, I felt a little different, just because I don’t see as many Ethiopians in the divine 9. So whenever I do see another Ethiopian, I get really excited! But other Kappas notice it too. People will ask me what I am [Ethnically]. Most people know I’m Ethiopian just off top.
What was your motivation for joining an NPHC fraternity?
I discovered that a cousin I hadn’t been in touch with for a whole was a kappa at LMU. I asked him about his experiences and he told me he loved it. He said he was achieving in every aspect of his life. After seeing how much better he was doing in his life after joining that motivated me to go to a Kappa informational. So then I went and it all just clicked.
[But] the fraternity being black wasn’t really a selling point for me. It was cool that it was black people because I could relate to them, but these aren’t just regular people. These are professional men that are trying to achieve, their fundamental purpose to achieve, they just happen to be black.
What do you love most about being a part of Kappa?
Brotherhood, it’s a real brotherhood and it’s the biggest point for me. The guys I crossed with, Keon, Kev, and CJ, I can see myself hanging out with them for the rest of my life really. These are my brothers by choice not just by blood.
What advice would you give for perspective Habesha Kappas?
Honestly Habeshas are the most well-‐suited people to join the divine 9, because if your parents are straight out of Africa and they’re immigrants and all they want you to do is succeed in life, these organizations are designed to help you do that. So I don’t see a reason for you not joining.I would just say know that you want it for yourself. Not for the reputation or for whatever. You have to want to be a part of something bigger than yourself. If you kind of want to be a kappa but you’re not really sure, then you’re not going to make it. It’s a long process in order to become a kappa and a long process in order to continue to be a kappa.” It takes integrity to be a part of a life-‐long organization.
Daniel Kifle:
Tell me about your background. Where did you grow up? Who were your role models?
I was born and raised in Anaheim California, My parents are my role models they’ve struggled and they’ve done so much to help get me to where I am today. I would also say my older cousin. He was born here [In the United States] but he grew up in Ethiopia until he came back for High School and College. He was an older brother for me; my right hand man.
Were you raised to think of being Ethiopian and being Black as mutually exclusive?
My parents always said to me – “You are a first generation African. You are the definition of African American” African Americans who’s ancestors have been in this country for hundred of years have created a culture of their own.
But growing up I didn’t give it much thought; I just knew that I was culturally different.
But in High School I was just black. People would know I was Ethiopian but it wouldn’t mean much. They wouldn’t know all the different things that come with that – the language the culture the heritage etc. People would label me as the black or African kid. It wasn’t until I went to college that people started appreciating Ethiopian culture; they would talk about Ethiopian food, eskista etc. Other people appreciating my culture made me appreciate it more and the freedom that came along with college also allowed me to explore what it meant to be Ethiopian to me individually.
What was your motivation towards becoming an Omega?
When I was in the process of becoming an omega a lot of people were joining because their grandfather or their uncle was an Omega. For me personally, the more I got into college, the more curious I became about fraternity life. As I discovered more about each fraternity while trying to figure out which fraternity was best for me, I realized Omega’s history and motto just really stood out for me. I don’t look down on any of the other organizations. All of the organizations are trying to the same thing, empower the African American community, but omega was the fraternity that best suited me. Also, in my chapter I’m not first Ethiopian Omega one of my older prophytes who crossed in 2005 is Habesha as well. He played a part in my influence in joining Omega. When I first saw him, it made me feel “Hey, I can be a part of this too.”
Was it important for you to join an NPHC fraternity as opposed to a PanHellenic fraternity?
I have to say it being an African American organization played a factor for me. NPHC plays a huge role in uplifting and educating the black community. They care about having each of their members succeed. Helping the black community in terms of education is extremely important to me and NPHC has definitely allowed me to do that.
Within the fraternity do you feel a distinction between yourself and your fraternity brothers because you are Ethiopian?
I’m definitely considered the Ethiopian kid, everyone knows that I’m Habesha! It’s something that people get really excited about. It has been fun introducing people to Ethiopian culture.
What’s the best part about being an Omega?
With Omega you’re in it for life. It’s not just a one-‐time thing. Omegas that have been out of college
30,40, 50 years are still close to one another. I feel like you can’t get that sense of commitment from one brother towards another with a PanHellenic fraternity.
You also never feel alone; I’ve never felt alone. You always have somebody you can lean on you always have somebody you can call your brother. Whether it be on my campus or on the East coast, there are bruhs are all around.
What do you have to say to perspective Habesha Omegas?
The Habesha and the Omega dynamic are very similar.
The sense of being an Omega is it’s own other culture. For instance when you see another Habesha person what’s the first thing you do? You greet them. If you find out there is another Habesha person in your city, you make the effort to link up with them and get to know them. It’s the same thing with Omega. You find other omegas you link up. Regardless of your differences in background or beliefs, you share that core culture in common.
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